Convention Speakers - page in progress
Jeff Ratanapool
Executive Vice President, Strategic Growth & Corporate Development
Jeff has personally originated hundreds of millions in home loans over the years as a Certified Mortgage Lender, his knowledge of products, underwriting guidelines, sales, compliance, and service coupled with years of experience in leadership is what sets him apart. Not only has Jeff helped growth within the mortgage industry he has also successfully graduated 400 Realtors over his years as Kentucky’s only GRI-3 instructor. In addition to his commitment to corporate success Jeff is a dedicated family man and is determined to remain focused on the most important things—making time for his wife and two daughters and giving back to his community.
Kara Ward
Shareholder, Federal Lobbyist, Baker Donelson
Ms. Ward concentrates her practice on providing financial institutions, FinTechs, consumer advocacy groups, non-profits, and trade associations with her deep knowledge of complex, inter-governmental matters that intersect financial services laws and public policy to advance clients objectives on Capitol Hill, within regulatory agencies, and across the Executive Branch.
Rider Harris
Founder, GoBananas.ai
Rider runs tailored, high quality AI workshops for companies that want their teams to actually use AI in the work they do every day. Sessions are built around your tools, your workflows, and your industry. People leave with clear guardrails, ready to use prompts, and repeatable processes that save time and improve output.
Kristin Messerli
Executive Director, FirstHome IQ
I am a strategist and speaker on Millennial and Gen Z housing trends, dedicated to fostering financial literacy and homeownership among young adults. I recently co-founded the nonprofit FirstHome IQ, with a mission to deliver homeownership education before the age of 25. Throughout my career, I've collaborated with hundreds of lenders, startups, and nonprofits to craft successful go-to-market strategies and build trust with their consumers. I founded and sold the digital marketing agency, Cultural Outreach, with a vision to promote sustainable homeownership in underserved communities. My previous role as VP of Sales and Strategy at Experience.com, along with my consulting work with numerous fintech startups, has given me extensive experience in product design, marketing, and research.