2025 Agenda
The Auto Finance Summit 2025 agenda is built to address the real-world challenges and strategic priorities facing lenders today — rising interest rates, affordability headwinds, tightening credit conditions, and the impact of tariffs on vehicle pricing.
This year’s program offers actionable insights and advanced strategies from senior executives who are helping shape the future of lending and leasing.
The sessions are crafted to deliver immediate value you can take back to your team to navigate the road ahead.
9:00 AM REGISTRATION OPENS
Location: Grand Ballroom Foyer
Sponsored by:
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM WOMEN IN AUTO FINANCE LUNCHEON
The Women in Auto Finance Luncheon is an exclusive networking opportunity to support and cultivate female leadership in the industry. The luncheon will include a keynote speech from Kathy Ruble, Executive Director, Auto Marketing & Dealer Communications at Ally Financial, who will share her experiences and expertise on navigating and thriving in auto lending and leasing.
The luncheon has reached full capacity and is no longer accepting new sign-ups.
PRESENTER:
MODERATOR:
Location: Monet 3&4
1:30 – 3:00 WORKSHOPS – CONCURRENT
Workshop 1: Design Sprint
When you have a tough problem without a clear solution, a design sprint is one of the best ways to approach the issue. During this design sprint, you will take a structured approach to exploring problems and challenges facing the automotive finance industry, working alongside fellow professionals to ideate, refine, prototype, and test solutions.
LEADERS:
- Anthony Capizzano, SVP, Head of Consumer Lending, Axos Bank
- Truth Headlam, Senior Associate Editor, Auto Finance News
Location: Monet 1
Workshop 2: Fraud Management
During this interactive workshop, attendees will learn how to identify and mitigate common types of fraudulent activity in auto finance, including synthetic identify fraud. Led by Darren Schlosser Lieutenant at the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, this workshop will dive into current trends across vehicle fraud and identity theft and ways dealerships and lenders can work together to improve risk management and cut down losses tied to fraud.
PRESENTER:
SOLD OUT – Seats are no longer available.
Location: Monet 2
3:00 PM – 4:15 PM THE KICKOFF SESSIONS
Two crucial sessions to kick off your Auto Finance Summit right.
Location: Monet 3&4
Session 1: Kickoff Fireside: Preparing for 2026
Susan Sheffield, President & CEO of GM Financial, will put the focus on the forthcoming year, offering invaluable perspective and advice on how to best prepare and position your business for a 2026 that promises to be anything but ordinary.
SPEAKER:
MODERATOR:
Sponsored by:
Session 2: PRESENTATION: MACROECONOMIC AND AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
– The prognosis for interest rates and consumer credit health
– Assessing the economic headwinds facing the auto finance market into 2026
– Forecasting the SAAR amid geopolitical unrest and uncertain inventory levels
PRESENTER:
MODERATOR:
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM EMERGING LEADERS MEETUP
This invitation-only reception welcomes professionals who are new to the auto finance industry—anyone with less than 10 years of experience—as well as first-time attendees of the Auto Finance Summit. Connect with industry executives and designated ambassadors with extensive experience for valuable networking, mentorship, and learning opportunities.
Location: Grand Hall 4 (entrance inside the Exhibit Hall)
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM AUTO FINANCE SUMMIT OPENING RECEPTION
Join us as we kick off the 25th Anniversary Auto Finance Summit with a celebratory evening reception. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with peers, raise a glass to 25 years of innovation in auto finance, and start the week in style. NowPay/Westlake generously hosts the evening’s bars and appetizers, setting the stage for networking and celebration.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Opening Reception Sponsored by:
Visit defi SOLUTIONS’ booth (#151/153) to sip on specialty cocktails crafted just for Auto Finance Summit 2025
8:00 AM REGISTRATION OPENS
Location: Grand Ballroom Foyer
Sponsored by:
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM BREAKFAST WITH EXHIBITORS
Enjoy breakfast and connect with exhibitors in the main hall. For those focused on specific areas of the industry, niche networking meetups will take place concurrently in dedicated lounge spaces within the exhibit hall.
Niche Networking Coffee Meetup: Servicing & Risk Management Professionals
Join fellow professionals working in collections, servicing, and risk management for an informal coffee meetup during breakfast.
9:00 AM WELCOMING REMARKS
9:05 AM – 9:45 AM SESSION 1: FINANCIER FIRESIDE CHAT
Franz Reiner, Chairman of the Management Board, Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG will sit down in a “fireside chat” to discuss the economy, innovation, industry trends, and fresh growth ideas, along with market expectations for 2026.
SPEAKER:
MODERATOR:
Location: General Session, Grand 5
Sponsored by:
9:45 AM – 10:30 AM SESSION 2: EXECUTIVE DIALOGUE ON THE FUTURE OF AUTO FINANCE
Senior executives from some of the nation’s largest auto financiers gather to discuss inflation, squeezed credit markets, management strategies, and how to prepare for the year ahead.
Location: General Session, Grand 5
PANELISTS:
- Annie Fallows, SVP, Head of Navigator Program, Capital One
- Daniel Novotny, Chief Operations Officer, Hyundai Capital America
- Tim Owens, Head of Consumer Vehicle Lending, Bank of America
- Kevin Reen, Head of Auto, Wells Fargo
MODERATOR:
Sponsored by:
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM COFFEE BREAK IN EXHIBIT HALL
Take a break, grab a coffee, and visit with exhibitors in the main hall. During this time, a niche networking meetup will also be held for sales and marketing professionals in a designated lounge in the exhibit hall.
Niche Networking Coffee Meetup: Sales & Marketing Professionals
Connect over coffee with fellow leaders in sales and marketing for informal networking and conversation.
Stop by Alfa’s booth (131) and enjoy a refreshing beverage at their Specialty Espresso Cart, open 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Sponsored by:
11:15 AM – 11:45 AM SESSION 3: DEALERSHIP FIRESIDE CHAT
Scot Hensel, Finance Director at Kunes Auto Group, will sit down for a fireside chat on best practices for dealership group F&I success, how he manages Kunes’s +$100 million F&I business, and practical lessons from the +10% year-over-year F&I revenue growth at Kunes.
SPEAKER:
MODERATOR:
Location: General Session, Grand 5
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM SESSION 4 PANEL: ROADMAPS FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN AUTO LENDING & LEASING
– Strategic growth against economic headwinds and competitive pressures
– Adapting to evolving consumer and dealer expectations and shifting demand
– Expanding reach to underserved consumers
Location: General Session, Grand 5
PANELISTS:
- Ian Anderson, Group President, Westlake Financial
- Betty Jotanovic, President of Auto Relationships, Santander Consumer USA
- Michael Mousdale, US Market Lead, Alfa
MODERATOR:
Sponsored by:
12:30 PM 2025 AUTO FINANCE EXCELLENCE AWARDS & LUNCHEON
The awards, which have been presented annually since 2005, recognize achievements by companies and/or executives in the industry.
Auto Finance News and the Auto Finance Summit are pleased to solicit your nominations for the 2025 Auto Finance Excellence Awards, which celebrate achievements in the automotive lending and leasing industry. Click here to submit your nominations.
Location: General Session, Grand 5
Sponsored by:
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM SESSION 5: CONCURRENT TRACKS
Industry Trends & Insights:
PANEL: SMART UNDERWRITING IN A SHIFTING CREDIT ENVIRONMENT
– Planning for depreciation, market corrections, and normalizing LTVs post-tariffs
– Adjusting underwriting models to account for increased delinquency and default risks
– Using alternative and real-time data to enhance decisioning and automate income validation
PANELISTS:
- Reggie Branch, Senior Director of Indirect Lending , Arvest Bank
- Robert McDonald, Managing Director, Head of Credit Solutions, Pagaya
- Scott Serpico, Associate Vice President, Product Management – Consumer Lending, USAA
- Kenn Wardle, CEO & Chief Revenue Officer, Arra Finance
MODERATOR:
Location: Monet 2
Growth & Partnerships:
PANEL: STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS: NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALLIANCES AND COLLABORATION
– Current state of lender-dealer collaboration
– A practical guide to partnerships with dealer groups
– The role technology plays in enabling stronger partnerships between lenders and dealer
PANELISTS:
- Douglas Bauer, Executive Director – Dealer Services, Chase Auto
- Jeffrey Butler, President, AutoNation Finance
- Justin Buzzell, VP of Financial Services, Morgan Automotive Group
- Lori Morgan, SVP – National Operations Manager, U.S. Bank
MODERATOR:
Location: Monet 1
Innovation & Technology:
PANEL: IDENTIFYING TOMORROW’S DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES
– Where to invest in digitalization for optimum return
– New ways to use data to enhance customer service, communications, and analytics
– Maintaining personalization in the shift toward AI and automation
PANELISTS:
- Peter Glenn, Founder & Co-CEO, EV Life
- Chitra Herle, EVP & CIO, GM Financial
- Anuj Jain, Head of Product & Consumer Lending, Chase Auto
- Pat Rinaldo, CIO of Auto Finance & Insurance, Ally Financial
MODERATOR:
Location: Monet 3&4
Sponsored by:
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM SESSION 6: CONCURRENT TRACKS
Industry Trends & Insights:
PRESENTATION: ON THE USED-VEHICLE MARKET, BALANCING RISK, GROWTH, AND FLUCTUATING VALUES
– Strategic implications of volatile used-vehicle prices and mixed sales results
– Valuation forecasts for the coming year for ICE and EVs
– Ideas for honing tariff-challenged residual values
PRESENTER:
GUEST MODERATOR:
Location: Monet 2
Growth & Partnerships:
PANEL: NEW AVENUES IN SUBPRIME AND NEAR-PRIME AUTO LENDING
– Strategies for growth in underserved segments, without compromising risk mandates
– Assessing the fallout from recent lender failures
– Balancing increased used-vehicle demand and higher costs
PANELISTS:
- Thomas Hancock, Chief Credit Officer, Global Lending Services
- Amitay Kalmar, Co-Founder & CEO, Lendbuzz
- Mike Lavin, President, Consumer Portfolio Services
- Landon Starr, Chief Executive Officer, Arivo Acceptance
MODERATOR:
Location: Monet 1
Innovation & Technology:
PANEL: IMPROVING COLLECTIONS AND SERVICING THROUGH AI AND AUTOMATION
– The latest on deploying chatbots to improve collections
– Machine learning to predict delinquency and optimize outreach
– Building self-service tools to enhance customer experiences
PANELISTS:
- Armando Hidalgo, Director of Servicing, SameDay Auto Finance
- Chris Kleczynski, VP – Head of Auto Lending Product Strategy, PenFed Credit Union
- Shaun Tilley, VP of Account Servicing, Arivo Acceptance
MODERATOR:
Location: Monet 3&4
3:45 PM – 4:45 PM COFFEE BREAK IN EXHIBIT HALL
Reconnect with exhibitors, catch up with peers, or take time to unwind before the cocktail reception. A dedicated space within the exhibit hall will also host a niche networking meetup for technology professionals during this break.
Niche Networking Coffee Meetup: Technology Professionals
Join Auto Finance Professionals focused on innovation, automation, and digital transformation for informal conversation and idea-sharing.
Stop by the defi SOLUTIONS booth (151/153) and enjoy a refreshing beverage at their Specialty Espresso Cart, open 2:45 – 4:45 PM.
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM – COCKTAIL RECEPTION IN EXHIBIT HALL
Stop by Cox Automotive’s booth (#130) and enjoy a handcrafted martini at their onsite martini bar.
Take a moment to check out the AI Robot Caricaturist at Vitu’s booth (#136) and take home a unique and fun memory of Auto Finance Summit 2025.
8:00 AM REGISTRATION OPENS
Sponsored by:
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM BREAKFAST IN EXHIBIT HALL
Enjoy breakfast and explore the exhibit hall at your own pace. A dedicated lounge area will also host a niche networking meetup for professionals from small to mid-sized finance companies.
Niche Networking Coffee Meetup: Small to Medium-Sized Finance Company Professionals
Connect with peers from small and mid-sized finance companies to discuss shared challenges, growth strategies, and key lessons learned.
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM SESSION 7: PRESENTATION: CAPITAL MARKETS IN FLUX
Navigating fluctuating spreads and worsening credit performance in a shifting market
– Geopolitical unrest and evolving monetary policy influences on spreads and investor sentiment
– Assessing prime and subprime performance and issuance trends heading into the New Year
– Key strategies for improved liquidity and capital acquisition with a focus on the asset based finance market for new issuers
PRESENTERS:
- Elen Callahan, Head of Research, Structured Finance Association
- Xiaowei Luan, Managing Partner & Co-Founder, AX Partners
MODERATOR:
Location: Monet 3&4
9:45 AM – 10:30 AM SESSION 8: PANEL: ADAPTING TO EVOLVING COMPLIANCE OVERSIGHT IN AUTO FINANCE
– Parsing the shifts in federal and state-level oversight
– Regulatory considerations for sound servicing, collections and repossessions
– Best practices for keeping aftermarket and underwriting compliance at the forefront
PANELISTS:
- Richard Corthell, Chief Compliance Officer, BMW Financial Services
- Robert Engilman, SVP & Chief Compliance Officer, Westlake Financial
- Chris Kukla, Senior Program Manager – Auto Finance, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (appearing in a personal capacity)
GUEST MODERATOR:
Sponsored by:
Location: Monet 3&4
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM COFFEE BREAK
Take a quick break to recharge with a cup of coffee before heading into the final session of the day.
10:45 AM – 11:30 AM SESSION 9: PANEL: BEST PRACTICES FOR FIGHTING FRAUD
– Current fraud schemes and how to get ahead of them
– Operational imperatives to improve fraud prevention
– Tools and tricks for better results, without compromising customer experience
PANELISTS:
- Anthony Capizzano, SVP, Head of Consumer Lending, Axos Bank
- Dawn Carpenter, Chief Risk Officer, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA
- Dennis Pleasant, Senior Fraud Analyst, Nissan Motor Acceptance Company
- Megan Prouty, AVP- Consumer Lending Operations, PenFed Credit Union
MODERATOR:
Sponsored by:
Location: Monet 3&4
11:30 AM CONFERENCE CONCLUDES
Venue
We’re excited to announce that the Bellagio Las Vegas is the exclusive hotel for Auto Finance Summit 2025!
Known for its iconic fountains, luxurious accommodations, and central location on the Las Vegas Strip, the Bellagio offers the perfect setting for high-level networking and deal-making.
Stay where the industry meets — all official Summit programming and networking will take place on-site. Book your room early to secure exclusive rates and be at the center of the action.
