As Chief Economist for Visa Inc., Wayne Best keeps close watch on emerging opportunities in the trillion-dollar payments industry, helping to identify economic trends shaping the future. His unique presentations explain the impact of these trends to company and client executives, as well as government leaders around the globe.                       

Frequently quoted in the trade and business media, Best brings economic theory and analysis to life with compelling stories and data from the largest payment provider in the industry. Because he stays close to the underlying dynamics of the business, his insights provide a clear perspective on the consumer's ability to spend, save and pay down debt. His passion for business and engineer's logic turn mathematical models and technical jargon into business intelligence that enables future-oriented business decisions.

Before joining Visa in 1990, Best worked as a consultant performing cost benefit analyses for the power industry. In addition to his MBA, Best holds a degree in nuclear engineering and has participated in the Stanford University and Kellogg School of Management executive programs.  

Mr. Weeks has been with First National of Nebraska, Inc. (FNN) for 25 years and is currently the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer responsible for FNN holding company Information Security. FNN is the holding company for one of the largest privately held banks in the United States, First National Bank of Omaha. The executive leadership and oversight provided by Jeff in the development, management and execution of information security for First National of Nebraska, Inc. ensures the company’s ability to posture and protect all private, personal information, and assets of the company’s clients, employees and business partners.

Jeff served in the United States Army active duty assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps, in support of the 7th Special Forces Group.

Jeff is a member of FS-ISAC (Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center), MBCA Advisory Board (Mid-Size Bank Coalition of America), multiple advisory boards. Over the course of his career, he has been awarded several professional certifications including Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) and Carnegie Mellon Board Cybersecurity Oversight Certification.

Ms. Flores currently serves as Vice-President and Deputy Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for First National of Nebraska (FNN), the holding company for one of the largest privately held banks in the United States, First National Bank of Omaha.

As Deputy CISO, Ms. Flores is responsible for providing strategic cybersecurity leadership to the FNN organization with a focus on cybersecurity enhancement and innovation to protect FNN’s modern, digital and cloud focused organization.

With close to two decades of experience in the banking and financial services sector, Ms. Flores has held various positions dedicated to information protection for a range of organizations, spanning from mid-sized banks to Fortune 500 companies. Her roles have included serving as Chief Information Security Officer, Chief Privacy Officer, and leading teams responsible for diverse disciplines such as cybersecurity, privacy, data governance, and risk management.

Ms. Flores actively participates in various industry organizations, including the FS-ISAC (Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center) and the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Additionally, she holds a senior leadership role on the CISO Advisory Committee of the Mid-Sized Bank Coalition. Ms. Flores serves as an Advisory Board member for the nationally recognized Security Advisor Alliance, alongside several community-based organizations focused on cultivating high-caliber cybersecurity talent. Ms. Flores is also a member of the Kansas City and Omaha chapters of Women in Security and passionately mentors emerging leaders and cybersecurity professionals.

Ms. Flores has been awarded several professional certifications including Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) and Certified Information Security Auditor (CISA).  

Jim Pillen is a veterinarian, livestock producer, farmer, entrepreneur, regent, and Governor of Nebraska. Born and raised in Platte County, he is a lifelong Nebraskan. Governor Pillen and his father, Dale, partnered together, raising 60 sows and 1,200 market hogs on a dirt lot on their home farm. In 1993, he started Pillen Family Farms and added DNA Genetics in 2003. In 2012, his children, Sarah and Brock, joined the family business.

A former Husker defensive back, Governor Pillen holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Kansas State University. He and his wife of more than 40 years, Suzanne, have four children, Sarah, Brock, Polly and Izic, and seven grandchildren, William, Halle, Eloise, Henry, Harrison, Ava, and Thomas. The Pillens live in Columbus, where they attend St. Isidore’s Catholic Church.