Breakout Speakers
Take a look at our speakers scheduled for the conference.
New speakers are added weekly!
Pierre J. Séguin
Asian Development BankFinancial sector expert
Speaker Bio
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Pierre J. Séguin
Asian Development BankFinancial sector expert
Mr. Pierre Séguin, a Canadian national, is a career financial sector professional with over 40 years of experience working in the banking regulatory environment, including twenty years with the Ontario Ministry of Financial Institutions as a Senior Inspector. Mr. Séguin also held positions with the Royal Bank of Canada, regulatory agencies, investment authorities, international management firms, the International Monetary Fund IMF, and the Asian Development Bank ADB. Over the past fifteen years, he executed long-term resident project management and technical advisory assignments at the State Bank of Vietnam, the Central Bank of: Congo, The Bahamas, Samoa, Yemen, Libya, Azerbaijan, and the Financial Regulatory Commission of Mongolia, to name a few. He completed a three-year assignment as the IMF Financial Sector Advisor for the Pacific region, PFTAC, based in Fiji. He is currently conducting several short-term technical consultancies for the IMF, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, USAid, UKAid, AusAid, and private consulting groups. Pierre is a graduate of the University of Ottawa.
Pamela Agnone
United Nations Federal Credit UnionExecutive Vice President
Speaker Bio
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Pamela Agnone
United Nations Federal Credit UnionExecutive Vice President
Pamela K. Agnone is the Executive Vice President of the United Nations Federal Credit Union, (UNFCU), a member-owned, cooperative financial institution serving the UN community worldwide. She leads the Retail Services Division, encompassing UNFCU domestic branches and international representative offices, global member operations, consumer and mortgage lending, investment services, and the Marketing Department. She joined UNFCU in 1999. Ms. Agnone is passionate about corporate social responsibility. She serves as the Executive Sponsor for UNFCU’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program, overseeing its four pillars. These are the Global Sustainability Program (GSP), Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ( DEI), Volunteerism, and UNFCU Foundation. A New York-based, non-profit corporation, UNFCU Foundation was launched in 2015 with a mission to sustain a path out of poverty for women and youth. In 2020, Ms. Agnone was appointed Chairperson of the UNFCU Foundation. She previously served as President & CEO. At UNFCU, Ms. Agnone is also a sponsor of the Women’s Business Resources Group. Advancing sustainability across the credit union industry, Ms. Agnone sponsors the UNFCU-founded United in Sustainability (UIS) Network. This community of North American credit unions and associations is a platform for ongoing engagement on climate resiliency and socio-economic equality. Prior to joining UNFCU, Ms. Agnone established her career in the savings and loan industry. She holds an MBA in Banking and Finance from Hofstra University and earned a BA degree in Business Administration, Management and Marketing from Long Island University, both in New York.
Oscar Bazoberry
World Data Inc.President
Speaker Bio
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Oscar Bazoberry
World Data Inc.President
Mr. Bazoberry is an entrepreneur that has been able to early identify technological trends ushered by the Internet and now the Blockchain revolution, to create value for his clients. He has 35 years of management, operations, and technology experience in the Telecom, Financial and Academic fields. He led the acquisition of Comsat International and was instrumental in several M&A transactions with the support of bankers such as Goldman, Leeman and Morgan Stanley.
Monica Belz
Kaua‘i Federal Credit UnionCEO/President
Speaker Bio
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Monica Belz
Kaua‘i Federal Credit UnionCEO/President
As President and CEO of Kauai Government Employees Federal Credit Union, Monica Belz shapes a dynamic island vision for economic growth grounded in sustainability, social entrepreneurship, and community resilience. In 2020, Monica won Hawaii's Business Executive of the Year Award for her credit union's response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Her 20 years of experience in social impact community development complements a diverse portfolio of work that includes disaster relief, wilderness survival and first aid, numerous humanitarian projects and stints as an EMT Firefighter and PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. Early in her career, she launched a company specialized in advancing global projects for multinational corporations, real-estate development and portfolio management, and spearheading community development initiatives in financial empowerment. Her pioneering spirit has taken her on global expeditions to 50 countries on four continents. Led by a passion for social economics and her expertise in strategy, branding, and market entry, she achieved her Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) designation through the National Credit Union Foundation, joined the Young Professionals Program with the World Council of Credit Unions and participated in Cooperative Trust's CRASHER program. Prior to joining KGEFCU as CEO, she was Vice President of Strategic Development at Gather Federal Credit Union in Hawaii. Monica is fluent in Russian and holds a Global MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management. An avid free diver, rock-climber and backcountry snowboarder, she resides on the island of Kauai with her three children and leads a dynamic team committed to innovation and a vibrant local economy.
Dylan Butler
World Council of Credit UnionsProject Development Manager
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Dylan Butler
World Council of Credit UnionsProject Development Manager
Dylan Butler is a Project Manager for WOCCU's International Projects Division. Mr. Butler has over 12 years experience managing and implementing international development projects in both financial inclusion and agricultural market systems development.
Scott Butterfield
Your Credit Union PartnerPrincipal/Founder
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Scott Butterfield
Your Credit Union PartnerPrincipal/Founder
Scott is a trusted advisor to the leaders of more than 200 credit unions located throughout the United States and UK. A respected veteran of the CU Movement, he understands the challenges and opportunities facing credit unions today. Scott believes that credit unions matter, and that consumers and small businesses need credit unions now more than ever. Scott delivers more than up-to-date industry best practices. His credit union experience is hands on working in credit union’s developing and managing successful loan portfolios, growth strategies, business development and community development plans. Scott is a widely published and recognized credit union thought leader. A monthly contributor for CUinsight.com, quarterly contributor to CUNA’s Director Newsletter, CUNA’s Creditunions.com and other credit union trade publications. Scott is a frequent speaker and presenter in the U.S. and International Credit Union space. Scott collaborates and partners with credit union advocates, including; Experian, Northwest Credit Union Association, Cornerstone Credit Union League, FTSI, Inclusiv, and Mark H. Smith, Inc. Visit www.yourcupartner.org for more information.
Sohini Chowdhury
Moody's AnalyticsDirector
Speaker Bio
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Sohini Chowdhury
Moody's AnalyticsDirector
Sohini Chowdhury is a Director and Senior Economist with Moody’s Analytics. She specializes in applying macroeconomic forecasts, scenarios, and models in different industries such as banking, insurance, government, and asset management. These applications include stress testing such as CCAR/DFAST and ORSA, impairment accounting such as CECL/IFRS9, and asset allocation. She also works on incorporating climate scenarios and ESG metrics in underwriting and portfolio management. Previously, she led the global team responsible for the Moody’s Analytics market risk forecasts and modeling services while managing custom scenarios projects for major financial institutions worldwide. An experienced speaker, Sohini often presents at global industry conferences, roundtables and client meetings on topics such as the global and regional macroeconomic outlook and risks, and industry best practices for managing credit and market risks, portfolio modeling and meeting regulatory mandates. Sohini holds a PhD and a master’s degree in economics from Purdue University, and a master’s degree in applied statistics from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. She is a GARP® certified Financial Risk Manager (FRM) and has been working at Moody’s Analytics since 2011.
Todd Clark
Co-op SolutionsChief Executive Officer
Speaker Bio
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Todd Clark
Co-op SolutionsChief Executive Officer
Throughout his career, Todd Clark has specialized in identifying technology gaps in the market and determining how emerging technology will fill those gaps, all with an aim of uncovering efficiencies for financial institutions. Clark began his tenure as President/CEO at Co-op Solutions in 2016. His vision and leadership has transformed the company into the credit union industry’s foremost partner for payments and financial technology. Today, the company continues to build out its dynamic ecosystem of solutions to enable and ensure credit success well into the future. Prior to Co-op, Clark spent 22 years with First Data Corporation, where he last held the position of SVP/Head of STAR Network and Debit Processing. Clark also has entrepreneurial experience, co-founding a start-up company called Core Data. This organization was sold to Concord EFS, which later merged with First Data. At the time of sale, Core Data had become the second largest ATM processor in the United States. He was also an executive with Cardtronics, Inc., and Feedzai. Clark holds a BA in economics from University of Texas at Austin.
Carlos Corominas
Visa Inc.Senior Director
Speaker Bio
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Carlos Corominas
Visa Inc.Senior Director
Carlos Corominas is an executive with more than 30 years of experience in the payments industry. Currently he is leading the Visa Social Impact & Sustainability team in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (~45 countries/territories) enabling micro- and small-enterprises to thrive, financial inclusion for individuals and supporting and promoting environmental, social and governance actions. in the region. He also coordinates volunteering activities that generates impact in the LAC communities. “I am a passionate believer that helping Micro and Small Businesses to grow will make for stronger country economies”. Mr Corominas previously served as a Products & Innovation Director for Visa Inc., where he was responsible to promote and support all products (Consumer, Commercial & Digital) within the Caribbean Region. Prior to this role, he was responsible for the development and implementation of Visa’s Small Business strategy for the LAC Region. He provided support and guidance to Financial Institutions about developing and implementing card products that meet the small business credit, debit and working capital needs while helping Micro and Small Businesses to increase their revenues/profits while optimizing their processes. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Actuarial Science from the National University of Mexico. He speaks Spanish (native), and he is fluent in English and Portuguese.
Victor Corro
CooperaCEO
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Victor Corro
CooperaCEO
Víctor Miguel Corro is a senior executive with over 25 years of experience working in international and cross-cultural environments in the private and non-profit sectors. For nearly 4 years he has been at the helm of Coopera Consulting, a market analytics and cultural change consulting firm that engages organizations and prepares them to reach out and serve underserved market segments. Corro is co-founder and first Chair of the Credit Union DEI Collective, an expanding group within the credit union movement devoted to furthering DEI, a shared cooperative principle. Victor is a first-generation immigrant to the U.S. and was born and raised in Panama. He came to study at the University of Wisconsin as a Fulbright Scholar. He has degrees in International Economics and Latin American Studies. He has worked in 90+ countries, is an avid photographer, serves on several boards, and currently lives in Wisconsin with his wife and two children.
Diattou Coulibaly
World Council of Credit UnionsIndependent Consultant
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Diattou Coulibaly
World Council of Credit UnionsIndependent Consultant
Diattou acts as the local technical advisor for WOCCU’s Cooperative Development Program, Technology, and Innovation for Financial Inclusion project financed by the United States Agency for International Development. CDP TIFI aims to develop and deploy an SME Finance Toolkit in four countries–Burkina Faso, Guatemala, Kenya, and Senegal to increase lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Lauren Culp
CUInsightCEO & Publisher
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Lauren Culp
CUInsightCEO & Publisher
Lauren Culp is the Publisher & CEO at CUInsight.com. She leads the growing team at CUInsight, works with organizations serving credit unions to maximize their brand and exposure, connects with the credit union community through thought leadership, and represents the trade publication at credit union events across the globe. An accomplished speaker and facilitator, Lauren presents to audiences of all sizes on a variety of topics but is most passionate about leadership, diversity equity and inclusion, women in leadership, and storytelling. A certified credit union development educator (CUDE) and i3 program alum, Lauren spent time at Filene Research Institute and at a credit union before making her way to the industry’s leading digital trade publication. Adventurer at heart, Lauren spends her time traveling, playing volleyball, biking, reading, and drinking espresso. You can reach Lauren at lculp@cuinsight.com or @LaurenCUInsight on Twitter.
Tracie Daniels
Synergy Consulting, LLCPresident
Speaker Bio
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Tracie Daniels
Synergy Consulting, LLCPresident
Mrs. Daniels has over 20 years of experience as a leader in the human capital management field. She has worked in various sectors including: government, financial services, non-profit, telecommunications, and legal services. Mrs. Daniels has managed several highprofile projects including spearheading the education and awareness initiatives for the Obama Administration’s National Making Home Affordable Program of 2009 – 2015. Mrs. Daniels is the President of Synergy Consulting, a human capital management consulting firm, which specializes in strategic planning and executive management, diversity and inclusion, organizational assessment and design, performance management, and leadership development consulting. Mrs. Daniels holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Counseling. Mrs. Daniels has served as Board member for a number of non-profit organizations.
Miriam De Dios Woodward
ViClarityGlobal CEO
Speaker Bio
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Miriam De Dios Woodward
ViClarityGlobal CEO
Miriam De Dios Woodward is Global CEO of ViClarity, leading the company's transformation for a technology driven future. Prior to taking the helm at ViClarity, Miriam led AMC company Coopera Consulting as CEO for seven years. In addition to her C-suite experience, Miriam's leadership includes several positions within the financial services and insurance sectors for major brands including State Farm Insurance Companies and John Deere Financial. Miriam is currently serving on the board of directors for the Food Bank of Iowa, Iowa State University's Women in Business Advisory Board and Iowa State University's College of Business Dean's Advisory Council. She is also a member of the World Council of Credit Union's Global Leadership Network. Her dedication to adding diverse voices to the technology community has also brought her to a position on the review board for the Next Level Ventures II Fund, where she joins other volunteers in the exploration of viable Iowa startups. In 2020, Miriam was named one of 32 of the Midwest Region’s Most Influential People of Color by Madison365 and a Hall of Fame Top 100 LatinX/Hispanic Executive by theboardiQ. She has also been named a Woman to Watch by Credit Union Times and Latino Business Person of the Year by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) of Iowa. She is a recipient of the Business Record’s Forty Under 40 award and the World Council of Credit Union's Young Credit Union People Program award.
Ryan Donovan
Credit Union National AssociationChief Advocacy Officer
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Ryan Donovan
Credit Union National AssociationChief Advocacy Officer
As Chief Advocacy Officer at the Credit Union National Association, Ryan Donovan is responsible for the development and implementation of the Credit Union National Association's legislative, regulatory and state government advocacy efforts. In recent years these efforts have proven successful in reducing credit unions' regulatory burden and protecting them from legislative proposals which would make it more difficult for them to serve their members. Ryan joined the Credit Union National Association as Vice President - Legislative Affairs in September 2007, and was promoted to Senior Vice President in September 2011 and to Chief Advocacy Officer in January 2015. Prior to joining CUNA, Ryan worked for the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues as Director of Federal Government Affairs. He also served as a member of the Congressional staffs of Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) and former House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-MO). Ryan holds a Master in Government degree from the Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Truman State University. A native of Missouri, Ryan is a passionate fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. He and his wife, Kristi, live in Fairfax, Virginia, with their daughters Paige and Juliet.
Miranda V. Flury
Hawkeye StrategiesPresident
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Miranda V. Flury
Hawkeye StrategiesPresident
As the President of Hawkeye Strategies Inc., Miranda lives out her purpose: helping to turn cooperative Directors and Executive's light bulbs on. She values elated clients and partners, continuous improvement, and rigorous methodology. Miranda is a sought-out international public speaker, and you will find her engaging audiences on the topics of governance and strategy. She has held Director roles on Cooperative, Regulatory, and Private Boards and is currently a Board Director on one of the largest and most complicated Cooperatives in Canada- Federated Cooperatives Limited. Her business is comprised of three areas of professional focus: 1) Facilitation & Consulting; 2) Director & Executive Education; and 3) Speaking Engagements. Through these offerings, Miranda works with Cooperative Boards and Executives across North America to enhance their businesses, and in turn, positively impacts their people and communities. In her spare time, Miranda formally mentors new business owners to help them succeed. She is also a CrossFit enthusiast! For more information on Hawkeye Strategies, please visit our website: www.hawkeyestrategies.com
Malgorzata Gatz
National Association of Cooperative Savings and Credit Unions (NACSCU)Vice President
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Malgorzata Gatz
National Association of Cooperative Savings and Credit Unions (NACSCU)Vice President
Małgorzata Gatz - Vice President of National Association of Cooperative Savings and Credit Unions since 2016, previously a Vice President of Investment Fund Company. Graduate of law and administration of The John Paul II (The Second) Catholic University of Lublin, legal advisor.
Eleni Giakoumopoulos
Worldwide Foundation for Credit UnionsDirector - Global Women's Leadership Network
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Eleni Giakoumopoulos
Worldwide Foundation for Credit UnionsDirector - Global Women's Leadership Network
Giakoumopoulos has over 25 years of international experience working in 20 countries in western, central and eastern Europe. Her background includes managing European Union cross-border cooperation programs through consultancy work, membership recruitment for a national trade association, content development for print and digital media and directing career services at the American College of Thessaloniki, an educational organization in Northern Greece. Prior to joining World Council as the Corporate Communications Manager in 2017, she was part of the board communications team at the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, an international finance institution, working with ministries of finance and foreign affairs, supporting economic development and regional cooperation in the Black Sea region. In her role with GWLN since 2018, she is responsible for directing the professional development programming, expanding GWLN Sister Societies, and growing membership in the U.S. and internationally. She is a member of the International Society of Female Professionals and the International Association of Business Communicators. She volunteers and serves as the president of the local chapter for the Ladies Philoptochos Society, Inc., the philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Giakoumopoulos holds a master’s degree in global marketing from the University of Liverpool and speaks Greek.
Luca Giusti
Afore ConsultingSenior Consultant
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Luca Giusti
Afore ConsultingSenior Consultant
Luca covers banking recovery and resolution, taxation and Eurozone reform. He was previously an Advisor at the regional representation office of the Italian region
Ana Goffredo
Sicredi União PR/SPStrategic Planning Advisor
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Ana Goffredo
Sicredi União PR/SPStrategic Planning Advisor
Ana Goffredo is Strategic Planning Advisor at Sicredi União PR/SP in Brazil and was a WYCUP Scholarship Recipient in 2021, recognized for her leadership on the Unity Energy Project, an initiative that supports solar business development through a local purchasing network and credit union financing.
Mai-Linh Hoang
Collins Community Credit UnionVice President, Corporate Strategy & Marketing
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Mai-Linh Hoang
Collins Community Credit UnionVice President, Corporate Strategy & Marketing
Mai-Linh is Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Marketing for Collins Community Credit Union ($1.4B), headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She also heads strategy and marketing for Collins Holding Company and their family of CUSOs. With 20 years’ experience in organizational strategy, marketing, event management and public relations, she has worked for large nonprofits, advertising agencies and credit unions over her career, focusing her work in the financial industry for the past 15 years, spending most of her career with credit unions having $1 billion to $4 billion in assets. She is a Global Women’s Leadership Network (GWLN) Ambassador and Iowa Sister Society leader. GWLN, a program of the World Council of Credit Unions, aims to provide women with the opportunity and resources to make a measurable difference. She received GWLN’s 2019 Emerging Leader Award for her work and advocacy through fundraising and programming to provide women with the tools and resources they need to lead. Mai-Linh has a Bachelor of Science in biology and an MBA from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Originally from Philadelphia, she splits her time between Singapore and the United States with her husband and two young daughters. She consults for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Corridor, and she is a member of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance’s Economic Development Innovation Council and the American Marketing Association. She is also a participant in Filene Research Institute’s i3 program.
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Rodney E. Hood
President Donald J. Trump nominated Rodney E. Hood for the NCUA Board on January 19, 2019. The U.S. Senate confirmed him on March 14, 2019, and he was sworn in as the eleventh NCUA Chairman on April 8, 2019. Mr. Hood served as the NCUA’s Chairman until January 25, 2021. As a Board Member, Mr. Hood serves as the NCUA’s representative on the Board of Directors of NeighborWorks America, one of the nation’s leading affordable housing and community development organizations. This is his second time serving as the agency’s representative on the board of NeighborWorks. Mr. Hood was previously nominated to the NCUA Board by former President George W. Bush and served from November 2005 until August 2009. During his first term on the Board, he was appointed Vice Chairman. Immediately prior to rejoining the NCUA Board in 2019, Mr. Hood served as a corporate responsibility manager for JPMorgan Chase, managing national partnerships with non-profit organizations, financial regulators, and community stakeholders to promote financial inclusion and shared prosperity in underserved communities throughout the United States. His previous experience includes serving as associate administrator of the Rural Housing Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In this role, he helped to address the housing needs in rural communities and administered the agency’s $43 billion mortgage portfolio. Prior to his public service, Mr. Hood served as marketing director and group sales manager for the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company in Durham, North Carolina. He also served as national director of the Emerging Markets Group for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and served on the board of the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation. Earlier in his career, he worked for Bank of America as a Community Reinvestment Act officer and completed the management development program at G.E. Capital. In addition to his public and private sector service, Mr. Hood served as a member of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Board of Visitors and as member of the UNC School of Arts Board of Trustees. He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the North Carolina Museum of Art and as a member of the Board of Governors for the University of North Carolina College System. Mr. Hood’s professional awards include being named one of the “40 Young Leaders Under the Age of 40” by the Triangle Business Journal in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is the first recipient of the “Dream
Paul Innella
TDICEO
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Paul Innella
TDICEO
Paul Innella has 30 years’ experience as a recognized cybersecurity expert who founded & built TDI into one of the longest practicing cyber companies which delivered millions of hours of services for hundreds of clients across the globe and within all markets. Paul has published articles, delivered seminars and lectures, and conducted interviews (ABC, CNBC, PBS, Forbes, MSNBC, EuroNews, Financial Times, Fox News, Federal News Radio, etc.) to a worldwide audience on nearly 100 occasions. He is also employed as a subject matter expert on and technical advisor to commercial companies and projects at global universities and government agencies. Paul also established and currently chairs the charitable “White Hat” organization - established with the goal of raising money, through the cybersecurity community, to help children at Children’s National Hospital - his efforts have raised nearly $3M thus far.
Paul Anthony Jones
Swoboda Research CenterDirector of Research
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Paul Anthony Jones
Swoboda Research CenterDirector of Research
Dr Paul A. Jones, Director of Research, is Reader in the Social Economy at Liverpool John Moores University, where he heads up the Research Unit for Financial Inclusion. He is also visiting lecturer in the social economy at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague. Paul has had over twenty-five years’ experience in academic, action and evaluative research in credit union organizational development, financial services for lower and moderate-income households, and money and debt advice services. The subjects of Paul’s research studies have included widening access to community finance in London, credit union strengthening in the UK and Romania, credit union governance (for the UK Government), access to affordable credit in Europe (for the European Commission), and credit union engagement with prisons (for the UK Ministry of Justice). Paul is also a frequent speaker at international credit union and co-operative events throughout Europe. He was the Editor of the Journal of Co-operative Studies from 2006 to 2015, and is currently its Deputy Editor. Paul is a director of Enterprise Credit Union and chairs the Audit and Risk Committee at Manchester Credit Union.
Christian Junior
Rhics Technology UKFounder & CEO
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Christian Junior
Rhics Technology UKFounder & CEO
Christian Junior is passionate about human capital development and value creation through technology. He is the Founder & CEO of Rhics Ltd, an international Digital Agency headquartered in London, UK with branches in Grenada, Guyana, Nigeria, Trinidad & Tobago. He has over 15 years practical experience in the Information & Communication Technology industry. He has an impressive portfolio of over 300 successfully executed projects within various disciplines, from digital strategy to risk management, marketing, branding, FinTech, UX design and software engineering to name a few. Christian has worked with multiple international clientele on various IT projects. He has consulted for companies such as Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Chartered Insurance Institute of London, Antigua High Commission London, Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions, St. Lucia Tourism Board, Jamaica Tourism Board, Tobago House of Assembly, Cooling Tech Caribbean, amongst many others. Christian is an Oxford University double certified Digital Marketing & Financial Technology strategist. He is also the founder of CadaWada, a FinTech platform that seeks to seamlessly connect emerging markets to the global financial ecosystem. A firm believer in knowledge & skills transfer, Christian, travels around the world educating business leaders on IT strategies. He was recently featured in the Financial Times 2019 list of UK’s 100 most influential Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) leaders in tech. He is currently working on several initiatives, platforms and ideas to promote financial inclusion in the un-banked and under-banked emerging markets. His hobbies include travelling, football, reading, playing the piano, socializing & “staying connected online”.
David Kropp
First West Credit UnionAgile Coach
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David Kropp
First West Credit UnionAgile Coach
David Kropp is the Lead Agile Coach for First West Credit Union – one of Canada’s largest co-operative financial institutions – where he’s an integral part of the team leading the organization through an Agile Enterprise transformation. David joined First West in 2009 and has taken on numerous roles as the company has forged a path of growth and innovation. His career has been far from linear spanning New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada, where he has worked in journalism, communications and sales management. Driven by curiosity and collaboration, David is inspired by doing great things with great people. Despite winning personal recognition including the Canadian Credit Union Association’s (CCUA) National Young Leaders Award and serving on CCUA’s National Young Leaders Committee, he firmly believes life is not about accolades or endorsements, but the outcomes and experiences we can create for others.
Vinicius Mattia
Sicredi Vale do Piquiri ABCD PR/SPYouth Committee Member & Nucleus Coordinator
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Vinicius Mattia
Sicredi Vale do Piquiri ABCD PR/SPYouth Committee Member & Nucleus Coordinator
Vinícius Mattia was a WYCUP Scholarship recipient in 2020, has been a member of Sicredi’s Youth Committee at Sicredi Vale do Piquiri ABCD PR/SP since 2016 and a Nucleus Coordinator since 2021. Vinicius has a Masters in Agronomy and is a PhD student in Sustainable Rural Development at Western Paraná University. He is currently a professor at the Agrarian Science Department in Western Parana University. Vinicius is a WYCUP Scholarship Winner. Here is his nomination video - https://youtu.be/7HdBGWhmVzc
David McAuley
Donore Credit UnionCEO
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David McAuley
Donore Credit UnionCEO
David is an accountant with over 25 years’ experience in financial services both in the U.S.A and Ireland. Since 2008 David has worked in a variety of roles in a number of different Credit Unions both Industrial and Community. In 2016, David was appointed CEO of Donore Credit Union, which despite it’s long history of success was struggling and faced an uncertain future. Through the combined efforts of Board, management ,staff and a focus on member engagement, Donore Credit Union is a thriving and growing credit union. David believes credit unions values align with those of young people and credit unions working collaboratively can be the alternative to profit only banks. A key differentiator for credit unions is our local social impact and credit unions should measure and report that.
Guilherme Melo
Sicredi ParanapenemaYouth Committee Leader and Nucleus Coordinator
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Guilherme Melo
Sicredi ParanapenemaYouth Committee Leader and Nucleus Coordinator
Guilherme Melo is a Youth Committee leader and Nucleus Coordinator at Sicredi Paranapenema in Brazil. He was a WYCUP scholarship recipient in 2021, selected for his efforts to support community development through entrepreneurial activities and volunteer engagement. Guilherme is a WYCUP Scholarship Recipient. View his nomination video here - https://youtu.be/Sth6BeM9Ll4
Mark Meyer
Filene Research InstitutePresident & CEO
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Mark Meyer
Filene Research InstitutePresident & CEO
Mark turns big research questions into relevant key findings and big ideas into products for a changing world as one of North America’s top cooperative finance thinkers. His critical thinking shows through in his approaches to innovation and research on consumer behavior. As CEO of Filene, he leads a team of brilliant thinkers, who deliver research and innovation to inspire people to understand the opportunities for cooperative finance to transform communities and lives. An internationally recognized consumer finance expert published in dozens of publications, Mark has lectured to audiences up to 4,000 in locations across Asia, Australia, Europe, North Africa, and North America. He has advised the US Department of the Treasury and lectured in a variety of academic settings, including Harvard Business School. Mark is an attorney licensed to practice law in Colorado and Arizona, formerly of the firm of Montgomery, Little & McGrew. He also held executive posts with Arizona State Credit Union and CUNA Mutual Group. He served on the board of directors for Summit Credit Union, the largest credit union in Wisconsin, for ten years.
Dean Michaels
Co-op SolutionsChief Strategy Officer
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Dean Michaels
Co-op SolutionsChief Strategy Officer
Dean Michaels has served as Chief Strategy Officer for Co-op Solutions since November 2017. Prior to joining Co-op, Michaels held leadership roles at First Data Corporation, including Head of Business Execution for STAR Network and Head of Finance for First Data’s U.S. Merchant Acquiring Business. In addition, Michaels led the development of First Data’s Smart Routing and Network Routing partnership programs, driving new revenue through network routing solutions developed in response to the Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation II governing debit card interchange fees and routing. Michaels has also worked for JP Morgan Chase. There, he was responsible for evaluating and improving the effectiveness of consumer banking cross-sales campaigns, including profit and loss responsibility for JP Morgan Chase’s branch and call center cross-sales programs. Michaels holds an MBA from New York University and a BBA from Adelphi University.
Panya Monford
World Council of Credit UnionsAssistant General Counsel of International Advocacy
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Panya Monford
World Council of Credit UnionsAssistant General Counsel of International Advocacy
Panya Monford currently serves as Assistant General Counsel for International Advocacy, where she engages in advocacy on behalf of credit unions worldwide before the various international standard setting bodies, such as the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, Financial Action Task Force and others. Panya has over ten years of experience as a consumer financial services attorney specializing in enforcement, litigation, regulatory and compliance matters involving various financial institutions, including banks, credit unions and other credit lending institutions. Panya has considerable experience advising her clients on various issues related to financial services, including but not limited to consumer protection, anti-money laundering, contracts and international law. Panya rounds out her legal experience with 14 years of Board level experience at not-for-profit organizations, including the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children, where she provides legal advice, drafts and reviews contracts, oversees all corporate governance issues and manages the legal team. Panya holds her Juris Doctor from The Catholic University, Columbus School of Law, and her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia.
Carolina Mussolini
Sicredi Rio Paraná PR/SPCommunication Specialist
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Carolina Mussolini
Sicredi Rio Paraná PR/SPCommunication Specialist
Carolina Mussolini, PhD is a Communication Specialist at Sicredi Rio Paraná PR/SP in Brazil and was a WYCUP Scholarship Recipient in 2021, recognized for her efforts to develop a unique social media campaign designed to educate and inspire young people about the cooperative model and its potential to change the world.
Luis Pastor
Latino Community Credit UnionCEO & President
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Luis Pastor
Latino Community Credit UnionCEO & President
Luis Pastor is the current President and CEO of Latino Community Credit Union (LCCU) and Executive Director of Latino Community Development Center (LCDC). Soon after joining the credit union in 2000 as a volunteer, he was asked to be the first President and CEO. Under Luis' leadership, LCCU developed a uniquely tailored, full range of bilingual financial products and services to help its members and enter the financial mainstream and thrive fiscally. Today, LCCU is an international model for inclusion and immigrant empowerment. The credit union has grown to manage $720 million in assets and serves approximately 1110,000 members. As a passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, Luis ensures that the Latino voice is heard and understood. His vision of dismantling barriers within the financial system for those traditionally excluded has transformed the lives of many Latinos in the South. In 2015, Luis was selected as one of the most influential credit union leaders over the past 25 years. Luis has served on many national and local boards and is regularly invited to participate in panel discussions and working groups focused on financial opportunity and immigrant empowerment. In 2021, Luis was invited to serve on the White House’s CDFI Advisory Board, where he plays a key role in elevating the Latino voice. Luis, a native of Spain, holds a degree in Economics and Business Administration from CUNEF (Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain), a master's in human resources from CEF (Centros de Estudios and an MBA from Instituto de Empresa (Madrid, Spain).
Danny Pavisic
Unity BankChief Executive Officer
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Danny Pavisic
Unity BankChief Executive Officer
Danny commenced in the role of CEO on 27 April 2020 having previously been the Deputy CEO since 2011. He first joined the Bank in 2004 and has extensive experience in leading the Bank’s product management, lending, credit and operational risk, compliance and human resources areas. Danny was responsible for ensuring strategic projects were effectively rolled out and implemented across the Bank. With over 30 years’ experience within the financial services industry, he has worked in senior roles with a major Australian bank as well as the peak Credit Union body, CUSCAL. Danny’s professional qualifications include a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Macquarie Graduate School of Management and overseas study. Danny is also currently a Director of Shared Service Partners, Transaction Solutions (TAS) and the Upstairs Regional Incubator at Bathurst. He is committed to ensuring that the Bank continues to focus on the wellbeing of its Members, staff and communities in which it operates, through the provision of a strong Member-Owned alternative to ASX listed banks.
Samantha Paxson
Co-op SolutionsChief Experience Officer
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Samantha Paxson
Co-op SolutionsChief Experience Officer
With more than 25 years of experience, Samantha Paxson is a growth and business transformation strategist in Fintech, building the intersection of technology, operational, experience and brand architecture to rapidly scale revenue, retention, compression reduction and uncover, then operationalize new market segments and strategies to grow. She’s helped expand Co-op Solutions from $136M on a path to nearly $1B, by developing evolutionary strategies to transform a 40-year-old organization to a truly platform-based ecosystem leading experience transformation and growth. As a passionate "intrapreneur", Samantha founded Co-op THINK 16 years ago, an innovation content platform empowering the evolution of mission-driven financial services which has partnered world-renowned thought leaders with thousands of financial services executives – shifting the hearts and minds of financial traditionalists. Her governance leadership has included private and not for profit boards and advisories, currently sitting on four boards in leadership roles: including a $1B community FI, USC Credit Union ALCO leader and compensation committee chair, tech start up, LenderClose, CMNH CU4K Board Vice President and the LA 5050 Women on Boards co-chair. Paxson is a graduate of USC Annenberg School and Stanford University’s FANFE executive education program and is currently pursuing an MBA at USC’s Marshall School of Business.
Pawel Pelc
National Association of Cooperative Savings and Credit Unions (NACSCU)Attorney-at-Law
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Pawel Pelc
National Association of Cooperative Savings and Credit Unions (NACSCU)Attorney-at-Law
Pawel Pelc has extensive knowledge of credit union systems in Poland. Since 2011, he has served as an Attorney-at-Law for the Polish credit union system.
Andrew Price
World Council of Credit UnionsSenior Vice President of Advocacy and General Counsel
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Andrew Price
World Council of Credit UnionsSenior Vice President of Advocacy and General Counsel
Andrew “Andy” T. Price currently serves as Senior Vice President of Advocacy for World Council of Credit Unions. He leads WOCCU's international advocacy work on behalf of credit unions worldwide before the various international standard setting bodies such as the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision the Financial Action Task Force, and others. Andy combines years of diverse experience in the credit union industry having served as General Counsel for First Commerce Credit Union, engaged in advocacy and lobbying for credit unions at both the Credit Union National Association and the League of Southeastern Credit Unions, and worked for the prudential bank, credit union, and finance regulator in the State of Florida (Office of Financial Regulation) where he also served as a Cabinet Aide to Comptroller General Robert F. Milligan. He holds his Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida. Additionally, he is certified as a Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Specialist, a Credit Union Compliance Expert, and a Credit Union Enterprise Risk Management Expert.
Francisco Ramos
MastercardDirector, Mastercard Direct Services
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Francisco Ramos
MastercardDirector, Mastercard Direct Services
Francisco (Paco) Ramos is the head of Mastercard Direct Services for Mexico and Central America. He is responsible for for new and high growth customers that he manages through a multicultural team located in Mexico, US and Colombia. Prior to this role, he held different positions in sales at Mastercard managing key customers in Latin America. He also led the B2B and T&E sales efforts designing the growth strategy and developing new opportunities for Mastercard. Before joining Mastercard, Paco worked for GE Capital, HSBC and Ixe in different areas like Corporate Banking, Commercial Banking and Payments in both sales and risk positions. Paco is truly passionate about technology and the financial industry; always eager to connect with other people. His favorite part of his job is being able to understand each of his customers needs and to build a specific strategy to help them achieve their growth and profitability goals. He holds an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business and a BA from Universidad Iberoamericana of Mexico.
Jennifer Santos Esperanza
Coopera ConsultingDirector of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
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Jennifer Santos Esperanza
Coopera ConsultingDirector of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Dr. Jennifer Esperanza is Director of DEI at Coopera Consulting—a full-service consulting firm for the credit union industry. She is a trained cultural anthropologist with two decades of research and teaching experience on the intersections of culture and economics. Before joining Coopera in 2021, Jennifer spent 17 years in academia—teaching courses in cultural anthropology, sociolinguistics, immigration and consumer culture. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Linguistics an M.A. and Ph.D. in Anthropology. She has lived and studied in the US, Germany, and Indonesia. Jennifer is frequently invited to give public lectures on topics including immigration, DEI and organizational change and storytelling for corporate and non-profit audiences.
Amanda Wantke
First West Credit UnionManager, Talent Attraction
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Amanda Wantke
First West Credit UnionManager, Talent Attraction
Amanda has worked in the credit union industry for over 12 years, starting her career in the branch and working her way through various areas of the business including Operations, Risk, Member Experience, enterprise-wide projects, and Human Resources. Amanda is known for her passion in developing and empowering others, forming the internal young leaders’ network for First West, and expanding her reach through provincial and national young leader networks. She is the current Chair for the British Columbia Young Leaders network and Vice Chair for the National Young Leaders Committee. Amanda was selected as one of the recipients of the Canadian Credit Union Associations National Young Leader Award in 2021 and actively looks for ways to attract, retain, and engage young talent in the Canadian Credit Union system.
Joyce West Johnson
Community & Workers of Jamaica Co-op Credit UnionCEO
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Joyce West Johnson
Community & Workers of Jamaica Co-op Credit UnionCEO
Joyce West-Johnson Is fully immersed in the credit union principles and philosophy of “People helping People”. She has an outstanding career in the credit union movement having successfully served in all key business areas of the Community & Workers of Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union Ltd (C&WJCCUL), for over 25 years. In April 2022, she was appointed as the first female Chief Executive Officer of C&WJCCUL, which is the largest Credit Union in Jamaica. Joyce has acquired extensive knowledge and understanding of the credit union movement. She believes that the credit union movement naturally integrates with community growth and development, as it responds well to the dreams, aspirations and goals of members of the communities within which the credit union operates. As a strategist and change leader, Joyce has been leading the adaptive process in an ever changing business environment to ensure the resilience of the organization. A Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica (FCA), Joyce is accomplished in her field of Finance and Accounting. She holds a Master of Science Degree in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Economics, from the University of the West Indies. She also holds an Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership from Massachusetts Institute of technology (MIT). Joyce is a consummate professional, known for her strategic business acumen and a keen eye for detail. She is a high performer and a leader who extracts equally high standards from the teams she leads.
Brett Wooden
FTSISVP of Innovation
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Brett Wooden
FTSISVP of Innovation
Brett Wooden is the SVP of Innovation at FTSI. Previously a Chief Operations Officer at a credit union in the Northwest, Brett Wooden was named the Northwest Credit Union Association’s Young Credit Union Professional of the Year in 2011, Credit Union Times’ 40 and Under Trailblazer and Credit Union Magazine’s 2020 Rock Star for setting a national trend using mobile/tablet technology to take financial services into the field. Brett thrives on helping others embrace and utilize new business strategies in today’s changing world. He’s the driving force behind his organization's app development, advancement, digital and market penetration - Brett brings concepts to life by building and advancing software solutions. Serving in multiple leadership roles at credit unions across the US, he has set a national trend for using mobile applications and tablet technology to advance financial institutions.
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