Our Speakers

Dr. TaRita Johnson serves as the Senior Vice President of Talent & Diversity at The Right Place, where she acts as a strategic connector between employers, educational institutions, workforce development organizations, and the State of Michigan. She leads the team responsible for regional talent attraction (via Hello West Michigan), sourcing, recruitment, and retention strategies.

Recognized in 2024 as one of Crain’s Grand Rapids Business Notable Black Leaders and a Notable West Michigan Leader in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Dr. Johnson develops collaborative partnerships across Greater Grand Rapids to strengthen the region’s talent pipeline.

She contributes her expertise on many boards, including Best & Brightest, Michigan Colleges Alliance, STEM Greenhouse, The Source, West Michigan Works, West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology, and the Truth’s Table Foundation. She also serves as an Elder at Lighthouse Full Life Center.

Before joining The Right Place in 2021, Dr. Johnson served as the Director of Calvin University’s Career Center and previously held roles including Adjunct Professor and Talent Acquisition Manager at Meijer, where she oversaw corporate recruiting across accounting and financial services, HR, technology, legal, properties, procurement, and real estate. Her earlier professional experience includes positions such as Vice President of Colleges & University Relations at KeyBank, Assistant Director of Admissions at Baldwin Wallace University, Enrollment Management Officer at Penn State University, Psychiatric Specialty Counselor at Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic, and Program Specialist for TRIO’s Educational Talent Search at Savannah State University.

Dr. Johnson holds a doctoral degree in higher education from Azusa Pacific University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Work from Miami University. She is the proud momma of two beautiful girls, ages 17 and 11.

 As the Director of Advisory Services at Filene, Caroline leads the Member Pulse initiative, focusing on advanced segmentation strategies for credit unions. She also manages the creation and standardization of presentation materials to ensure consistent messaging across the organization and contributes to Filene's thought leadership as a co-author of Thinking Forward, a monthly LinkedIn newsletter offering insights on industry trends.

With nearly 25 years in the credit union industry, Caroline’s previous roles include leading the consumer research program at Raddon, where she authored more than 20 research studies. She has also served as CFO at Clackamas Federal Credit Union and SVP of Marketing and Member Experience at Elements Financial. Her decision to join Filene was inspired by the organization’s commitment to helping credit unions thrive and better serve their members, aligning perfectly with her passion for driving meaningful innovation and member-focused solutions.

Caroline earned her bachelor’s degree from Emory University and her MBA from Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business.

 Cortney aims to prepare credit unions for the next generation. She thrives on making human connections to understand what drives people and then helps guide them to act using research-based solutions. These connections, insights, and passion are the pillars that guide Cortney’s approach to leading Filene’s communities. With more than 15 years of experience in financial services, she has gleaned critical insights into ease-of-use, the importance of building relationships, and, most importantly, a knack for creative and transformational leadership development.

Cortney earned a BA in Communication Studies from California State University, Long Beach, and an MBA in Organizational Leadership from University of Massachusetts, Global. Cortney was selected as a GAC Crasher in 2016, which helped cement her commitment to the credit union movement. When she isn’t working or traveling, she enjoys camping, hiking, coffee, and watching Futurama, Fringe, or Bob’s Burgers with her kitties Francis and Milly.

Tony DeSanctis is the Senior Director of Client Education and Knowledge Strategy at Cornerstone Advisors, where he leads the firm’s external education business, develops thought leadership content, and shapes internal knowledge strategy. He facilitates executive-level learning programs, such as Payments School and C-Suite roundtables, and hosts quarterly sessions on emerging topics like fraud and fintech disruption. A frequent voice in the firm’s video series and social media, she also mentors junior consultants and oversees Cornerstone’s summer intern capstone program. his work sits at the intersection of strategy, storytelling, and talent development.

Tony is a 20+ year seasoned senior financial services executive with a track record of managing product, operational, and analytical organizations, re-engineering processes, launching products, optimizing customer relationships, and generating incremental revenue. He brings an extensive background in product management, sales strategies, existing customer marketing, and customer retention.

 

His prior experience includes serving as SVP of Payments and Mobile Banking at the Bank of Hawaii and as Consumer Bank and Card Marketing Operations Director, Customer Marketing, at Bank of America.

 

Tony is frequently quoted in industry periodicals, including American Banker, Banking Dive, Financial Brand, CU Today, and CU Management.

A CUES Performance Consultant, Jonathan partners with credit union leaders to strengthen leadership effectiveness, align strategy with execution, and drive sustainable organizational performance.  With experience spanning major banks and the credit union system, he brings a practical understanding of the operational and leadership challenges facing today’s executives. Most recently, he served as Director of Retail Banking at Valley First Credit Union, working closely with the President/CEO to lead operations across a 12-county footprint and advance executive alignment, leadership performance, and member experience.

Previously, Jonathan led learning and development efforts at Valley First and Patelco Credit Union, modernizing training systems and building leadership programs that accelerated readiness across multiple markets. With a passion for helping leaders unlock their full potential and create cultures of innovation, trust, and care, he is known for his strategic clarity, operational discipline, and people-first approach.  

Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, a Leadership & Management Certification, multiple associate degrees, and eLeadership Academy credentials.

Justin Gingerich advises financial institutions nationwide on legal and business issues related to strategic growth, including deal structuring, diligence, and post-closing integration. He has guided credit unions through dozens of acquisitions of banks, bank branches and mergers with other credit unions, bringing practical insights from both the legal and operational sides of complex transactions. Beyond traditional mergers and acquisitions, Justin has worked with credit unions on strategic investments in FinTechs and on acquiring complementary businesses, such as title insurance agencies, mortgage brokerages and full-service insurance agencies, to broaden service offerings and enhance member value. His experience provides credit union leaders with a comprehensive perspective on how to navigate transactions that strengthen competitiveness and drive long-term growth.

Kathy Chicas is a dynamic, purpose driven executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience across digital and traditional business environments. As Chief People Officer at Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union, she leads people strategy, talent development, culture transformation, and organizational growth initiatives.

With a career spanning operations, sales, finance, and culture transformation—including nearly a decade as Chief Operating Officer—Kathy is known for turning complex challenges into human centered solutions. She has led optimization projects, redesigned member journeys, and built workplace cultures where people and innovation thrive side by side.

Kathy is also an active industry contributor—speaking at national conferences, serving as an innovation enthusiast, and participating in DEI and credit union innovation councils. She holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Loyola Marymount University and brings a global perspective shaped by international business studies in Amsterdam.

Kathy’s passion lies in reimagining how credit unions can leverage digital tools without losing the warmth, trust, and relationship driven spirit that define the movement.