Event Agenda
Times subject to change
Monday
April 20
3:00 - 5:00 PM
4:00 - 5:00 PM Sponsor Hours
Arrivals & Registration
Pick up your name badges and welcome kits.
5:00 PM
Opening Keynote:Mindful Lending With Heart
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
Join us for dinner and drinks as we kick off the event with the vibrant flavors and spirit of Santa Fe—setting the stage for an exciting few days ahead.
Sponsored by
MeridianLink
5:30 PM
Building Mindful AI: From Principle to PracticeWhat does it actually take to build AI responsibly in the real world? This session goes beyond theory to explore how intentional design, real-world constraints, and hard tradeoffs shape AI systems in practice.
Shayli Lones
SVP of Marketing at Zest AI
Curtis Wagner
Zest AI, Head of Client Engagement
Adam Kleinman
Head of Product, Zest AI
Sean Kamkar
CTO at Zest AI
6:30 PM
From Risk to Reinvention: A Fireside Chat with Molly BloomContinue the conversation with Molly Bloom as she goes deeper on the themes of risk, reinvention, and leadership in high-stakes environments. In this fireside chat, we’ll explore how her experiences translate into practical lessons for navigating uncertainty, making bold decisions, and leading with clarity.
Molly Bloom
Entrepreneur and bestselling authorof Molly’s Game
Mike de Vere
CEO at Zest AI
Tuesday
April 21
8:00 AM
8:00-9:00 AM Sponsor Hours
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
President and CEO at ORNL FCU
Mike Wilson
President and CEO at Members 1st FCU
Kelly Botti
President and CEO at TruMark FCU
Mike de Vere (Moderator)
CEO at Zest AI
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
Dan Chiazza
CFO at Zest AI
1:30 PM - Breakouts
AI Powered Automation – Use Your Data to Power Better ResultsJoin us as we discuss the latest innovations and hear from a customer on the benefits they have seen with automated decisioning.
Megan Lewis Pulliam
Industry Partnerships at MeridianLink
Andrew Allard
SVP & COO at IU Credit Union
Michael Savino
CLO at Municipal CU
Jake Anfinson
CLO at Stagepoint FCU
Sponsored by
Meridian Link
1:30 PM - Breakouts
From Application to Approval: AI-Powered Lending IntelligenceAI is transforming how lenders assess identity, intent, and risk across the borrower lifecycle. This session explores how fraud detection, digital onboarding, and underwriting unite into one decisioning strategy to enhance the member experience, drive growth, and manage risk.
Chris Coleman
Co-founder, Clutch
Jaynel Christensen
EVP, Commonwealth Credit Union
Anderson Langford
CCO, Truliant Federal Credit Union
Ariel Weinstein (Moderator)
Senior Director, Client Engagement, Zest AI
2:40 PM - Breakouts
Workshop #1:Building Your Credit Union's New PlaybookThis roundtable-style workshop moves beyond theory into real work. You’ll collaborate with fellow credit union leaders to tackle common adoption challenges and begin outlining a clear, actionable AI playbook tailored to your institution. Come ready to share, pressure test ideas, and leave with a concrete starting point.
Gary Survis
Operating Partner, Insight Partners
Jared Brickman
VP of Office of AI, Insight Partners
7:00 PM
Closing Celebration:Dinner Under the StarsEnd IQ 2026 with an unforgettable night under the Santa Fe sky. Enjoy dinner and drinks with new friends, then head to the top of the property for a guided stargazing experience complete with s’mores by the fire. It’s the perfect way to wrap up two days of inspiration, connection, and conversation.
Sponsored by
Origence
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
Curtis Wagner (Moderator)
Zest AI, Head of Client Engagement
12:00 PM
Sponsor Hours: 12:00 PM-1:30PM
Lunch
Take a load off from the busy day and break bread with your peers.
2:40 PM - Breakouts
Workshop #2:Lending Intelligence in Action: A Hands-On LuLu Lab
Bring your laptop and step inside the future of lending strategy. In this interactive working session, you’ll engage directly with LuLu, your new AI Lending Analyst, alongside our product team to learn practical prompting techniques and apply AI to real lending use cases.
Sean Kamkar
CTO, Zest AI
Adam Kleinman
Head of Product, Zest AI
Jasmine Chen
Director of Product Marketing, Zest AI
3:45 PM
Sponsor Hours: 3:45-4:15pm
Break and RechargeRest and recharge before our closing celebration under the Santa Fe stars!
4:15 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
Sponsored by
Meridian Link
Sponsored by
The Savings Group
5:15 PM
Break and RechargeRest and recharge before our closing celebration under the Santa Fe stars!
Shaping the future of lending
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