Travel Tags Education Forum with IGCC

May 22, 2024 | Richfield, MN

Immerse yourself in a day of conversations and content at the upcoming TTI Education Forum - a one-day summit set to take place on May 22 at Best Buy’s headquarters in Richfield, MN. This year's sessions include the pivotal topics of fraud, sustainability, emerging payments, and digital gift cards.

Featuring experts from organizations such as the IPA, FBI, DOJ, DHS, MN ORCA, Kigo, and InComm, each speaker brings a unique perspective, offering insights that promise to increase your understanding of the challenges and innovations within the gift card industry. Whether you're seeking to enhance your fraud prevention strategies, explore sustainable practices, or learn more about emerging payment trends, the TTI Education Forum is a platform for professional growth and networking. Join us for a day of insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and industry knowledge exchange!

register now

The deadline to register is Friday, May 17.

Hotel

Hampton Inn Suites Minneapolis St Paul Arpt-Mall of America

Dates available: 5/20 – 5/23
Rates: Standard King or Queen - $122/night; Studio King or Queen - $132/night

reserve hotel room

Schedule

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

  • Travel Tags Facility Tour – Indicate if you’re interested in the registration form!
  • Networking Event Co-hosted by Travel Tags and eGifter
    • 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm: at Cedar + Stone, Urban Table. 2141 Lindau Ln, Bloomington, MN 55425 - Located within the JW Marriott at the Mall of America

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

  • Travel Tags Education Forum
    • 7:15-7:45 am: Networking and Breakfast and Check-in
    • 7:45-8:00 am: Welcome
    • 8:00-8:35 am: Organized Retail Crime… More Than Just Theft
    • 8:35-9:00 am: IGCC Content
    • 9:00-9:35 am: Decoding Deception: Understanding the Psychology and Behaviors Driving Fraudulent Activities
    • 9:35-9:50 am: Networking Break
    • 9:50-10:25 am: Exploring Emerging Trends in Money Laundering Schemes and the Role of Money Mules in Criminal Networks
    • 10:25-11:00 am: What Does the New Payments Landscape Mean for You?
    • 11:00-11:45 am: Navigating the Frontier of Gift Card Fraud: Insights for Retailers 
    • 11:45 am - 12:30 pm: Networking Lunch
    • 12:30-1:15 pm: Sustainability Pillars Supporting ESG Initiatives
    • 1:15-1:50 pm: The Future Of Loyalty Rewards: Reimagining The Delivery Of Every Incentive
    • 1:50-2:05 pm pm: Networking Break
    • 2:05-2:40 pm: Designing Gift Card Packaging: Balancing Internal and External Influences for Maximum Impact
    • 2:40-2:55 pm: Networking Break
    • 2:55-3:30 pm: The Next Generation of Know Your Customer/Know Your Business for Corporate Gift Card Programs
    • 3:30-3:45 pm: Innovation in Secure Packaging and Labels
    • 3:45-4:00 pm: Event Closing

Sessions

The Future Of Loyalty Rewards: Reimagining The Delivery Of Every Incentive

Show
Rapidly evolving expectations and technologies are leading today’s consumers to seek deeper value and more personalized, digital-first experiences over traditional incentives. Join Peter Schultze, CEO of Kigo (an Augeo subsidiary), in exploring how new technologies can reimagine the way every incentive is delivered—empowering organizations to offer more differentiated experiences for their consumers, employees and cardholders.
 

Peter Schultze, Kigo

Peter is a lifelong entrepreneur and the CEO of Kigo, a subsidiary of Augeo, pioneering a new era of tokenized loyalty. Having started and led multiple new ventures at the intersection of marketing technology and loyalty rewards, he is deeply passionate about the transformative potential of blockchain in the world of loyalty and digital commerce. Peter has established himself as a creative business-builder and thought leader in emerging sectors, having the privilege of contributing insights and sharing the stage alongside industry leaders at companies like Mastercard, Amazon, Microsoft and Circle.

Navigating the Frontier of Gift Card Fraud: Insights for Retailers

Show
This session is dedicated to understanding the complexities of gift card fraud, focusing on emerging trends in both physical and digital spaces. Dariush Vollenweider will share the latest tactics used by fraudsters, highlighting red flags and preventive measures. Alan Stevens will highlight the critical factors that retailers need to know to assist in federal fraud prosecutions. Be prepared to gain actionable insights that will enhance your fraud detection capabilities and strengthen partnerships with law enforcement agencies to combat this growing threat effectively.

Dariush Vollenweider, Department of Homeland Security

Dariush currently serves as Acting Group Supervisor for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the principal investigative component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  In his current role Mr. Vollenweider leads agency efforts to support the prosecution, disruption, and dismantlement of those who seek to harm the illicit finance networks; strengthen the financial and fintech industries against illicit activity; and enhance communication between government and private sector partners.

Mr. Vollenweider has extensive experience with conducting and leading complex criminal investigations and operations, including those involving money laundering; terrorism finance; bank fraud and wire fraud violations; technology proliferation; Cyber and Dark Web Crime, intellectual property theft; and the smuggling of humans, weapons, bulk currency, narcotics, and other contraband. Mr. Vollenweider also serves as a DHS representative on the Louisiana SAR committee.

Alan Stevens, United States Department of Justice

Alan has served as a federal prosecutor with the United States Department of Justice since 2006.  As an Assistant United States Attorney, Stevens focuses his practice on cases involving fraud, economic crime, cybercrime, and money laundering.  Stevens graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Emory University School of Law.  Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Stevens worked at a large, international law firm based in Atlanta, Georgia.

What Does the New Payments Landscape Mean for You?

Show
In this session, we will explore how new technology will converge with what’s in shoppers’ wallets today to reshape the payments landscape. We will discuss how gift cards can play a role in retailers’ overall payments strategies, and why the point of sale will be just as important when it comes to interchange as anything that might happen in Washington.

Ben Jackson, Innovative Payments Association

Ben is the chief operating officer of the Innovative Payments Association where he works on payments regulation, fraud prevention, and industry education. Previously he was the director of the prepaid advisory service for Mercator Advisory Group, where he oversaw research and consulting on open-loop and closed-loop prepaid cards. Prior to that he worked as a journalist and municipal bond analyst. 

Organized Retail Crime… More Than Just Theft.

Show
Organized Retail Crime has become a household phrase over the last year.  Videos of flash mob robberies in California, images of store shelves empty and having to get employees to unlock socks and undershirts from behind glass cases.  This is where we are in our society and within retail.  The last several years have shown us that retail and theft and fraud can be an easy avenue for revenue for criminals.  Complex schemes and elaborate thefts have plagued retailers that have struggled to offset these losses.  This presentation aims to show you an overview of the activity seen in Minnesota and the rest of the country, what it means for you the consumer and what MNORCA is doing to combat ORC.

Cody Johnson, MN Organized Retail Crime Association

Cody is the current President of the Minnesota Organized Retail Crime Association. Prior to President, Cody has held positions in the organization that include, Board Member and Director of Training and Standards.   Cody has spent the 18+ years in retail loss prevention in varying roles at multiple retailers that span from in store LP, analyst, Organized Retail Crime Investigator and most recently Senior Manager – Investigations. Over his career Cody has become an expert in Organized Retail Crime Investigations and has led strategies to combat these crimes all over the country. Cody also been a vital contributor the successful passing of the ORC law in the state of Minnesota.