‍Urisman Named Director of State Government Affairs; Lauria Appointed Operations and Special Projects Manager

AFC’s Expansion Comes at Crucial Moment  for the Financial Services and Fintech Industry

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Washington, DC (December 17, 2024) – The American Fintech Council (AFC), the premier industry association representing responsible fintech companies and innovative banks, today announced the addition of Ashley Urisman as Director of State Government Affairs and Denise Lauria as Operations and Special Projects Manager. Both Urisman and Lauria bring extensive experience in their respective fields and will play key roles in advancing AFC’s mission of promoting a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system.

Urisman joins AFC with extensive experience in government relations, corporate affairs, and public policy. Most recently, she served as Government and Regulatory Affairs Manager at Allwyn North America, where she led key regulatory initiatives and managed state- and local-level stakeholder engagement. Urisman has also held roles at the National Association of Women Lawyers, the American Association of Diabetes Educators, and Autism Speaks, gaining wide-ranging experience in policy development, coalition building, and program management. With her background in state and federal legislative work, she is well-positioned to strengthen AFC’s advocacy efforts as fintech innovation increasingly intersects with state-level regulatory frameworks.

“Ashley’s experience in government relations and her deep understanding of complex regulatory landscapes make her an exceptional addition to AFC’s leadership team,” said Phil Goldfeder, CEO of the American Fintech Council. “As fintech continues to grow and evolve, having strong state-level advocacy is critical to ensuring the right balance between responsible innovation and consumer protection. Ashley’s ability to navigate diverse policy environments and build meaningful partnerships will strengthen AFC’s efforts to advocate for smart, forward-looking regulation that benefits our members and the communities they serve.”

Lauria joins AFC with more than a decade of experience in operations, project management, and event planning across the fintech, corporate, and nonprofit sectors. Most recently, she served as Meetings Manager at American Express Global Business Travel, where she coordinated complex events and streamlined processes to deliver seamless experiences for diverse stakeholders. Prior to that, Lauria held event leadership roles at TechUnited, Cross River, and the Institute of Management Accountants, where she managed high-profile conferences, sponsorship programs, and brand activations. Her ability to execute impactful initiatives and optimize operational workflows will be instrumental in supporting AFC’s growing portfolio of projects and member engagement activities.

“Denise’s background highlights her impressive operational expertise and demonstrates a rich awareness of what it takes to create meaningful experiences for stakeholders,” said Phil Goldfeder, CEO of the American Fintech Council. “Her leadership will enhance AFC’s ability to deliver value to our members, connect innovators with policymakers, and support the fintech ecosystem as it continues to evolve.”

A standards-based organization, AFC is the premier trade association representing the largest financial technology (Fintech) companies and innovative banks offering embedded finance solutions. AFC’s mission is to promote a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system by supporting responsible innovation in financial services and encouraging sound public policy. AFC members foster competition in consumer finance and pioneer products to better serve underserved consumer segments and geographies.

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