INDIANA – Paul W. Freeman, CAE, executive vice president of the Indiana Bankers Association, is retiring effective Sept. 30 after 34 years of service. He joined the IBA in 1987 to fill the newly created position of director of member services. In his most recent position as executive vice president, his responsibilities have included serving the Association as chief financial officer.
Among Freeman’s accomplishments is the creation in 1992 of the annual IBA Mega-Conference, the largest state bankers association meeting in the nation; the establishment in 1996 of the IBA Center for Professional Development, providing a wide range of educational opportunities to Indiana bankers; orchestrating the Association’s 2017 move to current headquarters, as well as two prior office moves; and management of New Markets Tax Credits transactions, enabling IBA support of college-level banking education in Indiana.
Freeman is a past chairman of the Indiana Council for Economic Education and past president of the Indiana Society of Association Executives, which honored him as Association Professional of the Year in 2006. He was appointed to the board of directors of the Indiana Statewide Certified Development Corporation in 2018 and has been a longtime member of the American Society of Association Executives.
Before joining the IBA, Freeman was employed for four years with Robert Morris Associates (now the Risk Management Association) in Philadelphia, and additionally had nine years of banking experience with American Fletcher National Bank and Trust Company, Indianapolis. In 2014, he was named to the IBA 40 Year Club, which recognizes Indiana professionals with 40+ years of banking experience. A certified association executive, Freeman earned bachelor’s and MBA degrees from Butler University, and he is a graduate of the Institutes for Organizational Management at the University of Delaware.
“Paul Freeman leaves big shoes to fill after decades of devoted service to the Indiana banking community,” said Amber R. Van Til, IBA president and CEO. “His depth of knowledge and attention to the needs of the industry have left Indiana banking stronger than ever, to the economic benefit of all Hoosiers.”
