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[At THINK], you can make connections with other experts within the credit union community that you can reach out to and talk through problems you're having. I think the connections are just as valuable as the content.
Bambi Stewart
Chief Lending Officer, Heartland Credit Union
SHEDDING LIGHT
A MONUMENTAL SHIFT
There’s an incredible transformation taking place in how people are moving money – one you might not even see. Digital solutions, banking as a service and embedded finance are making it possible for self-proclaimed fintechs from real estate companies to fitness providers to own the entire transaction experience down to point of sale. Members want convenience, reliability and security – and they’ll cobble together the financial services that best meet their needs now. Where does this leave credit unions? Join us for THINK 23. We’ll dive into the implications of this remarkable shift in consumer behavior and uncover fundamental ways your credit union can be prepared, an important part of this “Invisible Revolution” that’s here to stay.
Illuminating Guest Speakers
We’re curating our THINK speakers and contributors to guarantee the most worthwhile experience. Keep checking back as our lineup continues to grow.
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At THINK 23, we’ll uncover the now and the next -- and how The Invisible Revolution impacts credit unions, members and the financial services industry overall. Join us at THINK 23 to learn:
TESTIMONIAL
OUR BRILLIANT LINEUP IS JUST GETTING STARTED
THINK BY THE NUMBERS
SPONSORS
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Join us for the growth strategy event of the year, designed specifically for credit unions.
[I go to THINK] to network, look at diversified products and the fintech world, and [find out] how we master the member experience and digital transformation, because that's one of our strategic plans. There’s so much to learn from here. If you haven't been to THINK, you're not thinking.
EVP/COO at Credit Union of New Jersey
Soma Sarkar
Now is the time to reshape the credit union model through a connected modern payments platform.
WHY
The key opportunities to drive a deepened member experience with digital solutions in light of the growing industry trends embedded finance, real-time payments, and beyond.
WHAT
Your credit union can be ready to capitalize on The Invisible Revolution with the right value streams, operations and talent.
HOW
LOCATION
Chief Product Officer Co-op Solutions
S P E A K E R
Bruce Dragt
Before joining Co-op in November 2018 as Chief Product Officer, Bruce Dragt specialized in growing both start-ups and large established technology-driven companies. Under his leadership, Co-op has delivered more than 100 new solutions to help credit unions growth and their members to prosper. Prior to Co-op, he served as Executive Vice President, Product, for YapStone, a provider of electronic payment systems that help online and mobile companies with their payment transactions. Dragt also gained more than 13 years of experience in senior-level roles within the payments and financial industry.
Chief Experience Officer Co-op Solutions
Samantha Paxson
Samantha Paxson is Chief Experience Officer for Co-op, architect of the company’s go-to-market brand and customer experience strategy delivered through message, product, value chain and systems. An accomplished speaker and thought leader, Paxson founded Co-op THINK as a growth strategy conference and innovation content platform empowering the evolution of mission-driven financial services.
Chief Executive Officer Co-op Solutions
Todd Clark
Todd Clark specializes in identifying technology gaps in the market and determining how emerging technology will fill those gaps, all with an aim of uncovering efficiencies for smaller financial institutions. During his 5-year tenure at Co-op, he has transformed the company into the credit union industry’s foremost partner for payments and financial technology and is continuing to build out Co-op's dynamic ecosystem of solutions to enable and ensure credit success well into the future.
Financial Journalist, CEO and Founder HerMoney Media
H O S T
Jean Chatzky
As the financial editor of NBC’s Today for 25 years and the Financial Ambassador for AARP, Jean Chatzky appears frequently on CNN, MSNBC and was a recurring guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author on financial wellness. An in-demand motivational speaker and fierce advocate for financial literacy, Chatzky has been leading the Co-op THINK Conference for 7 years as host and moderator.
Chief Research Officer Cornerstone Advisors
Ron Shevlin
A management consultant for more than 25 years, Ron Shevlin has worked with leading financial services, consumer products, retail, and manufacturing firms all over the world. As Chief Research Officer at Cornerstone Advisors, Shevlin calls on his analytical acumen to author a variety of corporate and commissioned research reports. Considered one of the banking industry’s most notable experts, his opinions and insights are regularly sought in major banking publications, trade events and podcasts. Shevlin will connect the dots for credit unions, sharing why the adjacent industry business model and value stream expansion matters to their growth strategy. He’ll dig into his recent research on aspects of The Invisible Revolution like embedded finance infiltrating industries such as gaming, medical, retail and luxury brands.
Co-founder of Block (formerly Square), Founder & CEO of Invisibly
Jim McKelvey
While known for co-founding Square, Jim McKelvey is also an artist and author, having written the world’s most widely read text on the subject, The Art of Fire. He created the nonprofit LaunchCode, making it possible for anyone to learn programming and land a full-time job in under six months–for free, and founded Invisibly, which gives people control of their online identities. With such a successful diverse portfolio of businesses, McKelvey offers a fresh approach to problem solving. Find out how thinking outside your own industry’s perceived barriers can transform global behavior, using his experience founding Square, where he revolutionized the retail business model by innovating how goods and services can be purchased “on the go”, as a case study.
TWO WAYS TO EXPERIENCE THINK 23: In-person in Tucson, AZ or with our Virtual Pass for flexibility to experience select THINK 23 sessions and content from wherever you are, live as the action unfolds or on demand for a limited time.
FIND YOUR PLACE IN THE INVISIBLE REVOLUTION, May 2-4
GOLD LEVEL SPONSORS
SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS
PLATINUM LEVEL SPONSORS
DIAMOND LEVEL SPONSORS
Thank you to our THINK 23 Sponsors
We appreciate your support of our conference!
GUEST SPEAKERS
Chief Strategy Officer Co-op Solutions
Dean Michaels
OUR BRILLIANT LINEUP
Dean Michaels serves as Chief Strategy Officer for Co-op Solutions. His team includes oversight of Co-op Contact Center and SmartGrowth, which focus on the management and growth of Co-op’s service offerings. Prior to Co-op, he held several leadership roles at First Data Corporation (now Fiserv) and JP Morgan Chase.
While known for co-founding Square, Jim McKelvey is also an artist and author, having written the world’s most widely read text on the subject, The Art of Fire. He created the nonprofit LaunchCode, making it possible for anyone to learn programming and land a full-time job in under six months–for free, and founded Invisibly, which gives people control of their online identities. With such a successful diverse portfolio of businesses, McKelvey offers a fresh approach to problem solving. Find out how thinking outside your own industry’s perceived barriers can transform global behavior, using his experience founding Square, where he revolutionized the retail business model by innovating how goods and services can be purchased “on the go,” as a case study.
President of North America Mastercard
Linda Kirkpatrick
Linda Kirkpatrick is president of North America for Mastercard, overseeing the company's operations and customer-facing activities in the United States and Canada, including strategy, sales, business development, products, services, and relationship management. Bloomberg Businessweek named Linda to the 2020 Bloomberg 50, its annual list of innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders who have changed global business. Linda was previously named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. Hear from Linda on what Co-op and Mastercard are collectively doing to be strategic partners enabling the CU movement to thrive, and individual CUs to expand their value proposition and member base.
Founder & CEO Altro
Michael Broughton
Michael Broughton is the founder and CEO of Altro. Founded in 2019, Altro has since raised over $20M and grown its team across the United States. Altro aims to serve the 86M Americans who do not have access to finance. Prior to Altro, Michael spent time in Venture Capital, scouting for Sequoia Capital and working with early-stage startups. He now spends his time in consumer finance, investing/advising companies such as Burst, StreetFins, LendMe, Of All Trades, Barcode, and others. Michael will share his expertise on financial decision-making and how Credit Unions drive innovation and growth through a “start-up” mindset.
Founder & CEO Coviance
Omar Jordan
Omar Jordan is the founder and CEO of Coviance (formerly LenderClose), a CUSO, fintech company that’s transforming the home equity lending process with its cloud-based platform, Home Equity Express™ (HEx). Founded in 2015, Coviance partners with more than 425 credit unions and community banks nationwide to meet the accelerating digital transformation curve and automate their home lending process. In 2022, nearly $8B in home equity lending volume originated leveraging Coviance’s technology. Find out how the power of partnership helped Omar reach the underserved using technology platforms to engage audiences with speed.
Managing Director New Markets Advisors
Steve Wunker
Steve Wunker is one of the world’s top consultants and authors on innovation. A former leader of the financial services practice for Harvard Prof. Clayton Christensen, who coined the term “disruptive innovation,” has a track record of innovation in the industry stretching back decades. In 2009, he founded New Markets Advisors, the leading boutique firm that he leads today. His books include Capturing New Markets, Jobs to be Done, and Costovation. He has written over 100 columns for Forbes, as well as for other publications such as Harvard Business Review and The Financial Times. He’ll speak about how innovation and cost efficiency can work in tandem to revolutionize business models and customer experience.
Data Scientist and Algorithmic Product Specialist Beyond the Screen
Frances Haugen
Frances holds a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Olin College and an MBA from Harvard. She is a specialist in algorithmic product management and was recruited to Facebook to be the lead Product Manager on the Civic Misinformation team, which dealt with issues related to democracy, misinformation, and counterespionage. During her time at Facebook, Frances became increasingly alarmed by the choices the company made prioritizing their own profits over public safety and putting people's lives at risk. As a last resort and at great personal risk, Frances made the courageous decision to blow the whistle on Facebook. Frances’ will touch on ethical uses of user data, how algorithms can be manipulated for profit, her advocacy of basic “Duty of Care” for digital-driven businesses, and the creation of next-generation online experiences that empower people to retake control of their lives.
Executive Healthcare & Innovation Leader / Consultant / Amazon Alumni Virtual First
Jennifer Becker
Jennifer served as Head of Operations and Clinical Programs for Amazon Care, an industry-disruptive, tech-forward, national health care system. She was responsible for rapidly scaling and operating both virtual urgent and primary care services from one to all 50 states. She also led Amazon Care’s innovative in-home nursing service across 34 cities. With over 20 years of experience in health care, lean performance improvement, and healthcare tech enablement, Jennifer has held various executive positions in operations, strategy, and business development. Jennifer will demonstrate how an adjacent industry leaned into the consumer demand to create an entirely new value stream and unlocked strategic growth strategies in The Invisible Revolution.
SVP, Strategic Partners Co-op Solutions
Brad Bendeck
Industry Partnerships Director Co-op Solutions
Adrianna Adufutse
VP, Integrated Product Marketing and Commercialization Co-op Solutions
Carrie Stapp
VP, Fraud Services Co-op Solutions
Ashley Town
Director, Product Management Co-op Solutions
Patrice Alexander-Lee
SVP, Group Product Manager Co-op Solutions
Dr. Kathy Snider
VP, Sales Co-op Solutions
Gail Tofil
Director, Fraud Prevention Co-op Solutions
Nicole Reyes
SVP, Technology Delivery Co-op Solutions
Pam Brodsack
SVP, Corporate Strategy & Business Performance Management Co-op Solutions
David Demsko
VP, Experiential Marketing and Engagement Co-op Solutions
Joe Franklin
Chief Revenue Officer Co-op Solutions
Matt Kardell
Founder & CEO Financial Wellness Strategies
Bobbi Rebell
Designer, Facilitator, and Strategist Dixon Strategic Labs
Brent Dixon
CEO MMH Data Systems
Emma Todd
Principal MC
Maria Rydzewski
CEO Coopera
Victor Corro
Partner/Principal EY
Nikhil Lele
Senior Manager - Financial Services Digital & Growth Strategy Consulting EY
Rob Mannamkery
President / CEO Towpath CU
Michael Sferro
SVP of the North American Cyber, Fraud and Risk Fiserv
Christian Wilson
Accomplished and tenured executive, leading countless teams to perform beyond expectations to deliver world class experiences and exceptional business results. As President/CEO of Towpath Credit Union, Sferro leads their strategic direction and ensures their operational and business metrics are met. He empowers direct reports to make decisions founded on the collective goals as a Credit Union.
Rob is a Senior Manager in the Financial Services Consulting practice of EY LLP. He has over 14 years of experience in serving financial services clients with a focus on Business and Digital Strategy and Enterprise Transformation. He works with multinational and regional banks, wealth and asset managers, and insurers to develop their strategic vision through the lens of their business objectives and digitize their business and operating model to support the strategic vision.
CEO and Co-founder Everyday Life
Jake Tamarkin
Jake is CEO and co-founder of Everyday Life, a rapidly growing life insurance platform for everyday people. Launched in 2020 and already the top ranking insurance resource on TikTok, Everyday Life is a rapidly growing consumer distribution platform centered around a proprietary recommendation engine that removes the biases that disadvantage today’s middle income families from protecting their families. Jake brings to this the insights and relationships of an accomplished career transforming insurance at MetLife, EY, BNY Mellon and Foresters Financial. He holds an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and resides in Andover, Massachusetts with his spouse, children, and Taco, Everyday Life’s mascot.
Bobbi Rebell is the founder and CEO of Financial Wellness Strategies. She is a financial wellness expert and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. Her new book, Launching Financial Grownups: Live Your Richest Life by Helping Your (Almost) Adult Kids Become Everyday Money Smart was released in 2022. She’s a speaker, conference host, and moderator, and works as a spokesperson for brands aligned with her values. Bobbi is also the host of the critically acclaimed Money Tips for Financial Grownups podcast, which has more than 700,000 downloads. In 2021 she launched a new venture, GrownupGear.com as a fun way to promote adulting and being a financial grownup.
Nikhil is EY’s Global and Americas Consumer Banking leader. He leads a team of professionals who help C-Suite leaders plan, strategize, and transform their consumer lending, cards, payments, deposits, channels, and wealth management businesses to drive profitable growth, operational excellence, and strong control/oversight. With over 22+ years of experience, Nikhil has worked with many of the world’s leading financial and technology brands to drive data-driven growth strategies, new digital business/operating models, and complex technology and data platform transformations. He offers his clients a unique blend of expertise, having spent his entire career at the intersection of business, product, experience, technology, and data.
As a strategic leader with over 20 years of experience in the financial and healthcare industries, Brodsack thrives on developing innovative solutions to optimize organizational performance and create best-in-class experiences.
CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
MONDAY, MAY 1
TUESDAY, MAY 2:
WEDNESDAY, MAY 3:
THURSDAY, MAY 4
FRIDAY, MAY 5
GET READY TO UNLOCK YOUR CREDIT UNION’S GROWTH POTENTIAL
Experience an amazing lineup of eye-opening speakers and fresh takes on industry trends and strategies, along with the networking events and evening activities that have become THINK signatures. Check back as we update this page with new speakers and content.
· 2023 CU Growth Outlook research unveiled! Keynote and panel discussion with EY, Mastercard and Co-op · Keynote: Jennifer Becker, Virtual First, Executive Health Care Leader · Keynote: Ron Shevlin, Managing Director/ Chief Research Officer of Cornerstone Advisors · THINK 24 announcement and special alumni offer · Credit Union panel discussion
12:00pm - 1:30pm
12pm Co-op Shareholder luncheon (pre-registration required)
Divergent minds panel
2:30pm - 4:15pm
· Putting Data to Work to Drive Credit Union Growth Get practical guidance on investing in the right data tools, evaluating data components and designing a data innovation project to help your credit union drive growth. · Fighting Fraud: A Hands-on Workshop Collaborate to solve some of the industry’s biggest fraud challenges, using the latest strategies and real fraud case scenarios. · Activating Personas to Drive Growth Bring your CU data and Co-op's latest research to life by developing and targeting member personas. Find out how Coastal Credit Union saw tremendous growth as a result of their work on personas. · How Shared Branch Strategies Drive Engagement As payments and transactions continue to go remote, in-person member engagement at the Shared Branches continue to be a key touchpoint for credit unions. Has your strategy evolved with massive changes in consumer behavior? · Combat Cybercrime and Other Fraud without Sacrificing the Member Experience Insights on how a multi-layered fraud strategy can help credit unions fight cybercrime while preserving the member experience from a veteran credit union fraud prevention expert and former secret service agent. · Activating Personas to Drive Growth Bring your CU data and Co-op's latest research to life by developing and targeting member personas. Find out how Coastal Credit Union saw tremendous growth as a result of their work on personas.
1:1 Advisor sessions
Co-op Café and Studio
Sponsor happy hour (immediately following breakout sessions)
Dinner and networking
· Fighting Fraud: A Hands-on Workshop Collaborate to solve some of the industry’s biggest fraud challenges, using the latest strategies and real fraud case scenarios. · Putting Data to Work to Drive Credit Union Growth Get practical guidance on investing in the right data tools, evaluating data components and designing a data innovation project to help your credit union drive growth. · The BNPL Effect and the Convergence of Lending & Payments? The growing popularity of buy now, pay later programs show how consumers are broadening their definition of payments. How can your credit union capitalize on changing expectations? · The Credit Union Guide to Web 3.0 and the Metaverse Demystify the future speak and get ready for your credit union to take the next evolutionary leap. Find your place in Web 3.0, blockchain and the metaverse economy. · Leveraging Vendor Strategic Partnerships for a Stronger Ecosystem Strategic partnerships with your vendors are the key to building and maintaining a healthy credit union ecosystem. Position yourself for efficiency and growth with solid strategic partnerships and a modern payments platform that integrates it all. · Use Multicultural Segmentation to Drive a Diversity Revolution For the credit union movement to grow, credit unions need to join the payments-driven diversity revolution. A holistic strategy opens the doors to growth, financial well-being and inclusion.
8:30am - 10:15am
10:30am - 12:30pm
· Keynote: Todd Clark, President/CEO of Co-op Solutions & Bruce Dragt, Chief Product Officer of Co-op Solutions & Dean Michaels, Chief Strategy Officer, Co-op Solutions · Fireside chat: Linda Kirkpatrick, President of North America Mastercard & Samantha Paxson, Chief Experience Officer of Co-op Solutions
(The famous) THINK 23 “Celebration Party” sponsored by Mastercard
8:00am
You may add these events to your agenda during the registration process or by emailing THINK@coop.org.
8:30am
Conference check in
Industry influencers will receive a sneak peek look at what will be announced during the week at THINK 23, along with exclusive peer and Co-op executive team networking.
Industry Influencer kick-off session (by invite only)
4:00pm - 6:15pm
· Keynote: Jim McKelvey, Co-founder of Block (formerly Square), Founder & CEO of Invisibly · Keynote: Samantha Paxson, Chief Experience Officer of Co-op Solutions · Credit Union panel discussion
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Travel home or extend your stay and enjoy the beautiful resort
8:30am - 11:55am
Conference check in for charitable activity participants
Shotgun start golf tournament supporting CMN Hospitals sponsored by FIS
Fun Run 5k/Walk supporting CMN Hospitals
KICKOFF – THINK 23 general session opening and content kickoff
Welcome reception sponsored by Visa
THINK 23 general session keynotes
Attendee luncheon sponsored by Fiserv
General session
1:30pm - 2:20pm
CU Breakout sessions
Breakout Sessions
C-Suite roundtable
2:30pm - 4:00pm
3:00pm - 4:30pm
4:30pm - 5:30pm
8:30am - 10:00am
6:30pm - 10:30pm
6:30pm
· Keynote: Steve Wunker, Managing Director of New Markets Advisors · Keynote: Frances Haugen, Data Scientist and Algorithmic Product Specialist, Beyond the Screen · Credit union panel discussion · CMNH: check presentation and how your CU can make a difference
12:30pm - 2:00pm
Attendee luncheon
2:00pm - 4:30pm
· Attire: summer casual
Schedule complimentary 20-minute 1:1 Advisor sessions with Co-op subject matter experts across a wide range of credit union topics, including portfolio growth, member experience solutions, fraud mitigation and much more! Link to register coming via email and app soon! Space is limited.
3:00pm
7:45am - 6:30pm
1:00pm - 3:00pm
12:00pm - 4:00pm
2:00pm - 3:00pm
7:30am - 4:30pm
8:30am - 3:00pm
Register Now
Once you set foot on this one-of-a-kind desert oasis resting amid saguaro forests and mesquite groves, you will quickly see why it has become a destination resort for business thinkers and leisure travelers alike. Take in spectacular hiking trails, refreshing multi-tiered pools, multiple award-winning restaurants, the full-service Hashani Spa, and three Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses boasting majestic vistas of the Catalina Mountains, all a mere 15 minutes from Downtown Tucson. The JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa hotel room block is now closed. We recommend booking at Tucson Marriott University Park.
WELCOME TO THE JW MARRIOTT TUCSON STARR PASS RESORT & SPA
YOUR SANCTUARY FOR INNOVATIVE THINKING
Tucson International Airport (TUS) is approximately 13 miles from JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa.
The average high temperature in May is 85* and the low is 60*. Expect ample sunshine!
Can’t make it to Tucson? You can still experience THINK 23 through our virtual hub where you can catch live-streamed keynotes and studio sessions, access select on-demand content (for limited time) and get a first look at Co-op’s proprietary CU Growth Outlook research, which will be presented at THINK 23.
VIRTUAL PASS
THE ONE CREDIT UNION CONFERENCE THAT’S OFTEN COPIED, BUT NEVER DUPLICATED.
I'm discovering Co-op is truly a cooperative partner to our credit union, to helping us grow into the future and keeping our credit union relevant and really serving our members even better than we can today.
SVP of Human Resources at Towpath CU
Katie Lee
Learn more
If you are looking to raise your profile and engage with the industry’s most influential audience, this immersive, action-packed event is the “must attend” credit union conference of the year. • Gain valuable exposure and raise brand awareness • Connect with existing clients, prospects and nurture new ones • Promote key products, services and share technological advancements • Strike new partnerships and cultivate existing industry relationships • Take center stage at our networking happy hour reception highlighting sponsors • THINK 23 sponsorships are full. Interested in sponsoring THINK 24? Please reach out to Charlotte.Locklear@coop.org, Director of Industry Programs, Co-op Solutions, or call (909) 418-4728.
WHY SPONSOR THINK?
No other industry conference focused on the credit union industry inspires growth and change within the movement quite like THINK. Engage with hundreds of the country’s most forward-thinking credit union leaders from across the U.S. as they connect and collaborate with the biggest and brightest minds in the business including fintech experts, change agents and diverse innovators, igniting dynamic conversation, breakthrough strategies and unforgettable experiences.
