Alloy Labs is an ecosystem of community and mid-size banks working together to develop insights that drive partnerships, product development, and strategic investments to better serve evolving customer needs and help them compete and win in a rapidly changing world.• The Alloy Labs Alliance is a consortium of banks from across the country, totaling over $470 billion in assets, which gives members an unfair advantage of access to the resources of a top 10 bank while maintaining their independence and local control.• The Alloy Alchemist Fund is a strategy-led venture capital fund where banks gain access to game-changing fintech companies who are reinventing, not just replumbing the banking industry.• The Alloy Labs Institute applies industry-leading tools, frameworks, and best practices to help financial institutions mitigate emerging risks and unlock new sources of growth effectively and efficiently.We aggregate insights from every node, and each hub is a force-multiplier for all the others, creating powerful network effects for the entire ecosystem.

The Alloy Labs Institute (fka FinTech Forge) creates and applies industry-leading tools, frameworks, and best practices to help financial institutions create and maintain competitive advantage and drive exponential growth. Our corporate and executive programs help financial institutions build a lasting culture of innovation and growth while realizing tangible results quickly on their most important strategic priorities.Our trademark FIRE™ process (Fast, Iterative, Responsive Experiments) has been featured in leading industry conferences and publications, and has been taught at leading graduate schools of banking. FIRE™ leverages modern agile business methods to create an empirical approach to value creation that is custom tailored to work in a highly regulated environment .

Provoke.fm is the #1 global fintech network, and the media parent company of our flagship show, Breaking Banks, the #1 global fintech radio show and podcast. Provoke.fm is also home to other popular podcasts covering FinTech and financial services, including Breaking Banks Europe, the Finovate Podcast, Tech on Reg, and Emerge Everywhere.I am also Co-Host of Breaking Banks, the flagship program for Provoke.fm created by noted fintech entrepreneur Brett King. With more than 8 million listeners from over 180 countries, it is also the #1 business show on VoiceAmerica World Talk Radio.

Since 1945, GSB has been an industry leader in providing advanced management education for financial professionals. As the banking industry has changed, so has GSB.

The premier national graduate school of banking, held at the University of Washington.I created the world's first class on fintech and innovation designed for a graduate school of banking program, teaching bank leaders how to thrive in this world of digital disruption and how to create a better future for their organizations. Today it is one of the highest rated classes in the program and a required part of the core curriculum, and we have added a hands-on workshop to put the principles into practice as an advanced level follow-on elective.2012 PCBS Faculty Fellow

Top-rated speaker and media commentator on innovation, strategy and leadership at numerous fintech, banking, credit union, technology, and other conferences across the country and around the world. More information at JPNicols.com

AMERICA’S PREMIER COMMUNITY BANKING SCHOOLFor six decades, banking industry leaders have depended on the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado for ideas and strategies necessary to confront the challenges in a fast-paced, competitive financial environment and to realize their leadership potential.

Instructor for a unique class I created on fintech and innovation in banking.

We formed the Bank Innovators Council to bring together those who are innovating from within financial institutions, and to provide opportunities for members to explore new ideas outside of the day-to-day demands of their existing businesses, and in ways they could not do alone. Acquired by Next Bank, now Next Money.

Proud 20 year alum of U.S. Bank and predecessors Star Bank and Firstar. Serial intrapreneur serving in various leadership capacities from 1992 to 2012, during a time of 22% CAGR from $750M to $60B+ market cap, and from $6B to $400B in assets.Chief Private Banking Officer 2008-2012: Business line leader and member of the Wealth Management Executive Committee. Responsible for all aspects of the private banking business for High and Ultra High Net Worth client segments; including product development, pricing and segmentation strategies, training, credit underwriting, audit, compliance and credit quality. • Created and led new cross-functional innovation team• Collaborated on enterprise innovation projects• Built new team to transform fragmented regional operations into a recognized national player • Developed and executed new strategies for product volume, margin and mix• Created new competitive proprietary product platform• Improved spreads through new pricing, risk management and incentive strategies• Developed and communicated thought leadership and content marketing • Turned around history of unsatisfactory credit quality, audit and compliance results• Drove collaboration across diverse corporate business units• Recognized as a skilled facilitator and public speaker, often served as business spokesperson

Named as first Regional Private Banking Manager for newly formed West Region. P&L responsibility for 25 offices in 8 states. Turned an under-performing group into the largest and fastest growing region in the nation, doubling in 5 years.• Built new team and new culture of performance to accelerate growth• Doubled top line revenue in 4 years- $50MM-$100MM (23% CAGR)• Also doubled bottom line by holding operating expenses flat• Led the bank in cross-sell referrals from other business lines• Revitalized slower growing offices, closed unprofitable ones and opened new locations• Co-developed and co-led nationwide sales and relationship management training program• Held several key leadership roles, including co-manager of commercial cross-sales• National corporate board member for Employee Development Network• Helped launch MentorConnect enterprise mentoring program• Returning Guest Speaker at the University of Washington Pacific Rim Bankers Program • Promoted to newly created position of Chief Private Banking Officer

Recruited back to the organization to build and lead new team and create a new sales and service platform to improve business growth. • Turned around underperforming office with a 100% increase in pre-tax income • Led merger integration and redesigned sales and service protocols• Won Pacesetter award trip for sales and revenue performance in the top 2% nationally• Promoted to Regional Manager

Recruited to help multidisciplinary team grow business owners and entrepreneurs segment. • Achieved all sales goals while successfully managing complex client relationships • Built strong interdisciplinary partnerships to drive cross-sell

fka Firstar Bank (1998-1999), fka Star Bank (1993-1998)• Exceeded sales goals and cross-selling goals for investment and trust services• Managed relationships with high net worth families and professional practices• Managed consistent sales and service standards during exponential growth (40%+ CAGR)

• Managed one of the largest branches in the bank• Recognized as one of the top five branch managers for exceeding performance goals• Promoted to Private Banking Officer

• General management responsibility for branches in two key affluent market areas.• Successfully cross-sold other services such as Personal Trust, Private Banking, etc.Branch acquired by Star Bank in 1992

• $20 million business unit, achieved highest net profit gain in company• Human Resources responsibility for over 200 employees