2025 NCUMA Hawaii
Conference Speakers
Peter Duffy
Managing Director
SRM
Peter Duffy works with Credit Unions and banks nationwide in competitive analysis, investment portfolio development, charter decisions, board meetings, loan portfolio sales and ALM. Duffy is the former Chairman of the Credit Union Executive Society Financial Suppliers Advisory Committee and has been a frequent speaker at credit union and bank conferences since 1996, including the November 2006 AEI Panel on the CU Charter. Duffy has worked with credit unions and banks since 1993, has written a monthly column for C.U.E.S. and has been published in C.U. Times and C.U. Journal discussing issues such as competitiveness, investments, asset/liability management, the economy, the right metrics for CUs and charter decisions. Prior to Sandler O'Neill, Peter Duffy spent 11 years at the Procter and Gamble Company in sales and sales management where he was involved in many test market initiatives for the company. Duffy was also a Sales Manager for Sealy Mattress and National Foods. Most recently, he spent 10 years at First Empire Securities and a year and a half at KBW both in New York. Duffy is a 1977 graduate of Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, Texas where he earned a B.A. in Business Management with a Minor in Marketing. Duffy is a 1973 graduate of Plano High School.
Peter Duffy lives in New York, has coached youth sports for over 30 years and fly fishes whenever he can make it happen.
Miranda V. Flury
President
Hawkeye Strategies, Inc.
As the President of Hawkeye Strategies, Miranda lives out her purpose: Helping to turn light bulbs on. She works with Cooperative Boards and Executives across North America to support their governance and strategy needs and in turn, she helps their people and communities. Her vast experience as a Professional Facilitator, International Speaker, and Expert Educator for Cooperatives enables her to provide a seamless and engaging experience that is tailored to each audience. Miranda has supported Boards, Executives, Regulators, Credit Union Peer Groups, Credit Union Centrals, Credit Union Service Organizations (CUSOs), and Credit Union Advocacy groups. She has spoken at conferences including the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), the BC Financial Services Authority Director’s Forum, and the Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA). She offers her clients the knowledge gleaned from specialized expertise, tempered with the wisdom of wide-ranging experience from diverse industries. Miranda completed her undergraduate degree from the University of Guelph, a Master’s level degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and an Executive MBA from the University of Fredericton. She has also earned a designation in Advanced Cooperative Governance. Miranda has held Board Director roles on Cooperative, Regulatory, and Private Boards and is currently a Director on one of the largest and most complicated Cooperatives in North America, Federated Cooperatives Limited. In her spare time, Miranda is a mentor with Futurpreneur where she helps new entrepreneurs successfully start their businesses. She is also a CrossFit enthusiast… but don’t get her started on this topic, she’ll have a hard time stopping!
Tansley Stearns
president & ceo
Community Financial Credit Union
Tansley Stearns, president & ceo, Community Financial Credit Union ($1.5B, Plymouth, MI)
Tansley embodies an unwavering spirit, where "impossible" is a foreign concept. She is a dynamic leader with over 26 years of transformative impact in the credit union industry. As ceo of Community Financial, she champions a culture where curiosity thrives, innovation is in the DNA, and strategy is an evolving art. Tansley drives sustainable financial performance by ensuring execution while fostering in-house solutions, encouraging experimentation, and investing in technologies that bridge physical and digital worlds. In 2024, she was honored with induction into America’s Credit Union Museum’s Herstory Exhibit, recognizing her enduring contributions. Under her leadership, In the Cellar has raised over $3.2 million in three years to support mental health programs through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Tansley’s legacy, spanning roles with Filene Research Institute to FourLeaf FCU, is defined by her devotion to people, progress, and purpose, leaving every community she touches better than she found it.
Greg Mesack
Senior Vice President for Advocacy
America’s Credit Unions Legislative, Political and Regulatory Divisions
As the Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Mesack leads the America’s Credit Unions legislative, political and regulatory divisions. For the past two years Mesack has been named one of the top lobbyists by The Hill newspaper. Mesack joins Americas Credit Unions having held a similar role at the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions. Prior to NAFCU, he was part of the law and lobbying firm of GrayRobinson where he advocated on behalf of clients to policymakers and regulators. Prior to that he was at Eris Group where he was Managing Director and Partner. His clients have included the Mortgage Bankers Association, Financial Services Institute, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, TransUnion, PayPal, Western Union, and Nike. Previously, Mesack was Vice President of Government Affairs for America’s Community Bankers. Before joining the private sector, Mesack worked on Capitol Hill where he advised several members of Congress. He holds a master’s of business administration degree from the George Washington University and a bachelor's degree in political science and history from Miami University.
Kevin Olsen
Payment$ Professor, Executive Coach, Author, Inspirational Speaker
Kevin Olsen is the Payments Professor, bringing enthusiasm and motivation to presentations. Viewing the world as a classroom which is exemplified in the professor’s “edutainment” ed-u-tain-mint (noun\ When education is motivating, informative, and fun) style of training as he seeks to educate and inform all on the latest developments and trends in the fascinating world of electronic payments Kevin develops programs, presentations, and articles designed to orient and educate financial professionals on a multitude of electronic payment topics. Kevin is also a certified business coach, helping lead organizations to innovate and communicate in the ever-changing world of payments. This includes building payment strategies with a focus on product development and use cases for faster payments (ACH, Stablecoin, RTP & FedNow). You can find the Payments Professor on YouTube, Instagram, through the Payments Podium podcast, and usually speaking at an event near you.
Among his many certifications, Kevin is an Accredited Faster Payments Professional (AFPP), an Accredited ACH Professional (AAP), an Accredited Payments Risk Professional (APRP), a NCP (National Check Payments Certification), and a Certified High-Performance Coach (CHPC), and holds a master's in industrial organizational psychology from Liberty University.
Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D
"The Bowtie Economist"
Economist
Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D. is a nationally acclaimed economist and public speaker specializing in making the arcana and minutia of economics fun, relevant and educational. He holds a B.A. in economics with first class honors from McGill University, as well as a Masters and Ph.D. in public administration from Syracuse University. Eisenberg, formerly a Senior Economist with the National Association of Home Builders in Washington, D.C., is a frequent speaker on topics including: economic forecasts, economic impact of homebuilding, consequences of government regulation, cost-benefit analysis, prudential use of financial derivatives, strategic business development and other current economic issues. He is the creator of the multifamily stock index (the first nationally recognized index to track the total return of public firms principally involved in the ownership and management of apartments), the author of more than seventy articles and serves on the Editorial Board of the Encyclopedia of Housing. He has spoken to hundreds of business groups and associations, frequently as keynote speaker, and is a frequent guest lecturer on college campuses. Dr. Eisenberg has been invited to testify before lawmakers and is often asked to comment on proposed legislation. His research and opinions have been featured in Bloomberg, Business Week, Forbes, Fortune, and many other publications. He is regularly featured guest on several talk radio shows, is often seen on television and authors a daily 70 word commentary on the economy. His interests include keeping the rate of restoration of his 60 year old house ahead of the rate of deterioration and doting on his daughter. He loves ice hockey and talking economics with crowds large and small!
Samantha Paxson
Growth and Business Transformation Catalyst Financial Industry Influencer
Samantha Paxson is a leading strategist in growth and business transformation. She’s known for her expertise in uniting technology, operations, and customer experience to enhance revenue, retention, and market reach. With 20 years of C-suite experience, she served as EVP and CXO at Co-op Solutions, where she helped lead the company's transformation into a platform-based ecosystem serving 3,500 financial institutions and 60 million consumers. Her leadership extends across multiple corporate boards, including a credit union service organization, a lending technology firm, and an insurance technology company. She is Chief Growth Officer of Acumen Financial Advantage, a consultative executive benefits firm serving mission-driven organizations and is an Advisor in Residence for EY, one of only seven such roles in the United States. Most recently, Samantha founded Power & Light Collaborative, a strategic growth consultancy focused on helping fintechs and community-centered financial institutions identify growth opportunities that prioritize consumer outcomes and optimize financial performance. Sam resides in Southern California, where her teen age son keeps her very human-centered.
Jamie Sumner
Partner
Velligan-Blaxall Consultants
Jamie Sumner, Partner at Velligan-Blaxall Consultants, has been trusted advisor to community and regional financial institutions over the span of his 25+ year career. His clients seek him out for guidance in asset/liability management, risk and reward profiling, and strategic capital planning. He works closely with boards and executive teams to translate complex analytics into clear, actionable insights that strengthen performance and governance. Prior to joining VBC, Jamie held senior roles in banking and consulting, building expertise in ALM models, capital planning, and investment strategies. A frequent speaker at industry conferences and banking schools, Jamie is known for his practical, engaging approach to balancing performance with risk. Outside the office, Jamie enjoys time outdoors with his family—often on the water in a kayak or paddle board—and pursues his interest in sustainable architecture that blends buildings with landscapes for greener, self-sufficient living.
Josh DeTar
EVP of Evangelism
Tyfone
Josh DeTar, EVP of Evangelism at Tyfone, is a passionate advocate for leveraging technology to empower credit unions. A self-described "tech geek" whose "tongue is purple from drinking the community financial institution (CFI) Kool-Aid," Josh is renowned for transforming complex tech concepts into actionable strategies. During his 8+ year tenure at Tyfone, Josh's extensive experience in driving technological adoption and impact positions him uniquely to deliver practical, implementable solutions. A personal recipient of a credit union's transformative impact on his own financial journey, Josh's deep-seated commitment fuels his mission to empower CFIs with innovative digital banking solutions that foster financial wellness. He genuinely believes, "I want to see more people live financially healthy lives with positive financial futures. Financial independence is very freeing." Beyond his role at Tyfone, Josh's dedication to community and collaboration is evident. He hosts Tyfone's "Digital Banking Podcast," a top-ranked industry podcast where he's interviewed over 130 guests, including Financial Institution leaders and innovators, to industry consultants, and fintech pioneers. He also actively serves his community as a board member and chair of the supervisory committee for Cutting Edge Federal Credit Union. His passion for giving back extends to leading Java4Kids, a partnership between Tyfone and Credit Union 4 Kids (CU4Kids) that raises significant funds for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals through coffee sales, aiming to expand its reach across the country. His influence and expertise have been recognized, including being named a Credit Union Times’ 2024 LUMINARIES Finalist in the Rising Star category, and his "Digital Banking Podcast" consistently ranks among the top global podcasts.
Leah Hamilton, JD
Director Education Services | Chief Compliance Advisor
Sentry Advisors
With nearly 30-years of experience in the financial services industry, Leah’s in-depth compliance knowledge spans Lending, Deposits, BSA/AML, and Compliance Risk Management. Her diverse skills, from software programmer to legal counsel to compliance advisor make Leah a results-oriented and strategic compliance professional. Throughout her career, banks, credit unions, fintechs, and federal and state associations have engaged her for compliance advice and training at all levels and diverse audiences, including board, senior management, and state and federal examiners. Leah provides management and staff valuable insight to effectively understand, identify, manage, and mitigate compliance risk, including cyber, synthetic identity and fraud risks.