An Elevated Desert Experience for Industry Leaders
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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
Step Into the Experience
The Executive Exchange is the industry’s top event for auto finance company CEOs, executives, and senior staff to come together for candid conversations about the non-prime market and beyond. Attendees will exchange ideas, solve common challenges with their peers, and gain fresh insights from industry professionals.
Participants can expect to discuss cutting-edge practices, policies, initiatives, technologies, and more that are shaping the future of the auto finance industry.
To maintain an intimate environment that supports meaningful dialogue, attendance is limited to 25 finance executives. This event is expected to sell out, so reserve your spot early!
"The mix of honest dialogue, real-world case studies, and time to connect with peers makes this retreat invaluable. I walk away with strategies I can apply immediately and insights that will guide my decision-making for months to come."
Grace Martinez, Vice President, Credit Center Operations, GM Financial
Grace Martinez, Vice President, Credit Center Operations, GM Financial
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 the C-Suite Retreat 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 case studies, applying collective expertise to develop practical, innovative approaches.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Networking Lunch
1:00 PM – 2:15 PM | Industry Case Study Exchange
Brief presentations showcase real-world successes and lessons learned from across the industry. Each story delivers practical insights you can take back to your organization.
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM | Break
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM | The Future in Focus: A Playbook for the Next Decade
Next-Gen and seasoned 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
Where Desert Serenity and Big Ideas Meet
Loews Ventana Canyon Resort
Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort offers a stunning Sonoran Desert setting with breathtaking views, tranquil surroundings, and thoughtfully designed spaces ideal for connection, conversation, and inspiration.
Hotel Reservations
A special group rate of $199 per night is available for our guests. Room reservations can be made online. A daily resort fee of $10 will be added to your stay.
The deadline to secure your hotel room is Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
Registration Rates & Important Information
🔹 Early Bird Member Registration: $995 🔹 Early Bird Non-Member Registration: $1,395
🔹 Standard Member Registration: $1,295 🔹 Standard Non-Member Registration: $1,695
🔹 Guest Registration: $495
🔑 Registration is exclusively available to industry professionals from finance companies, captives, banks, credit unions, other financing sources, or dealers. You must be logged into your NAF account to access member pricing.
🐦 Early Bird rates are available through June 30, 2026.
🎟️ Guest Registration includes the evening activities and signature experience. This option is intended for significant others/spouses, not colleagues/industry professionals.
🚨 All sponsor spots for 2026 have been filled. To inquire about future events or other branding opportunities, please contact us.
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.
See who’s helping bring the Executive Exchange experience to life.
At Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, you can walk out the back doors and step into the natural beauty of the Sonoran desert. Inspired by nature and the surrounding saguaro cactus, architect John Hill constructed the resort to blend into the southwestern landscape.
Take time to explore the beauty of Tucson, Arizona right from the resort. A half-mile paved nature trail winds through the Sonoran Desert, featuring more than 200 interpretive signs highlighting the plants and wildlife native to the area. Enjoy scenic touches like an 80-foot waterfall and a peaceful brook that flows into the resort’s golf course water features. The experience concludes at a custom butterfly garden, thoughtfully designed to support the full life cycle of butterflies, complete with native plantings and a gentle water feature.