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2026 GAC

CUbroadcast Studio Lounge interviews at
America's Credit Unions' GAC
Washington, D.C., March 1-5, 2026

Our CUbroadcast Studio Lounge is heading to Washington, D.C., March 1-5, 2026, for America's Credit Unions' Government Affairs Conference (GAC). Once there, we will interview expert presenters, credit union attendees, exhibitor partners, as well as other industry innovators, game changers, as well as our mighty fine hosts from America's Credit Unions -- and our supporting sponsors: Velera, Corelation, Alloya, DDJ Myers, Glia, InvestiFi, Metallicus, Scienaptic, TruStage, Trellance, Quinte FT, American Share Insurance, Backbone, Vizo Financial, and Despite Impossible podcast.

If you have a few minutes, feel free to stop by our Studio Lounge for a quick, 5-minute interview on your conference takeaways and insights, as well as addressing any industry trends and/or issues, or anything else you would like to briefly discuss that will be beneficial to the industry.

Listed below is our interview schedule. Please select a day and time that works best for you, as well as a topic. Simply email me at [email protected] or fill out the form (upper right), letting me know the preferred interview time, person/title, and timely topic to discuss and I will get you on the schedule right away -- and we'll see you there! And let me know if you have any questions in the meantime.
2026 Underground at GAC
As an added bonus to the GAC, check out the very raw, candid, and transparent 2026 Underground Collision event: "Breakthrough Culture" that features unfiltered talk from industry leaders -- all looking for real change to enhance credit unions' position in the financial services marketplace.

It's all brought to you by the fine folks at Mitchell Stankovic & Associates. And we will have interviews from this event posted, as well as our GAC coverage.

Credit Unions for Kids
Give back...
​​A give-back tradition we started a few years ago: For every Studio Lounge interview we conduct, we will donate $10 to Credit Unions for Kids to help Children's Miracle Network Hospitals nationwide. So sign up to chat and the kids win, too! It all adds up!


Studio Lounge location in the Convention Center: X marks the spot...
(just outside the exhibit hall)
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Studio Lounge sponsors..
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corelation
glia
trellance
alloya
investiFi
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ddj myers
metallicus
quinte financial technologies
backbone
scienaptic
American Share Insurance
despite impossible podcast
trustage
Vizio Financial

Studio Lounge interview schedule...

Sunday, March 1
Renee Sattiewhite, President/CEO at AACUC, and Marvin York, Vice President at Velera and Chair at AACUC
Topic: AACUC update, 2026 Hall of Fame inductees, Commitment to Change, Future Fund update, and much more
Chuck Fagan, President & CEO at Velera
Topic: Velera updates, VeleraLIVE, 
Velera Recognized on Forbes’ America’s Best Midsize Employers 2026 List​, PYMNTS interview -- "How members aren’t debating whether their credit union cares about them. They’re asking how fast it can do something about their situation" (mission hasn’t changed, but the clock has gotten a lot louder)
Ankit Maharaj Singh, SVP - Strategic Growth at Quinte Financial Technologies, and Scott Gyllensten, Chief Risk Officer at Teachers Federal Credit Union
Topic: Latest trends in fraud prevention, dispute management, and compliance for today's credit unions
Tansley Stearns, President/CEO at orsa credit union
Topic: Backbone update -- growth, initiatives, goals, results, and more
Rob Landis, President/CEO at Corelation
Topic: Core trends for credit unions in 2026, signing Wings Credit Union to convert to KeyStone in 2028
Todd Spiczenski, Chief Association Services Officer, America's Credit Unions
Topic: 2026 GAC and all that goes into it
Stephen Bohanon, Chief Strategy Officer at Alkami
Topic: How an integrated sales and digital service platform helps FIs move from transactional digital banking to relationship-based engagement, The role of data and personalization in deepening member/customer relationships, How this platform style supports both growth and efficiency for financial institutions
Norm Patrick, Vice President at Advisors Plus Consulting, Velera
Topic: Advisors Plus and regulatory updates
Shanthi Shanmugam, CEO of Casap, along with Sharee Adkins, Chief Impact Officer of GoWest
Topic: New partnership between the two organizations and what this means for the industry and member credit unions of GoWest
Tim Pranger, CEO at Appli
Topic: Appli's standalone real-time property value calculator — a lead gen tool to help CUs turn home equity interest into member action.

Monday, March 2
Anne Legg, Founder at THRIVE
Topic: How credit unions can measure their relevance and WHY this is Urgent
Scott Simpson, President/CEO at America's Credit Unions
Topic: First GAC as ACU leader, keynote highlights, message for Hill Hikes, outlook for 2026, Nationwide Campaign Urging Congress to Reject Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Mandates​, Afford Act needs to pass, etc.
Frank Mazza, Director of Blockchain for Institutions and Fintechs at Metallicus
Topic: Stablecoin Pilot Program, Digital Wallets, Industry Outlook
Paul Sheets, EVP, Customers at Glia
Topic: High Tech, High Touch: Maintaining the CU Competitive Edge with Banking AI​
Tony Boutelle, CEO at Origence
Topic: The Connected Lending Ecosystem
Paul Treinen, CEO at World Council of Credit Unions 
Topic: WOCCU global update, WCUC in Australia promotion
Samantha Beeler, President/CEO at The League of Credit Unions & Affiliates
Topic: The League of Credit Unions at GAC​
Kurt Loose, COO, andJennifer Kelly, VP of Advocacy at American Share Insurance
Topic: The Power of Choice in Deposit Insurance American Share Insurance | ESI
Vinay Bhaskar, COO at Scienaptic AI, Chad Wilcox, Senior Vice President of Lending at Credit Union of Colorado, and Patrick McElhenie, Chief Growth Officer at Scienaptic AI
Topic: Power of Agentic AI for Credit Unions 
JR Pierman, President & CEO at ASAPP Financial Technology
Topic: Multilingual Opportunities - Reducing Digital Friction and Increasing Trust,
Lena Giakoumopoulos, Global Women's Leadership Network
Topic: GWLN update
Katy Wagnon, Chief Experience Officer at GoWest Credit Union Association
Topic: Messaging shift – how we are asking our credit unions to lead with the WHY not the WHAT and how this impacts our advocacy strategy
Kyle Hauptman, NCUA Chair
Topic: NCUA update, stablecoin issuance framework for credit unions, SEC Names Kyle Hauptman To PCAOB Board, GAC activities, 2026 outlook
TruStage Director, Credit Union System Relations, John Cassidy, and TruStage, Vice President, Corporate & Legislative Affairs, Megan Balogh
Topic: TruStage Advocacy and Credit Union System Support
Brian Kaas, President and Managing Director at TruStage Ventures
Topic: TruStage Stablecoin (announcement) and its benefits to credit unions
Cody Banks, SVP, Product Experience & Enablement at Velera
Topic: Digital intelligence and convergence
Marshall Hayner, Co-founder/CEO at Metallicus
Topic: Stablecoins & Credit Unions: Leading U.S. Financial Innovation
Peter Myers, SVP at DDJ Myers
Topic: Why Boards Must Understand Their Credit Union's 'Economic Engine' to Be Effective Strategists

3:00 - 5:00 -- Set up and prep for Red Carpet coverage of The Foundation Dinner Presenting the Herb Wegner Memorial Awards

5:00 -- 7:00 ...
CUbroadcast Red Carpet Coverage of (LIVE on our LinkedIn page) ...
The Foundation Dinner Presenting the Herb Wegner Memorial Awards

Guests include (hosts and winners):
​
  • Kathy Chartier, President & CEO of Members Credit Union
  • Gigi Hyland, credit union advocate and philanthropist
  • Steven Stapp, President & CEO of Unitus Community Credit Union

Tuesday, March 3
Julie Esser, Founder/CEO at IgniteFI, and Marcus Daniels, Founding Partner and CEO/CIO at Highline Beta
Topic: CU AI Venture Studio and upcoming CU AI Summit
Jill Nowacki, President/CEO, Humanidei
Topic: Exploring the Evolving Workplace, Focusing on Retaining Women and Integrating AI
Troy Stang, President/CEO at GoWest Credit Union Association
Topic:
Vital Role of Trade Associations Amplifying the Credit Union Story and Fostering Growth
Stephen Baker, CEO at Kinective
Topic: 
Integration strategy driving Intelligent Banking for Credit Unions​
Danielle Milner, President/CEO at Boston Firefighters Credit Union
Topic: 
GAC as a CEO, Hill Hike talking points, cool things you all have planned at BFCU for 2026, and anything else you'd like to discuss!
Tom Davis,  President/CEO at Trellance Cooperative Holdings Inc.
Topic: The Strategic Growth and Maturation of Trellance Cooperative Holdings
Shane Butcher, COO/CRO Cloud at Optiri
Topic: AI Security & Governance 
Paolo Teotino, Chief Product Officer at Rise Analytics
Topic: Essential Analytics and What's New at Rise Analytics​
Blake Woods, svp of strategic transformation at orsa credit union, and Brett Wooden, FI Software Strategist at Buildable
Topic: Roblox update -- credit unions to engage members on Roblox initiative
Mark Sievewright, Chief Strategy Officer and Segment Lead, Credit Unions at SRM
Topic: Facilitating CEO Councils event discussing “Trends Shaping the Future for Credit Unions"
Tim Bruculere, SVP, Membership at Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union
Topic: Alloya launches stablecoin for credit unions -- CU USD
Kris Kovacs, Founding Partner at Forum52 | A Learning Community for CU Leaders 
Topic: Launching a new credit union leadership and innovation community we call Forum52
Linda White, Executive Director, CUWLA, and  Corlinda Wooden, Director of Strategy & Engagement, CUWLA
Topic: Credit Union Women's Leadership Alliance (CUWLA) is growing, launched CUWLA Rise to invest in experienced leaders who play critical roles in day-to-day operations and represent the next generation of executive leadership, supporting thoughtful succession planning across the credit union system
Karen Harbin, Vice Chair at America's Credit Unions Board of Directors and CEO at Commonwealth Credit Union
Topic: Karen's new ACU leadership position (new Chair!), her priorities/vision while serving in the role, and advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill
Sonya Watkins, Director of Recruiting at Humanidei, and Carl Clark, Candidate Experience Manager at Humanidei
Topic: Recruitment Trends
Brynn Ammon, president of credit union solutions at Jack Henry, and Elizabeth Osborne, new managing director of operations at Jack Henry
Topic: Elizabeth Osborne joining the organization and 2026 core outlook for credit unions
Nick Coleman, Director, Credit Unions for Kids Children's Miracle Network and Renee Sattiewhite, President/CEO at AACUC, and Tansley Stearns, President/CEO at orsa credit union -- Renee and Tansley are also on the CU4Kids National Advisory Board
Topic: Update on the CU4Kids program, specifically celebrating the new brand and 40th anniversary of the program (2025 review/celebration, 40th anniversary, How to participate, Anything else)
Kirk Drake, Founder/CEO at CU 2.0, and Tansley Stearns, president/ceo at orsa credit union
Topic: Launching AI CUSO
Crissi Cole Founder of Penny and Chase Neinken, Co-Founder of Chimney (Both now @ Array)
Topics: The future of fintech
Samantha Paxson, Principal / Chief Growth Officer at Acumen Financial Advantage, and Scott Hinkle, Principal/Co-founder at Acumen Financial Advantage
Topic: Bright Futures 4Kids and Capital Performance
Elise Baldacci, President at Maine Credit Union League
Topic: Conference Highlights, Hill Hike Messaging, MCUL plans for 2026
Brad Calhoun, CEO at Teachers FCU, Manish Gupta, CEO at Corridor Platforms, and Suresh Renganathan CTO/CIO at Teachers FCU
Topic: Making Credit Unions competitive in the Digital Age (How to become AI first responsibly)​
Tom Pierce, SVP, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at Velera
Topic: VeleraLIVE 2026 preview
Neetu Bhagat, CFO at Origence
Topic: Embedded Financing (FI Connect)
Steve Castagna, Chief Growth Officer at AVUKO, and Tom Kuslikis, CEO at EFCU Financial
Topic: Credit union success story using AKUVO's Virtual Collector
Anisa Agulto, SVP, Revenue at OMNICOMMANDER
Topic: How to enhance the in-branch digital signage experience
Benjamin Conant, Chief Product Officer at Alkami (Co-founder/CTO at MANTL)
Topic: How a modern LOS streamlines the borrowing experience across channels, The importance of unifying loan and deposit account opening to enable balance-sheet agility and deeper account holder relationships, How FIs can deliver speed, convenience and digital decisions while keeping their LOS in place
Anne Legg, THRIVE; Glen Sarvardy, 152 Advisors; Lou Grilli, Suncoast Credit Union; John Janclaes, The CEO Corner
Topic: GAC reflections -- stablecoin, AI, fear of irrelevancy, and much more
​
Wednesday, March 4
Merry Pateuk, SVP, Industry Engagement at Velera
Topic: Industry engagement initiatives
Caroline Willard, President/CEO at Cornerstone Credit Union League, and Mike de Vere, CEO at Zest AI
Topic: 
Zest AI Partners with Cornerstone and GoWest as the First Credit Union Leagues to Deploy its GenAI Lending Intelligence Solution to Enhance Advocacy
Bill Handel, General Manager and Chief Economist, Raddon, a Fiserv company.
Topic: The economic outlook for 2026 and how it pertains to credit unions.
TruStage, SVP of Sales Distribution, Joe Boan
Topic: Children's Miracle Network and CU4Kids
Barb Lowman, President of CSS, and Todd Wascom, VP of Sales at Carefull
Topic: Carefull and CSS: Working Together to Fight Elder Fraud and Protect Families (Elder fraud is escalating rapidly as scams grow more sophisticated. Barb and Todd will talk about how their organizations have teamed up to protect the most vulnerable segment of credit union members and support their families.)
Bruce Adams, President/CEO of Credit Union League of Connecticut
Topic: GAC takeaways/highlights, Hill Hike messaging, etc.
Alexandra Gekas, Vice President at Callahan & Associates, and Jay Johnson, Chief Collaboration Officer at Callahan & Associates
Topic: 
6 Executive Priorities for 2026
Fred Eisel, Presient/CEO at Vizo Financial Corporate Credit Union
Topic: How Vizo Financial is accelerate credit union success through artificial intelligence
Paul Andrews, VP Advocacy WOCCU, and Erin O'Hern, International Advocacy and Regulatory Counsel
Topic: International Advocacy and Thought Leadership -- How WOCCU thought leadership is supporting US credit union advocacy efforts, WOCCU white papers, WOCCU plan for 2026, and global regulatory report
Ami Iceman, Chief Experience Officer at MSU Federal Credit Union, and David Barone, EVP, Strategy & Marketing at Nymbus
Topic: How Credit Unions Can Win with Small Business
Omar Jordan, founder/ceo at Coviance
Topic: Industry Trends Shaping Home Equity Lending in 2026​
The Cooperative Trust Crasher Mentors
Topic: GAC highlights, credit unions attracting younger generations

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