Event Agenda
Times subject to change
Sunday (CAB only)
April 19
6:00 - 7:00 PM
Networking Happy Hour
(CAB only)
5:00 PM
Welcome Dinner
(CAB only)
Monday
April 20
3:00 - 5:00 PM
Arrivals & Registration
Pick up your name badges and welcome kits.
5:00 PM
Opening Keynote:Building the Future of Inclusive Credit
The financial system is at a turning point. AI is redefining how lenders understand risk, make decisions, and expand access to credit—but technology alone isn’t enough. In this opening keynote, we’ll explore what it means to build an inclusive, data-driven credit ecosystem where fairness and innovation move forward together.
Mike de Vere
CEO at Zest AI
6:00 PM
Defying the Odds:Molly Bloom's Odyssey of Adversity, Reinvention, and TriumphJoin Molly Bloom as she shares powerful lessons in resilience, reinvention, and ethical leadership—showing how embracing risk sparks innovation and how clarity of purpose drives meaningful change in an organization.
Molly Bloom
Entrepreneur and bestselling authorof Molly’s Game
6:45 PM
Opening Celebration: A Taste of Santa Fe
Dinner, drinks, mezcal, and agave tastings—a vibrant evening inspired by the flavors and spirit of Santa Fe.
Sponsored by
MeridianLink
Tuesday
April 21
7:30-9:00 AM
Breakfast and Networking
Start the day off with breakfast and conversation with peers.
9:00 AM
AI Keynote: Transforming the FutureAs technology and AI accelerate at an exponential pace, they are reshaping economies,
redefining organizations, and transforming the very nature of work. Drawing on nearly
30 years of insights from one of the world’s most innovative organizations, this talk takes
you on an eye-opening journey through how AI is evolving, what it can unlock, where it
can disrupt, and why the next wave of change will be as human as it is technological.
Dr Omar Hatamleh
Global Thought Leader in AI and Author. Former Chief AI Officer, NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center.
9:30 AM
Fireside Chat: AI at Scale: Lessons for the Next Generation of Lenders
Explore what it really takes to deploy AI at scale in lending. Building on Omar’s keynote perspective on human-centered innovation, this conversation focuses on turning exponential advances in AI into practical impact, and offers insight into how leading lenders can align technology with trust, navigate disruption, and stay relevant as intelligent systems become foundational to financial services.
Dr Omar Hatamleh
Global Thought Leader in AI and Author. Former Chief AI Officer, NASA
Sean Kamkar
CTO at Zest AI
10:00 AM
Then and Now: Credit Union Regulation Through the Eyes of Two NCUA ChairmenThis candid fireside conversation examines how credit union regulation has evolved and where it is headed next. They’ll dive into what you need to know beyond rulemaking to explore how regulators think about risk, innovation, and resilience amid economic uncertainty and rapid technological change.
Kyle Hauptman
Chairman of the National Credit Union Administration
Rodney E. Hood
Zest AI BoardmemberFormer Acting Comptroller of the Currency and NCUA Chairman
10:30 AM
Leading the Future: Embracing Innovation, Change, and the Power of AIWe’re bringing together the most forward-thinking CEOs who are driving change throughout their institutions. We’ll explore how leaders balance innovation and risk, what AI means for organizational strategy, and how to cultivate cultures that can adapt to rapid technological change.
Jenny Vipperman
CEO at ORNL FCU
Mike Wilson
President and CEO at Members 1st Federal Credit Union
11:00 AM
The Next Generation of Financial Leadership
Mac Gardner, author of The Four Money Bears, joins this fireside chat and reflects on how early money lessons shape values, decision-making, and long-term leadership. A heartfelt conversation about building financial confidence that lasts across generations.
Mac Gardner
CFP® , Founder and Chief Education Officer Finlit Tech
1:30 PM - Breakouts
Smarter Credit Decisions:The New Era of AI UnderwritingDiscover how forward-thinking lenders are transforming credit decisioning with explainable AI. In this session, Zest customers share how they’re using intelligent underwriting to boost approvals, reduce bias, and make faster, fairer lending decisions that scale.
Sponsored by
Meridian Link
1:30 PM - Breakouts
Protecting Growth:Rethinking Fraud in the Age of AIFraud prevention doesn’t have to slow lending down. Hear from institutions that are using AI to detect and prevent emerging threats while maintaining a seamless member and customer experience. Learn what it takes to build smarter, adaptive fraud defenses that evolve as fast as the risks do.
1:30 PM - Breakouts
The Power of Lending Intelligence:Leveraging GenAI to Drive Strategic IntelligenceExplore how leaders are using LuLu, Zest’s GenAI strategy platform, to unlock insights hidden in their lending data. See how real institutions are leveraging LuLu to analyze performance, improve efficiency, and make confident, data-driven decisions across the credit lifecycle.
2:30 PM
Workshop #1: Establishing Responsible AI GovernanceAs AI becomes central to lending, governance must move from an afterthought to a foundation. This workshop helps executives build practical frameworks for accountability, fairness, and transparency in AI systems. Through real-world scenarios, attendees will identify gaps, strengthen oversight, and create governance processes that evolve with technology and regulation.
2:30 PM
Workshop #2:Building an AI-Ready Lending Organization
This session is for lending leaders ready to move past AI pilots and build the foundations to scale responsibly. Hear from peer credit union leaders on what AI adoption actually takes, from governance and change management to data and talent readiness. The workshop delivers practical frameworks to assess gaps and create a clear, executable path to becoming an AI-ready lending organization
3:30 PM
Break and RechargeRest and recharge before our closing celebration under the Santa Fe stars!
4:00 PM
Afternoon Experiences:Connect, Create, and Explore
Unwind and connect with peers through curated afternoon experiences designed to keep the conversations going. Choose from a range of activities, including a Wines of New Mexico tasting, leather tooling, archery, guided hiking, sip and paint, and more.
Sponsored by
Sync1
5:00 PM
Break and RechargeRest and recharge before our closing celebration under the Santa Fe stars!
11:30 AM
Beyond Automation:How AI is Transforming the Lending PlaybookLet’s dive into how AI is reshaping lending from the inside out. Learn how leading lenders are integrating new tools, balancing innovation with compliance, and using data to unlock smarter, more inclusive credit decisions.
Jeremy Pinard
CLO at Canvas Credit Union
Melissa Palwick
CLO and Executive VP at San Francisco FCU
Todd Peeples
SVP Sales Lending at All In Credit Union
12:00 PM
Lunch
Take a load off from the busy day and break bread with your peers.
Shaping the future of lending
Join us
