2025 Speakers
Leaders Behind the Conversation
Our 2026 speakers will be announced soon. Until then, meet the 2025 banking leaders and innovators who shared real-world insights on small business growth, digital transformation, and customer engagement.
Keynote Speakers
Sekou Kaalund
SEVP, Head of Branch & Small Business Banking
U.S. Bank
Thomas Sebok
Chief Commercial Banking Officer
Citadel Credit Union
Chris Ward
Head of U.S. Small Business Banking & Regional President of Mid-South Metro
TD Bank
Speakers
Rohit Arora
Cofounder and CEO
Biz2x
Ashleigh Ashbrook
VP of Experience
MSU Federal Credit Union
Danielle Bateman Girondo
EVP Marketing & Public Relations
MidWest Bank Centre
Candice Caruso
SVP, Chief Business Banking Officer
WSFS Bank
Andrew Davis
Director of Macroeconomics Research and Investment Strategies
Bryn Mawr Trust
Jagdeep Dayal
Chief Credit Officer
Optum Bank
Mary Ellen Egan
Senior Director, Strategy and Content, Live Media
American Banker
Maggie Ference
Senior Vice President, Small Business and SBA Director
Huntington National Bank
Nuno Francisco
SVP, Business Banking Market Executive
Citizens
Jim Fuhrman
VP, Commercial Banking Division
IBISWorld
John Gardiner
Founder and Partner
B2Brazil
Chip Higgins
Founder & CEO
Bizzics
Mike Lee
CEO
Fundica
Kristen Link
SVP, Product Lead
U.S. Bank
Mary Helen McElfresh
VP of Fraud Risk Management Early Warning Services
Zelle
Abbas Merchant
CEO | Senior Executive Advisor
i2a Advisors
Nick Miller
President
Clarity Advantage Corporation
Paul A. Pavlou
Dean
Miami Herbert Business School – University of Miami
Vlatka Puljic
Managing Director, U.S. Business Banking Revenue Initiatives, Product
BMO
Bailey Reutzel
Senior Director, Strategy and Content, Live Media
American Banker
Stu Richards
CEO
Bredin
Faheem Savja
Founder & Host
Savja Advisory & Behind the Business Podcast
Chana Schoenberger
Editor-in-Chief
American Banker
Holly Sraeel
SVP, Strategy and Content, Live Media & Events
American Banker
Ben Udell
SVP Product Marketing & Innovation
Marquis
Matthew Watts
CEO
Matrexia
Saujin Yi
Founder and CEO
LiquidTrust