NEFMA 2026 Fall Conference: Full Schedule

8:00am EDT

Breakfast

Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

Start your day with breakfast while connecting with fellow attendees! Take time to network, catch up with colleagues, make new connections, and explore our exhibitors to learn more about their products, services, and resources.

Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Pre-Assembly

Meals & Breaks, Exhibit Hall

8:00am EDT

Registration

Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT

Pre-Assembly

Stop by the Registration Desk to check in, pick up your name badge and conference materials, and get ready for the conference. Staff will be available to answer questions and assist with registration needs.

Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT
Pre-Assembly

Registration

9:00am EDT

Welcome & Conference Opener

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:00am - 9:10am EDT

Apollo I-IV

Join us as NEFMA President Kerri Madnick officially opens the conference and welcomes attendees. Kerri will share opening remarks and set the stage for the days ahead.

Speakers

Kerri Madnick

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:00am - 9:10am EDT
Apollo I-IV

General Session

9:10am EDT

A Look Behind the Scenes: Digital Transformation with a Member-First Mindset

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:10am - 10:00am EDT

Apollo I-IV

For decades, the credit union industry has earned the trust of its members and built its reputation by delivering on a clear and consistent promise of transparency, integrity, personalized service and an unwavering commitment to the communities it serves. These values have long distinguished credit unions from other financial institutions, strengthening their brands, attracting new members, and...
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Speakers

Theresa Hayes

Senior VP, Digital Banking and Data Management, BrightBridge Credit Union

Theresa Hayes has grown from teller to Senior Vice President of Digital Banking and Data Management over the course of 21 years at BrightBridge Credit Union. She embodies the values and commitment to excellence that the credit union industry represents.

Beginning her career on the front lines as a teller, Theresa developed an early understanding of member needs and the importance of service excellence. From there, she steadily advanced through a series of increasingly impactful roles, including Marketing Coordinator, Director of... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:10am - 10:00am EDT
Apollo I-IV

General Session

10:00am EDT

Power Session 1: The Modern CMO Playbook: Proving ROI and Driving Deposits in the Northeast

Thursday October 8, 2026 10:00am - 10:20am EDT

Apollo I-IV

Today’s bank marketers face a difficult challenge: driving core deposit growth, defending market share against aggressive regional and digital competitors, and deploying cutting-edge tech...all while traditional boards and C-suites ask, "But what is the actual ROI?"This session breaks down The Modern CMO Playbook, offering a practical blueprint to bridge the gap between creative brand-building...
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Speakers

Janel Thomas

Director of Strategy and Client Services, Pannos Marketing

Janel Thomas is a strategic and results-driven financial services executive with more than 15 years of experience driving multi-million-dollar growth for community and regional banks. She is an expert in bridging the gap between high-level executive strategy (ALCO, CRA, Compliance... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 10:00am - 10:20am EDT
Apollo I-IV

Power Session 1

10:20am EDT

Power Session 1: How Inclusive Marketing Can Reduce Redlining Risk & Drive Growth

Thursday October 8, 2026 10:20am - 10:40am EDT

Apollo I-IV

No bank or credit union wants to be accused of redlining. Beyond the serious compliance implications, redlining can damage your institution’s reputation and weaken community trust. Every member of your community deserves equitable access to credit, and your institution should be part of the solution, not the problem.In this session, Charles LeFevre, marketing and compliance expert and...
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Speakers

Charles LeFevre

Director of Compliance Operations, Kadince

Charles LeFevre is the Director of Compliance Operations at Kadince, where he helps build software that empowers banking professionals to manage compliance and marketing more effectively. He has been in the banking industry for more than 20 years and has worked as a Chief Compliance... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 10:20am - 10:40am EDT
Apollo I-IV

Power Session 1

10:40am EDT

Power Session 1: Q&A

Thursday October 8, 2026 10:40am - 11:00am EDT

Apollo I-IV

Live Q&A

Speakers

Charles LeFevre

Director of Compliance Operations, Kadince

Janel Thomas

Director of Strategy and Client Services, Pannos Marketing

Thursday October 8, 2026 10:40am - 11:00am EDT
Apollo I-IV

Power Session 1

11:00am EDT

Break

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:00am - 11:15am EDT

Pre-Assembly

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:00am - 11:15am EDT
Pre-Assembly

Meals & Breaks, Exhibit Hall

11:15am EDT

7 Winning Deposit Campaigns - and Why They Work

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT

Apollo I-IV

Rate pressure isn't going away. Neither is the competition for deposits. So what's actually working right now?This session reviews seven deposit campaigns that community banks are running today, with real results to show for it. We break down what made each one work: the data behind the targeting, the offer structure, the channel mix, and the outcomes achieved. These are not case studies from 2019...
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Speakers

Tim Keith

CEO, OptimaFI

Tim Keith serves as Chief Executive Officer at OptimaFI, bringing more than 30 years of experience in banking, marketing, and growth strategy. He co-founded Infusion (now part of OptimaFI) in 2007 and continues to work with C-suite leaders at banks and credit unions — both large... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT
Apollo I-IV

General Session

12:15pm EDT

Lunch

Thursday October 8, 2026 12:15pm - 1:15pm EDT

Pre-Assembly

Thursday October 8, 2026 12:15pm - 1:15pm EDT
Pre-Assembly

Meals & Breaks, Exhibit Hall

1:15pm EDT

Linking Marketing to Results: Building Dashboards That Connect Campaigns to Deposits, Loans, and Revenue

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT

Apollo I-IV

Bank marketers are under growing pressure to prove that campaigns drive real business results, not just impressions, clicks, or leads, but deposits, loans, and revenue. Yet many institutions still struggle to connect marketing activity to financial outcomes in a way that holds up in front of senior leadership and the board.This session focuses on how to build meaningful dashboards that link...
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Speakers

Mark Gibson

Marketing Practice Leader, Capital Performance Group

Mark Gibson is the Co-Leader of the Marketing & Sales Practice at CPG. He has been an innovator and strategic advisor to financial services executives for more than 30 years. Mark is a co-leader of the Marketing & Sales practice at CPG and focuses on designing and implementing strategies... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT
Apollo I-IV

General Session

2:15pm EDT

Unpacking Chime's Paid Social Media Strategy

Thursday October 8, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT

Apollo I-IV

Chime spends over half a billion in marketing a year learning what works in digital financial marketing. Credit Unions and Community Banks do not need to copy them, but they should absolutely learn from them.We've analyzed over 300 ads from Chime’s paid social campaigns his year, uncovering the patterns behind how they simplify messaging, build trust, and move consumers toward action. We're back...
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Speakers

Dean DeCarlo

President, Mission Disrupt

As the President of Mission Disrupt, Dean specializes in helping companies Build, Focus and Scale their digital marketing by using a four-step process - Attract, Optimize, Convert, and Predict. With a passion for paid media and website optimization strategies, Dean and his team empower... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
Apollo I-IV

General Session

3:15pm EDT

Break

Thursday October 8, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT

Pre-Assembly

Thursday October 8, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT
Pre-Assembly

Meals & Breaks, Exhibit Hall

4:00pm EDT

Your Customers Are Buying a Feeling. Now, You Can Measure It

Thursday October 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

Apollo I-IV

We sell the same products as every other institution. Same checking, same rates, roughly the same everything. So, we compete on the products, the way we always have. But, our ideal customers or members do not choose us because of a rate sheet. Let's face it: banking products aren't interesting or all that different from one another. They choose based on how we make them feel. Safe. Understood....
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Speakers

Maria Laverghetta

Chief Data Intelligence Officer, WordCom Inc.

Maria Laverghetta is Chief Data Intelligence Officer at WordCom, Inc., a data-driven, targeted marketing agency specializing in household-level campaign strategy for banks and credit unions. She leads the data intelligence and client insights teams, spearheading the company's migration... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Apollo I-IV

Keynote

5:30pm EDT

NEFFIES Reception & Awards Show

Thursday October 8, 2026 5:30pm - 7:00pm EDT

Constellation Ballroom

Thursday October 8, 2026 5:30pm - 7:00pm EDT
Constellation Ballroom

Awards

8:00am EDT

Breakfast

Friday October 9, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

Pre-Assembly

Friday October 9, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Pre-Assembly

Meals & Breaks, Exhibit Hall

9:10am EDT

Awards Panel

Friday October 9, 2026 9:10am - 9:50am EDT

Apollo I-IV

Join us the morning after the NEFFIE Awards to hear from a selection of this year’s winners.Following their recognition at the awards ceremony, our panelists will share the stories behind their winning work, the ideas and strategies that brought it to life, and lessons they’ve learned along the way.It’s a chance to go beyond the award and hear directly from the people behind some of this...
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Friday October 9, 2026 9:10am - 9:50am EDT
Apollo I-IV

General Session, Awards

9:50am EDT

Power Session 2: Brand-Driven Branch Experiences That Drive Growth

Friday October 9, 2026 9:50am - 10:10am EDT

Apollo I-IV

The branch is experiencing a renaissance. Three out of four consumers say branch access is critical when choosing their primary bank, and Gen Z visits branches three times more frequently than Baby Boomers. As branches reassert their central role in starting and sustaining banking relationships, institutions must close the gap between marketing and branch investments.As branch purpose shifts...
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Speakers

Jessica Rice

Engagement Strategy Director, Adrenaline

As Engagement Strategy Director at Adrenaline, Jessica Rice champions marketing and culture activation strategies that strengthen brands. As a former bank marketing director and financial institution Board Director, she combines practical experience with strategic vision in helping... Read More →

Friday October 9, 2026 9:50am - 10:10am EDT
Apollo I-IV

Power Session 2

10:10am EDT

Power Session 2: Capitalizing on Your Competitor's Acquisition

Friday October 9, 2026 10:10am - 10:30am EDT

Apollo I-IV

As the M&A floodgates have opened, community banks in markets across the country are being acquired, almost always by larger banks, often headquartered far away. This has created a host of opportunities for community and regional banks unions to proactively reach out to the customers of these acquired institutions.This session will provide tactical advice as to how best approach and appeal to...
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Speakers

Ted Rosen

President, Expert Business Development, Inc.

Theodore A. Rosen is President of Expert Business Development, LLC, a firm he founded in 1993, specializing in helping community and regional banks, and other financial service providers build commercial relationships though professional appointment setting, sales process design and... Read More →

Friday October 9, 2026 10:10am - 10:30am EDT
Apollo I-IV

Power Session 2

10:30am EDT

Power Session 2: Q&A

Friday October 9, 2026 10:30am - 10:50am EDT

Apollo I-IV

Live Q&A

Speakers

Jessica Rice

Engagement Strategy Director, Adrenaline

Ted Rosen

President, Expert Business Development, Inc.

Friday October 9, 2026 10:30am - 10:50am EDT
Apollo I-IV

Power Session 2

10:50am EDT

Break & Hotel Check Out

Friday October 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:10am EDT

Pre-Assembly

Friday October 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:10am EDT
Pre-Assembly

Meals & Breaks

11:10am EDT

The Zen of Bank Marketing: Balance and Simplicity for the Modern Marketer

Friday October 9, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm EDT

Pre-Assembly

Marketing in banking has never been more complex—or more personal. You're navigating shifting customer expectations, relentless digital change, and the daily pressure to do more with less. In this reflective keynote, Joe Sullivan invites bank marketers to look inward as much as outward, exploring how the Zen principles of Balance, Simplicity, and Adaptability can transform not just your...
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Speakers

Joe Sullivan

CEO, Market Insights Inc.

Joe Sullivan is the CEO and Founder of Market Insights, Inc. – a consulting firm that helps bring clarity to the complex choices faced by community-based financial institutions by providing market-specific, data-driven insights and strategies that will position their institutions... Read More →

Friday October 9, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm EDT
Pre-Assembly

General Session

8:00am EDT

8:00am EDT

9:00am EDT

9:10am EDT

10:00am EDT

10:20am EDT

10:40am EDT

11:00am EDT

11:15am EDT

12:15pm EDT

1:15pm EDT

2:15pm EDT

3:15pm EDT

4:00pm EDT

5:30pm EDT

8:00am EDT

9:10am EDT

9:50am EDT

10:10am EDT

10:30am EDT

10:50am EDT

11:10am EDT

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