Download the 2010 Call for Proposals.

Jeff Blatnick, while his name may not immediately ring a bell, his moment is one we'll remember forever - the big, burly Greco-Roman wrestler dropping to his knees with his hands together in thanks for winning the Gold Medal at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games. And, in the moments that followed, giving an emotional television interview in which he proclaimed to the world, through tears of joy: "I'm a happy dude!"

His emotions were running high for more reasons than winning Olympic Gold. Just two years earlier Jeff was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, a form of cancer that attacks the spleen and lymph nodes. After surgery and a series of daily radiation treatments, the cancer was in remission and he resumed training.

The dramatic television interview the world saw immediately after his medal-winning bout brought Jeff's private struggles to the public eye. And, shortly after winning the gold, his U.S. teammates elected him to carry the flag at the Closing Ceremonies of the L.A. Games - an honor Jeff will never forget.

Today, Jeff Blatnick is one of the premier motivational speakers in the country. His personalized presentation is, simply, first-rate. Jeff's enthusiasm, sincerity, and love of life have kept him focused on a single purpose: overcoming adversity.

During his 16-year wrestling career, Jeff won ten national titles and various international awards. Since then, in addition to his motivational speaking engagements, he has become a successful television sportscaster. He has also kept extremely active as a spokesperson for the Leukemia Society of America, United Way, American Concern Society, United States Olympic Committee, National Fitness Leaders Association, and the New York State Department of Education.

Rich Oliver is an Executive Vice President and director of the Retail Payments Risk Forum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and has been with the Bank since 1973. In this role, he works in collaboration with industry participants, regulators and law enforcement to identify, understand and mitigate emerging risks in retail electronic payments systems. He is responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with industry executives and organizations involved in the retail payments arena specifically with regard to retail payments risk issues. From 1998 to 2009, he served as retail payments product manager for the Federal Reserve System, where he was responsible for managing the Fed's check and ACH businesses nationwide.

Earlier in his career, Rich served as Planning Analyst, Administrator of the Automated Clearing House, Chairman of the Federal Reserve's Electronic Payments Implementation Task Force, Manager and Officer in charge of software development, Vice President in charge of automation services, the Federal Reserve System’s Product Manager for Electronic Payments Services, Officer in charge of business development and check software and Staff Director for the Federal Reserve System’s Policy Committee for Financial Services, where he was responsible for coordinating integrated financial management, project management and strategic planning for all the Federal Reserve’s payments services nationwide.

Rich holds a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Nevada, an M.S. in information and computer science from Georgia Tech and an M.B.A. in management from Georgia State University. He has also completed executive development programs at Harvard University and the University of Tennessee.

Jan Estep serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of NACHA—The Electronic Payments Association. NACHA is a not-for-profit trade association that oversees the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Network, one of the largest electronic payments networks in the world. Led by member depository financial institutions and payments associations, NACHA is responsible for the administration, development and enforcement of the NACHA Operating Rules and sound risk management practices for the ACH Network. Jan oversees NACHA’s daily operations and works to promote the development of ACH electronic payment solutions that improve the payments system for the benefit of its members and their customers.

Jan formerly served as Executive Vice President of U.S. Bank’s Transaction Services division and was accountable for the general management of the division, which included Elan ATM & Debit Services, ATM Banking Product and Operational Support, ATM & Kiosk Services and EFT Network support. She led the Elan ATM & Debit business unit that provides ATM and debit card processing and related services to over 2,000 clients including other financial institutions, independent sales organizations and commercial, government and retail businesses.

Jan joined U.S. Bank in 1997 with responsibility for their Merchant Payment Services division, previously holding a variety of management positions in technology-intensive companies. Prior to U.S. Bank, she was General Manager of the Twin Cities Laboratory and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Pace Analytical Services; she also spent 15 years at IBM in a variety of field and corporate positions.

Narayana Kocherlakota became the 12th president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis on Oct. 8, 2009. Prior to becoming president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Kocherlakota was a professor of economics at the University of Minnesota, where he previously chaired the economics department, and a consultant to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. He was also a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. From 1996 to 1998, he was a research staff member at the Minneapolis Fed.

Lee Wetherington, AAP, is Director of Strategic Insight for ProfitStars®, a division of Jack Henry & Associates, Inc., and provider of best-of-breed solutions that improve the performance of financial institutions of all sizes and charters and diverse corporate entities. Lee directs the development of actionable insight and strategy for the financial services industry. To this end, he creates programs, presentations and articles designed to orient and educate financial professionals on the trends and implications of new technologies. He routinely delivers keynotes nationwide focusing upon opportunities and challenges in e-banking and payments, and he is widely renowned for his unique style of comedic delivery.

Lee has spoken for numerous national and state trade groups, including the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), Bank Administration Institute (BAI), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), and the National Automated Clearinghouse Association (NACHA). Lee also serves as the Technology Faculty Chair for several regional schools of banking and finance.

He received bachelor's degrees in economics and English from Duke University in 1990, and in 1993 he completed graduate studies at Emory University. In 1995, he earned the distinguished Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) certification from the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA).

BACK

View the complete 2010 online agenda

View 2010 Speaker's Bios

BACK

In an effort to reduce waste and decrease the use of paper products at the meeting, there will be no paper copies of session presentations or handouts at the event.

One week before the start of the conference attendees will be provided a web link to the handouts available at that time. We hope you will take a minute to review the handouts and print any you would like to review. Notebooks will be provided at the event for taking notes. The handouts will be available electronically for 6 months after the conference.

BACK

The 2010 brochure will be available a few months before the event.

Download the 2010 Navigating Payments brochure

REGISTER NOW!

BACK

Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Minneapolis South
7800 Normandale Blvd.
Bloomington , MN 55439
Phone: 952-835-7800

Room rates are $139 per night (plus tax), single or double. Mention the UMACHA Conference for this special rate. Make your reservation online by clicking here.

BACK

Download the 2010 Sponsor/Exhibitor Information Packet.

Click here to see a list of 2009 conference attendees.

BACK

Sponsors & Exhibitors

BACK