The CU Growth & Innovation Summit is a premier event designed for credit union executives, technology leaders, and service providers, focusing on strategic growth, digital transformation, and member-centric innovations within the industry. Organized by Converge Events, the summit offers a platform for professionals to engage in peer-driven dialogues and expert-led panels, fostering actionable insights and collaborative strategies.
Key topics covered during the summit include AI advancements for credit unions, building scalable and regulator-ready technology infrastructures, risk management, regulatory preparedness, and data-driven lending strategies. Sessions are tailored to address the challenges and opportunities faced by credit unions of varying sizes, ensuring relevance and applicability across the board.
The event features numerous networking opportunities, including curated experiences designed for high-impact, strategic connections. Attendees can explore cutting-edge solutions from leading technology providers in the exhibit hall and participate in the CU Growth & Innovation Awards ceremony, which honors groundbreaking achievements in the credit union sector. Notable speakers include industry leaders such as Michael Abraham, Chief Strategy Officer at Great Lakes Credit Union, and Chris Brahney, Senior Vice President of Sales and Member Engagement at Nuvision Federal Credit Union.
This summit is ideal for credit union professionals seeking to modernize their technology, enhance member engagement, and expand service offerings. By attending, participants will gain the tools and connections necessary to drive success and maintain competitiveness in the evolving financial landscape.
Speakers(25)
Aanand Kapadia
Head of Digital Banking Transformation at PenFed Credit Union
Aanand Kapadia is the Head of Digital Banking Transformation at PenFed Credit Union, where he leads the Consumer Banking Technology roadmap, experience design, portfolio management, and agile practices. He also serves as the product manager for PenFed’s mobile app and digital banking platforms. A seasoned financial services professional with over a decade of industry experience, Aanand has a proven track record of delivering large-scale digital transformations that enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. Prior to joining PenFed, he held leadership roles at JPMorgan Chase, where he focused on product strategy and innovation across consumer banking. Aanand is passionate about creating secure, seamless, and human-centered digital experiences, and he leverages emerging technologies and agile methodologies to drive continuous improvement. He is committed to advancing the future of digital banking through a member-first approach and cross-functional collaboration.
Amanda Whitson
Chief Lending Officer at Community First Credit Union
Amanda Whitson, MBA, is a seasoned financial services executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience in lending, retail operations, and organizational development. As a Chief Lending Officer and former Senior Vice President, she has led large, multi billion dollar credit unions through major operational transformations, digital modernization, and strategic growth. Amanda is known for delivering measurable results, including doubling a loan portfolio in five years and reducing lending errors from 56% to 6%, earning the 2022 CUNA Excellence in Lending Award. She has implemented enterprise wide digital lending platforms, strengthened risk management, and built data driven programs that improved efficiency, speed, and member experience. Her career includes extensive leadership in consumer, mortgage, commercial, and collections operations, as well as retail network management, HR, and talent development. Amanda is recognized for her people first leadership style, ability to inspire high performing teams, and commitment to creating simple, member focused processes. She holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Tusculum University.
Anand Solanki
CFO and Head of Product Management, Analytics, Strategy, and Facilities at Citadel Credit Union
Anand Solanki is the CFO and Head of Product Management, Analytics, Strategy, and Facilities at Citadel Credit Union, where he leads enterprise strategy and transformation to drive sustainable growth. He brings more than 25 years of experience in financial services, known for uniting fiscal discipline with innovation, data driven product and experience design. Anand recently led the launch of a new member centric checking product shaped by analytics and member insights, strengthening engagement and accelerating growth. He also oversees Citadel’s enterprise analytics and facilities modernization efforts, ensuring operations evolve in step with member expectations and long term strategic goals. A recognized voice on strategy, financial resilience, analytics transformation, and the future of member success, Anand brings a holistic, forward looking perspective to leadership and is committed to building institutions that are innovative, resilient, and deeply member focused.
Chris Brahney
SVP of Sales and Member Engagement at Nuvision Federal Credit Union
Chris Brahney serves as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Member Experience at Nuvision Credit Union. In this leadership role, he develops and executes sales, marketing, and member experience strategy enterprise wide. He also manages key member touchpoints and interactions to develop deep and profitable member relations and drive improvements in member centricity scores and loyalty. Most notably, he oversees the small business and investment line of business. Prior to joining Nuvision, Chris has extensive banking experience having worked at both City National Bank and Washington Mutual.
Chris Hilliard
CEO, Founding Member at Winnow
Chris Hilliard is CEO and Founding Member of Winnow, where he leads a team transforming how financial institutions navigate regulatory requirements. Winnow is an advanced online platform that helps users generate tailored surveys and searches based on a dynamic database of federal and state laws and regulations. With over 20 years in consumer, commercial, and mortgage lending, Chris brings deep expertise in compliance, BSA/AML, licensing, and legal functions. He is a CRCM, CCEP, and a California Licensed Life, Accident & Health Agent. Chris has held senior roles at major financial institutions, overseeing compliance, risk, litigation, and product development. He is passionate about using technology to drive compliance efficiency and innovation.
Christine West
Senior Managing Partner, Financial & Professional Services at Info-Tech
Christine West is Senior Managing Partner, Financial & Professional Services, in Info-Tech’s Executive Services. She brings 20+ years of experience in wealth management and life insurance. As VP, Wealth Management & Insurance at Canada Life, she led a 300+ person team driving strategy and technology delivery, shifting to a product-centric model and scaling DevOps. She spearheaded a $100M+ modernization program, migrating 15 legacy back-office systems to advance digital and automation roadmaps, boosting efficiency, resiliency, and security while enabling client and advisor portals. At Manulife, as AVP of contact center technology, she implemented AI/ML/RPA solutions such as natural language IVR, biometrics, and speech analytics, enabling self-service, faster responses, and data-driven improvements. Christine also has expertise in anti-money laundering systems, data analytics engines, and large-scale digital workplace programs. She holds a BA in Economics and an MLIS from Western University.
Cris Mattoon
Chief Risk & Compliance Officer at Michigan First Credit Union
Cris Mattoon currently serves as Chief Risk & Compliance Officer for Michigan First Credit Union, having served in similar roles with fintech partner bank Cross River, fintech Railsr, and establishing a digital de novo bank at The Auto Club Group. Cris specializes in fostering collaborative federal and state legislative and regulatory relationships and leading enterprise transformation projects to optimize member-centric innovation with safety and soundness. Cris is a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP), Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), and a licensed attorney.
Elizabeth Osborne
Chief Operations Officer at Great Lakes Credit Union
Elizabeth Osborne is an accomplished operations and IT executive in the greater Chicago area with deep expertise in the credit union and banking industries. Recognized by American Banker as one of the “Most Powerful Women in Credit Unions” in 2023 and 2024, she has excelled in roles including CIO of Community Banking and M&A Integration for a regional bank. As Chief Operations Officer at Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU), Elizabeth oversees Technology, Digital, Deposit Operations, Product Management, and the PMO. Her strategic leadership, data-driven decision-making, and focus on process improvement drive operational excellence and innovation. Skilled in management, risk, analytics, and strategic planning, she champions partnerships with FinTechs to enhance efficiency and growth. Elizabeth holds an MBA in Finance from Endicott College, a BS in Leadership from Northeastern University, and a DEI Certificate from Cornell University.
Fred Campobasso
Chief Lending Officer at Great Lakes Credit Union
Fred Campobasso is Chief Lending Officer at Great Lakes Credit Union in Northern Illinois, overseeing commercial, consumer, mortgage lending, and collections. With over 20 years in the credit union industry, he also serves on the Board of Member Student Lending and the TruTreasury Advisory Board. Fred supports the Great Lakes Credit Union Foundation for Financial Empowerment, which runs food drives for schools, veterans services, toy drives, and financial literacy programs. A strong advocate for low- and moderate-income households, he focuses on fair access to credit and financial education, aiming to empower underserved communities. He is passionate about helping families build generational wealth through responsible lending. Fred earned a BA in Sociology from Eastern Illinois University and a Master’s Certificate in Strategy and Execution from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.
Gregory Dawson
Fintech Consultant at TFL Tech, Inc.
Greg Dawson is a seasoned Fintech and AI technology expert at TFL Tech Inc., with over 30 years of experience driving innovation, growth, and scalable technology solutions across startups, enterprises, and global markets. He is currently launching Core Banking Software and Lending Solutions for TFL in the U.S., specializing in Credit Union member acquisition, multicultural engagement, Millennial and Gen Z growth, AI-driven fintech, and cross-platform integrations. From 2021–2025, Greg led Core Banking platform implementations for Credit Unions, including a Spanish-speaking Credit Union in South America. Previously, as Senior Technology Consultant and Director at Saritasa (2011–2021), he led sales, business development, and SaaS initiatives across mobile, web, IoT, and embedded systems. As a founding management team member at Escrow.com (1999–2005), Greg helped scale the company from 5 to 138 employees, supporting its growth into the world’s largest online escrow provider and securing long-term escrow services for eBay Motors. Greg is a trusted advisor to Credit Unions, banks, and fintech companies worldwide.
Jason M. Osterhage
President and Chief Executive Officer at Everwise Credit Union
Jason has served as President & CEO of Everwise since March 2022. He brings extensive leadership experience from major cooperative banking institutions. Starting his career at Delta Community CU in 2005, he led lending, strategy, HR, and analytics. In 2012, he became Chief Lending Executive at Alliant CU, where he also directed product strategy, member experience, and digital transformation. Jason holds degrees from Georgia State, Emory (MBA), and a Master’s in Operations Research & Management. He completed executive studies at Kellogg and Stanford, and serves on the South Bend Chamber board and Indiana’s Young Presidents’ Organization.
Jason Tilley
Chief Information Officer at 1st Advantage Federal Credit Union
Jason Tilley is an accomplished technology executive with over 30 years of credit union IT experience and a strong record of strategic leadership in financial services. As CIO at 1st Advantage Federal Credit Union, he shapes the organization’s technology vision, drives digital transformation, and ensures operational excellence. His expertise spans IT governance, cybersecurity, strategic planning, and regulatory compliance. Jason also hosts The Knowledge Stack, a podcast exploring the intersection of finance and technology, where he shares insights on emerging trends and innovation strategies. Previously, he held IT leadership roles at ABNB and Picatinny Federal Credit Unions, leading modernization and infrastructure initiatives. Dedicated to continuous improvement, he mentors IT professionals and helps financial institutions leverage technology to deliver secure, efficient, and member-focused services.
Jeffrey Rothmeyer
EVP/Chief Lending Officer at Credit Union 1
Jeff Rothmeyer joined CU1 in June 2020 as Chief Lending Officer with over a decade of lending experience. He launched CU1’s commercial real estate department, now a national leader in 1031 exchange financing, generating nearly $1.5B in its first five years. Promoted to Executive VP in 2022, Jeff built an indirect lending program that now closes nearly $300MM annually in Chicagoland. His strategies have driven major growth, job creation, and strong interest and fee income. Jeff expanded consumer, small business, and residential real estate products and built a national loan participation sales team selling about $350MM annually. He oversees support staff, processing, policy, underwriting, and all lending divisions, including commercial, consumer, indirect, VISA, and mortgage. His leadership has been crucial to CU1’s success and repeated Top Workplace awards. CU1 now operates in 9 states with 33 branches and maintains major athletic and organizational partnerships.
Jennifer Good
Senior Director of Strategic Development at Homethrive
Jennifer Good is Senior Director of Strategic Development at Homethrive, where she leads innovation efforts including Loss Support, following the company’s acquisition of Peacefully—the end-of-life support startup she founded after navigating the loss of a loved one. Jennifer previously led global education partnerships at Meta and advised Fortune 500 companies across industries at Boston Consulting Group. She holds a BA from Claremont McKenna College and was honored as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar. Outside of work, Jennifer finds joy in hiking, practicing yoga, and getting lost in a good book.
Josh Rodriguez
Assistant Vice President of Fintech and Mission Integration at West Community Credit Union
Josh Rodriguez is the Assistant Vice President of Fintech and Mission Integration at West Community Credit Union, where he leads fintech partnerships and mission driven storytelling initiatives. He previously served as President/CEO of Missouri Valley Federal Credit Union for 11 years, bringing more than two decades of experience across operations, technology, and executive leadership. Josh also hosts and produces The Banking on You Podcast, blending his passion for audio production with his commitment to highlighting real member stories and strengthening community connection.
Lisa Stowe
Vice President of Enterprise and Operational Risk at Mountain America Credit Union
Lisa Stowe is a risk and compliance executive with 15+ years of experience modernizing governance frameworks across digital-first financial services. As VP of Enterprise and Operational Risk at Mountain America Credit Union, she drives enterprise risk strategy, compliance alignment, and operational resilience for a rapidly evolving, technology-enabled institution. Her approach unites risk and compliance into data-driven frameworks that improve clarity, scalability, and decision-making. She specializes in risk taxonomy alignment, regulatory change management, and optimizing data to connect controls and business insights. Previously, Lisa spent 13 years at Ally Bank, rising to Senior Director of Enterprise Compliance Programs, where she led risk assessments, policy governance, and third-party transformation, achieving notable efficiency and cost savings. A frequent industry speaker, she advises executives on using data maturity to elevate governance. Lisa holds a BBA from Western Governors University.
Mandy Zurbrick
Director, Strategic Consulting Member Experiences at Rise Analytics
With 17 years as Chief Marketing Officer at a $2.5B credit union serving over 230,000 members, Mandy Zurbrick brings deep industry expertise in using data to drive member growth, engagement, and retention. Now, as Director of Strategic Consulting, she helps credit unions turn insights into action – bridging strategy and execution and building smarter campaigns that deliver real results. Mandy speaks with the voice of experience and a passion for helping credit unions thrive in a data-driven world.
Matt Monge
Chief Experience Officer at Missouri Central Credit Union
Currently the Chief Experience Officer at Missouri Central Credit Union, Matt Monge is a recognized leader in strategy, branding, culture, and growth & transformation in the financial industry. A former Credit Union Times Trailblazer 40 Below honoree, he has spent nearly two decades as an executive, consultant, and speaker, helping organizations drive growth and change. His thought leadership has been featured in Training Magazine’s Top 125, CU Insight, and Global Workforce Transformation’s ‘Top Future of Work Voices You Should Know.’ Inc.com and Business Insider have cited his expertise—for just one word. His teams have won branding awards from CUES, CUNA, and MAC, including CUES Golden Mirror for Brand of the Year. A Mensa member and USA Basketball Gold Certified Coach, Matt holds a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University.
Michael Abraham
Chief Strategy Officer at Great Lakes Credit Union
Michael has over 20 years in financial services, beginning at community and regional banks before joining the credit union industry in 2014. He became President/CEO of First Financial in 2015, leading 300% growth and launching the encurage Network Credit Union Model in 2022. In 2024, he guided a merger with Great Lakes Credit Union and now serves as Chief Strategy Officer, overseeing business development, lending, M&A, and growth. He is also CEO of GLCU Holdings, Mortgage Forward, and GLCU Insurance. Michael serves on multiple boards including the Illinois Credit Union League, Envisant, and Aviary AI. He’s a board member of Synergies Seed Fund, supporting entrepreneurs with disabilities, and teaches Finance and Management at North Park University. He holds degrees from DePaul University, University of Wisconsin, and resides in Chicagoland with his wife and three children.
Nathan Grossenbach
CEO at Shoreline Credit Union
Nathan Grossenbach is an experienced credit union executive, serving with Shoreline Credit Union as its CEO for the past 8 years. When Nathan joined Shoreline Credit Union, it faced imminent closure due to MBL, Accounting, and Compliance-related issues. Through transparent communication, program overhaul, and effective management, Shoreline Credit Union is a thriving credit union with a full suite of products, services, and only one NCUA visit in the last six years.
Nickole Christianson
Senior Fraud Manager at BCU
Nickie Christianson is a seasoned financial services leader with over 15 years of experience in the industry, including nearly five years specializing in fraud risk management. Currently managing a high-performing team of 13, Nickie has led efforts that have prevented more than $80 million in fraud losses year-to-date through a combination of strategic oversight, data-driven decision-making, and strong team development. Known for a collaborative and member-centric approach, Nickie works closely with internal and external partners to identify where risk mitigation intersects with member experience—ensuring protections are effective without compromising service quality. A strong advocate for innovation, Nickie actively partners across teams to implement automation, AI, and machine learning solutions that reduce operational volume, improve efficiency, and enhance overall service delivery.
Paul Provenzano
Head of US Market Development at ebankIT
Paul Provenzano, Head of US Market Development for ebankIT, has long partnered with community financial institutions to navigate digital transformation and align technology with evolving consumer expectations. More recently, Paul is focused on leveraging AI and open APIs to deliver secure, human centered digital banking experiences that deepen consumer engagement and strengthen the performance of the digital channel.
Rick Kapur
Chief Experience Officer at Chevron Federal Credit Union
Rick Kapur is Chief Experience Officer at Chevron Federal Credit Union, a $5B+ institution in the San Francisco Bay Area. With 34 years in financial services, including 26 years at Citibank in progressively senior leadership roles, he leads enterprise strategy across member experience, marketing, operations, branch channels, business development, and the contact center, with a focus on measurable outcomes. Rick has led large-scale transformations to modernize service delivery across digital and in-person channels and strengthen operating models. He contributes to enterprise governance across risk, asset liability, member experience, and digital initiatives. Rick holds an MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Management from Pepperdine University.
Thomas Sebok
Chief Commercial Banking Officer at Citadel Credit Union
Thomas Sebok is the Chief Commercial Banking Officer for Citadel Credit Union, bringing more than 20 years of experience in commercial and business banking. He joined Citadel from JPMorgan Chase, where he served as Executive Director of Business Banking, leading growth and retention in the firm’s largest and most competitive market, Midtown Manhattan. Previously, Tom was Executive Vice President and Business Banking Territory Executive at PNC Bank, overseeing 317 employees across 15 states and driving commercial growth and client expansion strategies. At Citadel, Tom focuses on strengthening relationships with business members and partners, aligning his deep expertise in banking and community engagement with Citadel’s mission to build financial strength in the communities it serves. He holds an MBA from Pace University and a BA from Montclair State University.
Valerie Moskal
Chief Growth & Lending Officer at TRUE Community Credit Union
Valerie Moskal is Chief Growth & Lending Officer at TRUE Community Credit Union in south central Michigan. She is responsible for leading all lines of business that strategically impact TRUE’s growth and revenue, including direct and indirect consumer lending, real estate and business lending, investment services, and deposit acquisition strategies. She has over a decade of C-Suite experience delivering on strategic priorities to maximize volume and growth, while authentically delivering on the credit union’s mission to cultivate legacy defining moments for members. Valerie earned her Master’s of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation and the Certified Credit Union Executive (CCUE) certification.
Event Details
- Date
- April 15-16, 2026
- 2 days
- Location
- 🇺🇸 Oak Brook, United States
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago - Oak Brook
- Pricing
- Varies by tier
- Audience
- Credit union executives, technology leaders, service providers
- CLE Credits
- Up to 8.5 CERP, 6.25 CRCM, 4.25 CFMP, 1.0 CTFA, 1.0 CRSP, and 1.0 CISP credits