Jay Bilas is one of the most respected and influential voices in sports, with a remarkable background that spans sports, media, and the law. He is an Emmy nominated ESPN analyst and a New York Times bestselling author of Toughness: Developing True Strength on and Off the Court. The book reveals the secrets of mental and physical toughness through personal stories and interviews with inspiring leaders. Jay played basketball at Duke University under legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, helping the team reach the 1986 NCAA Championship Game. Jay was drafted by the NBAs Dallas Mavericks, and went on to play professionally abroad in Italy and Spain. He then returned to Duke as an assistant coach, winning two national championships. Jay joined ESPN as a college basketball analyst  expert commentator and hosts ESPNs popular road show, College Game Day. Jay graduated from Duke University School of Law and is a practicing attorney at Moore Van Allen. 

A New York Times best-selling author and innovation consultant, Diana Kander has spent her career challenging assumptions and asking big questions - what kind of culture needs to exist in an organization to ensure innovative ideas and practices? How has Snoop Dogg continued to innovate decade after decade to stay relevant to the next generation? What causes name brands to lose relevance with their customers and go out of business? A serial entrepreneur who entered the United States as a refugee at the age of 8, she has launched and sold millions of dollars’ worth of products and services. Her first book, All In Startup, has been used by over 100 universities in their innovation courses and countless large organizations to help their employees think more like entrepreneurs. Her second book, The Curiosity Muscle walks readers through a methodology to keep curiosity alive and thriving inside of an organization, ultimately, future-proofing the business.

Steve brings a wealth of experience and a highly impressive track record of success as he spends his time-sharing stories, lessons learned and even a few dreams with financial services professionals around the country as an emcee, keynote speaker, coach and consultant.  Steve is a proud Air Force veteran and has enjoyed a 30+ year journey serving members in the credit union industry.  Most recently, Steve served as a Senior Vice President, Member Service Experience at the $29 billion dollar, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union and prior to that, he served as the Chief Retail Officer at Schools Financial Credit Union. He has also held senior roles in the Sales & Service, Branch Operations, and Training and Development arenas. Steve is a past member and Chair of CUNA’s Operations/Member Experience Executive Council and was awarded CUNA Council’s Operations & Member Experience ‘Professional of the Year’ in 2017.  Steve holds a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University. 

Fola is a strategic leader in the Valuation, Forensics, Litigation, and Investigations practice.  She is an experienced licensed attorney practicing as a forensic accountant with an industry specialization in serving financial institutions. Accomplished and results-driven, offering extensive expertise providing ethics, and regulatory compliance guidance to the leadership of public sector and private sector organizations, with extensive experience in forensic accounting investigations, document review, and the development of expert opinions. A demonstrated record of success investigating allegations regulatory, and ethical requirements. She leads client forensic investigation projects, managing large team members and offers a history of delivering solid results in a series of positions with CliftonLarsonAllen, FERC, the SEC, Navigant Consulting, and other corporations and agencies.

Simon T. Bailey is the worlds leading expert in Brilliance. His groundbreaking research, State of Working America Report  Thriving in Resilience and Brilliance, solidifies his insights in his 11th book, Resilience@Work  How to Coach Yourself into a Thriving Future. With Disney Institute as his launchpad, hes left an indelible mark on 2,400-plus organizations in 54 countries, including American Express, Deloitte, Visa, Signet Jewelers, and Taco Bell. He has made a remarkable impact on 120,000 professionals whove experienced his pioneering courses on the LinkedIn Learning platform. Hes also been recognized as Successmagazines Top 25, alongside Bren Brown, Tony Robbins, and Oprah Winfrey, as well as being on leadersHum Top 200 Power List. His viral video, released on Goalcast through META, has 91 million-plus views to date.

Brad serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Air Academy Credit Union in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  The $900 million credit union serves over 50,000 members of the military, 11 local school districts and over 250 select employee groups.

Before joining Air Academy, Brad worked in public accounting with BKD, LLP (now FORVIS), one of the 10 largest CPA firms in the country. 

Brad is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, Colorado Society of CPAs.  He is the Chairman of the CUNA Finance Council and Vice-Chairman of the CUNA Councils Executive Committee.  He also volunteers as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Challenger Learning Center of Colorado and the Audit Committee of the United States Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation.

Brad graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Accounting from Missouri State University.  

Jay Bilas is one of the most respected and influential voices in sports, with a remarkable background that spans sports, media, and the law. He is an Emmy nominated ESPN analyst and a New York Times bestselling author of Toughness: Developing True Strength on and Off the Court. The book reveals the secrets of mental and physical toughness through personal stories and interviews with inspiring leaders. Jay played basketball at Duke University under legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, helping the team reach the 1986 NCAA Championship Game. Jay was drafted by the NBAs Dallas Mavericks, and went on to play professionally abroad in Italy and Spain. He then returned to Duke as an assistant coach, winning two national championships. Jay joined ESPN as a college basketball analyst  expert commentator and hosts ESPNs popular road show, College Game Day. Jay graduated from Duke University School of Law and is a practicing attorney at Moore Van Allen. 

Cassidy Burrows is the General Manager of nCinos Portfolio Analytics solution. She has been with nCino for 7 years, helping maintain overall customer health and leading the solutions product, development, and engineering team. She earned her B.S. in Finance from Brigham Young University.

Brittany Clark, CFA, is a Vice President, ALM Advisors at FHN Financial. With nearly eight years of experience in the asset-liability management field, Brittany has worked with dozens of banks and credit unions with asset size up to $25 billion, focusing on modeling interest rate risk, measuring liquidity risk, and improving assumptions. A native of Roswell, GA, Brittany holds a Bachelors degree in Mathematics from Rhodes College and currently resides in Memphis, TN with her husband and three children.

Erin Coleman is Callahan  Associates Associate Vice President for Professional Services. Her collaborative style and heart for service enables Erin to foster connections and build trust with credit union teams at all organizational levels. During almost 30 years of service in the credit union system, Erin has had the great fortune to work both inside and beside credit unions throughout North America and beyond. In her career, Erin has had the opportunity to hone her skills as relationship manager, facilitator, speaker, and instructor, all with an eye toward moving words and ideas to action. Erins career passion is helping credit unions identify strategic opportunities to grow using a mission-focused lens. She is a proud member of both the Global Womens Leadership Network and the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC). Today she serves on Board for the Southern Regional Chapter of AACUC and as a mentor with the the 1-to-1 Woman Mentoring Program.

Chris Court serves as the Chief Strategy  Innovation Officer at Service 1st Federal Credit Union, headquartered in Danville, Pennsylvania. In this role, he guides the strategic direction of Service 1st with a focus on leveraging data and digital technologies, while fostering innovation and ensuring alignment with the organizations vision. Chris started his credit union journey in 2007, gathering experience across various concentrations including Branch Management, Retirement  Investment, Operations, and Finance. He has obtained industry certifications as a Certified Credit Union Executive (CCUE), Certified Innovation Executive (CIE), and U.S.  Canadian Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE). He is set to add the I-CUDE designation to his credentials in 2024. An advocate for both credit unions and consumer rights, Chris served as a member of the Credit Union Advisory Council (CUAC) for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) from 2018 to 2020.

Jearil Crawford is an accomplished financial services executive who brings more than 20 years of leadership experience to his role as director in Cornerstone Advisors Strategy and Execution practice. His expertise spans long-term strategic planning, process optimization, project management, sales and relationship management, service culture, leadership development, profitability, contract negotiation, risk management, and cost control. ​ Over the course of his career, Jearil held senior strategic leadership and operations roles for numerous large-asset credit unions. He has served as an advisor for a firm with a goal of empowering credit unions through actionable data and collaboration. He also started a company designed to help clients become financially literate. ​

Sam Das is Managing Director of CMFG Ventures, the venture capital arm of CUNA Mutual Group. Since joining, Das has focused on sourcing, investing and advising early-stage fintech and insurtech startups. Das is also the Vice President of Corporate Development at CUNA Mutual Group, evaluating and executing a broad range of strategic transactions for the organization. Das joined CUNA Mutual Group in 2017. Prior to joining CUNA Mutual Group, Das was the founder and CEO of a fintech startup and served as an investment banker at firms including Houlihan Lokey and Fox-Pitt, Kelton. He has completed mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and capital raising transactions valued in excess of $10 billion involving companies like Principal Financial, AIG, MasterCard, Security Benefit and Lehman Brothers.

Rutul leads a team of developers building modern technology that streamlines the entire mortgage process, and helps lenders to close 40% more loans per month than the industry average.  An expert in machine learning, AI, data and automation, he helps turn ideas into successful companies as an advisor, engineer, investor, and product consultant. Previously, he worked in marketing, product design, and software engineering at various successful startups and venture-backed private companies including Coverity (acquired by Synopsys), Omneon (acquired by Harmonic), Topspin (acquired by Cisco), and Procket Networks (acquired by Cisco).  Prior to Maxwell, Rutul founded Bright Funds, an online platform for corporate giving, helping employees donate to the causes that they care about. Rutul earned his MS in Computer Science from the University of Southern California.

Brett has been with Skyla Credit Union (fka Charlotte Metro CU) since summer 2021.  He joined Skyla as SVP of Finance, transitioning into the CFO role mid-2023.  Prior to joining Skyla, he worked at a large credit union in a Finance/ALM capacity for 5yrs in addition to working with NCUA as a Principal Examiner.  Brett is an active member of ACUs Finance Council Executive Committee, serving as Chair for the Forum Committee and Vice Chair for the Conference Committee. Brett received his Bachelor of Science from N.C. State University and Masters in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.  Brett is a Chartered Financial Analyst. 

David FitzMaurice is the Senior Vice President Treasurer of Spokane Valley-based Numerica Credit Union. In this role, he oversees the financial institutions reporting, budgeting, balance sheet management, liquidity, and interest rate risk. FitzMaurice  has over 25 years of experience in the financial industry and holds a masters degree in financial engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Ryan has 13 years working in finance and accounting across four industries with the last five years serving as Finance Manager at Golden 1 Credit Union where he directs strategic financial analysis functions such as profitability reporting and analytics as well as asset liability management. Previously, as a Senior Financial Analyst at Oracle, he contributed to M&A activities, revenue consolidation and reporting for C-suite and investor relations. Ryan began his career in healthcare accounting before transitioning to finance for a European travel conglomerate where he managed financial performance reporting, corporate consolidation of financials, and foreign exchange hedging. He is a recent graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington, he holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from California State University, Sacramento, and he is currently preparing for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level II exam after passing Level I in 2022.

As the Chief Operating Officer at Securityplus FCU in Windsor Mill, MD, Jeffrey oversees retail operations across five branches, and leads the risk and compliance, financial health and recovery, and security and facility maintenance teams. He has the opportunity to serve in many credit union roles with over 25 years in the industry. Jeffrey holds bachelors and masters degrees from Saint Leo University and is currently working on obtaining his Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation through CUES. He actively contributes to Americas Credit Unions Operations and MX Council, serves on the Baltimore County Region United Network for the United Way of Central Maryland, and participates in the Maryland DC Credit Union Associations Advocacy Committee. 

Travis Goodman is a Principal at ALM First, joining the firm in 2003. Travis oversees the Advisory Services group, which is responsible for implementing actionable and effective balance sheet and investment strategies for client financial institutions. ALM Firsts Advisors work closely with clients to develop holistic partnerships to enhance overall performance. This includes interpreting full balance sheet risk analytics and risk positioning to determine the best opportunities and coordinating internal collaboration to deliver advice and insights on loan pricing, loan transactions, investment portfolio management, funding strategies, hedging and more. In addition to overseeing Advisory Services, Travis assists large, complex financial institutions in achieving optimal performance within policy and risk tolerances.

For the past 34 years Richard Gose has worked as a Political Affairs and Trade Association professional. He has applied his experience of campaign politics, grassroots activation, a well-developed understanding of the legislative process, and his expertise with targeted communications to advance the political operations for three major trade associations  the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the American Insurance Association (AIA), and currently, Americas Credit Unions. During his seven years with the NAHB, where he served as Political Field Director, Gose led state and local ballot issue campaigns and statewide grassroots efforts. During this time, he assisted more than 100 homebuilder-supported candidates campaigns for state and local office.

For nearly twenty years Stan has worked extensively with organizations to support the development of business strategies that not only optimize talent but also encourage inclusive and engaging workplaces. He has served as a business advisor to leaders on matters related to diversity, equity, and inclusion by guiding companies on their perspective journey to build engaging, and inclusive organizations driven by purpose and meaning rather than just profits. His breadth of experience spans 5 continents and includes clients at the local, county, and state levels.

As an Executive Consultant at Alloya, Shannon Heames works with over 140 credit unions in the East region of Alloya’s field of membership. She is responsible for the growth and development of new and existing credit union members by promoting and supporting the comprehensive product and service line and education efforts of the corporate and its credit union service organizations. Heames holds a B.S. in business economics from the State University of New York at Oneonta. She has been in the financial services industry since 1999 and has been serving credit unions since 2003.

Ryan Henley leads Stifel’s Fixed Income’s Financial Institutions Strategy Group, which works closely with executive management teams and portfolio managers in providing balance sheet strategies and analyses related to economics, interest rates, investments, and interest rate risk management. In addition to balance sheet and investment strategy, he focuses on the interpretation of shifting regulatory and accounting environments. Ryan joined Stifel in 2015 as part of the firm’s acquisition of Sterne Agee, where he had served as lead financial strategist since 2006. He is a frequent speaker at national and regional banking and financial conferences. Ryan is a CFA charterholder and an honors graduate of the University of Alabama. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and a Master of Arts degree in banking and finance with a concentration in financial risk management.

Edgar is a Senior Manager with the Multicultural Business Strategy unit and hes passionate about using innovation, behavioral science, and data analytics to improve the financial well-being of underserved communities. Prior to this role, Edgar worked for Delve, a top-tier design and innovation firm that helps Fortune 500 firms and start-ups launch game-changing products.  He also spent a decade at American Family Insurance, where he was recruited to join their first Client Research, Customer Experience, and Innovation teams. Edgar received his bachelors in Finance from Iowa State; his MBA in from University of Wisconsin-Madison; and a Certificate in Strategic Decision and Risk Management from Stanford University.  In 2023, he was named among Wisconsins 40 Most Influential Latino Leaders. In his spare time Edgar enjoys spending time with his family; serving at a bilingual church; and dancing to Latin/Tango music.  

Heather Hinchley is a Senior Solutions Engineer supporting the Financial Institutions vertical at Syntellis Performance Solutions. She is responsible for presenting the Axiom Financial Institutions Suite to prospective clients and working with Product Development for continuous software improvement. Since joining the firm in 2015 Heather has filled multiple roles in Professional Services and Sales leading to her current position as Senior Solutions Engineer. With more than 15 years of banking experience prior to joining Syntellis, she has a broad background in financial planning and analysis-related responsibilities. Heather held multiple titles working with regional banks in the Pacific Northwest. Her industry experience includes indirect lending, board reporting, expense analysis, organizational profitability, loan loss provision, funds transfer pricing, and budgeting. She also has deep knowledge of incentive and commission compensation planning, data compilation, and reporting.

Alec Hollis joined ALM First Financial Advisors in 2012 and became a managing director for ALM First in November of 2019. As a Managing Director for the ALM Strategy Group, Alec is responsible for balance sheet strategy and analytics, with a specialization in interest rate risk hedging. He regularly assists clients in maintaining and enhancing their margins, proactively managing interest rate risk, and effectively meeting market demands. His current role includes derivative hedging and advisory, mortgage pipeline hedging, and directing the analytics team charged with investment analytics and profitability modeling. Alec partners with clients to implement strategies that allow them to retain core, longer-duration assets by managing the interest rate risk that accompanies them.

Matt Jakubowski is Area Vice President within Gallaghers Life  Executive Benefits consulting team. As Area Vice President, Matt works alongside boards and executives in the nonprofit environment to build efficient nonqualified plans that benefit the organization while rewarding and retaining key leadership. Matt earned dual Bachelors degrees from High Point University in Political Science and Economics. Risk  Insurance has twice identified Matt as a Power Broker for not-for-profits, and recently identified him as a Rising Star. Matt holds both an Associate in Risk Management(tm) (ARM(tm)) and Accredited Adviser in Insurance(r) (AAI(r)) designations. Over the years, Matt has served in multiple board and volunteer capacities including the Nonprofit Development Center of South Jersey, Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region, and The Arc Gloucester.

Rob, President and one of five c. myers owners, has been instrumental in delivering on the vision of enabling leadership teams to have relevant and reliable financial decision-information at their fingertips, so that they can accelerate their strategic impact in providing value to their markets.  Clients find the speed of the decision-information, whether at the enterprise level or drilling into what is driving profitability at a category level, combined with Robs quick mind and critical thinking, to be invaluable.  While Rob is a familiar face to the senior leadership teams and boards of many large financial institutions, he has helped institutions of all sizes tackle some of their toughest challenges while staying focused on desired strategic outcomes.

A New York Times best-selling author and innovation consultant, Diana Kander has spent her career challenging assumptions and asking big questions - what kind of culture needs to exist in an organization to ensure innovative ideas and practices? How has Snoop Dogg continued to innovate decade after decade to stay relevant to the next generation? What causes name brands to lose relevance with their customers and go out of business? A serial entrepreneur who entered the United States as a refugee at the age of 8, she has launched and sold millions of dollars’ worth of products and services. Her first book, All In Startup, has been used by over 100 universities in their innovation courses and countless large organizations to help their employees think more like entrepreneurs. Her second book, The Curiosity Muscle walks readers through a methodology to keep curiosity alive and thriving inside of an organization, ultimately, future-proofing the business.

Jennifer is the Head of Finance and Deposit Operations at Interra Credit Union ($1.8b), based out of Goshen, IN. She started at Interra Credit Union back in 2017, as the Assistant Vice President of Finance and growing into her current Senior Leadership role. Jennifer graduated from Indiana University South Bend in 1993, where she studied Accounting and passed the CPA exam in 1999.  She has been immersed in the Credit Union industry for over 15 years and held a number of different leadership positions over that time.   She is a servant leader that remains active in her local community through a number of different volunteer opportunities, including the local chapter of Junior Achievement. 

Steve brings a wealth of experience and a highly impressive track record of success as he spends his time-sharing stories, lessons learned and even a few dreams with financial services professionals around the country as an emcee, keynote speaker, coach and consultant.  Steve is a proud Air Force veteran and has enjoyed a 30+ year journey serving members in the credit union industry.  Most recently, Steve served as a Senior Vice President, Member Service Experience at the $29 billion dollar, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union and prior to that, he served as the Chief Retail Officer at Schools Financial Credit Union. He has also held senior roles in the Sales & Service, Branch Operations, and Training and Development arenas. Steve is a past member and Chair of CUNA’s Operations/Member Experience Executive Council and was awarded CUNA Council’s Operations & Member Experience ‘Professional of the Year’ in 2017.  Steve holds a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University. 

David Linderman has a diverse background consisting of both banks and Credit Unions. On the community banking side he worked his way from an entry level teller, to assistant controller, to branch manager, to consumer and ag loan officer. After nearly 10 years in the banking industry he found his way to into Credit Unions. After a few years of helping grow the consumer loan side, he stepped back into the Accounting role where he has been for the last 15 years.  Through mutiple sales of branches, three separate mergers, a Cuso dissolution, sunsetting a Cuso, and focused growth in target markets, he has helped to guide his current credit union from a 30 person, 30% loan to share, $93 million credit union into a $825M+, 180+ employee, 90%+ loan to share market leader in the area.  When not crunching numbers, running scenarios, or attacking data, he can be found near his home in Topeka, Kansas, or out enjoying nature as far away from civilization as possible.

Ed Lis currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of First Choice Financial FCU. Previously, Ed held a CEO position during the financial recession triggered by the housing market collapse, which led to a global financial crisis marked by widespread banking failures, job losses, and economic downturn. With a wealth of knowledge and extensive leadership experience, Ed is known for his hands-on approach and significant contributions to overall profitability and growth. He has a successful track record of collaborating on strategic initiatives and projects, showcasing both strategic vision and tactical execution abilities. Eds expertise spans various domains, including computerized accounting and finance systems, general ledger management, budgeting, forecasting, and regulatory reporting, underpinned by a solid understanding of GAAP principles.

A trusted advisor to credit unions across the country, Mike is a seasoned transactional attorney and financial product structurer with significant experience in law and academia. As the CEO of Olden Lane Inc., Mike oversees the activities of the firms broker dealer and registered investment advisor and has coordinated many of Olden Lanes groundbreaking subordinated debt transactions. Mike earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law, his M.B.A. from Columbia Business School, and his A.B. from College of The Holy Cross. He has been a professor at City University of New York and an Adjunct Professor at Seton Hall Law School and St. Francis College. A regular speaker at credit union conferences and a consistent contributor to industry trade journals and podcasts, Mikes academic writings have also been published in some of the countrys leading legal and business journals.

Tyler Madden joined ALM First Financial Advisors in 2016. As a Director in the ALM Strategy Group, Tylers current role is managing the balance sheet hedging service offering. He is responsible for helping financial institutions implement successful hedging programs to manage interest rate risk and protect margins. Tyler is actively involved in strategy formulaton, trade execution, policy review, and Board and Executve Management training on derivatives. Throughout his tenure at the firm, Tyler has been intimately involved with balance sheet strategy for financial institutions. He began his career as an analyst in the ALM modeling group at ALM First, before moving to a client service role within the ALM Strategy Group.  Tyler holds a bachelors degree in Finance with a minor concentration in Accounting, from Texas Christian University. 

McQueen Financial Advisors, Inc. was founded by Charley in 1999 to provide specialized investment and consulting services to financial institutions. Today, his company advises clients throughout the United States and manages investment portfolios with a combined value in excess of $12.5 billion. With over 25 years of experience, Charley oversees McQueen Financial Advisors core services of Investment Portfolio Management, Asset/Liability Management, and Valuations & Advisory Services. A frequent speaker at financial institution conferences, Charley has provided board of director’s education and training on a variety of topics. Additionally, he regularly provides training for bank and credit union examiners and certified public accountants.

Charley is a graduate of Western Michigan University, with a BBA in Management.

Tanya is a principal in the financial institutions group of CLA, specializing in credit unions. Her 20+ years of experience includes audit and supervisory committee agreed-upon procedures engagements, GAAP and GAAS issues related to credit unions, supervisory committee issues, ACH audits, review and evaluation of internal audit functions and tax returns for credit unions. She has made numerous presentations to conferences, credit union boards, supervisory/audit committees, and management on a variety of accounting and credit union issues.

Christine the Executive Vice President/ CFO at Heritage Family CU. In her role, she works with a variety of areas, but special focuses on Accounting, Finance, ERM, and Compliance. She is an avid volunteer with Councils through speaking opportunities or participating in webinars, live chats, and white papers. She is currently on the Councils Executive Committee, the Vice Chair of the Finance Council, and Chair of the Finance Council Conference Planning Committee. All of these opportunities have helped fuel her passion for credit union and education while also furthering her in her career.

David Milkes is a Director in Doeren Mayhews Financial Institutions Group, where he leads the mergers and acquisitions and strategic advisory practice for credit unions, banks, CUSOs and other related financial entities. With more than 15 years of experience, David serves as a trusted advisor to clients providing strategic, financial and operational knowledge. His deep understanding of industry trends and current market activity helps clients overcome challenges and identify opportunities for growth. Fueled by his passion to see clients succeed today and beyond, he guides them through complex mergers and acquisitions, ownership restructures and business valuations, as well as developing succession, strategic business, financial and operational plans. Prior to joining Doeren Mayhew, David was an investment banker for nearly a decade, providing strategic advice to financial institutions and investment management organizations and started his career public accounting with Ernst  Young.

Bryan Mogensen is an assurance principal at CLA in Phoenix, AZ.  With CLA since 1995, Bryan has gained extensive experience on audit and consulting engagements during his 27 years of public accounting experience and has devoted the last 30 years specifically to credit union industry clientele.  Bryan serves as leader of CLAs Western region credit union and credit union employee benefit plan audit practices. His background includes overseeing and managing audits and internal audits of CUs, CUSOs, profit sharing plans, 401(k) plans, defined benefit plans, and employee and group health plans.  Bryan frequently has national speaking engagements and is a licensed CPA and a member of the AICPA and ASCPA. He received a bachelors in Business Administration with emphasis in accountancy from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  

Gavin Montgomery joined ALM First Financial Advisors in 2020. In his capacity, Gavin plays a pivotal role in assisting financial institutions in optimizing their balance sheets for peak performance and efficiency. With a focus on holistic partnerships, Gavin leverages comprehensive balance sheet risk analytics and strategic insights to guide clients towards achieving their financial objectives.  Prior to joining ALM First, Gavin headed up special projects at Liberty Group Ltd (a financial services group with more than $30 billion of assets under management) where he was responsible for establishing and running a broker-dealer. Gavin previously headed up a risk function and helped build an effective Treasury and ALM function for Liberty Group Ltd. He has more than 18 years of capital markets experience. Gavin holds an Executive MBA from IE Business School in Spain as well as a BS in Actuarial Science.

Heather is an enthusiastic bundle of energy and passion. She is known for her infectious smile and optimism - sometimes it is what it is - but how we choose to approach problems can have a tremendous impact on the world around us. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and former financial statement auditor for a Top-20 National CPA firm, Heather gained experience working with clients in a variety of industries. She currently works as the AVP of Accounting for CapEd Federal Credit Union in Meridian, Idaho, and loves getting to collaborate with others to further the Mission and Vision of the Credit Union.   

Andy joined the firm in 2018 to oversee the design and implementation of ALM, regulatory and wholesale market strategies for credit unions. He also works directly with clients across the country in a broad range of areas including education, portfolio management, interest rate risk management, strategic planning and regulatory guidance. Andy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Long Island University – C.W. Post. He is a registered representative and general securities principal with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

Andy was one of the founders of The Baker Group LP’s regional office in Babylon, NY. He brings a wealth of knowledge including almost 20yrs of credit union experience along with a client friendly comprehensive approach to overall balance sheet management. 

As the Chief Experience Officer at Callahan  Associates, Alix Patterson continually pushes the firms technology, marketing, media, and advisory services teams to consider how to create a better client experience. She has dedicated 25+ years to helping Callahan support credit unions and supplier organizations, and she has had a strong hand in shaping the industry-leading resources the firm offers today. When shes not leading the charge for a better client experience or moderating roundtable discussions, Alix can be found speaking at credit union conferences, facilitating strategic planning sessions, and hosting webinars. The relationships shes cultivated with credit union leaders allow her to identify common challenges, which Callahan then addresses through data, research, articles, and more.

​​Mia Perez is the Chief Administrative Officer at Coastal Credit Union where she leads people operations, marketing, PR, and learning + development. She is the past Chair of the Credit Union National Association’s Marketing & Business Development Council Executive Committee. In 2016, Mia was named as a Woman to Watch by the Credit Union Times and as a Credit Union Rock Star by Credit Union Magazine. She received her bachelor’s degree in public relations from Tulane University, a master’s degree in Leadership + Human Resource Development from LSU and is a graduate of CUNA Marketing +BD School where she is currently an instructor. She is a certified Senior Professional by the Society of HR Management (SHRM-SCP) and earned her PMP certification from PMI. 

Mia is host of the Leadership Experiment with Royce and Mia podcast. Listen on iTunes or anywhere else you get your podcasts or visit www.royceandmia.com.

Sara Peterson is the AVP of Financial Planning and Analysis at Fox Communities Credit Union. With CPA, CMA, and CSCA credentials and degrees in Accounting, Business Administration, and Psychology, she joined Fox Communities Credit Union in 2019 and has since transformed its financial data systems. Her expertise with Power BI, SQL, Oracle, and DAX enabled Fox to build superior budgeting, profitability, and performance reporting systems, doing what third-party solutions have been unable to provide. At the upcoming presentation on Credit Union Profitability and Performance, she will discuss leveraging detailed analytics to drive sustainable growth and member-focused strategies. Her approach exemplifies how innovative data management can redefine financial practices for the better.

Dan is an attorney and capital markets professional with experience in a wide range of financial matters. He is deeply involved in Olden Lanes subordinated debt engagements, overseeing the preparation of regulatory submissions for the Firms credit union clients and related capital raising efforts. Prior to joining Olden Lane, Dan was the Associate General Counsel at the Equinox Financial Group in Princeton, New Jersey, where he oversaw the transactional, legal and compliance needs of the firms family of mutual funds and commodity pools.  Prior to joining Equinox, Dan was an attorney at Cadwalader, Wickersham  Taft LLP in New York, where he worked extensively on securities offerings and negotiated a wide variety of trading and financing related agreements between banks and funds. Dan received his J.D. magna cum laude from Seton Hall University School of Law and his B.A. cum laude from the University of Maryland. He holds the Series 3 and 7 licenses.

Jeff Rice has devoted more than two decades to helping community financial institutions develop and execute competitive business strategies. He brings to Cornerstone Advisors a solid record of success in identifying cost savings opportunities, and his leadership has resulted in consistent and significant revenue growth for clients. His experience working for both major vendors and prominent consultancies enables him to bring valuable perspectives from both sides of the table to Cornerstones bank and credit union engagements.   Jeffs industry expertise spans a wide range of areas, including risk protection and mitigation, lending, operations, payments, digital platforms, and core systems. A critical thinker, he approaches business challenges strategically, always relying on a customer-first philosophy.  

Dean has more than 25 years of experience providing audit, internal audit, and consulting services to credit union and credit union related organizations. He has provided consulting services in the areas of business lending, bond claim preparation, product costing and profitability, and asset/liability management. He also has experience related to credit union 990 tax issues as well as unrelated business income tax issues. Dean has also worked as an internal auditor at credit union. . Dean has worked with a number of large credit unions on strategic issues such as board governance and enterprise risk management, as well as the role of internal audit and risk management, regulatory issues, and many accounting related topics.

Liz Santos is the chief of staff of the Executive Benefits Practice at Gallagher. Liz is the architect of compensation surveys and consulting, and oversees the NAFCUGallagher Executive Compensation and Benefits Survey as well as the SRT Executive Compensation Survey for the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues. Prior to joining Gallagher Executive Benefits, she managed marketing for nonprofit associations, including NAFCU Services. She also served as the marketing director for Congressional Federal Credit Union. She is a frequent speaker at credit union industry events and contributor to various publications. Liz earned her Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. When she is not serving her clients, Liz is active in her community and is pursuing her goal of running a marathon and flyfishing in every state. She is based in Washington, DC. 

Frank Santucci is a Managing Director at Stifel, Nicolaus  Company, where he leads the companys credit union practice. He is an authority on interest rate risk and liquidity risk management in the institutional fixed income market.  Frank has worked with hundreds of institutional investors nationwide in a career spanning more than 38 years, and he is the principal author of the credit union-focused ALM model used by Stifel. The user-friendly ALM analysis has become instrumental for many institutions in the active management of their balance sheet. Frank currently holds Series 7, 24, 63, and 72 licenses from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Frank is also an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America.

Niki Schaumberg, Chief Financial Officer at Fox Communities Credit Union, has over twenty years of financial experience. She has shaped the financial landscape of multiple institutions, including in her current role at the $2.9 billion organization. Her expertise spans complex financial reporting, strategic planning, and the implementation of innovative financial and business intelligence systems.Notably, Niki has been integral in leading multiple stock conversions and has facilitated significant organizational and structural transformations. Niki is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and the Graduate School of Banking. She combines deep industry knowledge with strategic acumen. Join her for a groundbreaking presentation on reimagining Credit Union performance and profitability, where she will introduce a revolutionary approach that moves beyond traditional models to focus on individual accounts and member-centric strategies for sustainable growth. 

As the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Jim Schneck leads the strategic planning process, which ensures that organizational objectives and initiatives are directed towards increasing value to the membership of Alloya Corporate. He is also responsible for Alloyas payments business growth and innovation efforts. In this role, he assesses changing technology and industry dynamics to determine the most advantageous growth pathways, that add value for credit unions. He led the integration of P2P solutions that resulted in Alloya being named Winner of the Callahan / CreditUnions.com 2024 Innovation Series for Innovation in Payments. Schneck applies a unique blend of perspectives, having served clients in such financial and consulting firms as McKinsey  Company and Houlihan Lokey, led strategy and corporate development for a 5,000+ employee organization, and founded smaller advisory firms.

Gary Schuette is currently the President/CEO of Oregon State CU, which he assumed in early 2024. He has more than 19 years of experience in financial services including roles at VyStar CU (most recently Chief Financial Performance Officer), Local Government FCU, Capital One and PwC. Gary has worked in areas such as financial performance, corporate strategy (including MA), financial risk, business transformation and capital markets. He holds two Bachelor of Science Degrees from Virginia Tech. He is a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) charter holder. He also holds the Certified Chief Executive Designation from the CUES CEO Institute.

Damon Sipe is a dynamic technology leader based in Irmo, SC, with a deep track record of steering organizations through complex digital transformations to bolster business growth and operational efficiency. As the Chief Technology Officer at Spero Financial, Damon has driven significant enhancements in IT processes and vendor relations, achieving over $2 million in cost savings for the organization. His career includes experience in a variety of industries and areas of IT.  Damon's leadership is further exemplified by his commitment to volunteer work, notably with the Ron Howell Foundation and as a Lifeline chat/text volunteer. He currently serves as a Vice Chair of the Member Resources Committee. An alumni from the Citadel, The Military College of SC, he also holds multiple professional certifications in IT and agile methodologies.

Brandon Smith is a credit union advocate and experienced CFO commited to excellence in leadership and finance to promote financial well-being for all. He joined the Credit Union Movement in 2009 and has served as CFO, Interim CEO (twice) and VP of Strategy. At Meridian Trust, Brandon oversees Finance, Accounting, Risk, Compliance, and Data Analytics. He is a devoted husband and father, interfaith leader, avid cyclist, and mountaineer. Brandon is a Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE), graduated from CUNA Management School with High Honors, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Spanish from the University of Wyoming.

Rob Smith is Managing Director and Head of Auto ABS.  He has been involved in the capital markets for more than 30 years, and held leadership positions at major financial institutions.  Rob has made notable contributions to the development of securitization and the ABS markets, including the first Credit Union securitization. Prior to joining Stifel, Rob was Senior Managing Director and Head of Structured Transactions at Bear Stearns & Co, Inc. and President of Bear Stearns Advisors International, Inc., Principal at Morgan Stanley and President of Morgan Stanley Mortgage Investor Services, Head of Structured Finance at Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., Principal at Mariner Investment Group, President and CIO of NIBC Credit Management, Inc., and founder and CEO of RangeMark Financial Services, Inc.  He began his career as an economist with the Chase Manhattan Bank. Rob received h Master's degree from the University of Virginia and Bachelor's degree from the University of New Hampshire.

Over the last 15 years, Colin Taggart has been helping credit unions with cybersecurity audit services, including information security general control audits, regulatory reviews (such as GLBA), and application security assessments. He also assists with cybersecurity consulting services, including developing policies and procedures, providing security awareness training, and leading tabletop tests of incident response plans. Colin regularly presents on cybersecurity topics at regional and national conferences. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), and Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Brittni Terry has been in the credit union industry for nearly 11 years and is currently the AVP of Finance and Business Intelligence at OUCU Financial. She has previously been on panels for Pandemic Lessons and Budget. She was the 2022 recipient of the Rising Star Award. Brittni currently serves on the Member Resource Committee for the Finance Council as well as serves as the Finance Chair for GRID, Ohio's Young Professional group. Outside of the industry Brittni serves on Ohio University’s Copeland Scholars Advisory Board and the Marching 110 Network of Alumni and Friends as Secretary.

Alissa Sykes Tulloch, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for AmeriCU Credit Union, is a visionary leader and forward-thinking individual, fostering a culture of innovation and encouraging continuous growth within the credit union. Sykes Tulloch brings more than 23 years in the financial services industry and leads the following departments: Financial Center Operations, Marketing, Membership Development, Member Technology Services, Insurance and Wealth Services, Lending, and Strategic Partnerships. She spearheads new product developments, the implementation of technology solutions, and improves operational efficiency to meet member needs. She shares a passion for advancing the credit union movement and developing the strategic direction of AmeriCU. She works collaboratively with the Chief Leadership Team (CLT) to develop annual and long-range plans for AmeriCU.

Jim joined Performance Trust in 2012. With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, he brings valuable skills to the firm, including risk management and portfolio management. Prior to joining Performance Trust, Jim built and launched Balance Sheet Solutions investment advisory business in 2004 and served as President of both the broker/dealer and RIA from 2010-2012. His extensive experience includes the following positions of Chief Risk Officer at Mid-States Corporate Federal Credit Union, Director-Risk  Investments at Alliant Credit Union, and CEO at NARDA Credit Union. Jim is a CFA Charterholder and graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and securities investment.

Amanda Tom, a Senior Consultant in Plante Morans Talent and Organizational Development practice, has experience in survey design and analysis, talent assessment, and succession planning. She utilizes an empirically-based approach to design surveys according to her clients specific needs. She then translates complex information from the survey data into actionable recommendations, ultimately helping her clients to make informed decisions. Amanda will leverage insights from data to identify top performers to support succession planning and leader development, ensuring high-potential talent is optimized. Her educational background includes a Master of Arts in Psychological Sciences - Industrial Organizational Psychology from the University of Minnesota Duluth and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Central Michigan University. Driven by her mission to bridge the gap between data and people, Amanda is poised to make a lasting impact.

John Toohig is a Managing Director at Raymond James, a Board Member and President of Raymond James Mortgage Company, Inc. and Head of the Whole Loan Group.  John joined Raymond James (formerly Morgan Keegan) in September of 2006. As Head of the Whole Loan Group, Johns primary responsibilities include day-to-day trading of whole loan packages, portfolio analysis, transaction management and the structuring of whole loan, participation and various structured products. Johns product focus encompasses both seasoned and new production: residential mortgages (both QM and Non-QM), commercial mortgages, consumer lending, fintech lending, scratch and dent loans, and non-performing assets.  Mr. Toohig received his undergraduate degree from the Houghton College and his MBA from the University of Mississippi with a focus in finance and IT. John has his Series 7, 24 and Series 63 licenses.

Steve Twersky  Executive Vice President  Portfolio Strategies and Analytics  steve.twersky@fhnfinancial.com Steve Twersky is executive vice president and manages the full depository institution support platform for FHN Financial.  This includes FHNs Portfolio Strategies Group, the ALM Advisory Group and the Portfolio Accounting  Analytics Group.  Steve assists clients with all aspects of investment portfolio and balance sheet management including regulatory, tax, and accounting issues.  In his broader role, Steve helps ensure that FHN Financials comprehensive service package for depository institutions remains relevant to the continually changing banking environment. Steve is a frequent speaker at banking and investment conferences around the country.  He joined FHN Financial in 1984 after working at a major public accounting firm.  Steve holds a bachelors degree from Indiana University and is a Certified Public Accountant. 

Ashley Vandermause has been part of the credit union industry for more than 20 years, beginning as a teller while still in high school. She found her calling in the accounting area, working as an Accounting Manager, Financial Analyst and becoming CFO of UnitedOne Credit Union in Manitowoc, WI in 2017. A self-proclaimed “numbers geek,” Ashley enjoys the oversight of her credit union’s balance sheet with a vision of maximizing return to members while managing overall risk. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh and became a CPA in 2009.

Elisabeth Vogel is a managing director and Senior Fixed Income Strategist in Raymond James’ Fixed Income Capital Markets (FICM) division. In this role, she is primarily responsible for advising the firm’s depository institution clients on fixed income portfolio construction, balance sheet management, and strategies for optimizing financial performance. Elisabeth joined Raymond James as an analyst in 2006 and was promoted to managing director in 2018. As a recognized leader in depository institution strategy, she regularly works with regulatory agencies charged with overseeing banks and credit unions. Elisabeth is a frequent speaker at bank and credit union industry events, along with various Raymond James Fixed Income conferences.

Elisabeth holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Memphis Fogelman College of Business and Economics. She holds the following professional licenses: Series 7 - General Securities Representative and Series 63 - Uniform Securities Agent State Law.

Jeff is the CFO of FORUM Credit Union, Indianapolis, IN, which has 162,000 members, $2.1 billion in assets, and another $1.3 billion in managed assets off-balance sheet.  He has been with FORUM for 26 years and CFO for the past 13 years.  He has worked at three credit unions during his 38 year career.  Jeff currently oversees the accounting, finance, fraud/loss mitigation, and collection teams.  He also chairs FORUMs ALCO and Pricing Committees.  AS FORUMs CFO he looks for ways to support members and employees.  He has two growrn children, a daughter-in-law, a grandson (and another one on the way!), and a granddog.

Nancy Wu has spent most of her career working in consulting and auditing various accounting departments financial close processes for public and private organizations ($200 Million to $4 Billion). Her published work around leveraging user behavior to design internal controls is archived in the Cornell University Library. Ms. Wu is also the author of a whitepaper that discusses management standards around the balance sheet reconciliation process. She is the subject matter expert on an award-winning webinar program that draws hundreds of sign-ups each month on topics ranging from internal controls over financial reporting, to month-end close infrastructure, to Finance tone at the top. Ms. Wu currently leads sales and customer success for SkyStem, a technology company that offers month-end close and reconciliation automation for mid-market companies in banking, healthcare, retail, and various other industries.

Will Young has been part of the financial services industry for more than 15 years, He found his calling in accounting, working as a Bank Examiner with the OCC, VP of Cash Management and VP of Accounting in the Mortgage Banking space before joining the credit union industry 2021. As the Controller, Will overseas all aspects of accounting and regulatory reporting for the $1.6 billion of assets and 93,000 members of Sharonview Federal Credit Union. He holds a master’s degree from Winthrop University in Accounting.

With over 20 years of experience in the credit union industry, Jeremy Zager combines an auditing background with career experience in several industries including banking, finance, and retail in his role as Chief Financial Officer of Dort Financial Credit Union. A proud alumnus of Michigan State University, Jeremy earned his MBA from Oakland University and has obtained both the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) designations. He is passionate about helping Dort Financial implement its strategic priorities and teaching employees to avoid distractions and improve efficiency so they can reach their goals.

John Zasada is a Principal in the firms Financial Institutions Group, where he helps manage, strategize and guide regulatory compliance for credit unions.  With more than 30 years of experience, John assists credit unions across the nation remain compliant by conducting and leading a diverse range of compliance engagements including BSA, UDAAP, lending, operations and website/social media/advertising compliance. He is regularly called on by credit unions to establish regulatory compliance programs and management systems, as well as educate staff on regulations.John is an author and speaker within the financial institutions industry, often invited to speak at national and state industry associations to cover an expansive range of regulatory compliance topics.Prior to joining the firm, John led nationwide compliance practices as a Principal with CliftonLarsonAllen and RSM McGladery. John obtained his JD from Vermont Law School.  

Chelsea Zastrow is the Vice President of Finance at Connexus Credit Union, bringing over 16 years of expertise in financial institutions, including a role as CFO at a mid-sized credit union. Her career began in customer-facing positions before advancing into finance, reflecting her deep understanding of both operational and strategic aspects of banking. Chelsea holds a BBA in Accounting and an MBA with a finance emphasis from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. Outside of her professional life, she is a devoted mother to three children and an enthusiastic marathoner. Her blend of professional acumen and personal dedication showcases her dynamic approach to life and leadership. 

Sean has worked in the financial industry for over 25 years in various roles, from Chief Financial and Strategic Officer to President and CEO, at financial institutions with over a billion dollars in assets.  Seans recent experience has been as an executive consultant at a well-recognized fintech integration firm. Sean uses his many years of experience to provide intriguing insights and different perspectives on complicated issues that impact the financial industry.  His outgoing personality and passion for helping institutions remain sustainable and relevant allows him to play a key role in helping organizations optimize their business. Sean holds an MBA in Finance and a Masters Plus in Accounting from Loyola University, and graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance, Management, and Marketing. Sean also earned a CPA designation, passing the exam with one of the top 10 scores in the state of Maryland.

Julie Zink has been the CFO at Marshall Community Credit Union for 17 years. Prior to that time, she held finance and accounting roles in the insurance industry. She has extensive experience in strategic planning, balance sheet management, financial reporting, and budgeting and is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU).  Julie has been a member of the CUNA Finance Council since 2007, and a member of its Member Resources Committee since 2015.  She is also active with the Michigan Credit Union League, as a member of the executive committee for the Greater Southwest Chapter of Credit Unions.  In addition, she is a member of various finance/investment committees and boards in her community. Julie is a native Hoosier, graduating from Indiana State University, and lives in Marshall, Michigan with her husband, Gary. She enjoys working out, walking/hiking, health  fitness, dancing, reading and keeping up on current events.