April Clobes
President & CEO, Michigan State University Federal Credit Union

April Clobes has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Michigan State University Federal Credit Union since March of 2015. She joined MSUFCU in 1996 and moved through the organization from a marketing specialist to management and executive positions prior to being named President/CEO. She also serves as the CEO of the Reseda Group, MSUFCU’s wholly-owned Credit Union Service Organization. 

Ms. Clobes has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from Michigan State University, a Master of Arts degree from Michigan State University in Advertising, and a Master of Business Administration from Western Michigan University. She has earned several awards, including Top Woman to Watch by the Credit Union Times in 2013; the ATHENA award from the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce; an Honorary Alumni Award from Oakland University in 2017; and the Detroit Free Press Top Workplaces Leadership Award in the large category group in 2016, 2018, and 2021. In 2021 she received the Michigan State University Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2022 Ms. Clobes received the Credit Union Times Luminary Award for Innovation in Technology and was named an American Banker Powerful Women in Credit Unions.

Ms. Clobes is an active leader on several industry, community and university boards. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, McLaren Greater Lansing, and the Lansing Symphony Orchestra. She is the chair of the Finance Committee for the Michigan Humanities Council. Additionally, Ms. Clobes serves on the MSU College of Music National Leadership Council, Eli and Edythe Board Art Museum Advisory Board, and the Wharton Center Advisory Board. Ms. Clobes is a board member of Trellance, Members Development Company, and the Filene Research Group.

Founded in 1937, MSUFCU has a national reputation for excellence and has received several top industry and workplace awards, including being named a Top Workplace in the large employer category by the Detroit Free Press for eight consecutive years, a Top 100 Best Workplace for Women by Fortune Magazine for three consecutive years, and was named one of the top five Michigan credit unions by Forbes Best-in-State Credit Unions. MSUFCU was named a Best Workplace in Financial Services and Insurance by Fortune Magazine two consecutive years and has been certified as a Great Place to Work for eight consecutive years. MSUFCU has also been recognized by the Credit Union National Association, recently winning first place for the people-helping-people philosophy 2020 Louise Herring Award. MSUFCU is headquartered in East Lansing, Mich., has 22 branches, over 336,000 members, $7 billion in assets, and more than 1,050 employees.

 

Lisa Ginter
CEO, CommunityAmerica Credit Union

Lisa Ginter is the CEO of CommunityAmerica Credit Union and a celebrated national leader in the financial services industry. She is also an influential figure in her hometown of Kansas City, where she is active in business, civic, and philanthropic initiatives that have a positive impact on the region. 

Lisa has served in leadership roles at CommunityAmerica since she joined the organization in 1995. She became CEO in 2015, growing the Credit Union from $1.5 billion to nearly $4.7 billion in assets (as of Q1 2022). She leads with vision and passion, with a focus on helping all members get on a path to thrive and achieve financial peace of mind. As CEO, Lisa has directed the launch of several best practices in the industry, including an Innovation Lab and investments in cutting-edge technology that helps deliver a more personalized experience to members. Her heart for ensuring people have access to the financial tools they need to succeed at every life stage permeates the culture at CommunityAmerica. Lisa views the employees at the Credit Union as an extension of her family, which is a key reason CommunityAmerica is a repeat “Best Place to Work” winner and one of Kansas City’s highest-ranked financial institutions – not to mention the highest-ranked financial institution in Kansas City led by a woman. She is also an advocate for credit unions on a national level, serving as Chair on the Executive Board of Directors for CUNA (Credit Union National Association). 

Lisa’s name can often be found in both local and national headlines. She is one of only three Kansas Citians to be recognized among the ‘Top 100 Financial Executives’ by the national Business Journal and has been selected as a ‘Power 100’ honoree by the Kansas City Business Journal  multiple times. She was also named one of 435 South Magazine’s ‘50 Most Powerful People in KC.’ 

Lisa is a beacon of leadership in her beloved Kansas City community, where she currently serves as Vice Chair of the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and immediate past Chair of the Kansas City Area Development Council. Her leadership presence is also strongly felt on many other boards, including the Board of Trustees at her alma mater, Rockhurst University. Lisa has participated as Chair/Co-Chair for countless events to raise record-breaking donations for deserving non-profit organizations, including Children’s Mercy Hospital, Operation Breakthrough, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater KC, and WIN for KC, just to name a few.

 

Jason Haley
Chief Investment Officer, ALM First

Jason Haley is ALM First’s Chief Investment Officer, heading the Investment Management Group (IMG) and acting as a portfolio manager. As a capital markets professional with more than 20 years of experience with fixed-income portfolio management, trading, and client service, Jason is well-qualified to lead the team responsible for the investment process and investment theme development for the firm. Jason also oversees all capital markets activities, including portfolio management, trading, market research & commentary, and execution of hedging and funding strategies for ALM First’s depository clients.

 

Rodney E. Hood
Eleventh Chairman & Current Board Member, NCUA

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. Mr. Hood was named Chairman of NeighborWorks America on June 22, 2023. 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 Award,” an award given by the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation to honor individuals who have exhibited an outstanding commitment to affordable housing.

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Mr. Hood holds a bachelor’s degree in business, communications, and political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

 

Ian Khan
Creator, Storyteller, & Author

Ian Khan, “The Futurist”, is obsessed with Future Readiness. He created the Future Readiness Score to scientifically measure how well an organization is ready to grow through unanticipated change. Ian’s work has been featured on CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, Fast Company.  

Ian is an authority on emerging technologies including Web3, Metaverse Security and speaks about Digital Transformation through Algorithms, Robotics, Automation and Blockchain. As a world class storyteller Ian has also produced several critically acclaimed documentaries available on Prime Video, Emirates Airlines and leading streaming platforms. Ian is deeply vested in technology education, future readiness and advocacy for tech for good and other initiatives.  

His latest book “Metaverse for Dummies” is the most comprehensive reference book to help readers of all levels understand the Metaverse. Meet Ian at www.IanKhan.com.

 

Dave Larson
President & CEO, Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union 

Dave Larson is the President and CEO of Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union since 2013. Prior to becoming President, Larson served as Senior Vice President of Affinity Plus for 9 years. As CEO, Larson led the turnaround effort to strengthen and rebuild the credit union. In 2018 and 2020, Larson was recognized by the Star Tribune as “Top CEO” among large companies. He was named to the Minnesota 500 list of “Most Powerful Business Leaders in Minnesota” the past 5 years. In 2019, Larson was honored as a Minnesota Credit Union “Outstanding Professional of the Year.” Under his leadership, Affinity Plus was named a “Top 150 Workplace” and designated “Best Credit Union in Minnesota” by Forbes 5 years in a row. In 2022, Larson was inducted into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders. Larson has a genuine care for the employees, the credit union’s members, and the communities that Affinity Plus serves. Larson is also the Board Chair for the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Minnesota, and a frequent guest lecturer at the University of Saint Thomas.

 

Tansley Stearns
CEO, Community Financial Credit Union

 “No” is not a word in Tansley’s vocabulary. If there is an opportunity to bolster Community Financial Credit Union and the industry at large, Tansley will jump on board as a champion regardless of other demands on her plate. To Tansley, an opportunity to connect with others and add impact is always worth the time. 

Tansley puts people first. She fosters an environment to celebrate team successes and challenge one another to always reach for more in the name of taking the financial challenges that Michiganders face and improving upon them daily. Impossible is a word Tansley loves. She knows that when we dream big, we can turn those dreams into reality, transforming financial services in unimaginable ways. 

 Tansley’s experience has been shaped by her more than 24 years of credit union leadership experience, including roles in research, sales, service, and government relations. Before joining Community Financial, Tansley served as chief operating officer at Canvas Credit Union, the third largest credit union in Colorado ($3.8 B), serving more than 284,000 members. In her four years at Canvas, Tansley spent every moment amplifying the credit union’s ability to change lives with her innovative marketing, brand transformation, communications, people, retail, and strategy efforts leading to the largest phase of growth within the organization’s 84-year legacy. Tansley led the people of Canvas with a bright fire and desire for greatness. This is her legacy and is passed down with every interaction to service all Coloradans. 

Prior to her tenure at Canvas, Tansley was the chief impact officer at the industry’s premier think-and-do-tank, the Filene Research Institute. Tansley played a pivotal role in building bridges between credit unions, academia, and Silicon Valley. Her work has ensured that even more institutions engage with Filene’s credit union-focused, action-ready research. She also served as a leader at credit unions around the country, from her role at BestSource Credit Union, Connex Credit Union, and Bethpage Federal Credit Union for a combined 13 years, where she honed her ability to lead marketing, lending, sales, and business development initiatives along all frontline, member-facing channels. Tansley has been a pivotal addition to every community she serves, activating the credit union movement with grace and, as always, a smile.

 

Leo Tilman
Executive Chairman, Capitol Peak Asset Management

Leo Tilman is a leading authority on strategy, risk intelligence, and finance and a long-time advisor to companies, governments, and institutional investors around the world. Prior to founding Tilman & Company, a global strategic advisory firm, Tilman held senior roles at BlackRock, Capitol Peak, and Bear Stearns and served as adjunct professor of finance at Columbia University.

Tilman is the author of four books: Agility (2019, with General Chuck Jacoby, former Commander of NORAD and US Northern Command), Financial Darwinism (2008), Asset/Liability Management (Ed, 2003), and Risk Management (2000, with BlackRock co-founder Bennett Golub). In 2010, in collaboration with the Nobel economist Edmund Phelps, he co-authored a Harvard Business Review proposal to create the First National Bank of Innovation. In a 2012 European Financial Review article, Tilman reshaped the concept of risk intelligence, positioning it as an essential new competency for companies and investors.

Tilman was one of the main architects of a public/private partnership involving The White House Rural Council, USDA, and the Farm Credit System that brought billions of dollars of private capital to innovative companies and projects (2014-2017).

Tilman has been profiled as Business Visionary by Forbes and honored by the World Economic Forum.