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. 

​​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.

Have been working with credit unions for the last 20 years. Currently oversees the Member Contact Center, Virtual Services and Member Relations Support at Oregon Community Credit Union. Active in the community as a member of Rotary and serving on its board. Coach 2nd grade girls basketball and soccer. Love living in the Pacific Northwest and all that it has to offer to enjoy the outdoors.

Marc S. Bloom is an experienced technology leader with expertise in systems architecture, integration, software development, quality assurance and project management. He is results-focused with an accomplished track record of success delivering business value thru innovation. His career includes roles at Hewlett-Packard, Capital One, HCA Healthcare, and Philip Morris. Marc holds TOGAF Architecture, SAFe, Scrum Alliance, and ITIL technical certifications. He has earned Master’s degrees from Virginia Commonwealth and George Washington Universities, and a Bachelor’s degree in business from James Madison University.

Adam Denbo has worked in the Credit Union industry for over 27 years in various positions at Wescom CU, Orange Countys CU, and as CEO of California Agribusiness CU. He has worked with Samaha  Associates for over 13 years as Managing Consultant. Adam holds BS and MBA Degrees from Cal Poly, Pomona. He is a 2002 Graduate of Western CUNA Management School and has completed the CUES Advanced CEO Leadership Institute at Harvard. Adam was published in the journal of International Information Management Association for his development of the CURT Model (Credit Union Return on Technology). He has served on three Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) boards and multiple league committees. Adam has led numerous core conversions from and to various core platforms as a credit union employee and since working at Samaha. He enjoys traveling all over the U.S. helping credit unions enhance their technology.

With over 15 years of leadership experience in financial operations and member service, Adrienne Fischer has a wealth of expertise to share. She has a proven track record of developing successful business strategies that enhance efficiency and service quality. Adriennes exceptional communication and organizational skills have been key in building productive relationships with supporting departments. As a Six Sigma Black Belt, she specializes in process optimization, bringing a data-driven approach to organizational excellence. In her current role as VP - Director of Contact Center at STCU, Adrienne leads the development and execution of a holistic business strategy for the Contact Center division. Her efforts have resulted in an outstanding employee engagement score of 88% through strategic programs fostering a positive workplace culture and tailored career paths for team members.

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. 

Adam manages Credit Union customer relationships at AWS and is involved in growing alliances across the industry with AWS technology partners. With 20 years of experience across the financial services value chain, Adam is a trusted advisor to customers seeking business value from cloud technologies. Adam’s domain expertise is a medley of analytics, technology, marketing, process, and change management – giving him the unique ability to determine strategies and design initiatives for both market-facing and back-office functions.

Adam has delivered transformation solutions within some of the largest financial institutions in the US. He has also held front-office and back-office leadership positions in GE Capital’s Annuity and Insurance businesses. Adam serves on the boards of the Richmond, Virginia Technology Council, and the Richmond Triathlon Club.

Nicholas Hinrichsen got his MBA at Stanfords Graduate School of Business before he started a digital car retailing company in 2013 which he sold to Carvana in 2017. After 3 years with Carvana, Nicholas and his co-founder Chris Coleman teamed up again to start Clutch, with the goal to turn Credit Unions into FinTech lenders and help them remain their members first choise. The founders raised $41M in venture capital, acquired 110 Credit Unions as clients and power the Credit Unions consumer facing account opening and loan origination experience.

Jerry Hughes, a founding member of Compass IT Compliance, LLC, has over 35 years of experience helping companies become compliant with internal, industry and government regulations such as PCI-DSS, Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA, and GLBA. Mr. Hughes, a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Qualified Security Assessor (QSA), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), and Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE) has extensive IT auditing experience, especially within the financial industry and the retail sector. He carries an undergraduate degree in Applied Mathematics for Engineers and a minor in Computer Science from the University of Rhode Island. Mr. Hughes has helped develop Compass IT Compliance, LLC into one of the nation's premier consulting firms in the areas of IT governance, assurance, security, and compliance services.

Nicki Lirot  Director, Relationship Management. Nicki has 24 years experience in Banking, Card Processing and Financial Technology. Nicki started her career as a Teller while working through College, spent 8 years as a Financial Center Manager at a National Bank, then moved into the Payments industry as a Conversion Manager, and has been in  Account Management for the past 12 years. She specializes in helping Credit Unions with card processing growth and risk mitigation strategies along with building payments technology innovation roadmaps for debit and credit card portfolios. Her expertise spans across the Globe. Shes been recognized for Presidents Club Achievements and Relationship Manager of the Year. Nicki is the Committee Chair for the MAP Client Advisory Board and serves in a Financial Literacy Education group. She resides in in St. George, Utah with her husband and outside of work enjoys visiting National Parks, mentoring in the community and traveling.   

Mahesh Marepalli is a Vice President heading the Artificial Intelligence department and developing analytics competency in Affinity Plus FCU to build a data driven organization. He has over 20 years of executive experience at BIG 4 consulting firms leading successful AI and BI implementations as well as large-scale Financial Transformation at several FORTUNE 500 organizations. His experience centers on assisting clients with aligning strategy, technology and organization to streamline processes, reduce costs and achieve competitive advantage. Some of Dr. Marepallis accomplishments include:  Delivered multiple TRADE MARKED and patentable innovative solutions in AI and advanced analytics space Led multiple Artificial Intelligence, Machine learning, big data  advanced analytics projects across several industry verticals including Financial Services, Healthcare and Hi-Tech.  Mahesh Marepalli holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT),Delhi, India

Colleen Pitmon brings over 15 years of dedicated experience in the Credit Union industry, all of which have been with MSU Federal Credit Union. Beginning her career as a call center agent, Colleen has progressed through leadership roles in digital services and branch operations. Currently serving as Vice President of the Call Center, Colleen oversees MSUFCUs member service call center which handles more than 750,000 calls annually. She also is responsible for the Video Services team, which supports member interactions through ITM machines and Video Chat. Additionally, Colleens team leads the organization-wide knowledge management program. A proud Spartan Alum, Colleen enjoys working for an organization that bleeds green and white. Outside of her work,  she loves rooting for the Spartan basketball team with her husband, Shane, and enjoys running and triathlon as her hobbies.

Pat Reetz, Chief Product  Marketing Officer at LinkLive, brings over two decades of expertise in shaping transformative communication strategies. With a rich background in senior leadership roles at LinkLive, Fiserv, BMO Financial Group, and Merrill Lynch, Pat has consistently driven growth by managing business development, marketing, and product management functions. LinkLive, the leading all-in-one, AI-enabled communications platform trusted by the worlds most highly secure organizations, stands out with modern, native features, serving over 1,100 clients. Pats visionary approach securely connects organizations with their end users, fostering trust through cutting-edge solutions, and shaping the future of digital communications.

2nd year with TruStageTM,  Brianda brings significant experience helping organizations with legal and regulatory issues including vendor management, employment practices, disaster recovery and business continuity, and cybersecurity compliance. Licensed in Kentucky, Brianda previously served as compliance attorney for a nearly $2 billion asset-sized credit union. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Loyola Marymount University and Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School. 

Leticia has been in the information security industry and providing public speaking since 2011. Leticia has a passion for clear and concise communication and helping others become the best version of themselves. After earning a B.A. and a M.A. in Mathematics, Leticia joined CoNetrix, where she built and directed Tandems first team of support specialists. Leticia is now Chief of Staff  Chief Learning Officer where she has spent the last 6 years focusing on corporate strategy, employee development, and training. Leticia is Security+ certified, has published various security blog posts and articles, and has presented multiple conference sessions over information security topics and leadership topics. In her freetime she enjoys mentoring college students, learning piano, and solving jigsaw puzzles.

Gaby Saliba is a Customer Success Manager at SMA Technologies, bringing a wealth of experience and a passion for automation to his role. Gaby began his career at a credit union, where he led technical teams through a complex core conversion, demonstrating his exceptional leadership and technical acumen. His journey at SMA Technologies started as an Automation Consultant, where he spearheaded numerous implementations and uncovered continuous automation opportunities for clients. With a deep understanding of automation solutions and a proven track record of enhancing customer experiences, Gaby now focuses on ensuring clients achieve their business goals and secure better outcomes through innovative technology. He also has two German Shepherd Dogs (Pixel and Piper) and enjoys snacks. 

Sabeh Samaha is President/CEO of Samaha & Associates, Inc. In 1998, realizing the strong demand for dependable technology consulting services, Sabeh established Samaha & Associates, Inc. Asked why he is so passionate about credit unions, Sabeh says: “The Credit Union movement has always inspired me to work and advocate relentlessly for their noble cause. I truly love being a part of this family and contributing to its very best interest is a fundamental necessity for me.”  He shares his expertise by writing industry-specific white papers, conducting workshops, and is a featured speaker at regional and national Credit Union conferences. His name is frequently cited as a technology and payment systems expert in leading Credit Union publications nationwide. In the three years preceding the formation of Samaha, Sabeh transformed the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region from the lowest into the highest growth rate for MasterCard International Debit Products. 

Trent Savage is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Mountain America Credit Union, where hes known for leveraging his extensive background with global brands like Amazon, eBay, and Procter  Gamble to drive strategic HR initiatives. Since joining in 2018, Savage has revolutionized HR processes with technology, significantly enhancing employee engagement and aligning organizational goals, which positioned Mountain America as a leading employer in Utah. His efforts earned him the HR Achievement Honoree of the Year award by Utah Business Magazine in 2022. Savage also contributes to the broader business and academic community through leadership roles, including chairing the BYU HR/OD Advisory Council. His approach emphasizes innovation, making him a pivotal figure in shaping HR practices and cultivating a culture of excellence at Mountain America and beyond. 

​​With 30 years of solutions-driven energy and expertise, Arleen Scavone is an established industry leader and go-to advisor. She leads the mortgage and fintech consultancy practice with Newbold Advisors applying a successful track record of building and managing operations, sales and service in both corporate and entrepreneurial roles. The practice focuses on enabling operational excellence through executing the transformation of people, processes and systems for credit unions, banks and IMBs specializing in LOS optimizations or implementations, large-scale servicing conversions, mortgage lending efficiency and program management for transformation projects.  

Arleen is a frequent speaker at industry and technology conferences and has also shared her insight nationally with business, women and youth foundations. ​

David Shaffer is the National Credit Union Administrations Director of Specialist Resources for the Regional Information System Officers (RISOs) in the Western Region. David joined the NCUA in 2009 as an examiner in South Bend, Indiana.  In 2016, he received a promotion to Regional Information Systems Officer (RISO) and moved to Phoenix, Arizona.  In 2021, he transferred to the Office of National Examination and Supervision (ONES) and began working as a National Information Systems Officer (NISO).  David holds a bachelors degree from Indiana University, an MBA from Purdue University, several information security certifications, and recently graduated from the Excellence in Government Fellowship program in March 2024.

Cary joined Community First in April of 2023 with more than 25 years of lending leadership experience at credit unions, including oversight of origination, processing, funding, servicing, and collections. Cary has served on multiple industry councils and committees, including Experian, CUNA Lending Council, and Origence.  Cary earned her bachelors in management from the University of Phoenix and is currently pursuing her MBA with the University of Phoenix with an expected graduation in 2024. Cary is a wife of 24 years and a mother of two children. Cary spends her spare time shopping, entertaining and volunteering her time at local schools.

​​Kathy Sianis is the VP of FI Strategy with Posh Technologies. She comes from the Credit Union Industry, where she has held several senior leadership positions, including CXO. She holds an undergraduate in Business Management and a master's in Business Administration. In her role with Posh and based on her career experience in the FI space, she works with FI's in assessing and determining how to best leverage AI within their organization, meeting business objectives such as efficiency gains, member experience enhancements, growth, retention, and much more.​

Jack is an experienced leader with over 20 years of sales, operations, and delivery experience in the technology services industry. Jack has a proven track record of building a go-to-market strategy, hiring the right team members, and executing the plan to grow revenue and profits in multiple types of IT services. Jack and his partners identified a gap in the credit union technology market and established Pure IT CUSO in 2016. As a result, in the summer of 2022, Janusea, a sister company to Pure IT, was also founded to tackle the growing issue of core conversions. Before founding Pure IT, Jack served in various leadership positions for Facilitek Services (now Genuenta Willis Group Company), Glasshouse Technologies, TEKSystems, and Purity Technology. Jack serves on the board of Lone Star Credit Union and the NCU-ISAO, an information-sharing organization for credit unions. Jack enjoys spending time with his family, exploring, and finding new adventures.

Kyles experience includes 20 years in the community financial industry space, 25+ year in the technology and financial services industries, and leadership roles for the last 20 years. He is passionate about transforming and advancing the community financial industry through innovation and connections. He has developed a network of FI and Fintech leader relationships which provide excellent opportunities for collaboration, partnership, and information on the landscape in the industry. His experience has cultivated a unique skill set and expertise in product development, company acquisitions, process development, in- depth knowledge on credit union regulatory IT needs, and experience guiding fast-growing IT companies. No matter his title, his role in his more than 25 years in the IT and business world always included bridging the gap between business and IT to enable value for any business, bank, or credit union involved.

Scott P. Young, Senior Vice President at Velera (formerly PSCU/Co-op Solutions) oversees the cooperatives Innovation and Emerging Services Teams. With over twenty-five years of experience in payments, Scott started his career at First Data in Omaha before moving to Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) and Bank-Fund Federal Credit Union in Washington, DC before joining Velera in 2019. A passionate advocate for the credit union movement, Scott is also a leader in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts at Velera and across the industry.

David joined NCUA in February 2014 as a District Examiner in Portland, Oregon after completing a Post-Baccalaureate Accounting Program at Portland State University. He was promoted to Regional Information Systems Officer in April of 2019 and is responsible for reviewing credit union’s information security programs and compliance with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and NCUA regulations.  
Prior to joining NCUA in 2014, David held positions as a Principal Engineer, IT systems administrator, network infrastructure and security administrator, SQL database manager. David is a Certified Information Systems Auditor and a Senior Fellow of the Excellence in Government Program at the Partnership for Public Service, Washington D.C. David served as an intelligence analyst during a 20-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps. He also served as the Battalion Sergeant Major, Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia before retiring in February 2002.