Agenda & Speakers

Kate Phillips, SVP Head of Global Benefits, Bank of America

As Head of Global Benefits, Kate works to provide competitive benefits that help make Bank of America a Great Place to Work while supporting the diverse needs of our teammates globally.  She is responsible for delivering physical, emotional, and financial benefits and wellness programs including healthcare plans and accounts, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), time away, education benefits, the employee discount program and much more.   

Under Kate’s leadership, the company has implemented enhancements to numerous programs in response to market trends and employee needs. These include the expansion of family planning benefits, cancer support, menopause and midlife health support, virtual care offerings for dermatology and physical therapy, additional mental health support through increased onsite EAP counselors, health support through Well, Global Get Active! — the bank’s annual physical wellness challenge, and an increased International Parental Leave standard.  

Prior to this role, Kate led Life Event Services (LES), a team dedicated to supporting employees and their families during major life events by providing personalized connections to resources and benefits, leveraging experts inside and outside the company.   

Kate joined Bank of America in 2008 as part of a Human Resources development program. She has held HR generalist roles supporting the bank’s Risk, Compliance, Marketing, Legal, and Corporate Audit and Credit Review functions. Kate also previously served as the HR Executive for the Local Markets Organization and led the Market HR network across the U.S.   

Prior to joining Bank of America, Kate led a team of researchers at the Corporate Executive Board (now Gartner) managing cross-industry client relationships through customized research support and consultative insight on HR topics and issues.   

Kate graduated from Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and obtained her Master’s in Business Administration from George Washington University.  

Kate is a board member of the Alexander Youth Network, the ERISA Industry Committee and the American Benefits Council Policy Committee. She and her husband Ben reside in Charlotte, NC and have two sons, Matthew and Luke. 

Jennifer Shook, Sr. Associate Director Loyalty and Programs, Boehringer Ingelheim

With over 25 years of commercial leadership experience in the Animal Health and Vaccines sector, Jennifer Shook is an expert in enterprise P&L management, channel strategy, and complex corporate accounts. Currently serving as the Sr. Associate Director of the Loyalty and Programs team for Boehringer Ingelheim in the US, Jennifer is the chief architect behind the highly successful Vetsperity Rewards ecosystem.

A Certified Loyalty Expert™ (CPD Certification Service) with a certificate in Customer Loyalty: Strategy and Application from Kellogg Executive Education, Jennifer bridges the gap between rigorous commercial strategy and actionable customer loyalty. Drawing on a deep background in behavioral psychology, as well as being a certified DiSC trainer, she specializes in understanding the human elements of enterprise partnerships. By combining this behavioral insight with financial orchestration and agile alignment, Jennifer builds sustainable, customer-centric frameworks that drive measurable engagement across the veterinary industry.

Matt Gellene, Head of Specialized Consumer Client Solutions, Bank of America

Matt Gellene is the Head of Specialized Consumer Client Solutions, which provides financial solutions for consumers through Bank of America’s Consumer Investments, Consumer Lending Employee Banking & Investments, Advanced Client Solutions, and Preferred Business teams. These teams of specialists support clients, as well as our enterprise teammates, in financial centers and across centralized locations.
Matt and his leadership team help to ensure teammates are delivering a consistent culture of client care and are providing clients with access to Bank of America banking and lending solutions and Merrill investment solutions aligned to their needs and priorities.
Matt joined Bank of America in a wealth management role in 1991 and has held executive roles in Bank of America’s Premier Banking and Investments group and Bank of America Consumer Banking & Investments. He holds a master’s degree of business administration from the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from The George Washington University. In addition, he holds Series SIE, 4, 7, 9, 10, 24, 63, and 65 FINRA registrations.
Matt is the market sponsor for Worcester, MA. He currently serves as co-chair of the Banking and Client Service Advisory Board of Year Up and has served as a director on the boards of The Walker School and the Catholic Memorial H.S. Parents Association. Matt is also active in coaching several youth sports teams and volunteers his time with the Boy Scouts of America.

Emily Feldman, Senior Director Loyalty & Member Experience, PetSmart

Emily Feldman is Senior Director of Loyalty & Member Experience at PetSmart, where she leads strategy for the Treats Rewards program, one of the largest loyalty programs in retail, serving more than 80 million members. Under her leadership, the program has evolved into a seamless omnichannel loyalty experience offering value, personalized engagement and deeper connection between the brand and pet parents across North America.

Emily specializes in building customer-centric loyalty strategies that drive engagement, fuel sustainable growth and strengthen brand affinity. She has led the transformation of PetSmart’s loyalty program into a more personalized, insight-driven ecosystem, with a strong focus on connecting digital, in-store, and associate-led interactions.

Prior to PetSmart, Emily was an Engagement Manager at L.E.K. Consulting, where she advised leading retail and consumer brands on growth strategy and transformation. She holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and dual bachelor’s degrees in Economics and English from the University of Chicago. Outside of work, Emily is a pet parent to dogs, fish, and a crested gecko – fueling her passion for creating meaningful experiences for pet parents and their pets.

PNC Team, , PNC

PNC Team Involved with Video: 
 

• Alex Overstorm, EVP, Head of Retail
• Victoria Dravneek, SVP, Head of Loyalty Strategy and Platforms
• Alison Kobylarek, SVP, Client Experience and Program Management Lead
• Jasan Earnhart, Client Experience Management Lisa Kalberer, Organizational Change Consultant
• Kristin Frisini, Vice President, Learning & Talent Development Consultant,
• Sr. Rick Grove, Business and Experience Planning Specialist Senior

Jessica Starnes, Director of Loyalty, Weigel's

Jessica Starnes is the Director of Loyalty at Weigel’s, where she leads one of the most successful convenience retail rewards programs in the country. With a sharp focus on customer engagement, data-driven strategy, and seamless digital experiences, Jessica has been instrumental in transforming loyalty from a transactional tool into a cornerstone of Weigel’s growth. Her impact hasn’t gone unnoticed—Jessica is a two-time Top Women in Convenience (TWIC) honoree, having earned both the Rising Star and Senior Level Leader awards. Most recently, she was named the 2025 Category Manager of the Year for Loyalty, a reflection of her ability to blend innovation with measurable business results. Under her leadership, Weigel’s has achieved record-breaking loyalty penetration and built high-impact programs like “100 Days of Summer” and exclusive NIL partnerships that emotionally connect with customers. From acquisition to retention, Jessica’s strategy is rooted in making every interaction meaningful—translating into stronger brand loyalty and increased customer frequency. Jessica’s cross-functional approach ensures loyalty touches every part of the business—from merchandising to marketing to operations. A trusted voice in the industry, she continues to set the standard for customer-first innovation while building scalable platforms that drive long-term growth. She is a Certified Loyalty Marketing Professional, holds a NACS Category Management Certification, and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee.