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Mark Meyer
President & CEO, Filene Research Institute

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.

“The greatest mistake that we can make, however, is to assume that principles which once were true remain true forever.” 
- Edward A. Filene, December 9, 1936

 

Jim Morrell
President & CEO, Peninsula Community Federal Credit Union and Treasurer, America’s Credit Unions

Jim Morrell serves as CEO of Peninsula Community Federal Credit Union in Shelton, Wash., where he leads a dedicated team of 75 professionals. A passionate advocate for financial empowerment, Jim focuses especially on supporting ALICE families — those who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed — a group well known to United Way for facing persistent financial challenges despite working hard. 

Jim is a certified International Credit Union Development Educator (I-CUDE) and has leveraged his knowledge across borders, working with credit unions in Africa to pursue the use of cooperative operating principles to help individuals build financial capability and communities inspire economic development. 

Currently serving on the Board of America’s Credit Unions as Treasurer, Jim is a past chair for the GoWest Credit Union Association’s Governmental Affairs Committee (GoWest CUA), the WesPay Regional Payments Association Board, and Nacha (National Automated Clearing House Association). 

Jim’s influence extends beyond finance. He chairs the Mason County Citizens Commission for Elected Officials Salaries and previously served on the Economic Development Council of Mason County, the City of Shelton’s Taskforces on Homelessness and Financial Sustainability, and The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound. He’s also passionate about giving back, supporting the CU4Kids at Seattle Children’s Hospital and the Shelton YMCA. 

Jim has been recognized as the African American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC) “2025 Maurice R. Smith Leadership Award Recipient,” GoWest’s “2021 Credit Union Advocate of the Year,” “2019 President’s Choice” by the Shelton-Mason Chamber, and GoWest’s “2010 Distinguished Credit Union Professional of the Year.” 

He holds a Master of Business and Public Administration from Willamette University in Salem, Ore., and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash.

 

Patrick Pierce
President & CEO, City & County Credit Union and Board Chair, America’s Credit Unions

Patrick Pierce has been a leader in the Credit Union Movement for more than 35 years. He has had various roles, including Chairman of the Minnesota Credit Union Network and Chair of the Political Involvement Committee. Patrick is a past member of the CUNA State Charter Enhancement Sub Committee and the CUNA Advocacy Committee. He is currently the Chairman of the America’s Credit Unions Board and serves on the America’s Credit Unions Executive Committee. 

In addition, Patrick is a Certified Credit Union Executive with more than 25 years of experience as a CEO. He has been the recipient of many credit union and civic awards, including the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders Award in 2016. Patrick’s passion for credit unions and money management started at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and passed his Certified Public Accountant exam on his first attempt.

 

Ron Shevlin
Chief Research Officer at Cornerstone Advisors

Ron Shevlin is the Chief Research Officer at Cornerstone Advisors, where his research on banking and fintech trends helps shape the direction of financial institutions and fintechs. As a technology analyst and consultant for more than 30 years, Ron has conducted hundreds of studies on how consumers and businesses use technology to manage their finances and how technology is changing the future of the financial services industry.

Author of the Fintech Snark Tank on Forbes and host of the What’s Going On in Banking podcast, Ron is ranked among the top fintech influencers globally, included on lists like the top ten most influential voices in banking by The Financial Brand, the Fintech Power 50, and Bank Innovation’s list of 30 Innovators to Watch. Known for his direct, no-BS—yet engaging and humorous–speaking style, Ron is a frequent keynote speaker at banking and fintech industry events where he speaks on innovation and emerging technology developments and trends.

Ron has an MBA in Finance and Statistics from the University of Texas at Austin and a BA in Economics from the State University of New York at Binghamton.

 

Terrance Williams
President & CEO, TruStage

Terrance Williams is the President and CEO of TruStage™, the fifth largest life insurance provider offering financial services and solutions designed for middle-market consumers.

Williams has had an extensive career in the insurance industry, previously working for Allstate and Nationwide before joining TruStage in 2023. During his tenure at Allstate, Williams was responsible for Allstate’s non-property-liability businesses, representing $4 billion in revenue. Prior to joining Allstate, he led innovation and digital strategy at Nationwide and established the company’s $100M venture capital fund.

Williams was recognized by Forbes as one of “The World’s Most Influential CMOs” in 2017 and 2018 and was named as one of the most influential black corporate directors by Savoy Magazine in 2021. In addition to his active volunteerism, Williams serves as a Board Member on several non-profits, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Encompass Health. He also mentors undergraduates at the University of South Carolina where he received his degree in risk management and insurance.