My career has offered me over 40 years of broad experience within the financial services vertical with expertise covering:

• over 15 years of concentrated FinTech vertical experience from the banking and program lens
• former Bancorp COO
• compliance and operations, product development, customer support, vendor management, and finance/budgeting
• program and project management, PMO leadership, and shared services management
• domestic; international; retail and commercial banking; capital markets and trade finance

The FinTech space is my passion and I am forever surprised by the ideas and talent in this vertical. I truly believe that the programs we work with, as well as the ones we don’t, will change the banking landscape forever and for the better. I am excited to see what the future holds!

Although I don’t have the best green thumb, I do love plants and the Ilex (Ilex aquifolium) holds a special place in my heart. Not only is it the name I chose for my company, but it has many medicinal uses, one of which is being tested to treat cancer. As a long term survivor of breast cancer, I would love to see the plant I cherish cure the disease I abhor.

My banking career started at PNC Bank where I went from Universal Banker, to Operations Manager, and eventually Branch Manager over a period of four years. In that time I gained experience in regulatory compliance, procedures, and management. This experience proved to be a launching point for my career in the FinTech space where, since joining iLEX in 2019, I’ve:

• worked with FinTechs from startup to established programs, including launching over 20 FinTech programs
• assisted 10 banks in navigating audit requirements with FinTech programs
• managed the compliance and operations verticals for all of iLEX clients during development and in-market day-to-day operations

I am committed to changing the financial services landscape and making banking easier, more accessible, and safer. Being in the Fintech space is a passion of mine, especially balancing traditional compliance with forward thinking solutions and pushing boundaries.

I was never good with plants; I want to have them around, but unfortunately my thumb isn’t that green. I do, however, have a special place for the monstera plant as my wife (a florist and plant specialist) was obsessed with bringing one back from a vacation in Nashville. Despite my protests, we now have a monstera named “Frankie” that sits next to me in my office and is always there to remind me to get out of my comfort zone and try something new.

With almost a decade of experience in the area of fraud and risk management, my career has ranged from the chargebacks department at Square to the head of Fraud and Risk at iLEX. Since joining iLEX in 2019, I’ve contributed to the successful launch of 35 FinTech programs including debit, credit, prepaid, B2C and B2B programs. My specialty is the development of fraud prevention strategies that protect our clients and their customers from fraud attacks and losses, including:

• Loss prevention from various fraud modes including identity theft, ACH/P2P/DD money movement, account takeover, etc. 
• Coordinating with third-party stakeholders in engineering, operations, data and platform teams to develop fraud controls and related infrastructure
• Understanding and analyzing fraud vendors in order to determine their fit for our clients and ability to develop a comprehensive fraud prevention program
• Advising on fraud monitoring and mitigation efforts

What I enjoy in the FinTech space is that it challenges traditional banking ideals and gives me the opportunity to think laterally about how to minimize fraud and risk, while expanding banking tools to consumers.

The dragon blood tree is my favorite plant. It grows on a single island that has been separated from mainland Arabia for 34 million years. Despite its isolation, it has been economically important for centuries, most famously for its red resin that has been used as traditional medicines and its dye that has even been credited with providing the intense color of Stradivarius violins. 

My career spans multiple industries including:

• international development running economic and women’s programs in New Zealand and throughout the Pacific
• international banking heading US programs for records management, travel, and insurance including launching new online tools for our internal customers
• local government as a Director of Planning and Sustainability
• the construction industry managing budgets, permits, schedules, and project documentation

The FinTech space excites me with its boundary smashing programs designed to remove the pinch points encountered within traditional banking; and my work in multiple fields has given me a ‘why not’ attitude while also maintaining a strong focus on regulatory requirements.

Trees hold a special place in my heart from climbing them endlessly when young to marrying an arborist; of these the Linden (Tilia) is my favorite for its heart shaped leaves, gloriously scented flowers, and most of all for its hardiness and ability to adapt and thrive in tough environments.

As a banking professional, my career began in traditional banking, where my love of customer advocacy took hold. With over 30 years as a leader in Customer Experience Management, my career has spanned:

• The fundamentals of banking, regulatory compliance, and call center operations.
• Working with The Bancorp Bank to build contact center infrastructure and resources to support and sustain organizational growth, eventually spanning four business lines and leading to a global presence where I managed teams both domestically and internationally.
• Designing and implementing over 20 customer success programs; writing customer facing communications; developing procedures; app testing; implementing CRM systems, completing customer journey assessments, and mentoring my client counterparts.

What I love about FinTech is its focus on the customer as designed by visionaries who are driven by their mission to build a better banking experience. It’s also where I get to do all the things I love - creating a better customer journey in ways that are efficient, sustainable, and even enjoyable.

I’ve always loved flowering plants because they bring the beauty of nature into your home and can be enjoyed year-round. I fell in love with orchids after seeing them growing on trees at an orchid farm in the Philippines. They span the globe in countless varieties, and while they appear to be delicate, they’re actually quite robust and need little coaxing to thrive.

During my career in community banking, I became proficient in:

• policy writing, editing, and analysis
• evaluation and monitoring of information security practices, policies, and procedures
• analysis of due diligence documentation associated with onboarding new vendors, as well as ongoing review and monitoring of existing vendors
• providing security awareness and vendor management training

So many times in traditional banking, I would encounter the adage, “Because we’ve always done it that way.” I love how Fintech challenges us to throw the way it’s always been done out the window and get creative to make things work within the banking construct.

The ginkgo, considered a living fossil and a symbol of hope and enlightenment, is my favorite tree. For me, the symbolism and longevity are only an added bonus to the fan shaped leaves that explode into the most vibrant yellow in the fall.

During my career in community banking, I became proficient in:

• policy writing, editing, and analysis
• evaluation and monitoring of information security practices, policies, and procedures
• analysis of due diligence documentation associated with onboarding new vendors, as well as ongoing review and monitoring of existing vendors
• providing security awareness and vendor management training

So many times in traditional banking, I would encounter the adage, “Because we’ve always done it that way.” I love how Fintech challenges us to throw the way it’s always been done out the window and get creative to make things work within the banking construct.

The ginkgo, considered a living fossil and a symbol of hope and enlightenment, is my favorite tree. For me, the symbolism and longevity are only an added bonus to the fan shaped leaves that explode into the most vibrant yellow in the fall.

I am a hands-on, humble, self-motivated, and seasoned banking engineer with over 16 years developing highly scalable applications and managing engineering teams. Most recently, I spent the last 7 years focusing on banking infrastructure and operations for the financial services company CapWay.

Prior to working for iLEX Consulting Group, I gained extensive engineering and operations experience in the FinTech space through roles including:

• Chief Technology Officer and Chief of Banking Operations for the financial services company CapWay.
• 11 years in payments, including developing software and managing teams that support payment processing, compliance (such as KYC/AML), fraud mitigation, and other consumer and business banking products.
• Over 8 years of experience developing critical HIPAA and PCI compliant systems that include both on-prem and cloud infrastructure.

Understanding how the money system works has always been a passion of mine over the years; especially finding ways to address the needs of the unbanked and underbanked in low income and underdeveloped communities. What I love about the FinTech industry is that it allows you to constantly push the boundaries and discover ways to address gaps in the current banking system.

Few things make me as happy as getting lost in nature. While most would choose flowers as their favorite plant, mine is a bindweed known as Field bindweed. What I love about the Field bindweed is that they're fast growing, have deep roots (sometimes 9 to 30 feet underground), difficult to remove, flourish among flowers, and produces lots of seeds- which not only mirrors my work ethic, but how I approach work, business, my community, family, and life as a whole.

Over the last 10+ years, I have led work managing teams, programs, and projects across the nonprofit, government, and private sectors with a focus on project management, operations, and partnership building. This work has included:

• directing cross-functional teams in the deployment and management of large scale federal and state grants
• leading continuous improvement initiatives in the areas of compliance, standard operating procedures, and workflow management
• spearheading culture-building and employee satisfaction initiatives
• communications and senior leadership support

The FinTech space excites me because of its potential to break down barriers that exist in traditional banking and lead to greater equality and equity in the financial services industry. The ingenuity in the FinTech space is energizing and unlike any other industry - the sky is truly the limit.

Bromeliads are my favorite plants. I love the bright colors of many bromeliad species, the fact that they include one of my favorite fruits, the pineapple, and how diverse and adaptable they are.

After several years in customer experience, I’ve realized keeping customers and clients safe is the ultimate service. Past roles that brought me to this conclusion include:

• being an operations champion for one of the busiest banks in New York City
• saving clients millions of dollars in potential fraud losses
• managing the cash flow of multiple bank branches to optimize their P&L.

Moving from traditional banking to the FinTech space was natural for me because I am inspired by innovation.

I love zinnias because of their size and colors. The different colors are similar to the variety of programs we help launch - especially when the programs reach communities rich in diversity. The height of the zinnia is also important because you’d never expect a flower that starts so small to grow so tall. It’s kind of like how we help our clients and customers reach their goals.

With over 13 years in the banking arena, I bring a range of skills including:

• vendor and project management
• demonstrated ability to define and implement large and complex processes involving multiple stakeholders
• ability, energy, and drive to be a part of a global team
• diligent, forward-thinking, and adaptable team player

I’ve spent time helping clients as they move through the ever-changing regulatory space and growth process. My Masters in Education helps me be a valuable asset and gives me a step up in communication, organization, and leadership.

The Fintech world is the melting pot between old school banking and modern technology. I am excited to work in this space as each day provides a new set of opportunities and challenges.

My favorite plant is the Tennessee ConeFlower or Echinacea tennesseensis. It is only known to exist naturally on certain glades near Nashville, Tennessee, and is on the Federal Endangered Species List. I love the daisy-like coneflower which features slightly upturned, rose-purple petals (ray flowers) and spiny, coppery center disks with a green tinge.

I have worked for more than 20 years in the banking industry, mainly in disputes including:

• customer disputes
• developing disputes tools for a technology company, which deepened my understanding not only of disputes, but how to resolve them in ways fair to both the banking provider and the client

Coming from traditional banking into the FinTech space has been very exciting for me. I love learning about all of our customers, meeting the people that have come up with these fantastic ideas, and adding my disputes expertise to assist in their success.

My favorite plant is the Hydrangea. There are so many beautiful and colorful variations from large and showy to climbing varieties, with a wide range of not just flowers and habits, but also foliage. Fossils of hydrangeas dating back 40 to 60 million years ago have been discovered in Oregon, a testament to its amazing resilience.

My career within the finance industry, coupled with my educational background, has shaped my expertise as a Compliance Specialist including:

• extensive experience as a Universal Banker partnering with clients to maximize investments and drive revenue
• managing risks through the effective supervision of customer business objectives by supporting the bank’s Enterprise Risk Management framework
• mitigating and solving branch escalation issues through investigating fragmented operational procedures to create tailored solutions
• providing subject matter expertise to the bank’s Business Units by leveraging technology tools, cost controls and budgets

The FinTech industry excites me because it exemplifies the growth of our financial future to provide solutions as the banking space merges with digital currency and artificial intelligence.

The Hibiscus flower holds a significant importance to me because within my culture, we not only plant the Hibiscus flower in our gardens but annually we use this plant to make a holiday drink called Sorrell.

10 years’ experience in customer service, 2 years in local banking, and an education in mathematics have given me a strong foundation for working in the world of fintech, including:

• responsibility as the first line of defense against fraud and assisting customers who have already become a victim of fraud
• several years providing new recruits with policies and procedures training
• a mathematics degree with a specialization in data analysis and operations research

Fintech is an exciting space for new ideas. I love that it opens the door to tailor products to the customer’s needs and create new opportunities in the financial world.

My favorite plant is the Hoya Carnosa, also known as the Porcelain Flower. It is one of the most adaptable houseplants, which is why it is the first plant that I have successfully kept alive. I love it because it improves the air quality of your home and when it blooms, the flowers are incredibly beautiful and symmetric.

I have worked in both traditional banking and the FinTech space in various roles including:

• retail banking crossed trained as a teller and customer service representative
• Customer service, operations, fraud, and KYC at two fintech banking platforms
• Dispute & Operations Specialist for Fintech post launch services, including Fraud and Compliance

I bumped into the FinTech world by accident, thinking that it was the same as traditional banking. Of course, I was wrong; however, I have embraced the differences and the FinTech space has helped me to continue to learn and cherish that no two days are the same.

My favorite flower is the daffodil. With its bright yellow appearance in early spring, after quietly building up its reserves all year and surviving whatever winter throws at us, the daffodil serves as a reminder that hard work can lead to magnificent results.

I have found motivation and excitement in the broader Finance and Venture industries through the lens of technology and innovation.

My previous Fintech and Data Strategy experiences include:

• Financial Consultant for Wells Fargo’s Basel Committee on Banking Supervision Risk Transformation project
• Developed client-specific materials for EY-Parthenon’’s Deal Technology Data Management service offering to advance the integration or separation of existing and future state data architecture for M&A transactions
• Proposed and Implemented updates to Bayer Carbon Operations’ Treasury Resilience Plan to secure the issuance of tokenized carbon credits
• Crafted necessary training materials covering risks and considerations of digital asset disaster recovery solutions to educate business and security professionals of the risks and vulnerabilities posed by a self-custody model to store cryptographic private keys
• Project Manager (consultant) for the enhancement of Bank of America’s risk sensitivity capital calculator for new Basel 3.5 regulatory compliance
• I am professionally and academically trained in Design-Thinking through the Stanford Design School’s University Innovation Fellows program

True leaders in FinTech approach the industry’s problems and assumptions from a completely different angle, which is the same reason Fintech excites me - it is an area that requires constant and continuous innovation. Fintech is a space that combines sustainability, productivity, diversity, data-driven solutioning, cybersecurity, and economics. Bottom line, there is excitement, challenge, and potential for innovation around every corner.

 Family has always been a guiding force in my life. They have encouraged and supported me as I strive for ambitious goals in both my professional and personal life. Lilies of the valley symbolize the ever-present impact my family has in my life. My mom carried lilies of the valley on her wedding day and both my great grandmothers’ names are Lily!

I have a rewarding career in the financial industry, engaging in various roles that have honed my expertise and broadened my knowledge including:

• customer Service and Process Executive at HSBC Retail Banking US & Canada
• support Credit Officer in HSBC Private Banking UK
• mutual Funds Administrator in Manulife/John Hancock Financial
• AML and EDD Analyst in Manulife/John Hancock
• AML Ops Specialist for Upwork Enterprise
• Compliance & KYC Analyst at Sable

I find the excitement in working within the FinTech space lies in its dedication to pioneering technological advancements within the financial industry. Embracing this sector allows me to engage in cutting-edge breakthroughs like blockchain, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and mobile payments. The field is ever-changing, ensuring that the work remains dynamic and invigorating.

I am consistently in awe of oak trees. To me, they embody strength, resilience, and gradual growth throughout time. Starting as tiny acorns, they steadily transform into majestic trees with deep roots, signifying a firm and sturdy foundation.

With over 25 years of customer advocacy across Data, Healthcare, and Financial industries, my career has been shaped by roles in Customer Experience and Operations Management to build skilled expertise including:

• Oversight of critical and confidential customer data collection, coding, storage, and retrieval, used in the process of migration to new technologies.
• Case management of customer social and financial resources within healthcare program environments. Design and implementation of comprehensive client plans with measurement for successful customer experience and

regulatory requirements.

• Deposit Operations management for FinTech programs with The Bancorp, supporting process improvements in new account opening/funding, risk, regulatory compliance, and exceptions functions, along with account

closure processing.

• Customer Experience management with The Bancorp, helping to oversee contact center operations with process improvements for domestic and international teams, including onsite vendor management in the Philippines.

Development of FinTech customer support content, processes, and team member skills. Design and implementation of Quality Assurance programs while managing global analyst teams.

Being involved in the pioneering of new technology to vastly improve financial services drew me to the FinTech space, where I can focus on innovation to create the best customer experiences imaginable.

In nature, trees remind me that our journeys require tremendous patience, fortitude, and nurturing to grow into our potential. The Sugar Maple is my favorite among them. As it grows, it can survive long periods in shade, waiting for the chance to climb into the sunlight and thrive. Given the light it seeks, it grows into a majestic tree providing hundreds of years of shade and sweet syrup while spreading its winged seeds in the wind to fly away and start new growth all around.

My 20+ years’ experience in the banking industry spans traditional institutions, an online only model in a call center environment, and the FinTech space, and has given me a well-rounded skill set including the following:

• staff training and development; train the trainer; and peer coaching
• partnering with teams stateside and offshore to develop procedures, processes, and programs to create efficiencies
• building a Quality Monitoring and Assurance program

One of the things that is so exciting about being in the FinTech space is taking a client’s product and communicating the brand clearly from app and website content to a variety of customer-facing communications and helping their team create resources and materials to effectively service their clients.

My favorite plant is the hydrangea. I especially like the way it adapts to its environment and changes color based on the soil type. The blooms can be dried and used in arrangements which also emphasizes its versatility.