Management Roundtable

*Subject to Change*

Monday, September 21

4:00 - 5:00 pm: Networking Social | Based on each attendee’s role and job title, a designated color will appear on your badge. During this dedicated networking session, attendees will gather in small groups according to badge color to connect with peers from other credit unions who serve in similar roles and face similar opportunities and challenges.

To encourage meaningful conversation while helping disperse the crowd and manage noise levels, these discussions will take place across two separate networking areas. Attendees will also still have time for open networking during dinner, ensuring ample opportunity to make broader connections across the industry and not miss out on general networking opportunities.

5:00 - 7:00 pm: Dinner

Tuesday, September 22

7:30 - 8:30 am: Breakfast

7:30 - 8:30 am: Small CU Meeting Breakfast (separate location for a discussion between small CUs over breakfast)

8:30 - 8:45 am: Welcome

8:45 - 10:00 am: AI Industrialization with Adam Schlesinger | A practical session on how credit unions can move beyond isolated pilots and systematically institutionalize artificial intelligence across the organization. The discussion will focus on concrete operating models, governance approaches, and real-world use cases that demonstrate how AI can be deployed at scale to improve decision-making, efficiency, and member service.

10:00 - 10:15 am: Break

10:15 am - 12:00 pm: Stablecoin with Adam Schlesinger | A structured overview of stablecoins and the broader digital currency ecosystem, including regulation, market structure, and the major technology and financial players shaping the space. The session will explain how stablecoins work, how blockchain and cryptocurrency infrastructure support them, and why financial institutions are increasingly preparing for their integration into payments and banking.

12:00 - 1:00 pm: Lunch

1:00 - 2:00 pm: Remarkable! How Credit Unions Can Make Remarkable Experiences with Stephen Arnold | Filene’s flagship presentation for 2026! In an increasingly competitive landscape, it’s not enough for credit unions to be good: they need to be remarkable. What differentiates your credit union? What makes you stand out in the marketplace? What will cause your members to remark about you? In this presentation, we explore the strategic and tactical drivers that make a credit union truly distinct, drawing from Filene’s research. From digital innovation to employee and member experience, from governance to data utilization, learn how to make your credit union remarkable.

2:00 - 2:15 pm: Break

2:15 - 3:15 pm: See Sooner, Act Faster: What Innovation Means (for Real) & How to Use It to Fuel Growth with Stephen Arnold | Innovation has become a buzzword. But real, meaningful innovation remains an essential survival skill in competitive and quickly changing industries like financial services. How can credit unions embed the practice of innovation in their organizational design and culture to see sooner, act faster, and stay aligned through change? This session redefines what innovation means for credit unions, emphasizing practical approaches to spotting trends early and acting decisively. We document the links between credit union innovation and member satisfaction, loyalty, and product usage and then describe the drivers of innovation, inside and outside the credit union.

3:15 pm: Closing remarks & adjourn

Adam Schlesinger | CEO & Founder, LeapFI
Adam Schlesinger is Founder and CEO of LeapFI.AI, a management strategy and AI consulting firm that helps community banks and credit unions develop and execute growth strategies in the age of AI. He advises financial institutions, fintechs, and boards on AI, digital innovation, asset tokenization, and stablecoins, and serves as an independent board director for an OCC-chartered U.S. bank and Executive in Residence at Inovia Capital.

Previously, Adam held senior leadership roles at First Republic Bank, National Bank of Canada, and Microsoft, where he led transformation, data, AI, and digital innovation initiatives. With more than 25 years of experience, he has scaled technology companies, served as CEO of Bench, and helped build startups that achieved successful exits to Zoom, Bumble, and public markets.

Adam teaches AI for Bankers at Pacific Coast Banking School and LSU Graduate School of Business. He holds a Master of Engineering from MIT and a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University.

Stephen Arnold Chief Strategy + Enterprise Development Officer, Filene
Stephen Arnold is Chief Strategy & Enterprise Development Officer at Filene Research Institute, where he helps translate enterprise priorities into action, strengthen partnerships, and drive growth and impact across the organization.

With more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning financial services, insurance, and technology, Stephen is known for building high-performing teams, advancing strategic initiatives, and fostering collaborative partnerships. Before joining Filene, he served as Vice President of Partner Management at TruStage, leading partnerships and business lines focused on credit unions and their members. He also held leadership roles at Liberty Mutual, Huron Consulting Group, and Epic Systems.

A Wisconsin native, Stephen holds an MBA from University of Wisconsin–Madison and bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Biology from University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. He is a Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) and serves his community through civic leadership and volunteerism. Outside of work, he enjoys teaching, exercising, cooking, and spending time with his family.

The room block at the Samoset is now open for Management Roundtable. The booking cut off date is Monday, August 31.
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