April 29-30, 2027 Meeting, Lake Tahoe, CA
PAST INNOVATIVE KEYNOTE PRESENTERS INCLUDE:
Marcus Collins, Ph.D
Professor in Residence at TikTok, Best-Selling Author, University of Michigan Professor, 2023 Thinkers50 Radar Award Winner, and Award-Winning Marketer
Dr. Marcus Collins is an award-winning marketer and cultural translator. He is the former chief strategy officer at Wieden+Kennedy, New York, a professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and the author of the best-selling book, For The Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want To Be. Marcus is an inductee into the American Advertising Federation’s Advertising Hall of Achievement and a recipient of the Thinkers50 Radar Distinguished Achievement Award for the idea most likely to shape the future of business management. His strategies and creative contributions have led to the launch and success of Google’s “Real Tone” technology, the “Made In America” music festival, and the Brooklyn Nets, among others. Before his advertising tenure, Marcus worked on iTunes + Nike sport music initiatives at Apple and ran digital strategy for Beyoncé. He writes a column for Forbes CMO Network and contributes to business scholarship.
Ryan Holiday
Best-selling author, and philosopher
Since best-selling author Ryan Holiday introduced Stoicism to the world with The Obstacle Is the Way, this simple but powerful philosophy for life has taken the world by storm. This brilliant and engaging book is an invaluable source of wisdom for anyone who wants to become more successful at what they do. The New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks invited Ryan to visit their headquarters to talk about the ideas in the book. NBA all-star Chris Bosh listed the book as an item “he couldn’t live without.” In addition, other books like Ego Is the Enemy, The Daily Stoic, and the #1 New York Times bestseller Stillness Is the Key appear in more than 40 languages and have sold more than 5 million copies. Together, they’ve spent over 300 weeks on the bestseller lists. Ryan lives outside Austin with his wife and two boys...and a small herd of cows and donkeys and goats. His bookstore, The Painted Porch, sits on historic Main St in Bastrop, Texas.
Yelena Shulyatyeva CFA
Senior U.S. Economist, The Conference Board Economy, Strategy & Finance Center
Yelena Shulyatyeva is a Senior US Economist for The Conference Board Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, where she focuses on analyzing macroeconomic developments in order to better understand the implications for the broader economy and monetary policy. As part of a team of economists, she produces in-depth analysis of macroeconomic data and trends for the community of C-suite executives providing the insights to help companies make effective strategic decisions to accelerate growth. Yelena brings twenty years of experience as a U.S. economist at BNP Paribas and Bloomberg L.P. where she provided clients with forecasts and analysis of macroeconomic and financial developments. She regularly appears on business television & radio, and is frequently quoted in media. Yelena holds a CFA designation as well as Masters Degrees in Finance & Investments and Economics.
Jason Schenker
Chairman, The Futurist Institute
Renowned for his expertise in economics, financial markets, and technology, Jason has delivered over 1,200 keynotes to organizations like NATO, the CIA, the European Central Bank, and SXSW. A prolific author, he has penned 36 books, including 15 #1 bestsellers, and his LinkedIn Learning courses have reached 1.3 million students. Bloomberg News has ranked him the #1 forecaster globally in 27 categories.
About Your Meeting Facilitators
Dennis Sullivan, MBA
Founder & CEO, 40 Groups, Inc.
Dennis is an experienced executive, entrepreneur, professor, and credit union advocate. He has launched or turned around more than 100 products and businesses and serves as Chairman of CU Leadership Convention, a position he has held for more than 20 years. He has also served as a lecturer at Johns Hopkins University, recently named one of the world’s top business professors, and serves on the faculty of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses. He is a professor at the Community College of Baltimore where he also serves as Executive Director of CCBC Center for Business Innovation & Trades that has helped launch 65 new businesses in mostly underserved communities.
Paul Davis
Chief Facilitator
Paul Davis is the founder and CEO of Bank Slate Consulting, advising banks and fintechs on strategy, governance, and talent. He also publishes The Bank Slate, an influential media platform with a weekly newsletter and the Convos podcast. With 20+ years in financial services leadership and industry transformation, Paul works with executive teams and boards on strategic planning, corporate governance, succession, and GTM strategies. His work includes board assessments, executive onboarding, leadership offsites, and market-entry strategies for fintechs. Bank Slate is a preferred advisor within Grasshopper Bank’s fintech ecosystem, guiding early- and growth-stage companies on positioning, regulatory alignment, and commercialization.
Andrew Umhoefer
President & Chief Marketing Officer, 40 Groups, Inc.
Andrew is an accomplished marketing executive and author with 20+ years of experience leading global growth, brand strategy, and marketing for B2B organizations. He has built high-performing teams across North America, Europe, and Asia, helping companies drive revenue growth through product launches, rebranding initiatives, and aligned marketing and sales strategies. Known for combining strategic insight with creative execution, Andrew has earned more than a dozen international marketing awards for growth and brand leadership. Outside of work, he enjoys sailing, gardening, spending time with his family, and exploring new creative pursuits.
Agenda
THURSDAY
APRIL 29, 2027 • 6:00 - 8:00 pm
(Members and plus 1 are welcome to attend the evening’s events.)
6:00 – 6:45 pm
Cocktail Reception
6:45 – 8:00 pm
Dinner
FRIDAY
APRIL 30, 2027 • 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
7:30 AM– 8:30 AM
Breakfast
8:30 – 10:00 AM
Welcome and Keynote Speaker: Leading Through Change: Innovation and the Future of Work in an AI World
Speaker: Dan Chuparkoff, Innovation & AI Expert
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Workshop on Futurist Thinking into Economic & Financial Reality
11:00 – NOON
Roundtable discussions on current challenges/opportunities
Noon – 1:00 pm
Networking Lunch
1:00 – 1:45 PM
Deep Strategic Thinking on the #1 Challenge Facing Your Community Bank Today
1:45 – 2:30 PM
Roundtable discussions on current challenges/opportunities
2:30 – 3:15 PM
Best practices workshop
3:15 – 4:00 PM
Turning Ideas into Action – Practical Steps for Implementing Your Take-Home Plans
Next Meetings
APRIL 29-30, 2027
Lake Tahoe, CA
SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2027
Boston, MA
JANUARY 20-21, 2028
Phoenix, AZ
APRIL 27-28, 2028
Denver, CO
SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2028
Chicago, IL
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40 Groups members include…
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