Lila Acharya Partner

Crawford and Acharya

Lila Acharya is an experienced compliance and investigations attorney with a unique skillset developed from private practice, the public sector, and in-house compliance roles in the life sciences and manufacturing sectors.  In her roles as an in-house compliance attorney at Rolls-Royce plc and Pfizer, she investigated significant matters across EMEA and Asia, developed policies and procedures, trained employees and third parties, and led the implementation of an automated third-party due diligence platform.  Before going in house, she was an associate at Ropes & Gray LLP and a state prosecutor in Massachusetts.  She is based in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Tiffany Bray VP, Sr. Third Party Risk Manager

Seacoast Bank 

Tiffany is an experienced Third Party Risk professional with Vendor Risk Management in-house experience in both the public sector and private. In her previous roles she has focused on the vendor lifecycle including procurement, sourcing, contract negotiations, governance and oversight.  She has performed quality assurance audits of internal TPRM procedures and due diligence. During her years of working in the public sector, she worked closely with governmental public solicitations and vendor/contract governance standards.

Currently as VP in the Third Party Risk department area at Seacoast Bank, Tiffany is responsible for maturity growth as well as procedure creation and enhancement. She plays a crucial role in assuring contracts remain compliant as well as functionality and continual improvement of the newly implemented VM platform.

She has earned her MBA with concentration in Business Finance allowing her to concentrate on regulatory vendor finance due diligence in her past and current titles. She holds certifications including Certified Third Party Risk Professional (CTPRP), Certified Diversity Professional, and Certified Project Manager (CPM).

She is based in Tampa, Florida with forever roots in her hometown in Metro Detroit.  

Josh Bryant Senior Data Privacy Analyst

J.B. Hunt

Rodney Campbell Senior Vice President, Head of Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM)

Valley National Bank

Rodney Campbell, the Senior Vice President and Head of Third-Party Risk Management at Valley Bank is a mentor at heart and a leader in action. His unwavering commitment to unlocking the potential of both organizations and individuals, has earned him a stellar reputation. An enthusiast of robust organizational frameworks, Rodney's people-first approach, combined with his data-driven strategies, has been a cornerstone in the success of global initiatives. He has been especially influential in vibrant markets such as as Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and strategic hubs and financial centers in the UK and North America. Always at the forefront of innovation, Rodney consistently charts new pathways, setting the stage for groundbreaking progress in the industry.

Outside his professional achievements, Rodney Campbell champions community welfare, emphasizing crisis management and community development. Serving as a New Jersey Disaster Response Crisis Counselor (NJDRCC) with the backing of the NJ DMHAS and FEMA, Rodney provides invaluable support during critical times. Concurrently, his role on the HANDS board showcases his commitment to nurturing and advancing community growth

Linda Chapman CEO

Third Party Risk Institute

Virgene Foreman Director VMO of Internal Controls

Lincoln Financial

Virgene Foreman earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. With over twenty years of audit experience, she has been a practicing Certified Public Accounting and Certified Fraud Examiner for twenty-three and twelve, respectively.

Starting her career at a prominent regional public accounting firm, Virgene conducted Governmental Compliance Audits (Yellow Book) and external audits of various financial institutions in accordance with Generally Accepted Audit Standards. As the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 introduced new requirements for public companies to identify, document and test key financial controls, she recognized that her skillset aligned with a transition to the financial services sector. Virgene played a pivotal role in establishing a Sarbanes Oxley Audit and Compliance program at GMAC Insurance. She continued her involvement in the evolution of Sarbanes- Oxley initiatives at the Bank of North Carolina and Lincoln Financial Group.

Her career took yet another path as she became intrigued by the emerging risks linked with third- party vendor relationships. Presently, Virgene serves as a Director of the Vendor Management Organization within Lincoln Financial Group’s Insurance Solution Operations. In this capacity, she oversees compliance audits mandated by the North Carolina National Association of Insurance Commissioners for Life Insurance Third Party Administrators.

James Goepel General Counsel and Director of Education and Content

FutureFeed

Renica Hamilton Assistant Vice President 

Lincoln Financial 

Renica Hamilton is a seasoned professional with over two decades of leadership experience, prominently shaping the landscape of strategic business management and third-party risk management. Currently serving as the Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Strategic Business Management at Lincoln Financial Group, Renica has been instrumental in driving the implementation and execution of the Insurance Operations department’s strategic priorities and project efficiencies for the past 2.5 years. She is responsible for strategic initiatives across the department including but not limited to developing an approach and methodology for shared services, use of third-party servicing and maximizing the value from reengineering and digital investment. Renica holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University.

Becky Haney Program Manager for ESG Data and Reporting

Steelcase

Ellen Hunt Principal Consultant and Advisor

Spark Compliance Consulting

Ja'vaughn Jones Vendor Risk Management Director

Kaiser Permanente 

Ja’Vaughn Jones, Director of Vendor Risk Management at Kaiser Permanente, is a risk management professional with over 20 years of experience, including 15 years of audit experience. Starting his career in internal audit, Ja’Vaughn transitioned to the Second Line including holding roles as Director of Privacy and Information Security Risk Management and his current role where his team is accountable for conducting vendor financial risk assessments and implementing an integrated vendor risk management program. He holds Certified Internal Auditor, Certification in Risk Management Assurance, and Healthcare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner certifications.

Ramsey Kazem Regional Compliance Officer — North America

Andritz (USA) Inc.

Ramsey Kazem is Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional and an accomplished attorney.  As Regional Compliance Officer – North America for Andritz, Ramsey has a broad range of responsibilities including preparing risk assessments, implementing program improvements, investigating claims of misconduct, and managing third-party risk.  His expertise includes designing, assessing, and implementing third-party risk management programs.   

Prior to his work in compliance, Ramsey was a practicing attorney in Atlanta, Georgia.  His legal practice focused on construction law, government contracts, and commercial litigation. During this time, he gained extensive experience assisting businesses with risk management, claims avoidance, and dispute resolution.  Ramsey attended law school and business school at Emory University, where he earned his J.D. and M.B.A. 

David Kessler Vice President and Associate General Counsel | IT & Cybersecurity

BAE Systems, Inc. 

David Kessler is Vice-President and Associate General Counsel, IT & Data Law for BAE Systems, Inc. where he handles IT contracts, cybersecurity, data privacy and supply chain compliance issues. Prior to joining BAE Systems, he was Lead Public Sector Product & Marketing Counsel for Verizon where he oversaw all product-related legal matters for its Federal, State, Local and Public Safety businesses. He was also General Counsel/VP, Managing Attorney & Board Member of McAfee Public Sector LLC, a subsidiary of McAfee LLC (formerly Intel Security). He also served as McAfee’s Chief Compliance Officer and managed a team responsible for all aspects of its worldwide ethics and compliance program. Earlier legal roles included Group Corporate Counsel, Public Sector at Autodesk, Inc., Senior Corporate Counsel – Public Sector at Symantec, and Senior Associate with Greenberg Traurig, LLP. He received his B.A. with honors from the University of Florida and his J.D., summa cum laude, from the American University Washington College of Law. He was the 2020 winner of the Compliance Week Excellence in Compliance – Cybersecurity award, as well as twice a finalist for the Association of Corporate Compliance National Capital Region Outstanding In-House Counsel award.

Paul Kurtz Director of Third-Party Risk Management

MerchantE

Paul Kurtz is the Director of Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) at MerchantE, an end-to-end payment platform leader that provides flexible, secure payment processing for in-person and online payment acceptance. With three decades of experience in financial services, Paul’s Third-Party Risk experience dates to 2012 when he was asked to help build the TPRM program at SunTrust Bank, now Truist. Paul has held first and second line of defense TPRM roles with banks and financial service providers serving clients and financial institutions worldwide. Additionally, Paul has experience in card issuing and merchant services in both the private and public sectors with prior responsibilities in both client and vendor relationship management, loss prevention, fraud investigation and program management, including oversite of the State of Georgia’s purchasing card program. Paul holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia, and he and his wife live in metro Atlanta and have a son at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte.  

Amy Mertz Brown Former Chief Compliance Officer

Independent Consultant/Attorney

Steve Naughton Director of Regulatory Compliance Studies and Clinical Professor

School of Law | Loyola University

William Nelson Associate General Counsel

Investment Adviser Association

Adrene Odom Vice President, Risk and Vendor Management

Lafayette Federal Credit Union

Adrene M. Odom is a native Washingtonian, who currently resides in Bowie, MD. Her experience within the Supply Chain Management industry spans over 30 years and within the Credit Union industry for over 13 years. Adrene currently holds the position as Vice President of Risk and Vendor Management for Lafayette Federal Credit Union. As VP of Risk & Vendor Management, Adrene is responsible for the oversight of the credit union’s numerous vendor relationships, advising on everything from problem resolution to billing issues, due diligence, and risk assessments. She plays a vital role in the project management processes as well, ensuring both vendor and risk management requirements are being met. She possesses an Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Lancaster Bible College (LBC) and a Master’s in Ministry Degree, with a focus on Leadership, from LBC/Capital Bible Seminary. She holds certifications in the field of Supply Chain Management, Compliance, Risk Management, and Church Leadership. She also holds professional memberships with the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU) and the Credit Union National Association (CUNA).

Chris Phillips VP, Procurement and Vendor Risk 

Lendmark Financial Services 

Chris Phillips has an extensive background within the banking and financial industry with an emphasis in Regulatory Compliance and Third-Party Risk Management. Skills include the ability to identify solutions to improve internal processes, self-starter, and exceptional problem solver. Her skills and experience assisted in successfully developing, implementing, and

overseeing the current Third-Party Risk Management Program at Lendmark Financial Services.

Chris currently oversees the Procurement and Vendor Risk Departments. Her team is responsible for incorporating the seven pillars of the vendor management life cycle which include the vendor selection process, conducting risk assessments, due diligence reviews, contract management, reporting, ongoing and continuous monitoring, and the exit strategy.

Chris currently resides in the metro Atlanta area. Chris graduated from Georgia State University with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality administration. She is certified as a Certified Regulatory Vendor Program Manager IV.

Of her many outstanding qualities, Chris has a genuine care and concern for people and enjoys coaching and mentoring others as they endeavor to unlock their inner potential.

Servant leadership is at the core of who Chris is. The saying “There is no ‘I’ in team” is a daily motto that Chris incorporates into her day-to-day responsibilities.

Gregory Rasner Senior Vice President | Cybersecurity Third Party Risk

Truist 

Gregory is the author of the books “Cybersecurity & Third-Party Risk: Third-Party Threat Hunting” (Wiley, 2021) and “Zero Trust and Third-Party Risk: Reduce the Blast Radius” (Wiley, 2023); and the content creator of training and certification program “Third-Party Cyber Risk Assessor” (Third Party Risk Association, 2023).  Greg is an advisor to local colleges on technology and cybersecurity.  He is a frequent keynote speaker and panelist on cybersecurity and risk management topics, along with blogs, podcasts, and online articles.  Gregory is the SVP and Leader for Cyber Third-Party Risk at Truist Financial Corp. and received his B.A. from Claremont McKenna College.  His wife is a cybersecurity leader and enjoys travelling internationally with his family as frequently as possible. 

Michael Rickman President

Bear Lake LLC

Jessica Sanderson Founding Member

Sanderson Law Firm LLC

Jessica Sanderson, Founding Member of the Sanderson Law Firm LLC, provides litigation, investigation, and legal and compliance advisory services to clients primarily in the areas of anticorruption, trade sanctions, export controls, and white-collar crimes. Ms. Sanderson has nearly 30 years’ experience in private practice, as a litigator and as a leader on ethics and compliance monitorships. Ms. Sanderson has extensive experience working with clients and as in-house counsel in the evaluation, design, and implementation of effective ethics and compliance programs.  Among other things, Ms. Sanderson regularly designs third-party due diligence policies and procedures, and she has conducted third-party compliance audits in several high-risk countries. Before recently forming her own law firm, Ms. Sanderson was a Partner at The Volkov Law Group, where she provided legal and compliance advice and services to clients from varied industries and of all sizes, public, private, and non-profit. Before she joined the Volkov Law Group in 2019, Ms. Sanderson spent five years as in-house counsel at Innospec Inc. (NASDQ: IOSP) a publicly traded, global specialty chemicals company under an FCPA and UKBA monitorship.  Among other things, at the Monitor’s insistence, Ms. Sanderson spearheaded a project to classify hundreds of products (chemicals) under U.S. and EU export control laws, and to substantially revise the Company’s compliance policies and program.  Before that, Ms. Sanderson was a litigator at Gibson Dunn, where she represented clients in complex white collar and securities fraud investigations and litigation and served on FCPA compliance monitorships, including the Siemens AG monitorship, which, at the time, resulted from the largest FCPA resolution ever.

Rob Seibel Compliance Consultant

ISG (Information Services Group)

Rob Seibel is an accomplished compliance attorney with proven experience working in-house for Fortune 500 Retail corporations, and at a multinational corporate law firm. Skilled in building corporate ethics & compliance programs, with a focus on third party risk management, vendor due diligence, internal investigations, drafting and enforcing compliance policies, and conducting training. Mr. Seibel Achieved industry recognition in 2020 for excellence in Third Party Risk Management by Compliance Week Magazine for developing A&F’s best-in-class TPRM Program.

As Associate Vice President of Global Ethics & Compliance at Bath & Body Works, Mr. Seibel was responsible for implementing the company’s corporate compliance program, as well as management of the ethics hotline and investigations. Mr. Seibel also previously worked as the Director of Legal Compliance at Abercrombie & Fitch Co., where he was responsible for developing an enterprise-wide third-party risk management program. Prior to going in-house, Mr. Seibel worked as an associate attorney at K&L Gates LLP, specializing in government enforcement, anti-corruption and investigations.

Melissa Thomas Senior Manager of Information Security

Intuit

Michael Volkov CEO

The Volkov Law Group