Elizabeth Osborne is an experienced operations and information technology leader based in the greater Chicago area, with a solid background in the Credit Union and banking industries. With a track record of success, she has held prominent roles such as Chief Information Officer (CIO) in Community Banking and Business Integration for Mergers and Acquisitions for a regional bank. She was recently recognized by American Banker as one of the “Most Powerful Women in Credit Unions” (10th) 2023.

Currently serving as the Chief Operations Officer at Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU), Elizabeth holds oversight over critical areas including Technology, Digital, Deposit Operations, Product Management, and the Project Management Office (PMO). Her strategic insights, data-driven decision-making, and expertise in process improvement play a pivotal role in executing GLCU’s strategy and enhancing operational efficiency.

Elizabeth's proficiency spans across various domains including Management, Project Management, Risk Management, Data Analysis, Strategic Planning, Budgeting, and Business Process Improvement. She has been instrumental in driving operational excellence and fostering technological innovation through strategic partnerships with FinTechs and other key collaborators. With her comprehensive skill set and dedication to excellence, Elizabeth continues to drive forward progress and success in the financial sector.  Elizabeth has an MBA in Finance from Endicott College in Beverly, MA, a BS in Leadership from Northeastern University in Boston, MA, and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate from
Cornell University.

TaRita D. Johnson
TaRita will MC our event and guide us as we learn from our industry experts.  TaRita serves as Senior Vice President, Talent & Diversity, The Right Place, Inc. in Grand Rapids.  Prior to joining The Right Place in October 2021, TaRita served as the Director of the Career Center at Calvin University where she was responsible for the center’s overall mission to equip students to succeed on their lifelong vocational path. She oversaw the center’s career coaching, employer relations, event and marketing analytics, and assessment. She was responsible for cross-divisionally creating and launching a career and life skills program, Calvin LifeWork. 

Before joining Calvin, TaRita was a Talent Acquisition Manager for corporate recruiting at Meijer.  Previous to her work at Meijer, she was Vice President of College and University Relations at KeyBank.  Her other positions include adjunct Social Work professor at Calvin, Assistant Director of Admissions at Baldwin Wallace University, Enrollment Management Officer at Pennsylvania State University, Psychiatric Specialty Counselor at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, and Program Specialist for TRIO’s Educational Talent Search Program at Savannah State University.

TaRita's education and certifications include a PhD, Higher Education, Azusa Pacific University (July 2025), a Master of Social Work, The University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Work, Miami University.  She holds certifications in Cultural Intelligence, Cultural Intelligence Center, Unconscious Bias, Cultural Intelligence Center, DDI Targeted Selection Interviewing System, and Korn Ferry Leadership Architect.

TaRita's Community Involvement includes serving as a Michigan Colleges Alliances (MCA) Trustee, West Michigan Works Board Member, STEM Greenhouse Board Member, West Michigan Tech Talent Board Member, Hello West Michigan Board Member, Truth's Table Foundation Board Chair, The Source Advisory Council, Global Detroit Advisory Board Member, Rockstar Women Founding Member.

Ray K. Ragan, MPM, CSR, PMP 

Securityplus Federal Credit Union

Ray K. Ragan, M.Adm. (PM), SD&R, PMP, ITIL, AgilePro is the Interim CEO and Chief Information Officer for the Baltimore-based Securityplus Federal Credit Union. Prior to Securityplus FCU, Ray worked in defense and financial technology, bringing machine learning, intelligence systems, and speech analytics to enterprise scale. Ray studied strategy and risk at Stanford University and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Ray holds a Master’s degree in Administration from Northern Arizona University and is a credentialed Project Management Professional (PMP) with several Agile certifications. Ray is a combat veteran and a decorated U.S. Army officer, who formerly served in the 75th Innovation Command’s National Capital Region Team specializing in ML-enabled human detection and computer vision. He is a serial entrepreneur and holds a patent in AI and computer vision technology to improve customer experience with NPS®. Ray is a published author appearing in publications such as CU Insight, CU Times, Small Wars Journal, National Defense Magazine, among others.

Preparing for the future includes sharpening your understanding of trends in technology, people, services and community.  Join us as we learn and network.

Ben Maxim, Chief Innovation Officer MSUFCU | COO Reseda Group

Ben joined MSU Federal Credit Union in 2007 and currently serves in a dual role as Chief Innovation Officer for MSUFCU and as Chief Operating Officer for MSUFCU’s wholly-owned CUSO Reseda Group and its subsidiaries. Ben is responsible for assessing emerging business trends and technologies, providing strategic direction for existing and future digital channels, and facilitating innovation throughout the Credit Union including leading their innovation center The Lab at MSUFCU. Ben is also responsible for engineering, product, sales, and growth at Reseda Group. Ben earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a professional certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship from Stanford University. He completed Filene's i3 Innovation Leadership Program in 2023. He was selected as the 2022 Technologist of the Year by Finopotamus. Ben also serve as a board member and advisor to several fintechs.

Chad Helminak, VP/Talent Development Programming, CUES
Chad brings two decades of leadership experience supporting purpose-driven organizations and leaders in the credit union industry. He has worked with notable organizations including the National Credit Union Foundation, TruStage, Filene Research Institute, and the Wisconsin Credit Union League. Chad facilitates experiential training for credit union leaders, leads boards and executive teams through strategic sessions, and drives growth in people, programs, and organizational capabilities.

Chad lives in Wisconsin with his family. Outside of work he enjoys playing guitar, running, basketball, and discovering new music from different cultures and eras.

Ramy Nassar

Artificial intelligence, Emerging Technology & Strategic Foresight Leader, Former head of Innovation at Mattel

Ramy Nassar helps organizations leverage the transformative power of AI Artificial intelligence + Emerging Technology and Strategic Foresight. As the former Head of Innovation for Mattel, and with nearly 25 years experience in technology, he leads sessions with organizations around the world to drive innovation and transformative growth.

Ramy Nassar (he/him): With nearly 25 years experience in technology and as former Head of Innovation for Mattel, he leads sessions focused on AI and emerging technology & disruption with organizations worldwide. Ramy’s insights offer valuable perspectives on strategic foresight and the integration of emerging technologies in the fast-changing landscape of business.  These insights could prove instrumental in enhancing your team’s approach to innovation and future-proofing your team and organization. 
Ramy previously served as Head of Retail Innovation for Mattel, successfully launching and leading the organization’s first Innovation Lab. Ramy and his team pioneered over 15 AI-driven online & in-person retail experiences aimed at growing the Barbie and Hot Wheels brands. During his tenure, Ramy drove a cultural shift toward innovation-first mindsets through a range of internal keynote presentations, town halls, and interactive workshops. Ramy continues to be called upon by Mattel and other F1000 organizations seeking his experience with respect to innovation, strategic foresight, and AI strategy. 
He has led AI-focused keynotes and workshops & strategic foresight and planning initiatives with organizations including TD Bank, Rio Tinto, Genome Canada, Interac, Apple, Air Canada, Facebook, New Balance, Telus, CIBC, and the Federal Government of Canada.
Ramy teaches an AI + Design Thinking course at NTNU in Norway and in the Master’s of Engineering, Innovation & Entrepreneurship program at Toronto Metropolitan University. Ramy is an award-winning speaker & facilitator at international events including World Usability Congress, IxDA, FITC, AI Everything, AI Business Summit, and World Mobile Congress. He is fluent in English, French, and German.
Ramy Nassar is the founder of 1000 Days Out and author of the upcoming AI Product Design Handbook.

M K Palmore is the CEO and Founder of Apogee Global RMS, driven by an unwavering commitment to guiding cybersecurity and IT professionals toward impactful, fulfilling careers in
technology. His extensive 32-year tenure in the U.S. Government laid the foundation for his leadership, beginning as a Midshipman at the United States Naval Academy and culminating as an executive with the FBI, where he led one of the world’s premier cybersecurity investigative teams.

After leaving public service, M.K. held leadership roles at two of the largest cybersecurity and technology firms globally. These experiences fueled his determination to establish Apogee Global RMS, where he now channels his passion into delivering top-tier advisory services, empowering the next generation of technologyType your paragraph here.

Ryan Malkes, an expert in Gen AI, heads Mercer's Gen AI services in North America, focusing on digital transformation. With a Master's in Psychology, he uses insights into human behavior to drive change. As a speaker, he advocates for Gen AI's role in revolutionizing workforce experiences and HR strategies.

Join us for an engaging interactive session led by Ryan Malkes, a Gen AI expert, as he guides leaders through practical business use cases leveraging the power of Generative AI.

We'll dive into the latest tools and technologies that are revolutionizing workplace practices. You'll gain valuable insights on how to effectively utilize these tools to streamline processes, amplify the work your team are doing, and improve workforce experience. Get ready to explore real-world applications and walk away with actionable strategies to incorporate Gen AI into your  toolkit.

Use-Cases and Interactive Segment: Art of the Possible, Addressing Key Concerns and Questions from Leaders, Mercer's Expert Insights on Gen AI, Diving into Practical Tools and Strategies

MikeMcFall is the co-founder and co-CEO of BIGGBY® COFFEE, one of the fastest-growing coffee franchises in the United States. Despite not having an MBA or being a workaholic, McFall has built his career through hard work and real-world experience. He prioritizes people and purpose over business jargon and fancy presentations, and his pragmatic solutions are forged from this philosophy. McFall understands that people are the most important ingredient to any successful enterprise, and he helps employers create a purpose-driven business that will transform the world and improve people’s lives. McFall is the author of Grind (2019) and Grow (2023), the first two books in a three book series, which offer practical advice for entrepreneurs looking to turn their business concepts into successful ventures. He is also a Public Speaker, and teaches a class on entrepreneurialism at The University of Michigan Center of Entrepreneurship. In his free time, McFall plays and coaches hockey and has a Moonshot to one day own the Detroit Red Wings.