As the payments industry continues to evolve rapidly, we are proud to welcome new voices and perspectives to guide EPCOR and our members into the next chapter!
With the addition of our new Board members Joshua Reams, Raksha Bhola, AAP and Heather Auchtung, along with Board Chair Tristan Thompson, AFPP, PMP, we strive to continue strengthening our commitment to innovation, collaboration and member-focused leadership across the payments ecosystem.
Representing financial institutions, payments strategy and industry leadership, each Board member brings a unique perspective shaped by years of experience, professional engagement and a passion for helping organizations succeed in an increasingly complex payments environment.
Tristan Thompson
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Leading our Board of Directors into its next chapter is Tristan Thompson, AFPP, PMP, Chief Commercial Banking Services and Payments Officer at Central Bank, who now serves as EPCOR Board Chair.
Having served on the EPCOR Board for more than eight years, Tristan brings deep industry knowledge and a long-standing connection to our mission and membership.
“We have such a strong team of leaders and payments experts who care deeply about EPCOR’s members,” Tristan emphasized. “When you get them in a room together, it is amazing to see the passion and focus they bring to moving our industry forward.”
Throughout his time on the Board, Tristan has seen EPCOR continue to expand education, advisory and industry support offerings in response to member feedback and emerging industry needs.
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“A great example is how EPCOR has expanded its education and advisory services, from EPCOR Payments University and certification through Prep Programs to the Instant Payments Enablement Service, all driven by listening to what members need and responding with purpose,” he explained.
As Chairman, Tristan hopes to continue building on that momentum while helping EPCOR members successfully navigate the rapid pace of change reshaping the payments landscape.
“The payments industry is evolving at a pace we have never seen before, with instant payments, emerging fraud threats and new regulatory requirements reshaping how financial institutions operate,” he stated. “EPCOR is uniquely positioned to help our member organizations navigate this complexity through education, advocacy and hands-on support.”
Tristan also emphasized the importance of ensuring financial institutions of every size have access to the tools, resources and expertise needed to compete and succeed.
“During my tenure, I want to ensure EPCOR remains at the forefront of that mission, expanding the ways we deliver value and making sure every member, regardless of size, has the resources to compete and succeed,” he stressed.
Joshua Reams
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Joshua Reams, President & CEO of Millstream Area Credit Union, joins the EPCOR Board of Directors with a strong appreciation for the role our payments association has played in supporting his financial institution over the years.
“MACU has been a member of EPCOR for a long time, taking advantage of the educational and informational resources available that have been immeasurably valuable,” Joshua shared. “I am thrilled at the possibility of my credit union giving something back to the rest of EPCOR’s members through my new board service.”
Joshua’s path into the credit union industry was shaped by both personal inspiration and professional growth. Although he originally pursued broadcasting and marketing communications, he eventually found his passion in financial services after years of working alongside credit unions and learning the operational and strategic side of the industry.
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“I believe the prevailing wind behind it all was the notion of helping others that was instilled into my brother and me from our mom,” he explained. “Seeing the ‘People Helping People’ philosophy of the credit union movement in action every day through her was the hook I didn’t know I needed.”
As leader of what he describes as a “small but mighty” credit union, Joshua sees EPCOR as an organization uniquely positioned to support financial institutions of all sizes, while helping members navigate the future of payments.
Joshua shared, “Payments, or the movement of funds, is an undeniable part of our everyday lives, touching nearly every fabric of society, and EPCOR is strongly positioned to continue delivering value to its 1,700-plus members and growing.”
Raksha Bhola
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Joining our Board of Directors in an ex-officio role is Raksha Bhola, AAP, Payments Strategist, Senior Advisory at Jack Henry. Raksha brings extensive experience in payments strategy and financial institution advisory services, helping banks and credit unions strengthen payments capabilities while navigating industry transformation and innovation.
“EPCOR is a trusted resource for payments education, compliance and risk management, and I am honored to join the EPCOR Board,” Raksha expressed.
Throughout her career, Raksha has focused on strategy development and execution across both operational and strategic roles within financial services. Her passion for payments grew through firsthand exposure to the industry's complexity and rapid evolution.
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“Professionally, I am passionate about highlighting the importance of payments and the value they can bring to financial institutions, including strengthening account holder relationships and driving growth, efficiency and innovation,” she shared.
Raksha also emphasized the importance of collaboration and industry engagement as financial institutions navigate faster payments, fraud threats, tokenized money movement and ongoing regulatory changes.
“Looking ahead, I hope to support EPCOR’s continued evolution as a thought leader and collaborative partner for the payments community,” Raksha added.
Heather Auchtung
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Heather Auchtung, Senior Vice President, Payments Product Group Manager at UMB Bank NA, joins the EPCOR Board of Directors with more than 20 years of experience across retail branch banking, corporate training, commercial banking, treasury management sales, implementation and product management.
In her current role, Heather leads the bank’s payments product group, overseeing a broad portfolio that includes ACH origination, payroll cards, ACH and check positive pay, integrated payables, instant payments, wires, merchant processing, online payment solutions, integrated receivables, remote deposit capture and cash vault services. Her deep, hands-on experience across both product strategy and implementation provides a practical, well-rounded perspective on the evolving payments landscape.
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Heather is also a certified Scrum Master and has previously served as a Board Member for the Rocky Mountain AFP, further reflecting her commitment to professional development, industry engagement and collaboration within the payments community.
As she joins the EPCOR Board, Heather brings a strong focus on innovation, operational excellence and member-driven solutions, helping support EPCOR’s continued mission to deliver relevant education, insight and support as the payments industry continues to evolve.
Together, our newest Board leaders reflect the collaboration, innovation and industry expertise helping shape the future of payments. As we continue to support you, our members, the board’s combined leadership and vision will help guide EPCOR through the opportunities and challenges ahead.
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Have insights to share? Your voice can help shape what’s next for the payments industry. Joining an EPCOR committee is a meaningful way to contribute your expertise, collaborate with peers and help guide the future of our education, resources and industry support. Express your interest in joining an EPCOR committee today! |