Michael has been in the financial services industry for over 20 years, serving in various roles at two community and regional banks then as a loan department lead for one of the largest financial institutions in the country. He joined the Credit Union industry in 2014 and was named President/CEO at First Financial in 2015. FFCU grew over 300% under his leadership and attracted many suitors. In 2024, he led a joint process to merge with Great Lakes Credit Union and was named the Chief Strategy Officer at GLCU following the transaction. Today he oversees numerous initiatives in areas of business development, lending, mergers and acquisitions and external growth and is the CEO of GLCU Holdings, CEO of Mortgage Forward, and CEO of GLCU Insurance, all closely held CUSOs of GLCU.

Michael serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Credit Union Foundation, the Illinois Credit Union League as Vice Chairman, Vice Chairman of Envisant, Vice Chairman of Services Credit Union and Chairman of the National Credit Union Insurance Alliance. He is also an advisor on various investment and other ventures both as a volunteer and in support of other businesses. In 2025, he was named to the Board of Directors of Aviary, an industry first AI solution which he helped to jumpstart as CEO of one of the initial investors in 2023. Beyond the four walls of finance, he helps to serve as a Board member of Synergies Seed Fund a first of its kind non-profit assisting those with disabilities in their entrepreneurial aspirations.

Past experience includes roles on the Board of Xtend in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Treasurer at Resources for Community Living in Rolling Meadows, IL. Michael is also an Adjunct Faculty Member teaching classes in Finance and Management in the MBA program at North Park University, a role he has held since 2018.

Michael received a BA from DePaul University in 2007 and an MBA in Finance in 2012 as well as a post graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin in 2016.

Michael resides in the northern suburbs of Chicago as a life long resident of the Chicagoland area with his wife Erin and their 3 children Anderson, Maddon and Gracyn. He enjoys coaching their collective youth sports teams and is an avid Chicago Bears and Cubs fan despite the heartbreak they bring in most seasons.

Jonathan is a seasoned entrepreneur and fintech executive with deep expertise in product development and capital markets. He is the Founder and CEO of Takara, a company redefining the mortgage space at a time it is most needed.

Before Takara, Jonathan was the Founder and CEO of Contigo, a pioneer in mortgage product innovation. Previously, he served as VP of Product at Setoo, where he helped build a fully automated parametric insurance platform, and as VP of Product & Marketing at Creditplace, leading the development of a P2C factoring marketplace.

Earlier in his career, Jonathan was a trader and trade floor manager at Matrix Capital, trading and overseeing high-frequency trading of STIR futures on the CME.

With a BA in economics and MSc in civil engineering, he combines an engineer’s structured thinking with a racer's instinct for speed and precision, driving innovation in every venture he leads.

Jonathan splits his time between the US and Israel where he lives with his wife Tal and 4 daughters. He enjoys table tennis and skiing, although regularly disappointed by the lack of snowfall in Israel in most winters.

Cody Barbo is the Co-Founder & CEO of Trust & Will, the leading digital estate planning platform in the U.S., trusted by over one million families. Since launching in 2017, Trust & Will has modernized legacy planning with simple, secure, and attorney-approved online solutions tailored to state-specific laws. Under Cody’s leadership, the company has raised over $80 million in funding, and its customers report more than $100 billion in estate assets on the platform.

Trust & Will supports over 20,000 financial advisors and 200+ banks and enterprise partners, including AARP, Fifth Third Bank, Northwestern Mutual, UBS, and USAA. Recently, the company introduced EstateOS, the first intelligent estate planning platform designed to revolutionize legacy planning through embedded AI guidance, streamlined workflows, and enhanced collaboration between families and professionals.

Trust & Will was recognized on the Inc. 5000 list for the third consecutive year in 2025. Cody was named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 Pacific Southwest Award Winner and regularly contributes to Forbes, Fast Company, and Inc. He is passionate about leveraging technology to transform estate planning from a transactional task into a deeply meaningful and personal experience.

Cody lives in Dallas with his wife and two children.

Afternearly a 20 year commercial banking career in Michigan, Bill led the launch ofMichigan Business Connection, LC in March 2004 and serves as its president and CEO. MBC is a collaborative effort by creditunions throughout the State of Michigan to provide small business andcommercial real estate financing. Sinceinception, MBC has helped the credit unions originate and manage over $2.5 billiondollars in financing for Michigan business owners and real estateinvestors. The company is headquarteredin Ann Arbor and has a professional staff of 70.

Sincestarting the CUSO Bill has been a continuous advocate for collaboration betweencredit unions and CUSOs, and actively engaged in NACUSO. Upon joining NACUSO, Bill led the creation ofa coalition of business lending CUSOs to promote responsible lending,reenergized and chaired NACUSO’s Business Advisory Committee, promoted andfacilitated two NACUSO MBL conferences and engaged in member recruitment andretention efforts. Bill was elected tothe NACUSO Board in 2017, has served on its Executive Committee since 2022 andcurrently serves as Board Chair. Bill has been a frequent facilitator andparticipant in NACUSO conferences, CUSO Award Committees and the Next Big Ideacontest.

A life-long Michiganresident, and Michigan State University graduate, Bill lives in Saline,Michigan, and he and his wife have four children and three grandchildren. Bill has a long history of community andorganizational leadership including Commissioner and past Chairman of the City ofSaline Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals, Chairman of the local American Red Cross,Chairman of the Washtenaw Economic Club, President of the New Enterprise Forum(a venture capital support organization) and other community and economicdevelopment organizations.

Karan Bhalla is the Founder and CEO of AiVantage, a company launched in 2024 to help financial institutions turn data into action through ethical, scalable, and hyper-personalized engagement. He is widely recognized across the credit union ecosystem for answering the question many organizations struggle with after dashboards and models are built: now what?

Prior to AiVantage, Karan founded CU Rise Analytics, a global CUSO focused on helping credit unions better understand, influence, and retain members through data science and predictive analytics. CU Rise was acquired by Trellence, where Karan went on to serve as Chief Growth Officer. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at IQR Consulting and worked as an analyst and risk auditor at Capital One, building a strong foundation in risk, analytics, and financial services.

With more than two decades of experience, Karan has led global teams across the U.S. and India and collaborated with organizations including Capital One, PenFed, and American Express. His passion is leveling the playing field for small and mid-sized institutions by enabling AI that delivers the right message to the right member at the right moment, without compromising trust or compliance.

Nick has worked within the Financial Services Industry since 1999. Currently overseeing SELCO Group, a wholly owned Subsidiary of SELCO Community Credit Union headquartered in Eugene, Oregon.

Prior to SELCO, Nick worked for both Mountain America Credit Union and it’s CUSO Mountain America Financial Services, most recently as Vice President of Insurance Services. Nick has a deep background in creating and managing various for profit CUSO’s which include Property & Casualty Insurance CUSO’s, Medicare and Life Insurance CUSO’s, Lending CUSOs and Property Management CUSOs.

Nick holds a Bachelors (BA) in Criminal Law with a Foreign Language Minor and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). During his free time, Nick enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his wife and 3 kids. Nick has attended NACUSO since 2007 and worked as a volunteer member of the NACUSO Property and Casualty Advisory Board since 2010, currently acting as Chairman

Bob is a graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania with over 35 years’ experience in consumer lending and over 30 years specifically in indirect auto lending. He managed a consumer discount company and achieved the highest growth in his region while maintaining superior asset quality through diligent underwriting and consistent collection efforts. Bob then joined a regional bank and established their indirect auto lending center and was instrumental in developing the product and growing the portfolio to over $700 million. He joined one of the world’s largest banks in 2004 and achieved high level status among Regional Sales Manager. Bob has been the CEO of Keystone Lending Alliance since it was founded in 2008 and has directed the CUSO to be a market leader, lending nearly $6 billion to date with extremely low delinquency and losses. He has been involved in his community, working with YMCA youth activities and local sports programs. 

Justin is the President/CEO of CU Business Group, and an experienced banking executive with 23 years of commercial lending experience at both credit unions and community banks. Justin started with CUBG in 2017, bringing a unique perspective as both a former CUBG client and an employee. Justin has extensive experience in managing teams within the commercial, consumer, and mortgage areas, including the commercial team and business lending department at a now $4 billion credit union. Justin’s background also includes time as the Chief Credit Officer for a community bank, overseeing commercial, mortgage, and consumer lending. In his role at CUBG, Justin leads program and product development, manages the CUSO’s staff and teams, and consults with credit unions on business services strategies. Justin also serves on CUNA’s Associate Business Membership Advisory Committee. 

Alok Datta is the Founder and CEO of Alchemist Solutions, where he helps lenders remove friction from the mortgage process by leading with domain expertise and process clarity before applying technology. A seasoned business and technology leader, Alok brings deep experience in process transformation, workflow optimization, and operating at scale within highly regulated financial environments.

Before founding Alchemist Solutions, Alok served as Group President at SLK Global, where he led strategy, growth, and delivery across complex enterprise systems, industry verticals, and global teams. His background includes building and scaling technology-enabled services that balance innovation with execution discipline. Today, Alchemist Solutions integrates with platforms such as MeridianLink and MortgageFlex, helping lenders digitize document processing, streamline underwriting workflows, and deliver cleaner, more complete loan files.

Alok believes the industry often over invests in large technology initiatives while underinvesting in understanding how work actually gets done. His philosophy is precise and practical: understand the process, remove the bottleneck, then apply technology surgically where it creates measurable value. That approach has made him a trusted partner to lenders seeking sustainable efficiency and real operational impact.

Eric brings over two decades of leadership in retirement planning, insurance, and banking to the credit union industry. As Vice President of Credit Union Programs at AMOCO Federal Credit Union, he champions operational excellence and member-focused strategies that drive meaningful financial outcomes.

Throughout his career, Eric has held pivotal roles, including managing a $500M+ wealth management firm and overseeing the life & annuity operations of a $50B+ life insurance carrier. His academic credentials include a BBA in Finance from Texas State University, an MBA in Finance and Financial Management Services from the University of Houston–Clear Lake, and professional designations as a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) from The American College.

In 2024, Eric graduated with honors from the Cornerstone League's Southwest Credit Union Management School, underscoring his commitment to continuous growth and innovation. Known for his expertise in strategic planning, risk management, and operational leadership, Eric is passionate about empowering credit unions to deliver exceptional member experiences and thrive in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

Kurt is a graduate of the University of North Texas. He joined the credit and collection industry in 1991 as an underwriter of automobile and mortgage loans. Throughout his years in the industry, he has played an integral role in the development and implementation of policies and procedures in the areas of credit & financial analysis, credit scoring, loan origination & servicing as well as various accounting functions.

While serving in a management capacity for Indirect Lending Services, he has overseen various aspects of cash flow management, Human Resources, Project Management and Information Technology.

Kurt joined FocusOne^TM in 2000 and has been instrumental in the development of the systems and infrastructure which have made FocusOne^TM the industry leader in indirect lending.

T.W. has 25+ years of financial services leadership experience, recognized for building high-performance cultures, modernizing operations, and delivering measurable growth. In his current executive role at a Houston-based credit union, he has helped drive historic performance—including ~70% asset growth , strong loan expansion, improved profitability/ROA, and record member satisfaction.

Previously, he held senior leadership roles at some of the worlds largest banks, leading multi-state retail branch networks, small business functions, and commercial banking teams. He currently serves as Board Chair of FOCUS ONE, a multi-state CUSO supporting credit unions with auto, mortgage, and insurance programs across multiple states. 

Emily Jorgenson is the Director of Operations & Training at Credit Unions First, where she leads operational strategy, training, and enablement across the organization. With over a decade of experience in teaching, coaching, and program development, Emily specializes in building training systems that improve adoption, efficiency, and confidence. Her work focuses on onboarding, process alignment, and turning complex tools into usable knowledge. Outside the office, Emily is a CrossFit Level 2 Coach with 10 years of coaching experience, bringing the same clarity, structure, and energy to the gym as she does to the workplace.

Mark Keeling, Senior Manager of Payments Strategy and Product Innovation at Catalyst, plays a key role in developing faster payments offerings such as FedNow®, RTP®, and P2P. With 37 years in correspondent banking and a former COO of The Bankers Bank, he brings deep expertise across payment rails: ACH, wires, checks, cash, and cards. Mark served on the Fed’s Faster Payments Task Force and now sits on the U.S. Faster Payments Council. A graduate of SMU and the Conn Graduate School, he frequently speaks at industry events hosted by Nacha, FRB, ABA, BAI, ICBA, OBA, TBA, and ECCHO.

Nicol Matthews, Chief Operating Officer of Innovative Business Solutions, brings over 37 years of financial industry experience, with nearly two decades of executive leadership in credit unions and a proven track record of transformative leadership. She’s led organizations through substantial growth initiatives – driving an increase in assets by over 250%, leveraged growth in the loan portfolio by over 240% and doubled membership from 30,000 to 60,000 in less than 10 years solely through organic growth. She is a recognized leader in business services consulting, leadership development and training initiatives --- equipping credit unions to grow stronger through strategy development, setting expectations and accountability, culture refinement, and training enhancements. Nicol’s leadership is rooted in purpose, shaped by experience and driven by a desire to create a positive, lasting impact --- one credit union at a time.

Jed Meyer is a visionary leader with nearly 30 years of experience in banking and financial services, known for blending bold innovation with a deep commitment to people-first values. Since becoming President & CEO of St. Cloud Financial Credit Union (SCFCU) in 2014, Jed has led the organization through more than 400 percent organic growth, achieving an average annual growth rate of 14 percent, far outpacing the 3 percent industry peer average. Under his leadership, membership has doubled and loan growth consistently outperforms peer benchmarks, driven by a strategic focus on lending excellence, product innovation, and purpose-driven leadership.

Jed has positioned SCFCU at the forefront of fintech transformation. Under his leadership, the credit union—one of the owners of DaLand CUSO—became the first in the industry to launch a digital asset vault, a ground breaking solution developed by DaLand to meet the evolving future of money. Jed also serves as chair of DaLand’s Board of Directors, helping guide the CUSO’s strategic direction to empower local financial institutions address the diverse needs of underserved markets.

This collaboration reflects Jed’s forward-looking approach to the evolution of money and payments, enabling credit unions to thrive in a rapidly changing financial ecosystem. He also supported the successful launch of cannabis business banking services, further demonstrating his commitment to the credit union serving emerging markets and meeting members where they are.

In recognition of this bold leadership, St. Cloud Financial Credit Union was named one of the Most Innovative Companies to Watch in 2025, a testament to Jed’s ability to combine strategy and heart in guiding a mission-aligned institution into the future.

Beyond his role in financial services, Jed and his wife Sara Meyer are co-owners of the Family Achievement Center of Central Minnesota, a pediatric therapy clinic specializing in occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Together, they are committed to supporting holistic health and developmental outcomes for children and families in their community.

Jed is also the co-founder of the TriUnity Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to alleviating financial burdens for individuals facing terminal illness, enabling them to focus on relationships, healing, and dignity in life’s most difficult seasons.

His community impact is deep and sustained: he has served on the Sartell City Council, held leadership roles with the Sartell Baseball Association, St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation, and the Pinecone Central Park Board, and coached youth sports for more than 16 years.

Keith Reed has served as Cooperative Business Services' (CBS) top executive since its inception in August 2003. He has over 30 years of commercial experience with regional banks, national lenders, and most recently, with credit unions.

Keith has worked in all business lending facets, including business loan origination, underwriting, closing, and management. Since 2003, Keith has grown Cooperative Business Services (CBS) from an initial group of 7 credit unions in three cities to over 150 credit unions in 16 states with a portfolio of nearly 1,700 active credits and $3 billion in loan dollars under management.

During Keith's more than 20 years of leadership, CBS has been twice nominated as one of Cincinnati's Best Small Businesses To Work For and also received Top Lender Status with area SBA offi ces related to producing SBA 504 and 7(a) business loans.

Keith holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Miami University (Ohio) and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Ashland University.

Ben Rempe works with fintechs, CUSOs, and credit union leaders navigating one of the hardest phases of growth: when the product works, early momentum exists, and progress still feels slower and harder than it should.

As Founder of Limitless Growth Guild, Ben partners with leadership teams to bring clarity to strategy, discipline to execution, and structure to go-to-market efforts. His work spans revenue strategy, capital alignment, partnerships, and organizational focus, with an emphasis on building repeatable growth engines rather than chasing one-off wins.

Ben’s background includes senior leadership roles at fintech companies such as TMG Financial Services and LenderClose (Coviance), both recognized with NACUSO CUSO of the Year awards, where he helped scale teams, revenue, and capital through periods of rapid growth.

John is a Texas State University graduate with over 30 years of experience driving growth and innovation within the credit union ecosystem, with deep expertise in indirect auto lending, mortgage lending, insurance products, and CUSO strategy. He has led national expansion initiatives, built collaborative dealer and credit union partnerships, launched member car-buying platforms, and aligned product strategy with evolving market demands. As a senior executive overseeing sales, marketing, and business development, John is known for disciplined execution, relationship-driven leadership, and delivering scalable, credit-union-centric solutions that create long-term value.

Mark Ritter is the CEO of Member Business Financial Services (“MBFS”). MBFS is owned by fourteen credit unions and works with over one hundred, credit unions nationwide. In 2002, Mark started Members 1st FCU’s business lending program that grew to be one of the ten largest for federal credit unions. In 2012, Mark took on the CEO role for MBFS. Since Mark joined MBFS and the company has grown to offer a full line of services to assist businesses and credit unions, including servicing a $3.0 billion loan servicing portfolio.

With decades of unwavering commitment to excellence in Compliance, Risk Management, and Audit, Ravi de Silva stands as a distinguished leader in the global financial crimes landscape. Prior to launching ‘de Risk Partners LLC’ a boutique global compliance consulting firm, he served as the Global Head of Compliance Testing for AML, Sanctions, and Anti-Bribery Corruption at Citigroup. Ravi brings a wealth of experience, strategic vision, and a proven record of navigating complex regulatory frameworks.

Professional Expertise:

• Regulatory Compliance Leadership: Ravi's illustrious career spans across various continents, where he has successfully led and managed regulatory compliance teams. His understanding of the US and the international regulatory landscapes, coupled with a keen eye for emerging trends including technology supporting compliance, has helped him successfully lead regulatory exams, remediations and responses for the largest banks in the world.

• Risk Management Mastery: Recognized for his adept risk management strategies, Ravi has consistently demonstrated the foresight to identify and mitigate potential risks proactively. His methodologies go beyond compliance checkboxes, emphasizing a holistic approach coupled with technology that safeguards organizations against evolving threats.

• Audit Excellence: As a seasoned auditor, Ravi has overseen and executed comprehensive audit programs that ensureoperational integrity and adherence to regulatory standards. His meticulous attention to detail and commitment to precision contribute to the robustness of audit processes.

Visionary Leadership:

Ravi's leadership philosophy is rooted in collaboration, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. He fosters a culture of compliance awareness and proactive risk mitigation, empowering teams to navigate the intricacies of regulatory challenges with confidence.

Industry Recognition:

His insights have been sought after at international conferences such as the ACAMS ‘The Assembly,’ where he has been invited to share his expertise on topics ranging from AML, Sanctions best practices to global compliance team leadership strategies.

At the helm of Pure IT Credit Union Services and Janusea, Inc., Jack focuses on pioneering IT solutions tailored to Credit Union challenges. His team excels in identifying and bridging infrastructure gaps, ensuring our clients are equipped with robust and secure systems. With an emphasis on transparent communication, we guide Credit Unions through potential improvements and strategic investments.

As a CRO, I apply my acumen in business strategy and sales management to drive forward innovative service models and operational best practices. Our mission is to empower the Credit Union community through cutting-edge, cost-effective IT services. The goal is to create a lasting impact in the marketplace and contribute positively to society by serving the unique needs of our clients.

Executive and servant leader with experience in digital and retail venues of financial services delivery. Experience in strategic planning and management, asset/liability management, mission fulfillment, consumer/mortgage/commercial lending, branch and back-office operations, marketing and business development, and project sponsorship and management. Has certification in Enterprise Risk Management and proven record of expense reduction through streamlined delivery channels, product innovation and portfolio management. 38 years of financial services experience.

Alice serves as the Vice President of Consumer Lending, Product Innovation, and Credit Analytics at VyStar Credit Union.

Scott Venerable is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BENEFICIARY ProActive™, where he works at the intersection of trust, compliance, and life events to help financial institutions improve how beneficiary data and benefits are managed over time. With more than 20 years of experience across insurance, benefits consulting, and financial services, Scott has worked in nearly every seat in the industry, giving him a rare, end-to-end perspective on where beneficiary and benefit transfer processes break down.

His work centers on proactive life events that place stress on beneficiary data and benefit continuity, including marriage, divorce, birth or adoption, job changes, retirement, caregiving, and the death of a family member. These moments often expose outdated records, disconnected systems, and unclear ownership, creating risk for both families and institutions.

Scott focuses on addressing common drivers of unclaimed property exposure, beneficiary disputes, and operational friction by bringing structure, accountability, and coordination to beneficiary data and continuity planning, helping organizations deliver greater clarity, continuity, and care during life’s most critical transitions.

John Wingate is a visionary entrepreneur, technologist, best-selling author, and the CEO of BankSocial, a leading fintech platform pioneering decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions for traditional financial institutions. With a career rooted at the convergence of blockchain, AI, and cooperative finance, John has built infrastructure that empowers credit unions and banks to deliver secure, user-controlled financial experiences.

He is the author of the best-selling book Quantularity: A Quantum Framework for the Human Experience, a groundbreaking exploration of how humanity’s future lies not in merging into a single AI consciousness, but in expanding across dimensions through interconnected intelligence, quantum systems, and cooperative value frameworks. The book has been widely recognized for reimagining the intersection of technology, consciousness, and economics, inspiring readers from futurists to financial leaders.

John is a driving force behind the integration of Artificial intelligence, digital finance, decentralized recovery systems, and real-time fraud prevention tools across all traditional and DeFi rails. A frequent speaker at global forums—including the World Economic Forum in Davos—he champions the role of open finance and next-generation trust frameworks in reshaping the financial landscape.

He has collaborated on initiatives at top universities around the world—Harvard, MIT, and King’s College—supporting emerging fintech innovation through the Converge Accelerator.

Mark Zook began his career at Maps Credit Union in 1992 and now serves as President and CEO. In addition to leading Maps Credit Union, he is the CEO of Unified Solutions, overseeing a portfolio of five diverse companies. Zook’s commitment to community and education is evident through his service on the Salem Health Board of Trustees, Western Oregon University Board of Trustees, and the Maps Community Foundation.

His academic achievements reflect a dedication to lifelong learning. Zook holds an MBA from Southern Oregon University, a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Oregon, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western Oregon University. Further enhancing his expertise, he completed the BAI/Emory University Graduate School of Executive Bank Management in Atlanta, Georgia.

He also serves on the Trellance Board of Directors and the NACUSO Business Services Board.