About Us

ABOUT US

Background

The Anti-Money Laundering Association (AMLA) is a national membership based organization founded in 2007 for professionals involved with Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) laws and other financial crimes. AMLA is the high quality, high service, low cost provider of BSA /AML training and resources.

Financial Institutions have Bank Secrecy Act responsibilities and have been called to serve as “gatekeepers” to the financial system. This is a difficult task and requires readily available up to date information and resources. AMLA was founded to assist in meeting those needs and other BSA/AML regulatory challenges that occur. There is an abundance of regulatory guidance on the applicable laws and regulations; however, we lack dialogue, sharing of information, and knowledge of what types of financial crimes are occurring in our own communities. This is vital as it provides a better understanding of what types of activities should be monitored within an organization. AMLA helps provide this to you.

Mission Statement

The mission of AMLA is to:

Provide information and resources that will help professionals accomplish their BSA/AML compliance obligations,
Present training by industry experts that will meet your required BSA/AML training needs,
Gather and present current information necessary to protect financial institutions from the latest scams,
Network and share among peers,
Actively participate in the fight against financial crimes.

Goals

AMLA will promote awareness, dialogue, and information sharing to aid in the fight against money laundering and other financial crimes affecting the financial system.

AMLA supports your professional development. AMLA will provide qualified continuing education credits for those members holding specific industry designations.

AMLA will advocate for the profession.

How Often We Meet, Time, and Location

The AMLA meets from 8:30 –10:30 A.M. at each AMLA Chapter location every other month. AMLA provides a Webinar and conference call line for those who can not physically attend. Refer to the Calendar of Events tab for information on meeting dates and locations.

Benefits of Joining

Each meeting consists of an educational training presentation by an expert in the field of BSA/AML or other financial crimes. You will be provided with an educational training certificate to document your BSA/AML compliance training and continuing education credits. Immediately following the speaker presentation you will receive additional training on recent regulatory changes, information on enforcement actions, and other pertinent information. We have an open discussion providing an opportunity to interact and share information and/or concerns with our expert trainers and your peers.

The benefits of your membership will provide you with, but not limited to:

Six educational training events from industry expert speakers which count towards your BSA/AML compliance training. A total of 12 hours of BSA/AML training per year/per person.
Continuing education credits for professional development.
Webinar conferencing included if you are not able to attend in person.
The ability to rotate member participants so others may benefit and receive training credits.
Ask the Expert. Provides members with the opportunity to ask BSA/AML questions in confidence. Our team will retrieve answers from appropriate experts and respond.
Other Chapter group participation is available at minimal cost and provides an opportunity for additional training hours.
Powerful networking and sharing among peers, regulators, law enforcement, and industry leaders.
Recent updates to regulatory laws, news, current scams, and emerging issues.
A website with up to date information, links, and an active user forum where you can post a question, gather information, and interact with industry experts and peers.
Access to a diverse, experienced, and active advisory board of directors and industry experts.
Training certificate signed by each industry expert speaker.
Receive membership discounts to our annual Anti-Money Laundering forum event.

Advisory Board Members & Bio

AMLA has an active advisory board that adds value through a wealth of industry related experience and individual expertise.

Mary Meile, President

Mary Meile is the founder and President of the Anti-Money Laundering Association (AMLA), a platform for equipping BSA/AML professionals with training, knowledge and resources. Ms. Meile speaks as a subject matter expert on BSA/AML emerging issues and works with the regulatory agencies, government, law enforcement, community leaders, and others to help aid in the nation’s overall fight against financial crime.

Ms. Meile offers over 20 years of hands on experience as a Regulatory Compliance Specialist for financial institutions, assisting the financial services industry with regulatory compliance risk management, Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) compliance, and specialized training.

Ms. Meile developed and authored the AML/BSA Certified Bank Secrecy Act Officer (CBO-Level 1) professional designation program. She has served in the capacity of Compliance Officer, BSA/AML Compliance Officer, and Internal Audit Manager for institutions regulated by the State of Florida, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Comptroller of Currency, and the Office of Thrift Supervision. Ms. Meile has a successful history of improving compliance programs and posture ratings for financial institutions.

Ms. Meile has held prior positions as a Senior Audit Manager for an $11 billion bank holding company and Internal Audit Manager for a mid size community bank. She has also served in the capacity of a regulatory compliance consultant for both large and small banks.

Shaun M. Hassett, CAMS

Shaun Hassett is a Practice Leader of LUBRINCO Group, in the area of Business Development, with responsibility for sales and marketing of LUBRINCO’s strategic consulting, advisory and training services. Shaun also participates in engagements involving Due Diligence Investigations, Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), Global Sanctions Compliance and/or AML Compliance, and Customer Information Programs (CIP). He also is involved in helping clients implement business process improvements within their Loss Prevention, Investigative and AML Compliance Programs.

Previous to his current role, Shaun was with Chi-X Global Technology as Vice President, Business Development, Compliance Solutions, and also held multiple roles with Accuity (formerly known as Thomson Financial Publishing), where he also served as a compliance subject matter expert.

During the past 17+ years, Shaun has regularly consulted with regulatory compliance/risk management professionals, operations professionals and legal counsel at leading financial institutions, securities firms, insurance companies, corporations and vendors to the financial community. He has consulted with clients on ways they can improve their Customer Due Diligence and client on-boarding processes, and he has helped improve clients’ payment and compliance systems and processes to employ higher "Know Your Customer" standards; and comply with regulations such as the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), the USA PATRIOT Act and EU Directives, and those set forth by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Shaun is CAMS Certified, an active member of ACAMS (Association for Certification of Anti-Money Laundering Specialists). Shaun is also a professional member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators (IAFCI).

Shaun has spoken at a number of industry conferences across the banking, insurance and financial services fields, and his expertise covers a full range of regulatory compliance standards and practices for the financial services industry, including KYC business processes and data management, sanction program compliance, customer and employee due diligence and identification and monitoring of various types of high-risk entities. Shaun has also had articles published on issues involving Due Diligence and Asset Recovery processes.

Donald J. McGowan

Donald J. McGowan, President and CEO of BankFIRST, has had a highly distinguished 35 year banking career. From 1987 to 1999, he served as Founder, President and CEO of Flagship Bank and Trust Company, a Worcester, Massachusetts commercial bank with more than $300 million in assets prior to its sale to the Chittenden Corporation in Burlington, Vermont. Flagship Bank was recognized as one of the most successful de novo banks in the country specializing in serving small and medium sized businesses. In addition, Flagship Bank was Massachusetts' leading Small Business Administration (SBA) lender. Under McGowan's leadership, Flagship won the highest national banking award for product development for its SBA program, which led to McGowan being named the “National Small Business Financial Services Advocate of the Year” by the United States Small Business Administration. McGowan also won a second “Golden Coin Award” from the Bank Marketing Association for his socially responsible banking program. He was named “Business Person of the Year” by the Worcester Business Journal, “Citizen of the Year” by the Worcester Telegram and Gazette and received the prestigious “Torch Award for Commitment to the Community” by the Better Business Bureau.

Previously, McGowan held other executive banking positions in Massachusetts and Florida. He served as President of the $500 million, 11 branch Central Massachusetts region of Bank of Boston, was the President and CEO of FinancialFed Mortgage Corp. and concurrently the Chief Loan Officer for its parent company, Financial Federal Savings and Loan Association in Miami Lakes, Florida. He was the Senior Vice President for Strategic Planning and Corporate Development for The Conifer Group, a $4 billion community bank holding company in Worcester, Massachusetts. McGowan started his career in the management training program of Marine Midland Bank, New York, N.Y. where he became a Regional Commercial Loan Officer responsible for all commercial lending in the eastern part of Long Island.

Following the sale of Flagship Bank, McGowan moved to Vero Beach, Florida for a brief retirement before joining U.S. Trust Company in Vero Beach. In October 2003, McGowan was named President and CEO of BankFIRST in Winter Park, Florida.

McGowan has remained actively engaged in a number of professional and community organizations throughout his career. He served as Chairman of the Massachusetts Bankers Association, Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Institute, Alliance for Education, Massachusetts Housing Partnership, and Community Health link. He was also a Director of the Memorial Hospital and the health maintenance organization Health Source of Massachusetts. In Florida, McGowan serves on the Government Relations Committee of the Florida Bankers Association, Leadership Winter Park, Riverside Theatre, the Environmental Learning Center, and serves as an Advisory Board member of the Anti-Money Laundering Association (AMLA).
He is a graduate of Dowling College with a BBA, the Stonier Graduate School of Banking and attended the Boston University MBA program.

Connie Fenchel, CAMS

Connie Fenchel has a broad range of law enforcement, regulatory and management expertise in the areas of regulatory compliance, financial crimes and customs violations comprised of over 30 years of government and private sector experience.

Connie is president of AML Experts, Inc., an independent consulting firm specializing in anti-money laundering, the Bank Secrecy Act, and customs matters. Her expertise includes independent reviews and investigations, threat/risk assessments, domestic and international training, expert testimony and anti-money laundering program development. Her clients include Western Union; Thompson Financial Corp., and Booz Allen Hamilton.

Connie Fenchel began her career with USCS in San Francisco, California. There she served as a Special Agent, Senior Special Agent, and Group Supervisor from 1977 to 1986. She conducted a wide range of complex criminal investigations involving drug smuggling, money laundering, commercial fraud, and export violations.

Connie Fenchel served as the Deputy Director, Operations and the Executive Assistant Director of Law Enforcement Policy for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) from 1999-2003. Ms. Fenchel oversaw the operating programs and regulatory policies of FinCEN and she was responsible for ensuring that FinCEN’s programs and policies effectively supported federal, state, and local law enforcement investigations and initiatives. She led FinCEN’s effort to administer the recordkeeping, reporting and anti-money laundering provisions of the BSA and USA PATRIOT Act more effectively and efficiently. Ms. Fenchel reorganized the operational offices within FinCEN to strengthen its partnerships with its stakeholders and customers including the financial supervisory agencies, federal and local law enforcement and the regulated financial community.

Ms. Fenchel conducted numerous training seminars throughout the United States and internationally for law enforcement personnel, and the financial industry on money laundering, the BSA and the USA Patriot Act. She also led delegations to international conferences and multi-lateral meetings throughout the world.

As the Executive Director of Operations for U.S. Customs Service (USCS), Office of Investigations, Ms. Fenchel was responsible for the direction and oversight of all investigations conducted by USCS Special Agents, including smuggling, illegal export and money laundering investigations. During her tenure as Director of Operations, Ms. Fenchel directed the largest undercover money laundering investigation in U.S. history.

Ms. Fenchel is an Advisory Board member of the Anti-Money Laundering Association (AMLA) and member of several professional organizations, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers’ Association, and the Association for Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS).

Susan A. deFreese

Susan A. deFreese is currently a Senior Vice President at Old Florida National Bank, a well established community bank headquartered in Orlando, Florida. She has served as the Chief Compliance Officer since March 2010. In 1974, Ms. deFreese began her career with the U.S. Treasury and received her commission as a National Bank Examiner from the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). During her tenure with the OCC she organized a new sub-regional office in Lafayette, Louisiana and was responsible for training teams of new hires. Ms. deFreese performed Safety & Soundness as well as Compliance Examinations for both large and small banks.

Ms. deFreese established successful compliance programs for an OCC regulated bank in Louisiana and an FDIC regulated multi-bank holding company in Mississippi. In Florida, she has served as Chief Compliance & BSA Officer for an FDIC regulated multi-bank holding company where she maintained programs with excellent ratings. After acquisition, Ms. deFreese continued her career in the same capacity for a State regulated FRB member community bank where she implemented another effective compliance and BSA/AML program. In January 2007 she joined a de novo community bank in Orlando where her programs continued to obtain outstanding ratings. Ms. deFreese is well respected by peers and has established a reputation as a specialist in the compliance and BSA/AML field.

Professional associations in which Ms. deFreese is involved include the Central Florida Compliance Association and the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS). She has served on the Florida Bankers Association (FBA) Education Council for seven years including one year as Chairman and serves as an Advisory Board member of the Anti-Money Laundering Association (AMLA).

Shawn Michael, NCCO, BSACS

Shawn Michael currently serves as a Risk Manager and Board appointed Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) Officer for the federally chartered National Institute of Health Federal Credit Union in Rockville, Maryland. Shawn has been in the financial industry for over 20 years and is well known for her ability to identify and mitigate financial risk. Ms. Michael was instrumental in the establishment of a local BSA peer roundtable group that meets regularly on important BSA subject matters, and was the founding member of the Maryland Credit Union League Fraud Roundtable. She is highly motivated and passionate about her work.

Ms. Michael continues to bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the industry. Her other areas of expertise include branch operations, financial lending and delinquency control. She is well versed in "all things compliance". Shawn has presented at the 'National Association of Federal Credit Unions' (NAFCU) annual Compliance Conference on Regulation D compliance.

Ms. Michael has acquired and maintains several distinguished professional designations: National Association of Federal Credit Unions Certified Compliance Officer (NCCO), Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Credit Union Compliance Expert (CUCE) and Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Specialist (BSACS). Shawn is respected by her peers and remains an asset to the Mid-Atlantic financial risk community as she is often searched out for her expertise with both compliance and BSA matters.

Ms. Michael is an Advisory Board member for the Anti-Money Laundering Association (AMLA) Mid Atlantic Region. Shawn is a member of several professional organizations, including the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), and the Capital Area Compliance Roundtable (CACR) where she served as their former Chair Person.

Ralph V. Hadley, III

Ralph V. Hadley, III has been an active member of the BankFIRST Board of Directors since 1989, and also serves as Legal Counsel for the bank.
Mr. Hadley has served as Counsel for numerous Central Florida financial institutions and their respective Holding Companies, including: Orange Federal Savings and Loan Association, First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Osceola County, and General Counsel and Director of First State Bank of Winter Garden, and Tucker State Bank, where he also served as Vice Chairman of Tucker Holding Company. His practice areas include mergers and acquisitions, commercial law, banking, commercial real estate, corporate law, and mediation.
Mr. Hadley is a Past Board Member of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce, the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, and Spouse Abuse, Inc. Mr. Hadley is a Member of the Orange County and American Bar Associations, The Florida Bar, and the State Bar of California. Mr. Hadley currently serves as an Advisory Board member of the Anti-Money Laundering Association (AMLA).
He is a graduate of the University of Florida, where he received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in 1965, and his J.D. in 1968.

Luis Martins

Mr. Martins has experience in the money service business sector and is currently working as a Compliance Officer for Flash Remittance Corporation. His prior work experience includes BSA consulting work for money transfer companies where he consulted on compliance issues related to the USA Patriot Act.

Mr. Martins worked for Oracle Corporation performing training and customer support during a period of 4 years. He has also served in the capacity of a Chief Operating Officer for Wizard International, one of the world’s largest language companies.

Mr. Martins has a bachelor’s of science degree in Computer Science and Statistics from Brigham Young University. He currently serves as an Advisory Board member of the Anti-Money Laundering Association (AMLA).

Michael M. Forester

Mike Forester is managing director of CrossCheck Compliance, a regulatory compliance and due diligence firm serving financial institutions. He has spent nearly 30 years in the mortgage and financial services industries. Prior to co-founding CrossCheck, he was associated with The Prieston Group, a firm he helped launch, which provides fraud prevention and indemnification services to the mortgage industry. Prior to joining The Prieston Group, Mike spent 16 years with Household International (now HSBC). During his career with Household, he served in a variety of positions, including national sales director of Household's correspondent mortgage business and chief financial officer of Household's consumer finance business, Household Finance.

Mike began his professional career with the accounting firm of Ernst & Young and is a certified public accountant. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and has an MBA degree from the University of Chicago.

Mike currently serves on the risk committee of the Illinois Mortgage Bankers Association and in the past has served on the board and executive committee of the National Home Equity Mortgage Association, and on the Nonconforming Credit Committee of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America. He currently serves as an Advisory Board member of the Anti-Money Laundering Association (AMLA).