Featured Speakers for HERd 2026
Tansley Stearns, emcee
Tansley embodies an unwavering spirit, where "impossible" is a foreign concept. She is a dynamic leader with over 26 years of transformative impact in the credit union industry. As ceo of Community Financial, she champions a culture where curiosity thrives, innovation is in the DNA, and strategy is an evolving art. Tansley drives sustainable financial performance by ensuring execution while fostering in-house solutions, encouraging experimentation, and investing in technologies that bridge physical and digital worlds. In 2024, she was honored with induction into America’s Credit Union Museum’s Herstory Exhibit, recognizing her enduring contributions. Under her leadership, In the Cellar has raised over $3.2 million in three years to support mental health programs through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Linda Armyn
Linda Armyn was named President & CEO of FourLeaf Federal Credit Union (formerly known as Bethpage FCU) in August 2023. She is the fifth person and the first woman to hold that position in the credit union’s history. A dynamic strategic leader well known throughout Long Island and the credit union industry, Linda has played an integral role in FourLeaf’s strategic growth and enhanced corporate brand.
Linda joined FourLeaf in 2001, leading corporate strategy, business and community development, charitable giving, marketing, corporate communications, crisis planning, public and government relations. Today, FourLeaf is the largest credit union in the Northeast and the 15th largest in the nation, with 440,000 members and 800 employees.
Christi Lower
Christi Lower is a mother of four, a former surgical PA, and the founder of Highline Spirits. What began as a bold idea to reimagine whiskey has become a rising force in the industry. Christi created Highline to reflect her values—grit, inclusion, and uncompromising quality—crafting blends that are as intentional as they are exceptional. Since launching in Fall 2023, her spirits have earned top honors, including Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and “Best in Class” in two separate categories of World Whisky 2025. Christi remains hands-on in every part of the journey, building a brand that welcomes others to explore, discover, and remain curious.
Karen Parkin
Karen Parkin is an executive leader and board director whose 30+year career has shaped some of the world’s best-known consumer brands at Lego, Hasbro and adidas. With senior leadership roles at adidas Karen has led functions spanning sales, supply chain, business development and HR. Her ability to combine commercial insight with operational excellence helped adidas grow through periods of major global change.
Today, Karen serves as a non-executive board director, executive coach, advisor, and speaker. Known for her leadership philosophy — “Rise with vigor, fall with grace, learn with passion” — she champions the idea that leadership is a continuous journey, grounded in opportunity, resilience, and purpose. She is a UK and US citizen and lives in Portland, Oregon with her family.
Kaethe Sigelko
Kaethe Sigelko is a 30-year-old living independently in her own apartment. She has been working in the healthcare field at a well-known hospital for 10 years. She graduated from the Cutting-Edge program at Edgewood College in 2019 with a
certificate of completion. She likes to spend time with family & friends and enjoys many hobbies. She is a proud owner of her own public speaking business and an author of inspiring quotes. She hopes to educate and tell others about
how the research process is going, as well as what it means to be part of the team.
Dr. Missy Stults
Dr. Missy Stults is the Director of the City of Ann Arbor’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations. She works with all city operations, residents, businesses, the University of Michigan, nonprofits, and others to make Ann Arbor one of the most sustainable and equitable cities in America. Before joining the City, Missy worked with local governments and indigenous communities around the nation to advance their climate and sustainability goals, including during her time as the Climate Director at ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and as a consultant to philanthropic organizations. Missy has a PhD in urban resilience from the University of Michigan, a Masters in Climate and Society from Columbia University, and undergraduate degrees in Marine Biology and Environmental Science from the University of New England.