Session 06

• Zach Hortman - McDermott International, Ltd
• Nancy Jerez, Senior Director, Business Development - Treasury Curve
• Peter Lang, Chief Product Officer - Treasury Curve

Tuesday, April 29th
11:30am - 12:30pm
Grand I

Session Description

Treasury and finance professionals are the backbone of an organization’s growth – managing cash flows, ensuring liquidity, and mitigating risks. But rapid expansion and acquisitions bring a host of challenges: juggling multiple ERP systems, wrestling with disparate treasury management platforms, and struggling to gain clear visibility across an increasingly complex organization. These hurdles not only drain your time and resources but also impede your ability to support strategic objectives. This session will offer practical solutions to overcome the challenges of a fast-growing organization. Our speakers will show how modern treasury technology can streamline operations, enhance visibility, and give you greater control – empowering you to support your organization’s growth plans. You’ll also hear from a treasury leader of a fast-growing company who has navigated these challenges.

• The common obstacles treasury and finance professionals encounter during rapid expansion and acquisitions.
• Why conventional treasury management methods fall short in multi-ERP, multi-system environments.
• How treasury automation can unify systems, improve visibility, and increase operational efficiency across all business units.
• Expert advice on choosing a scalable treasury management solution that aligns with your organization’s growth trajectory.

Speaker Information

With over eight years of experience in corporate treasury, Zach Hortman specializes in capital markets, cash management, and investor relations within the energy sector. Currently serving as a Senior Treasury Manager at McDermott Inc., Zach leads critical financial initiatives that drive operational efficiency and support strategic growth. He holds a Master’s in Business Data Analytics from Grand Canyon University and a Bachelor’s in Finance from Arizona State University.

Nancy Jerez, Senior Director for Treasury Curve is responsible for working with corporations, financial institutions, nonprofit organizations and public entities to automate, optimize and transform their treasury and investment functions. Nancy has been at Treasury Curve for five years and has over 20 years of Treasury and Investment experience. In her prior roles, she held senior roles at BlackRock and BofA Global Capital Management advising clients on their investments, investment policies, investment strategies and investment best practices. Previously, she was a principal at Banc of America Securities, LLC in the Global Corporate & Investment Bank, where she assisted clients with debt capital raising, credit syndications, derivatives, foreign exchange, treasury management and asset management. Nancy has her series 7, 24 and 63 licenses and holds a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Peter Lang has been an IT executive for over 30 years and has led the development of architecture/IT systems for multiple global Fortune 100 organizations. Peter came to Treasury Curve from CloudServ, a cloud managed services firm, where he was CEO. Prior to CloudServ, Peter founded and grew Trellis Integration Partners as a Microsoft Partner after working at Microsoft as the IT director of treasury, tax and audit. While at Microsoft, Peter built the system for Microsoft to be one of the first corporations to connect directly to the global financial network, SWIFT, which reduced the number of bank connections from several to a single pipe in common formats. The project spawned the new business, Trellis, which replicated SWIFT connectivity for all of Microsoft treasury. Prior to working at Microsoft, Peter held various IT and systems architecture roles at AT&T Wireless. Peter has published multiple articles about connectivity to SWIFT and cloud-based treasury systems. He holds an MBA in Finance and Strategic Management from Pepperdine University and a BA in Business Administration and HRA from Washington State University.

• Cory Paape, Head of Business Deposits - Truist
• Jeremy Ryan, Director of Treasury and Financial Planning & Analysis - Cavender Auto
• Yvonne Brown, National Accounting and Treasury Officer - UBEO

Tuesday, April 29th
11:30am - 12:30pm
Grand B

Session Description

The 2024 rate cuts have created new opportunities for organizations to rethink their cash management strategy and financial partnerships after a period of uncertainty. A key element in a proactive approach to the interest rate cuts and balance sheet maintenance are understanding the available liquidity solutions and working within the parameters of your company’s risk profile. In this panel discussion, Truist’s Head of Business Deposits, Cory Paape, a seasoned treasury leader with over 27 years of experience, along with Cavender Auto Family’s Director of Treasury and Financial Planning, Jeremy Ryan, and UBEO Business Services’ National Account and Treasury Officer, Yvonne Brown, will share their industry insights and best practices in how you can manage your liquidity portfolio in 2025. The panel will take a deep dive into the importance of maintaining an investment policy, diversifying risk, managing a well-structured cash flow process, and what the future of cash management may look like.

• Attendees will understand how to evaluate their portfolio options to make proactive decisions during a period of market volatility, especially within relation to rate cuts.
• Attendees will learn how to develop a organizational risk strategy that will give you flexibility with your cash.

Speaker Information

Cory Paape joined Truist in August of 2023 and is currently the Head of the Business Deposits within the Wholesale Payments Group.  Cory has oversight on deposit pricing, analytics, trending, strategy, and analysis around interest bearing checking accounts, noninterest-bearing checking accounts, sweep, and time deposits.  He also manages the account analysis function for Wholesale Payments which includes a focus on pricing, costing, forecasting, revenue, and pricing optimization associated with the treasury service solutions offered by Truist. Prior to joining Truist, Cory spent 26+ years at Wells Fargo Bank.  The first 11 years at Wells Fargo Bank were focused on the investment portfolio of the bank, short-term funding, debt issuances, regulatory reporting, accounting, and affiliate relationships.  The latter 15+ years were spent leading the Liquidity Management & DDA space within Treasury Management.  In this role, Cory managed and developed liquidity solutions (both on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet), partnered with Corporate Treasury on deposit pricing and strategy, led several strategic treasury service initiatives, built and enhanced pricing tools, and addressed numerous regulatory changes. Cory holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse.  He resides in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota with his wife and two adult boys.  Cory enjoys staying active with his family and friends – fishing, boating, golfing, pickleball, bowling, biking, running, campfires, and watching baseball games.  He is also an avid supporter of People Serving People, Bridging, and the local high school baseball program.

Jeremy Ryan is the Director of Treasury and Financial Planning & Analysis for the Cavender Auto Family, where he oversees cash management, budgeting and internal performance reporting functions for the auto group and the family office.  With over 20 years in corporate finance, Jeremy has worked in various treasury and FP&A roles in many different industries.   He holds an MBA with a concentration in finance from the University of Texas at San Antonio and is a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP).

Yvonne Brown is an accounting and treasury officer with over 20 years of experience working as part of the executive team of office equipment dealers that are actively expanding nationwide through acquisitions.  She has been in her current role for over 5 years working with an entity owned by a private equity firm.  In this capacity she manages the company debt and banking relationships, over sees the adoption of accounting principles, does all acquisition accounting, and manages the tax compliance and annual audits.  During her time in this industry, she has been part of over 50 acquisitions.

• James Dillard, Sr. VP, Treasury Product Management - Texas Capital
• Phillip Sprague, VP Industry Readiness and Customer Enablement - The Federal Reserve
• Ashley Cvrkel, Director, Sales & Business Development - The Clearing House
• Jennifer Collings, Controller - Billd

Tuesday, April 29th
11:30am - 12:30pm
Grand H

Session Description

• Current State of Instant Payments in the US
• Provide a brief overview of the world of Faster Payments
• Compare and contrast Real-Time Payments vs FedNow
• Transformation Considerations
• Fraud
• Data considerations and ISO 20022
• Barriers to adoption
• Sending capabilities; Importance of Strategy for channels
• Opportunities in Small Business, Middle Market and Corporate
• ISO Readiness
• API connectivity and a need for Standardization
• Small Business Use Cases
• API Use Cases
• Q&A

Speaker Information

James Dillard is a Treasury Product Officer within Treasury Solutions. He is responsible for product strategy, roadmap and partnering with internal stakeholders and strategic partners to deliver an end-to-end exceptional client experience. With over 30 years of leadership and financial experience James joined Texas Capital Bank from J.P. Morgan Chase where he worked in a variety of roles.

Philip Sprague is the head of FedNow Enablement and Onboarding organization responsible for enabling and onboarding the 8-10K industry participants to the FedNow Service and developing and executing the FedNow industry readiness strategy. He joined the Federal Reserve in April 2021. Prior to joining the Federal Reserve. Philip spent 25+ years in the private sector, where he most recently served as the Senior Vice President at Wells Fargo responsible for the launch and growth of Real Time Payments, Zelle, and the re-imagination of the Bill Pay.

Ashley Cvrkel joined the sales and business development team at The Clearing House in March of 2024. Over the past year in her new role, Ashley has been working with Financial Institutions of all sizes adopt and expand RTP use cases. Prior to joining the Clearing House, Ashley spent 12+ years on the consulting and vendor technology side of banking, specializing in cloud-based solutions and Fintech service

• John Melvin, Vice President - U.S. Bank

Tuesday, April 29th
11:30am - 12:30pm
Grand E

Session Description

In today’s fast paced and highly competitive business landscape, financial efficiency is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Embedded payments are revolutionizing how businesses manage cash flow, seamlessly connecting receivables and payables with unparalleled interoperability. By leveraging automation, real-time payment capabilities, reduce errors, and significantly improve operational efficiency. This transformative approach allows businesses to strengthen relationships with both consumers and suppliers while enhancing their ability to scale.

For forward thinking executives, embedded payments represent not just a technological upgrade but a strategic advantage. Imagine reducing reconciliation times by 40% or cutting payment processing costs annually? These outcomes are achievable and can take organizations beyond the numbers with driving trust and satisfaction, which, fosters loyalty in customers and reliability with suppliers.

This presentation will discussion actionable steps for adopting embedded payments, featuring innovative strategies and metrics that showcase their value. For C-Suite leaders looking to position their organizations for long-term success, this session delivers the insights and tools necessary to capitalize on the future of financial management.
Understand the transformative potential of embedded payments and how automation can enhance financial processes. Lear how to evaluate current financial systems and implement integrated receivables and payables solutions efficiently.

Speaker Information

John Melvin is a seasoned payments executive with over thirty years of experience in treasury management, specializing in business process re-engineering and change management to drive cost efficiencies and enhance liquidity across diverse industries. As a thought leader, he has authored numerous articles on payment strategies and liquidity optimization and is a sought-after speaker at regional and national events. John also collaborates with payment innovation studios to reshape payment streams and associated data, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements. He is also a supporter of Gigi’s playhouse, a nationwide achievement center network for individuals with Downs syndrome. Outside of work, John enjoys golf, literature, and community engagement, including an annual neighborhood barbecue.

• Bill Hoppe, Vice President, Business Development - Institutional Cash Distributors, Inc.
• John Wyda, Sr. Investment Analyst, Sr. Portfolio Manager - Federated Hermes
• Renee Stitt, AVP, Treasury - AmTrust Financial Services

Tuesday, April 29th
11:30am - 12:30pm
Grand G

Session Description

In this session, a panel of three speakers (a corporate Treasury practitioner, Money Market Mutual Fund Investment Professional, and an Investment Technology vendor) will discuss the key themes shaping the short-term investment landscape in 2025. Among other items, panelists will discuss the Federal Reserve and its dual mandate of maximum employment and price stability, ideas for achieving higher yields on working capital dollars, and technology solutions that may help Treasury teams better manage risk and operate more efficiently.

Participants will learn the key themes impacting short-term investment markets in 2025, how best to manage their organization’s short-term investments, and how technology can empower them to operate efficiently and manage risk.

Speaker Information

Bill Hoppe joined ICD in 2017 as Vice President, Business Development. He is responsible for relationship management in the South and Southwest. Bill has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining ICD, he served as Managing Director at BNYMellon where he worked with leading institutional money managers to assist corporations, public funds, insurance companies, foundations and banks in managing their liquidity needs. Prior to joining BNYMellon, Bill was employed with Arrowhead Financial, Invesco and Citicorp. He also served as Chairman of the Investment Company Institute (ICI) Money Market Fund Committee from 2007 to 2010.

Renee Stitt has 30 years of professional experience working in various accounting and treasury roles. Renee has over 25 years of experience working within AmTrust Financial Services and holds her Certified Treasury Professional credential. Currently, Renee serves as AVP of Treasury, a position she has held for nearly six years. Renee is passionate about process improvement utilizing technology. Most recently, Renee guided a Kyriba TMS implementation that brought efficiencies to multiple teams for cash forecasting, cash accounting, and bank reconciliation.

• Marie Mui, Executive Director, Merchant Services Market Growth Leader - Wells Fargo
• Emily Howell, Sr. Director of Treasurery & Risk - Copart
• Konrad Rymaszewski, SVP Finance - Swivel

Tuesday, April 29th
11:30am - 12:30pm
Iris

Session Description

The business world has never been more challenged to build, retain, and develop top-performing teams. Hiring Managers and Human Resources alike are given conflicting priorities including streamlining operations, work-from-home challenges, ESG initiatives, learning the ins and outs of LCs, CP, and more.

In this session, we invite anyone in this complex and evolving industry to join our conversation on talent acquisition, retention, and development. Hear how your peers are meeting their hiring needs and share this invaluable knowledge with your organizations.

• Insights into actions that can be taken to find quality talent.
• Strategies and ideas on keeping employees engaged and committed.
• How others have leveraged special skills for projects/ assignments
• How technology plays a role in recruitment

Speaker Information

Marie Mui is an accomplished payments professional with over 20 years of experience developing high-performing teams, managing complex relationships, and architecting payment environments. Marie is currently the National Sales Leader of the Commercial Banking Segment for Wells Fargo Merchant Services. Marie joined Wells Fargo Merchant Services in 2001 as an eCommerce Merchant Account Manager. Marie’s passion for payments continued throughout her career, which included building a technical sales engineer team, leading the National Merchant sales teams for Fintech/Technology verticals and as the Head of Relationship Management for Merchant Services. Prior to Wells Fargo Merchant Services, Marie was an early adopter of the ecommerce ecosystem with account management and channel sales responsibilities at two early stage payments companies.

Emily Howell is a tenured treasury and risk management professional with extensive experience in global treasury and risk functions. As the Corporate Treasurer at Copart, Inc., she oversees comprehensive Treasury and Risk responsibilities across North and South America, Europe, and the Middle East. Her tenure at Copart has been marked by a strong focus on innovation and automation in treasury and risk processes, with a collaborative focus on enhancing the company's operational efficiencies and financial management capabilities. Prior to joining Copart in 2022, Emily served as the Senior Treasury Manager at Forterra Pipe & Precast. During this time, she played a pivotal role in the company's initial public offering, successfully refinancing its debt structure, and assisting with multiple acquisitions and divestitures.

• Mark O’Toole, Head of Sales & Partnerships - Americas - Fides Treasury Services
• Amber McGregor, Senior Treasury Manager - Helmerich & Payne

Tuesday, April 29th
11:30am - 12:30pm
Periwinkle

Session Description

The world of banking and payments is filled with messaging formats. MT, MX, BAI, PAIN…deciphering them can feel like navigating a linguistic maze. Each format speaks its own “language,” creating complexity and inefficiencies for treasury teams trying to establish seamless connectivity. This session will explore why these formats exist, how they differ, and how to translate and integrate multiple formats to create more integrated, automated systems. We’ll also share insights into industry trends and shifts, including ISO 20022 adoption and its long-term impact on treasury and payments, to help you prepare for the future.

Attendees will leave this session with:

• A foundational understanding of major messaging standards like MTs, BAIs, ISO 20022, and Pain.001, including their use cases.
• Strategies to translate and integrate multiple formats seamlessly within your treasury environment.
• Information on how to embrace automation through tools and aggregators that can simplify messaging, reduce errors, and enhance global connectivity.

Speaker Information

Mark O’Toole is head of sales & partnerships, Americas, at Fides Treasury Services, an innovative multibank connectivity and payments solution provider. He has provided solutions and expertise to Fortune 500 companies for the past 16 years. Mark is a recurring speaker at numerous treasury industry conferences globally.

Amber Helmerich is senior treasury manager at Helmerich & Payne.

• Dubos Masson, Ph.D, CTP, CertICM, President, The Treasury Academy
• Raymond Vines, CTP - Part Time Treasurer, Treasury Consultant, Trainer - Turningpoint Communications

Tuesday, April 29th
11:30am - 12:30pm
Sunflower

Session Description

• Chapter 12: Disbursements, Collections, Concentration
• Chapter 14: Cash Forecasting

Speaker Information

D.J. Masson, Ph.D., is President of The Treasury Academy, a training and consulting firm specializing in treasury management, international finance, business forecasting, and risk management. Over the past 25 years, D.J. has provided business and financial consulting and training services to a wide variety of corporations, financial institutions, and not-for-profit organizations in the U.S., Canada, and abroad. He is currently an Associate Clinical Professor of Finance at Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business and is a trainer and curriculum developer for programs with Association for Financial Professionals (AFP), GT News and Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT) in the U.K, and Citibank’s Global Transactions Services unit. D.J. has extensive experience in developing curriculum for a wide range of teaching and training environments, both residential and on-line. He has developed classes and taught at all levels of higher education: undergraduate, MBA, Executive MBA, and in-house, custom-designed courses. D.J. has worked with professional associations to develop workshop, training materials, and certification programs in the areas of Treasury Management, Credit Management, Global Cash Management, Financial Forecasting, Commercial Banking, and Risk Management. D. J.’s educational background includes a B.A. in Business from the University of New Orleans and an MBA and Ph.D. in Finance from Indiana University. D.J. earned his Certified Cash Manager (CCM/CTP) credential in 1988. D.J. also earned the Cert ICM, an international cash management certification, from the Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT) in the UK in 1999.

Ray Vines brings 30 years of corporate treasury experience (and honesty) to bear for Turningpoint Communications’ treasury management sales trainees, customers, customers’ clients and other key constituents as the “voice of the client” for programs, documentation and high-touch client experiences. Ray is also an instructor for the Association for Financial Professionals’ (AFP) Certified Treasury Professional (CTP), Treasury Learning System instructor-led courses, educating hundreds of prospective CTP candidates each spring and fall for Rice University and the University of Texas. Formerly, Ray served as Director of Treasury for Dean Foods in Dallas for seven years, where he was responsible for leading treasury operations and his team, managing internal and external relationships and continuous process improvement. Prior to Dean Foods, Ray spent 20 years at RadioShack as Director of Treasury Operations. Ray is an active participant in enhancing the role of treasury management as an industry and career through his participation on industry roundtables and his leadership of the Dallas AFP, including his role as past president of the . Ray co-chaired the award-winning TEXPO conference in Dallas in 2018, leading all technological, marketing and communications aspects of the conference and is a key member of the content team for #DallasTEXPO2023. Ray holds a B.S. in Finance and MS in Accounting from the University of Texas and is a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP). Ray is also a WSET Level 3 Advanced (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) Wine and Spirits Certified instructor, and customizes courses in wine/spirits etiquette for financial audiences and executives.