Graduate School of Banking IT Management School | Teaching
As a 2014 GSB grad, it's really exciting to give back to the community. Plus, with client engagement at Marquis it's been awesome to gain greater insights on how banks from across the country are transforming with technology. Reach out with questions.
I'll be teaching on the application of gen AI in banks. How to manage risks and, the fundamentals of prompting, and sharing real-life everyday use cases.
Michigan Bankers Best Conference | Speaking
On stage for not one, but two sessions!
April 7-9 in Traverse City, MI
Session 1: AI in Banking - Strategic Insights and Practical Applications
In the marketing track, I'll share insights and demos that you can apply immediately to improve the success of your campaigns and make you more productive.
Session 2: Empowering HR Leaders with AI
In the HR track, I'll talk through how to get your bank started with gen AI and demo use cases for the HR professional.
Wisconsin Bankers Association HR Conference | Speaking
April 2 in Wisconsin Dells, WI
AI for the HR Professional
ChatGPT, and other generative AI tools like Microsoft Copilot, can transform how HR professionals work by streamlining processes, enhancing productivity, and improving communication. This session offers a foundational understanding of how to responsibly use AI in HR.
Attendees will learn the basics of prompting through demonstrations of everyday applications for HR professionals. From drafting job descriptions, working through difficult employee issues, and improving your communication to different demographics, AI can transform your productivity and make you a more effective leader. You'll walk away with actionable insights you can begin to apply immediately. Discover how everyday AI can empower HR professionals by supporting your success, the success of your workforce, and the success of your organization.
Michigan Credit Union League Marketing Compliance You & Lending Conference | Speaking
March 26-27 in Grand Rapids, MI
My speaking topic is "Leveling Up Data Strategies with Practical Opportunities and Gen AI Solutions". A full session on practical solutions and video demos you can easily apply--with an assist from AI. It will be jam packed!
Your Silent Competition is Winning | Article
Your Silent Competition is Winning: Are You Even in the Game?
Many banks and credit unions are struggling with checking account acquisition and retention. The result? A slow but deadly negative churn that erodes their customer base while competitors quietly gain ground.
I break it all down in my latest article in The Financial Brand, with expert insights from my fantastic colleague, Sue Schabert. If you’re feeling the pressure of checking acquisition, this is a must-read.
Click here to read the article.
Everyday AI for Professionals at Madison College | Teaching
Everyday AI for Professionals is Thursday, March 20: 6-8 pm
This course is focused on professional use and it is not specific to banking. I wanted to bring a more holistic training opportunity to Madison College. If you work in an office, on a computer, or own a small business, this course is for you. If you need to be more productive, creative, or upskill yourself or others, sign up today. Our focus is ChatGPT, but the knowledge is transferable to any gen AI tool.
Conquer Checking Acquisition in 2025 | Webinar
The race for checking acquisition is on in 2025. If you missed our live webinar - we got you covered!
Most banks and credit unions are still sitting on the sidelines—missing out on a massive opportunity. Meanwhile, big banks are aggressively winning over your customers and members.
What’s your acquisition strategy? If your institution isn’t playing offense, you’re losing ground.
Click here to watch the webinar and read the supporting documents.
Illinois Bankers The ONE Conference | Speaking
"Everyday AI for Bankers"
March 14 in Bloomington, IL
I'm excited to speak at the Illinois Bankers Association The ONE conference and show attendees how they can transform their work with ChatGPT. Gen AI is reshaping how we work, but there's no instruction manual to help you get started. And many use cases can be moonshots for most FIs.
In my session, I'll give you everyday real-life examples you can apply immediately. I'll be covering:
✔️ Managing Risk with AI: How to engage with gen AI responsibly.
✔️ Navigating the Regulatory Landscape: Key tips to avoid regulatory pitfalls.
✔️ Prompting Strategies: How to "talk" to AI to transform productivity and creativity.
✔️ Real-Life Demonstrations: Everyday use cases you can apply immediately.
Everyday AI for Everyone at Madison College | Teaching
Everyday AI for Everyday Usage is March 10
I built this course to be a general overview for anyone who wants to learn how ChatGPT works. Truly a focus on everyday use cases for all age ranges.
Level Up Your Data | Webinar
Your Data Deserves Better. Is Your Strategy Keeping Up?
Banks and credit unions sit on a goldmine of data—but are you using it to its full potential?
The problem? Most institutions struggle to connect the dots between data and action. That’s why we created this free playbook—a step-by-step guide to help you level up your data strategy and start seeing results.
Why Your AI Strategy Should Align with DC | Article
The regulatory and legal environment for gen AI is still evolving. But there are clues and insights. Learn more about the bipartisan House report and how you can start to think more critically about responsible use.
Published January 9, 2025.
Graduate School of Banking - WI: AI in Banking | Teaching
12/11/2024 - AI has been the most rapidly adopted technology in human history, and organizations around the world are leveraging AI to become faster and more efficient. But what are you doing to learn and benefit from AI? If you haven’t dug in quite yet – don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Graduate School of Banking at Wisconsin Online Seminar
ABA National Ag Conference Milwaukee | Speaking
11/13/2024 - The American Bankers Association is hosting their Ag Bankers in Milwaukee, and I'll be sharing insights on how to get started with gen AI.
ABA Annual Ag Conference
What Do FDIC Examiners Think About AI? To Find Out, I Asked One | Article
11/6/2024 - Banks and credit unions need to understand how regulators view the application of gen AI tools. This article focused on my one-on-one discussion and provides actionable insights to help you think critically about your first steps with this transformational technology.
Click here to read the article.
Published in The Financial Brand
13 Prompts for Deploying AI to Build Essential Marketing Collateral | Article
10/18/2024 - Understand and apply actual, real world prompts to dramatically become more productive with gen AI tools.
Click here to read the article.
Published in The Financial Brand
How 'Voice Cloning' Will Disrupt Customer Verification | Article
9/23/2024 - My article explores the emerging threat of AI voice cloning and its impact on customer verification processes. As AI technology can now convincingly mimic human voices, fraudsters are better equipped to bypass traditional security measures. The article emphasizes the urgency for financial institutions to adopt more secure methods, such as One-Time Passcodes (OTP) sent via text or email, and highlights the solutions offered by companies like Novotta to enhance verification practices. It’s a wake-up call for organizations to adapt their security strategies in response to this sophisticated AI-driven risk.
Click here to read the article.
Published in The Financial Brand
Case Study: Using AI to Automate Marketing Tasks | Podcast
6/11/2024 - I joined the GAI Insights team to talked about AI. Loved the change of pace, talking to active users of gen AI solutions about automating marketing content. This was a great chance for some show and tell with more advanced applications!
Click here to watch the webinar.
GAI Insights Podcast
Digital Marketing for Financial Services Midwest Summit | Panelist
10/9/24 - Excited to be a guest panelist with some outstanding speakers. The conferencve was an excellent opporutnity to learn from and share insights with marketers from around the midwest.
Digital Marketing for Financial Services
Illinois Bankers Association Bank Tech Conference | Speaking
10/23/24 - Speaking presentation helping bankers understand and learn everyday applications for gen AI.
Illinois Bankers Association
North Carolina Bankers Association Management Conference | Speaking
9/30/24 - Great to be onsite in Greensboro to speak and present everyday AI solutions for bankers.
North Carolina Bankers Association
AI Now: Real-world Lesson to Enhance Your Marketing, Immediately and Safely | Article
9/18/2024 - My article on how businesses can navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, particularly in marketing, in a way that’s both practical and safe. It addresses the fear and uncertainty surrounding AI adoption and offers actionable insights on how to manage risks, such as regulatory concerns and the need for human oversight. Contributors share valuable tips on starting with basic AI applications, updating company policies, and ensuring employees are trained and well-informed, making AI an accessible tool rather than a daunting challenge.
Click here to read the article.
Published in The Financial Brand
Supercharging Financial Marketing Content with ChatGPT | Podcast
7/22/2024 - Dan Novalis, Chris Bates, and myself spend 45 minutes exploring all the easy and creative ways you can use ChatGPT to improve your marketing and content creation. Plus, some great bonus ways to supercharge your everyday use of AI.
Rising Stars 2024: Ben Udell | Recognition
7/1/2024 - Very honored to be recognized by Bank Beat! They have been writing about and supporting community banks for many years. To have their recognition with all the great things happening with AI means a lot.
Click here to read the article.
Published in BankBeat
Mastering Generative AI, Prompting Your Way to Success - Part 2 | Guest Blog
6/20/2024 - Prompts are the language of AI. If you take time to learn how to prompt, and stack prompts, you’ll find real magic with AI. Read the blog to help kickstart great results that will immediately transform how you work.
Alkami Guest Blog Series
Launching Everyday GenAI With a Pilot Team - Part 1 | Guest Blog
5/24/2024 - How do I get started is the most frequent question I get asked when talking about using AI. And it makes sense, ChatGPT, Gemini, and others solutions literally do not come with an instruction manual. This transformational technology requires some critical thought to get it off the ground, but then you’ll find it’s a rocket ship to greater productivity and creativity!
Alkami Guest Blog Series
WI Bankers Association: Generative AI in Banking | Webinar
6/4/2024 - This webinar shared practical immediate uses to member bankers to help guide them through Gen AI solutions like ChatGPT, explaining its capabilities, key AI concepts, and practical applications such as crafting effective prompts, tailoring content for different audiences, creating financial materials, improving HR interactions, and upskilling with AI tools.
