Tristate Collaborative Leadership Conference

Marcey Ciaccio

Philanthropy Manager | Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions

Marcey Ciaccio, Philanthropy Manager at the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, is a dedicated nonprofit leader with a career spanning philanthropy in higher education, healthcare, and community foundations. Now deeply engaged in the credit union movement, she is committed to improving lives worldwide by advancing financial inclusion, economic empowerment, and leadership development.
 
With a passion for global impact, Marcey works to strengthen credit unions as a force for positive change, ensuring that communities around the world have access to the financial resources they need to thrive. Marcey believes in the power of collaboration to create sustainable and lasting change, helping credit unions worldwide build stronger, more resilient communities while cultivating the next generation of leaders.

Linda Cohen

Professional Speaker | Linda Cohen Consulting

The Kindness Catalyst, brings a fresh, heartfelt take on professional etiquette and networking by weaving in the power of kindness. A nationally recognized speaker and author of The Economy of Kindness, Linda helps audiences build authentic connections, navigate awkward moments with grace, and elevate their leadership presence. Her interactive, story-filled sessions leave participants inspired and equipped with simple tools to lead with empathy and confidence in any business or social situation.

Sarah Fecht

Certified Speaker, Trainer & Coach | Best Self Leadership

Sarah is a certified Maxwell Leadership speaker, trainer & coach. As a lifelong learner, she’s earned her BBA in Management; Human Resources from Viterbo University, her MBA from UW- La Crosse, her Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute, her Senior Certified Professional designation from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and DISC certification training during her career so far. 

Christie Kimbell

Executive Vice President | Filene Research Institute

Christie is Executive Vice President.

With passion, leadership and a sharp business mindset, Christie Kimbell shares responsibility for the strategy, products, programs, communities, events, financial and operational management of Filene in her role as a secondary Executive Officer.

Josh Roberts

Vice President of System Collaboration & Development | The League

Josh is responsible for promoting credit union service and outreach and fostering opportunities for credit union growth. You can also find Josh helping Wisconsin's small credit unions with operational consulting, provides strategy assistance by facilitating Strategic Planning Sessions, and providing various training for credit union leaders, staff, and boards. Additionally, Josh spearheads diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for The League and its member credit unions and is also the League Liaison for the Wisconsin Credit Union Foundation and oversees its operations.

Josh has nearly 20 years of experience in the financial industry, having served credit unions as a vice president, controller, and compliance officer.  He is a graduate of CUNA Management School, where he served as Class President, and a 2016 graduate of the Credit Union Development Educators (CUDE) program.  

Josh currently serves on the Executive Committee of the CUNA Lending Council and is Vice-Chair of CUNA Lending Council’s Member Resources Committee and Vice-Chair of the Engagement Committee. In addition, he is engaged in the community, serving as Board Chair for the Milwaukee Area Technical College Accounting Advisory Board, and as a member of the Milwaukee Area Technical College Banking and Finance Advisory Board. He has previously held positions and volunteered with local neighborhood associations, the American Red Cross, and local environmental organizations.

Gerry Singleton

President/CEO | Montana’s Credit Unions (MCU)

He has dedicated his career to the credit union movement, and he brings that passion and dedication into his role as President/CEO of Montana’s Credit Unions (MCU). Gerry plans and directs the financial, operating, and human resources for the Montana Credit Union League, Montana Credit Unions for Community Development, and the League Service Group. He also serves as a board member of the Montana Credit Union League Group Benefits Trust and oversees its operation. Under Gerry’s leadership, MCU continually delivers quality advocacy, programs, and services across the state.  

Previously to joining Montana’s Credit Unions, Gerry spent 25 years as the VP-Credit Union System Relations at CUNA Mutual Group (now TruStage), working closely alongside leagues, CUNA, and other key system partners to build a thriving credit union system. During his time in the credit union movement, he has served on various national boards of directors and advisory groups, including the Board of the National Credit Union Foundation, the Board of the CUNA Mutual Foundation, Credit Unions Building Financial Independence (CT), the Advisory Board of the CUFinHealth Fund, and as an active Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE), with designations for International DE,CaribDE and Africa DE. 

Singleton is a long-time resident of Bozeman, Montana, who loves spending time with his family, hiking, and connecting to his community.

Shari Storm

Professional Speaker | Category 6 Consulting

Shari spent 16 years as an executive at a Seattle credit union, where she oversaw marketing and IT. 

Her proudest accomplishments at Verity Credit Union included being named an Innovator of the Decade by Net.Banker, heading up the successful Verity Mom campaign, and participating in Filene's prestigious i3 program. 

Her first book, Motherhood is the New MBA: Using Your Parenting Skills to be a Better Boss was published by St. Martin's Press. With over 20,000 copies sold, it has been translated into Mandarin and purchased for publications in four countries. The book has received tremendous press, including Time and Redbook magazines, Martha Stewart's radio, BusinessWeek online, the Costco Connection and the cover of the Metro News New York, to name a few. 

Shari has been named a Woman of Influence by CU Times. She has been featured in American Banker, Credit Union Management, and The CEO Report. 

She is now the CEO of Category 6 Consulting, which specializes in developing strategy with a strong focus on culture, marketing, and fintech. 

Shari received her undergraduate degree from University of Washington and her MBA from Seattle University. 

Sarah Wainscott

President & CEO | The League

For fifteen years, Sarah has served The League through various advocacy roles, culminating in the start of her tenure as President & CEO in January 2025. Her experience and expertise include lobbying, grassroots advocacy, political fundraising, and serving as Wisconsin credit unions' spokesperson on policy with legislators and regulators in Madison & Washington, D.C.  

In Sarah's time at The League, she has established reliable and strategic key relationships with influential policymakers that have helped elevate credit unions' impact. She has helped pass bills updating credit union statutes, requiring financial literacy credits for high school graduation, and permitting prize-linked-savings programs while also preventing the introduction or serious consideration of harmful proposals. Notably, she also developed the annual Wisconsin Credit Union Scorecard into a preeminent and persuasive resource on the power of The Credit Union Movement in Wisconsin. As a result of these tireless advocacy efforts, public support for Wisconsin's credit unions has grown by 19% since 2010.

Sarah is an Association of Wisconsin Lobbyists' board member and serves on the Inaugural Advocacy Committee for the American Association of Credit Union Leagues. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and communication arts and a master's degree in public affairs from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.