​​Stephen is an accomplished entrepreneur with extensive experience in leadership, strategy, marketing, and sales development. His faith guides him as a God-fearing man, and his adventurous spirit shines through his love for the outdoors. Stephen's approach is thoughtful and profound, focusing on helping others achieve financial well-being through innovative technologies.  
 
Sales and Marketing foundation with over a decade of experience supporting medium-sized businesses, he maintains the curiosity of a student combined with the passion of a teacher, continually expanding his knowledge and skills while empowering others. Experienced in financial industries of hedge funds, commercial loans, blockchain, and wealth management.​ 

Komal Ahmed is a passionate advocate for the credit union movement and its core principle of "People Helping People”. He has over 21 years of experience in Financial Services, his career has spanned various financial services sectors, including Consumer Finance, Community and Business Banking, and Credit Union Lending. He ultimately discovered that his passion aligned best with the credit union industry and has been an essential member of the Kinecta Leadership team for the last 8 years. In his current role, he is responsible for overseeing Strategic Alliances, SEG’s, Business Development and Engagement as the Director of Strategic Alliances and Engagement at Kinecta FCU, the nation’s 35th largest credit union. Komal is an active member of the Credit Union National Association's Marketing & Business Development Council and serves on the conference committee. Komal attended California State University Fullerton, where he studied Business Administration and Management. He is currently pursuing a CCUE designation from CUNA Management School at the University of Wisconsin and is expected to graduate in 2024. Komal has also attained the Credit Union Certified Business Development Professional (CUBDP) designation from CUNA Marketing & Business Development Certification School.

Ben is the Executive Director at Exclamation Services, a creative marketing agency and Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) that is wholly owned by Simplicity Credit Union. Ben and his team lead the marketing and public relations efforts at Simplicity CU as well as several external Credit Union and non-Credit Union clients. Ben and his wife Katie love to spend as much time possible with their two children and in their spare time enjoying Wisconsin in the great outdoors, biking, running, hiking and camping. Ben is an active member of Rotary and strives daily to live by the motto of “Service above Self”.

​​Tomer Borenstein has significantly expanded BlastPoint by developing AI technology for highly regulated industries. His leadership fostered partnerships, extending the technology's reach that currently serves over 20% of the United States. He has been named a Business Times’ “30 under 30,” has authored numerous articles, and speaks regularly at conferences on the benefits of AI and machine learning for customer engagement and business growth. His previous work in the startup space includes an exit to Apple. Tomer holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a Master’s in Machine Learning and Computer Vision from Carnegie Mellon University.​

​​Dustin is the CEO and Founder of HIVE Strategy and HIVE Hub and author of Market Like A Human. He is focused on educating audiences on the power of incorporating humanity into their marketing campaigns in order to establish trust, develop relationships, and build authority.

As an agency owner of 10+ years, Dustin has seen the marketing landscape transition into a quantity over quality and automation over effort approach. Dustin believes that in order to win moving forward, brands must embrace their humanity and engage with prospects, leads, and customers in a human-centric way.​

After spending nearly 20 years as a journalist, Vanessa transitioned her broadcast communication skills and broad, multi-platform media experience into the public relations realm. She now serves as vice president of communications for Chartway Credit Union. She manages the strategic approach to all internal and external communications, ensuring Chartway’s core value of serving People First. Always. is at the focus of all credit union communications.

Before joining Chartway in July 2023, Vanessa was director of public relations at Meridian Group. As the director, Vanessa helped foster positive brand recognition and developed strategies to generate publicity for clients, all while growing relationships with contacts and managing the public relations team.

Vanessa prides herself on community involvement. She is currently a member of the non-profit FBI Norfolk Citizens Academy Alumni Association and serves as a board member for 31Heroes, a military charity. She also donates her time with the Chartway Promise Foundation. 

​​Freida Child, the Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Redwood Credit Union, is a dynamic leader known for driving brand awareness and translating data insights into actionable strategies. Her passion for positive impact and her track record of driving growth and profitability are commendable. She leads a team that develops strategic marketing initiatives for the North Bay’s largest credit union, managing over $8 billion in assets and serving over 450,000 members.

​Before joining Redwood Credit Union, Freida gained valuable experience in the financial sector with Travis Credit Union and honed her multi-channel marketing skills at Epsilon (Publicis Groupe), Ryan Partnership, and SolutionSet. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Santa Clara University and a professional certificate in strategy and digital marketing from Cornell University. She is committed to making a positive impact and driving growth in her organization.​

Sam Das is Managing Director of TruStage Ventures, the venture capital arm of TruStage. 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 TruStage, evaluating and executing a broad range of strategic transactions for the organization. Das joined TruStage in 2017.

Prior to joining TruStage, 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.

Das graduated from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics.

​Tyler Disburg is a proven leader in financial services and higher education. Tyler has twenty plus years of credit union experience, including eight years as Chief Executive Officer. His experience ranges from marketing and business development to asset liability management and employee development. Prior to joining the credit union movement, Disburg lobbied for higher education, which led him to political and regulatory roles within the credit union system; including being the only non-CEO on the Montana Credit Union Network’s Government Relations Committee.  
 
Tyler served the credit union industry as a member of CUNA’s Marketing and Business Development Council Executive Committee. Additionally, Tyler was appointed by Montana’s Governor to lead the Missoula Chapter of Montana Ambassadors, an organization of leaders in business and education committed to economic development.​

​​Boasting over 16 years in professional sports, Scott has a proven track record across diverse teams like the Florida Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, and Las Vegas Raiders. His expertise spans ticket/premium departments and, for the past 11 years, sponsorship, demonstrating a well-rounded understanding of the industry.​

Sara Freeman is the Vice President of Business Development at Truity Credit Union. For the last 16 years she has specialized in developing connections between corporate partners and the credit union. Most often this is done by bringing valuable resources for professional and personal growth to the employees of select employer groups. Sara is a born collaborator and enjoys creating partnerships, resource pools, coalitions, friendships, clubs, associations, and groups that will inevitably create a better community. She currently has her CUNA Credit Union Business Development Professional Certification and graduated from the National Credit Union Foundations CUDE program in September of 2022.

​​Since its inception, I have been on a Power BI journey driven by an unwavering passion for transforming enterprise data into actionable insights. Hailing from Teutopolis, Illinois, I take pride in establishing a collaborative hub in 2016 that unites the brightest minds in Data, Analytics, and Planning. Our collective expertise, exceeding 200 years, reflects a dedicated commitment to guiding organizations through their Power BI odyssey. 

Alongside my exceptional team, our mission is to empower organizations by harnessing the full potential of Power BI for impactful decision-making. Partnering with us means accessing a legacy of expertise, innovation, and a genuine commitment to elevate your data analytics journey.​

​Andrew is from Washington State and has been a member of a credit union since he was born. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Central Washington University and then landed a job at a credit union in 2012 and hasn’t looked back. His passion for community, helping others, and service led him to his current role at iQ Credit Union as Business Development Supervisor. Andrew was part of the Accomplished and Under 40 Class of 2018, he graduated from CUNA Business Development School in 2019, he graduated from Leadership Clark County in 2021, he became a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor in 2023, and today he serves on boards and committees for various non-profits throughout Southwest Washington.​

Sarah is a seasoned marketing professional with experience in multiple industries. After spending years in the entertainment industry, Sarah found her way to credit union marketing and has never looked back. As Vice President of Marketing, Business Development and Sales for Colorado Credit Union, Sarah is helping her credit union stand out in a crowded space. She's passionate about all aspects of marketing and appreciates the credit union movement for its altruistic values.

​​Katelynn, a UNCG graduate with a geography degree, ventured from Oak Ridge, NC, to Alaska, where she unexpectedly found her calling in the credit union industry at Northern Skies Federal Credit Union. Rising through the ranks, she now serves as the Director of Brand and Culture, channeling her genuine passion for brand development. Beyond her credit union role, Katelynn works with emerging businesses to consult and help shape their brand identities. Currently pursuing a master's in Executive Leadership at Liberty University, she exemplifies dedication to continuous growth. Katelynn's journey showcases adaptability, a commitment to organizational identity, and a transformative embrace of unexpected opportunities, making her a dynamic force in both the credit union and business consultancy realms.​

​​Kristen believes that creating remarkable member experiences starts with creating extraordinary employee experiences. That's how a lifelong marketer has found herself at the intersection of marketing, branding, employer brand, employee experience, and culture building.  
 
Kristen has a background in Marketing, has been within the Credit Union industry for almost ten years, and before that spent many years at an advertising agency overseeing their bank and credit union clients. She has a passion for building a brand that wins the hearts and minds of both employees and members. 
 
Kristen serves as the SVP, Employee and Brand Experience at Direct Federal Credit Union. She is a member of their Senior Leadership Team, leads the Culture Team, and is a founding member of the DEI Team at Direct Federal CU. She also serves on the Young Professional Committee for her Credit Union League and is a past participant in the CUNA Mentoring Program.​

​​Karan Kashyap is Posh's Chief Executive Officer and co-founder. Prior to founding Posh in 2018, Karan earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from MIT focusing on computer science & artificial intelligence, where he was named a Siebel Scholar for his research work. As CEO, he has helped lead Posh to 50+ credit union and bank clients across the country, an employee count of over 100 team members, over $36M in investments raised to-date, and industry coverage by brands such as Gartner, Forbes, and VentureBeat. Karan was named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list for 2023 as well as to the Forbes Technology Council.​

​​Barry Kirby is a highly accomplished professional in the fintech and credit union industry. He currently serves as the Co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Union Credit. Before joining Union Credit, he held the position of Senior Vice President and Managing Director at CuneXus, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TruStage. Barry's career journey spans various areas of the fintech and credit union sector. He has successfully contributed to business development, the introduction and growth of credit union fintech products, the management of strategic channel partnerships, client relations, marketing, underwriting, and risk assessment. Notably, prior to his roles at Union Credit and CuneXus, Barry was an integral part of the original team that built the DecisionLender platforms and managed TCI for 15 years, a company later acquired by MeridianLink.​

With over ten years of experience implementing data-driven marketing tactics for financial institutions, Dave and his team have developed a cutting-edge approach to creating more members and funded applications. Specifically, they have pioneered the first true marketing attribution model for banks and credit unions that tracks an ad click to a closed loan, then applies this data to their digital campaigns. This allows credit unions to see for the first time which ads produce new members and which do not.

Dave and his team have won numerous national marketing awards including the 2023 Web Marketing Association's "Best Credit Union Integrated Ad Campaign." They’ve also been featured in Yahoo Finance and the Business Journal for their work with credit unions.

As a winner of the “40 Under 40” award, Dave holds an MBA from the Craig School of Business and was a featured speaker on Google Advertising at SXSW (South By Southwest), the nation’s largest interactive conference.

Tiffany Mutchler is the Marketing Manager for Voyage Federal Credit Union, a well-known financial institution in Sioux Falls, SD. With a track record of success in sales and advertising, Tiffany brings a results-driven approach to her role at Voyage FCU. She has been instrumental in one successful merger, with another in progress. These mergers have contributed to the credit union's growth and expansion, almost doubling in size since 2019. In April 2020, she was recognized as one of Sioux Falls' Up and Comers by the Sioux Falls Business Journal. Being a wife and mom of two, Tiffany faces challenges in balancing her career and personal life, she remains committed to setting goals and pursuing continued professional development. Her dedication and hard work have led to a successful career in marketing, and she enjoys helping others achieve their personal and professional goals.

​​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.

​​Stephanie Potter is a marketing professional known for her analytical skills and authenticity. She has successfully led transformations within credit unions, elevating marketing strategies from brand awareness to impactful conversion initiatives, with asset sizes ranging from $98 to $700 million. 
 
Her notable achievements include crafting a multi-award-winning brand and orchestrating strategic advertising campaigns that generated millions of dollars in loans. Stephanie is an innovator in the credit space and embodies the core values of the credit union movement – 'People Helping People.' 
 
Stephanie was a 2023 GAC Crasher who actively championed diversity, equity, and inclusion within the credit union industry. She has played a pivotal role in the success of her small but mighty credit union. The credit union opened over 20 new small business accounts through influencer marketing, focusing on promoting the small business assistance program and micro-lending opportunities, showcasing Stephanie's commitment to fostering community growth and financial empowerment.​

​​Katie Rammer is the Marketing Coordinator at Kohler Credit Union in southeastern Wisconsin and has 10 years of experience in credit union marketing. She coordinates her credit union’s overall marketing strategies, collaborates with various departments on marketing needs and leads its social media efforts including content creation, managing feedback and tracking the success of advertising. 
 
Katie holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with an emphasis on strategic communication. She is scheduled to graduate from the Marketing & Business Development Certification program this year to earn the designation of CUCME – Credit Union Certified Marketing Executive. She was selected as a 2024 Wisconsin Credit Union League Champion and is a former credit union Crasher. She lives and breathes the credit union movement and people over profits philosophy.​

​​As the CEO of EmpowerFi, a strategic marketing firm for credit unions, Hilary has been a transformative force in the credit union movement for over 20 years. After a decade-long tenure as SVP of Marketing at a Philadelphia-based credit union, she co-founded EmpowerFi in 2015, bringing a fresh perspective to strategic marketing. Hilary's approach is infused with her creative expertise (evidenced by a splash of YouTube fame with the most-viewed credit union video, attracting nearly 1.2 million views). Her passion for the industry is not just about leading; it's about teaching and inspiring others. Hilary helps educate others in the industry on topics from AI-driven growth to marketing automation, branding, and member engagement. Her mission is to empower credit union professionals with strategic insights, fostering a culture of innovation and forward-thinking for continued success.​

​​James is a leadership author, motivational speaker, and trained improv comedian. He has been speaking professionally to willing and unwilling audiences for years and has found that quality humor is the secret to hosting powerful conversations that make a genuine impact. His attendees leave feeling recharged, introspective, and ready to get out of their own way. With years of research (and a few too many real-life case studies within his work), James learned everything he could about authenticity in the workplace. He uses this insight to help leaders learn how to manage and retain talent, give feedback that sticks, and build better teams. James’ cornerstone concept is that we as humans can’t learn from people who are perfect, we can only learn from people who are imperfect. James is working to bring humanity back into the workplace and is on a mission to ensure that in their personal and work life, every human realizes they are enough. ​

Chelsea Schnyer is a dynamic creative professional with over 10 years of experience in the marketing industry, currently serving as the Director of Marketing for Southwest Airlines Federal Credit Union in Dalles, Texas. A proud USAF veteran, Chelsea has demonstrated dedication and leadership through deployments to Kuwait and Iraq. 
 
She also is a seasoned entrepreneur, having owned and operated multiple businesses, including a successful mobile bar, small business consulting and a thriving digital marketing firm. Her entrepreneurial spirit and strategic mindset have been instrumental in achieving business success.

​​Patricia F. Shermot, CME, CUDE, is the Director of Government Affairs/Urban Development for Visions Federal Credit Union with over 30 years in the credit union industry. Visions is $5.6 billion in assets and is headquartered in Endwell, New York. The credit union serves over 280,000 members with branches across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Patricia started at CTCE Federal Credit Union in 1993 as a marketing manager and worked her way through to Chief Operations Officer before shepherding the credit union merge with Visions Federal Credit Union in 2013. Patricia is an active member in her community and has committed her time and talents as a member of executive leadership for the following: Credit Union Executives Society - NE Chapter, NYCUA Government Affairs Committee, Global Women’s Leadership PA Chapter, BCTV board chair, Women2Women, a founding member CUNA Marketing Council, Albright College Trustee, Alvernia University adjunct and other non-industry organizations.​

Adam Stewart is the Vice President of Strategic Growth and Marketing at PSECU. Starting as a teller 17 years ago, Adam has dedicated his career to the credit union industry.  In his role he is responsible for leading the creation and execution of marketing and deposit strategies, communications, digital and creative, sales, membership development, research and analytics efforts. In addition to helping serve PSECU's nearly 600,000 members, Adam has served as a volunteer with Junior Achievement for 13 years, serves as a board member with the Harrisburg Regional Chamber, and is vice chair of the leadership council for his church. Adam is also a proud graduate of CUNA Management School, where he earned the CCUE designation in 2017. 

​​Jordyn Swanson heads up business development at Social Assurance, a marketing management and tech company that has served credit unions and financial brands for over a decade. Jordyn is particularly adept at helping financial brands navigate their unique challenges when it comes to marketing, compliance, and digital transformation. A skilled marketer in her own right, Jordyn’s channel of choice is social–where she’s guilty of falling down the occasional TikTok rabbit hole and posting photos of her adorable three-year-old, Ryker.​

​​Ashley Switzer, Marketing and Business Development Professional at Financial Security Credit Union in Southeast New Mexico since 2015, holds the Credit Union Certified Marketing Executive (CUCME) and Credit Union Business Development Professional (CUBDP) designations from CUNA. As a crucial FSCU Executive Leadership Team member, she strategically contributes to the credit union's growth. Beyond her professional role, Ashley is deeply involved in her community, serving as a Mainstreet Board Member & Treasurer, Department Of Development Board Member, Rotarian/ PR Chair for Rotary, and Chamber Of Commerce Ambassador. Her commitment extends into national associations, where she actively participates in the Credit Union National Association's Marketing & Business Development Council and has been a conference committee member since 2016. Ashley Switzer's multifaceted engagement showcases her dedication to her credit union and the broader community.​

​​Ondar Tarlow serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Kinecta Federal Credit Union, where he leads the marketing and corporate communications divisions. His management encompasses enhancing brand awareness, driving member acquisition, and spearheading initiatives across web and digital platforms, advertising, social media, public relations, crisis communications and strategic sponsorships. With over two decades of expertise in the financial realm, Ondar has cultivated a rich marketing background spanning consumer and commercial banking, residential lending, real estate, and wealth management. He has a passion for melding cutting-edge trends and innovative technologies within the credit union’s strategic framework. Ondar’s academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Northridge, supplemented by specialized certificates in e-commerce and Digital Marketing from UCLA. His commitment to communities includes active involvement with notable nonprofits, including the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and the Susan G. Komen foundation.

​​Kerala Taylor, CUDE, is the Senior Marketing Manager and a co-owner of PixelSpoke, a worker-owned cooperative that creates beautiful, high-converting, award-winning websites for credit unions. She has over 20 years of digital marketing experience for a wide range of mission-driven organizations, starting with a nonprofit storytelling website she co-founded that merged with National Geographic. Kerala also serves on the board of the Marketing Association of Credit Unions (MAC) and co-hosts PixelSpoke's Remarkable Credit Union podcast.​

​​Andi Tonietti-Caldwell is the Senior Sales Director for SavvyMoney. Andi has been in the financial industry for nearly 17 years, spending time at both Fiserv and Q2 before joining SavvyMoney in August of 2020. The majority of her finance career has focused on business development, sales, and client solutions.​

Tanya Van Court is a former Nickelodeon, Discovery Education and ESPN executive who was inspired by her 8-year old daughter to bring her passion for kids, families, and cutting-edge digital products to the Financial Services space.  In founding Goalsetter, Tanya revolutionized the family finance space by introducing game-based learning into the Goalsetter family finance app, and focusing the company on transforming communities through Credit Union and Community Banking partnerships.  Tanya is originally from Oakland, California, but currently resides in Brooklyn, NY with her 4 children (ages 7 - 18) and her husband, Rich.  Tanya's primary financial institution for the past 25 years has been Unitus Community Credit Union, and she is also a member of Bethpage Federal Credit Union.

​​Lorrell is the chief marketing officer at Western Vista Credit Union, headquartered in Wyoming. She has 20+ years of experience in public relations, internal communications, marketing and social media and has worked across several industries, including finance, energy, tourism and agriculture.  
 
A native of California, Lorrell has a degree in communication with a minor in animal science from the University of California, Davis. Upon graduating, Lorrell moved to Upstate New York to begin her career. In 2013, she relocated to Wyoming, fulfilling a lifelong dream of living in the Rocky Mountain region. A champion of the cooperative/credit union movement, Lorrell enjoys collaborating with her credit union peers, sharing ideas and building lifelong friendships.​

Josh Wilson is an award-winning marketing professional with more than 10 years of experience in financial institutions. He is passionate about combining data-driven marketing strategies with authentic content to provide measurable success.

​​As a native of South Carolina and Clemson University alumni, Bethani has worked in the financial  industry since 2012. Her mom also worked in the financial sector, and it was a career path that Bethani swore she would never take. But over a decade later, here she is and is loving every minute of it! 
Her marketing experience spans the financial spectrum from community credit union to regional bank to one of the nation’s top 10 FIs.   

​Today as VP of Marketing for Spero Financial, she oversees the credit union’s marketing and brand strategy. Her role encompasses brand awareness, advertising, community relations, and financial wellness. Every day is a new adventure, and she notes it comes with the best team of people!​