Events


Date: April 15, 2026

Time: 5:30-7:30pm
Location: Dunes Golf and Bar
7561 Cottonwood Dr
Jenison, MI 49428
Cost: $20 for general admission, all are welcome

 
Hosted by the Young Professionals Group of RMA West Michigan (40 & Under Members)

Sponsored by : 
Kick off the season with "First Swing: Pre-Season Social", a high-energy networking event at a state-of-the-art golf simulator facility. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just here for the vibes, this event is designed to bring people together for friendly competition, great food, and meaningful connections. 
 
Attendees will be placed into foursomes by the Chapter, with each group competing in a virtual scramble format. Expect plenty of laughs, lighthearted competition, and prizes for the winning team! 
 
This event is open to all—come mingle with RMA West Michigan’s young professionals and connect with rising leaders across the financial industry. 
 
Your $20 ticket includes:
  • Fresh pizza to fuel your swing 
  • Two complimentary drink tickets 
  • Full access to the state-of-the-art golf simulators 
  • Quality networking with emerging industry professionals 
Whether you’re looking to sharpen your swing, expand your network, or just enjoy a fun night out, First Swing is the perfect way to get the season started. 
 
Not a golfer? Email the office (rmawestmi@gmail.com) to attend and receive a discounted ticket! 

Click here to register now!

Date: March 26, 2026
Time: 11:30AM - 1:00PM EST
Location:
Embassy Suites by Hilton Grand Rapids Downtown
710 Monroe Ave NW
Grand Rapids MI 49503
Cost: $30 for Members, $40 for Non Members and FREE TO SPONSORS with code

Join Moderator, Ryan Seely (DWH) and our experienced panelists — Traci Courter (Mercantile Bank), Matt Thiede (Distel Thiede Advisory Services), and Stephen Weber (Cascade Partners) — as we explore the leading indicators of borrower distress and walk through the critical countdown to default.
 
Experience what it looks like when a borrower is:
  • 60 seconds to default
  • 45 seconds to default
  • 15 seconds to default
Hear firsthand accounts of how communication shifts, warning signs intensify, and decision-making accelerates as the second hand ticks down. Our panel will share practical insights, real-world scenarios, and key takeaways you can apply immediately in your own portfolio management and client conversations.
 
As the White Rabbit famously declared in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland:"Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!"
 
Don’t be too late to recognize the signs.
 
Join us for an educational and engaging discussion — and leave better equipped to act before midnight strikes.
 
We look forward to seeing you there.

 

April 21, 2026
Time: 11:30AM - 1:PM EST
Location: Embassy Suites Hilton Grand Rapids Downtown
710 Monroe Ave NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Cost: $30 RMA Members, $40 Non Members and Free to Sponsors with Code

Join RMA West Michigan for an in-depth educational lunch designed to provide practical insights into identifying and understanding the leading indicators of bank and lender distress. Ask you questions and here the true stories from David Nemes, an FDIC expert!
Featuring: David Nemes
David Nemes brings more than 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, consulting, financial analysis, accounting, and complex problem-solving across a broad range of industries. He earned B.S. degrees in Accounting and Finance from Miami University and is a Certified Public Accountant (non-practicing).
 
David currently serves as Managing Member of Business Company, LLC, Baking Company, LLC, and Tolman’s Wholesale Meats. At Business Company, LLC, he leverages his expertise in business turnarounds, sale transactions, and entrepreneurship to acquire businesses navigating succession planning or financial distress.
 
For over half of his career, Mr. Nemes has been a subject matter expert to the FDIC on resolving failed banks and managing liabilities associated with those failures. During the banking crisis starting in 2008, Mr. Nemes consulted for the FDIC on the resolution of over 20 banks with over $15B of assets. From 2012 through 2020, he was retained annually by the FDIC's Division of Resolutions and Receiverships (DRR) as an expert on projecting FDIC's total liability associated with the Loss Share Program. This experience gives Mr. Nemes a rare, firsthand insight into the mechanics and warning signs of institutional distress.
Moderated by: Stephen Weber
Stephen Weber is a Managing Director at Cascade Partners, focused on leading and growing our Grand Rapids Restructuring Practice. With more than 35 years of experience, Stephen brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our firm.
 
His industry background spans manufacturing, services, real estate, defense, and agriculture. Across these sectors, Stephen has guided clients through asset and cash flow analyses, operational optimization, development of performance metrics, and negotiations with lenders to refinance and stabilize businesses.
 
Stephen has advised numerous companies through turnaround situations. He has served as a court-appointed Receiver for multiple real estate developments, leading each to a successful sale while managing related litigation. He has also acted as a financial advisor to companies in bankruptcy, served as a liquidating agent in several wind-downs, and provided expert witness testimony in both U.S. Bankruptcy Court and state court.
 
Before entering advisory work, Stephen built a strong technical foundation in public accounting. He holds CPA, CFF, and CTA designations, along with BS degrees in Accountancy and Finance from Miami University (OH). He is an active member of the Turnaround Management Association and the Risk Management Association (Stephen founded the RMA West Michigan Commercial Lending Challenge- a university-level student competition designed to simulate real-world lending scenarios, while gaining hands-on industry experience and earning scholarships).
 

May 20, 2026
Time: 3:30-5pm
Location: Embassy Suites Hilton Grand Rapids Downtown
710 Monroe Ave NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Cost: $30 RMA Members, $40 Non Members and Free to Sponsors with Code

How are the unique digital strategies of banks changing the institutions’ risk profiles? What are the key emerging operational, third-party and credit risk concerns that bank risk managers need to be thinking about? 
 
Join RMA West Michigan for a topical discussion with Brown & Brown surrounding rapidly evolving technology risk, digital strategy and its impact. 
 
This event is relevant to all, including key risk stakeholders: CROs, Enterprise Risk Officers, Operational Risk Officers, Credit Risk Officers, CISOs, Procurement/Third Party Risk Management, Legal and More. 
 
In the words of Dan Schulman (Paypal)... “We went from being the Flintstones to the Jetsons in 9 months.” Let's discuss how to navigate the future together!