Dana Chaves, Senior Vice President - Director of SpecialtyBanking Relations for First Federal Bank of Florida, Dana has been building strategic banking, financial and legislative relationships to further the cannabis industry's access to banking and financial services for more than six years. Prior to joining First Federal in February 2019, Dana worked at Hybrid Payroll as the Director of Banking Relations and Partner Colorado Credit Union (PCCU) AKASafe Harbor Private Bank providing some of the earliest access to banking services to the cannabis industry.

Previously,Dana taught financial literacy courses at Johnson and Wales University and theCU@Denver PEER 1 program and served on the Partner Colorado Foundation raising funds for Education for 3 years. Earlier, Dana traveled with the US StateDepartment and The Department of Energy on worldwide energy trade missions advocating and lobbying on behalf of Renewable Energy.

Dana greatly enjoys advocating for causes that mean a great deal to her, including her former role as Chairman on the NCIA Banking Access Committee and hasCo-Authored a White Paper directed to Financial Institutions and StateRegulatory Agencies on banking the industry and was asked to offer testimony toHouse Small Business Committee in Washington DC on banking and lending for theCannabis industry. Most recently Dana has been invited to be a guest lecturer at Florida Gulf Coast University for teaching insight on the Business of BankingCannabis. Dana is thankful to have the opportunity to bring her skills and resources to First Federal Bank of Florida and grow access to banking to the cannabis industry.

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