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Tucson, AZ 85750
United States
2026 Executive Exchange
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
to Thursday, September 17, 2026
Loews Ventana Canyon Resort
7000 North Resort DriveTucson, AZ 85750
United States
2026 Executive Exchange: Conversations That Move Us Forward
September 16–17, 2026 | Loews Ventana Canyon Resort | Tucson, Arizona
Two days of fresh perspectives, thoughtful discussion and new connections—that was the 2026 NAF Executive Exchange.
Our third annual gathering brought senior leaders from finance companies, banks and credit unions together with industry partners to exchange ideas and explore the challenges shaping non-prime auto finance.
Ideas Into Action
Through Idea Sprints, facilitated discussions and small-group Idea Labs, participants shared experiences and explored practical approaches to common challenges.
The Executive Tank invited teams to decide how they would invest $1 million to strengthen their organizations. A forward-looking discussion, “The Future in Focus: A Playbook for the Next Decade,” explored priorities for the years ahead.
Connections Beyond the Agenda
Shared meals and social gatherings kept the conversations going. A closing reception in the Sonoran foothills featured a memorable appearance by Hank the Beer Burro.
Thank You to Our Partners
Thank you to EPIC, FICO, PAR North America, Plaid and Proteris Compliance Solutions for supporting the Exchange—and to every participant who contributed.
Be Part of the Next Executive Exchange
Interested in joining us in 2027? Sign up to receive event details and registration information as soon as they’re confirmed.
A Space Designed Exclusively for Industry Leaders
Attendance is encouraged by CEOs, Presidents, C-Suite, and Senior Executive level staff from financing sources only. Representatives from all sales finance companies, captives, banks, credit unions, and dealers are welcome to register.
Attendance is limited to the first 25 registrants. Representatives from industry solution providers may only register as sponsor attendees, and these spots are limited to five companies.
"The retreat's exclusivity made the conversations more impactful, and the networking felt authentic and purposeful. This intimate setting facilitated a more focused and productive exchange of ideas."
- ​Jodi Murphy, Chief Marketing Officer, OneMain Financial
Top Reasons Why You Should Attend:
🔹 An Agenda Built for You, by You – Content shaped by industry leaders ensures discussions that matter most.
🔹 Meaningful Conversations, Not Just Presentations – An intimate setting fosters candid, high-value peer-to-peer dialogue.
🔹 Genuine Relationship Building – Connect with a passionate community of executives who share your interests and challenges.
🔹 Future-Focused Insights – Engage in an innovative roundtable with top industry thought leaders and solution providers.
🔹 Inspiration to Level Up – Walk away with fresh perspectives and the motivation to achieve your personal and professional goals.
🔹 Unforgettable Experiences – Strengthen connections with a unique signature experience alongside fellow attendees.
🔹 A Stunning Setting – Enjoy a beautiful venue with top-tier amenities for you and your guest/spouse to enjoy with a special guest registration option.
The Executive Exchange is more than a conference. It is a curated experience designed for industry leaders to step away, engage in meaningful dialogue, and return with renewed perspective.
Designed by You, Driven by Strategy
This retreat’s agenda is shaped by the attendees, ensuring discussions that matter most to you. With a focus on strategic dialogue, peer-to-peer collaboration, and forward-thinking innovation, each session is an opportunity to tackle industry challenges, share insights, and shape the future of auto finance. No lectures—just meaningful conversations that spark action.
"The intimate setting of this event was a refreshing change from large conferences. The small group environment allowed for meaningful connections, and I left with new friendships and valuable reconnections. I've been busy scheduling my follow-up meetings with my new friends. I'll definitely be back next year!"
- Russell Warden, CEO, SameDay Auto Finance
- Russell Warden, CEO, SameDay Auto Finance
View the Agenda:
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Networking Lunch & Opening Session: The Welcome Experience
Kick off the event with a welcome, introductions, and a look at the big themes shaping the discussions during our time together.
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM | The State of the Industry: The Exchange Experience
A dynamic, rotating conversation to explore the most critical trends, disruptions, and opportunities ahead.
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Idea Sprint: Big Ideas in Ten Minutes
Industry thought leaders deliver fast-paced, high-impact talks on attendee-submitted topics, followed by reflection and Q&A.
2:45 PM – 5:15 PM | Signature Experiences
Unique, venue-inspired activities are designed to spark conversation and strengthen connections outside the meeting room. Your choice - enjoy a desert Jeep tour or compete in The Flavor Games (our own version of Chopped).
Registered Guests Invited
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Social Hour: The Community Experience
Begin the evening with conversations and connections that bring peers together.
Registered Guests Invited
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Group Dinner: The Shared Table Experience
Great food, conversation, and camaraderie to celebrate the day's ideas and relationships.
Registered Guests Invited
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Breakfast
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Deep Dives: From Challenge to Clarity
Facilitated dialogue on the top attendee-submitted topics, designed to unpack complex issues and uncover actionable solutions.
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM | Break
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Idea Labs: Co-Creating Solutions
Small groups tackle detailed real-life case studies, applying collective expertise to develop practical, innovative approaches.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Networking Lunch
1:00 PM – 2:15 PM | Executive Tank: The $1 Million Challenge
Your team has one opportunity to make a game-changing investment. Choose where you’ll put the money, build your business case, and pitch it to a panel of executive “investors.” The room will challenge the assumptions, weigh the potential return, and ultimately decide which investment deserves the funding.
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM | Break
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM | The Future in Focus: A Playbook for the Next Decade
Leaders come together for a candid conversation on the future of leadership in auto finance, offering fresh perspectives and challenges for today’s executives.
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM | From Insight to Action: The Outcomes Experience
Small groups reflect on key takeaways, identify specific actions, and share commitments with the broader group to reinforce accountability and sustain momentum beyond the event.
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Social Hour: The Reflection Experience
Close out the event with thoughtful dialogue and shared takeaways over light bites and libations.
Registered Guests Invited
Jim Vagim | Financial Services Executive
Jim Vagim is a veteran automotive finance executive with more than 30 years of experience building and scaling high-performing lending platforms. He is recognized for his clear strategic vision and ability to create lasting enterprise value in complex and competitive markets. As CEO and Co-President of United Auto Credit, he led the successful turnaround of a distressed public company into a scaled, privately held non-prime leader, culminating in its sale to Vroom, Inc.
Earlier, as President of Westlake Financial Services, he helped build the company into one of the largest privately held non-prime platforms in the country. Jim brings deep expertise across the full credit lifecycle, grounded in decades of firsthand experience in the retail automotive business. An early adopter of technology in the subprime market, he helped advance automated point-of-sale decisioning, modernizing credit evaluation and streamlining dealer workflows.
Today, through his work with Chrysalis in Los Angeles, Jim mentors individuals re-entering the workforce after experiencing homelessness, addiction, and involvement with the criminal justice system, focusing on practical job attainment skills, confidence building, and long-term stability.
