KEYNOTE SPEAKER

 Dr. Shou Wu Zhang

Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and Fellow of the American Mathematical Society
Professor at Princeton University

Topic : A casual Discussion on Mathematics 

Professor Shou-Wu Zhang is a distinguished mathematician and a Professor at Princeton University, currently holding the Eugene Higgins Professorship. He is a Fellow of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Mathematical Society. Renowned for his profound contributions to number theory and arithmetic geometry, Professor Zhang has worked on influential problems such as the Bogomolov conjecture and extensions of the Gross–Zagier formula. His academic achievements have earned him numerous honors, including the Sloan Research Fellowship, the Morningside Gold Medal in Mathematics, a Clay Prize Fellowship, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. His work continues to shape modern mathematical thought at the highest level.

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Prof. Wei Jiang

President of the American Finance
Association (AFA) and Former President of the Society of Financial Studies.

Topic: US-China Technology Competition

Wei Jiang earned her PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago in 2001. She is a Fellow and Board Member of the European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI), and a Research Associate of the NBER (Law and Economics, and Corporate Finance). Jiang's main research interests lie in corporate governance, institutional investors,
technology and financial markets. She has published extensively in top finance,
economics, and law journals, and received numerous awards for research excellence. 

She served as Editor at Review of Financial Studies and Management Science. Prior to joining the faculty at Emory in 2022, Jiang was the Arthur F. Bruns Professor of Free Competitive Enterprise at Columbia Business School, Columbia University, where she served as Vice Dean of Curriculum and Programs.

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Lisa Li

Founder & CEO of Greenwood Star | Chairman, President & CEO of GSREIT

Topic: Creating Value · Building Leaders · Empowering the Future

Lisa Li is the Founder and CEO of Greenwood Star, a fully integrated multifamily real estate investment and management company based in Atlanta, Georgia, focused on apartment communities across the Southern United States. Since founding the company in 2013, she and her partners have built a platform that brings acquisitions, asset management, and in-house property management under one roof. In just over a decade, Greenwood Star has acquired and managed more than 8,000 apartment homes and completed over 30 full-cycle investments. At its peak, the company employed more than 100 people, and over the years it has worked with more than 500 vendors and contractors, most of them local small businesses. In 2024, she launched Greenwood Star Income & Growth Trust (GSREIT), a perpetual-life multifamily REIT, where she serves as Chairman, President & CEO.

Before entering business, Ms. Li practiced medicine in China for eleven years, beginning in emergency medicine and later specializing in ophthalmology, helping patients regain their sight. In 1997, she immigrated to Canada with her five-year-old son, bought a small grocery store with borrowed money, and went on to build businesses in retail, restaurants, and real estate before bringing her entrepreneurial vision to the United States in 2013.

Ms. Li is a longtime supporter of youth development, education, and community service, and speaks frequently at industry forums and community events on entrepreneurship, leadership in the age of AI, and the social responsibility of business leaders. Her philosophy is simple: create value first, and success will follow. Her message to the next generation: Creating Value · Building Leaders · Empowering the Future.


Yigang Yang

Founder and Managing Partner of WaterStar Capital,
a high-tech venture capital firm based in Atlanta

Topic : Venture Capital Investment Trends & Outlook

Yang Yigang is the Founder and Managing Partner of WaterStar Capital, a high-tech venture capital firm based in Atlanta. Since relocating from Seattle in 2019, he has led three venture funds investing in 15 U.S. and Canadian technology startups.

With over 30 years of experience in North American, Greater China, and global capital markets, Mr. Yang has established WaterStar Capital’s patent-driven investment strategy focused on North American high-tech startups.

He has served on the boards of LumiThera Inc., KitoTech Medical Inc., and Australia’s listed Buderim Group Limited.

Before founding WaterStar Capital in 2016, Mr. Yang was CEO of COFCO Agricultural Industrial Investment Fund, Asia’s largest agribusiness and food investment fund. In 2009, he served as President of Tianjin Yanshan Capital, creating China’s first leasing industry fund, and was a board member of Tianjin Bohai Leasing Co., Ltd.

Earlier in his career, he was Managing Director at Asia Capital Group (New York), Vice President at Credit Suisse First Boston (New York), and Chief Credit Officer at Credit Suisse (Beijing).

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Dr. Jung-Ting (Bob) Chien

Dr. Jung-Ting (Bob) Chien is Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Xenta / Golden Hedge, and Managing Director at String Capital. 

Topic: 30days to 7 days": How we rebuilt a physical gold trade cycle with stablecoins and AI - with the real number

Over 15 years he has moved between venture, biotech and digital assets: founding member and former Head of Ecosystem at Galxe (220M+ users), GP at Radiance Ventures, early investor in CG Oncology (NASDAQ: CGON), two exits and a biotech IPO. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Emory University, where he is a Visiting Professor, and a medical degree from China Medical University, Taiwan.

Golden Hedge is a US-registered cross-border payments and liquidity group serving corporate trade between Latin America, the United States and Asia. Its payments brand, Xenta, is a B2B settlement rail that moves value across borders in minutes rather than days, using dollar-backed stablecoins as the transport layer and a proprietary compliance platform as the control layer. Clients are exporters, commodity traders, payment processors and corporate treasuries that need dollar liquidity settled locally at transparent, bank-grade cost. Since launch, Xenta has processed $300M+ in volume for 50+ business clients at an $80K+ average ticket, growing transaction volume 14× in ten months. Golden Hedge's second line, GH Yield, gives liquidity providers exposure to the pre-funded settlement pools behind that flow. FinCEN-registered MSB (No. 31000331323960) · Colombia UIAF/SAGRILAFT.

James Jin

President & CEO, Chairman, General Mortgage Capital Corp, GMCC is one of the fastest growing independent mortgage bankers /direct lenders licensed in 49 states with HQ in the state of California.

Topic: AI-Powered Mortgage Solutions: Finding Competitive Rates and Innovative Loan Programs in a High-Rate Market

General Mortgage Capital Corporation (GMCC) is a nationwide direct lender and
mortgage banker/broker, licensed in 49 states and headquartered in Burlingame,
California. With a strong foundation and a forward-thinking approach, GMCC is
constantly expanding both its program offerings and branch network to serve clients
across the U.S.
GMCC combines deep industry expertise with powerful programs and competitive
pricing—delivering high-quality mortgage solutions nationwide.

SEMINAR TRACK SPEAKERS

BLOCKCHAIN & CRYPTO

  • Jessica Young

    Founder, Co-founder & COO of Finch.ai

    CEO of ME Group. https://www.me.new

    Advisorof Bakkt (NYSE: BKKT)

    Topic: This is Agent Economy. Welcome! 

    Jessica has a compound background in both AI and crypto areas, and over 20 years of cross-cultural business experience. as a serial entrepreneur from 2016-2026, and a professional manager from 2008-2015, she has the previous experience below: 

    Founding partner of BitFi (asset management) ; Product manager at Bohai Commodity Exchange (BOCE). Operations
    director at 3M (NYSE: MMM)

    Doctor's Degree, Business Administration and Management, General, The University of Hong Kong. (In process)

    Master of Science (MS), Finance, The Johns Hopkins University.

  • Gary Yang 

    Founder, Finch 

    Incubation Partner,CICADA.Finance

    Topic: AI-Fi and Agent-Native Marketplace

    Finch is an AI-native marketplace where AI value is discovered and exchanged through autonomous agent interactions and next-generation economic protocols.

    A seasoned VC investor and General Partner with 16 years of experience, Gary has built a portfolio spanning 120+ projects and 15 funds. He is the Founding Partner of Eureka Capital, with investments including Multicoin, Standard, PeerVC, IOSG, and others, and the Founder of Skysaga Capital (星瀚资本), whose portfolio includes Delysium AGI, Orienspace, Douban Music, Pipi Lu, and other innovative ventures.

  • Kevin Chen

    Dr. Kaifeng Chen is Chief Economist at HuiSheng Financial and Partner & Chief Investment Officer at CoinBridge

    Topic: RWA token for AI data center 

    Dr. Kaifeng Chen is Chief Economist at HuiSheng Financial and Partner & Chief Investment Officer at CoinBridge. He specializes in global macroeconomics, asset allocation, and digital assets, with a focus on stablecoins, RWA tokenization, and on-chain finance.

    He also serves as a SEC/FINRA arbitrator, independent director of several publicly listed companies, and adjunct professor at New York University. Dr. Chen holds a Ph.D. from the University of Lausanne and is dedicated to bridging traditional and digital finance.

INVESTMENT & INVESTMENT BANKING 

  • Dr. David Ye 

    Dr. David Ye Professor at Duke University | Ex-Chief Risk Officer | Data Science and Quant Finance

    Topic: Thoughts on Mathematics and Finance in the Age of AI


    Dr. David Ye has over 25 years of Wall Street experience, David held senior executive positions at major global institutions including Chief Market Risk Officer of PNC, Chief Risk officer for Americas & Global head of Portfolio risk of Nomura, Chief Risk Officer & Global head of Market risk of State Street bank, Chief Risk Officer of Guardian Life.

  •  Dr. Henry Yin 

    Founder and CEO of Long Faith Capital LLC

    Topic: Panel Discussion - Capital Markets and Investment 

    Dr. Henry Yin is the founder and CEO of Long Faith Capital LLC. With an MBA from University of Chicago, he specializes in US stock research and company valuation. With over ten years of investment experience, achieving excessive annualized returns for US stock funds, and possessing in-depth research on industries such as retail, real estate, e-commerce, healthcare, and software.

  • Ms Esther Yang

    Ms Esther Yang is the Co-Founder of Risk Lighthouse LLC

    Topic: Panel Discussion - Capital Markets and Investment 

    Ms Esther Yang is the Co-Founder of Risk Lighthouse LLC. She has more than 25 years of experience across institutional investing, capital markets, insurance, actuarial consulting, and enterprise risk management. Earlier in her career, she managed a $5 billion global bond fund at Voya Investment Management, led insurance and actuarial advisory engagements at Ernst & Young, and worked on asset-liability management, derivatives, hedging, and valuation strategies at Allstate Investments. Combining extensive expertise in asset valuation/investment, and macro financial risk management, Esther focuses on building practical and resilient macro investment strategies for investors.

  • Zou Lei

    Managing Partner of Tingfeng Fund

    Topic:China's Overseas Century: Investment Opportunities in China's Global Expansion

    Zou Lei is Managing Partner of Tingfeng Fund and a graduate of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He has held positions at Tencent, Huawei, Ping An, Wanda, and Penghua Fund. With 30 years of equity investment experience, he has achieved significant returns from investments including Tencent, Tesla, and SEA.

    Having researched Chinese companies’ global expansion across more than 60 countries, Zou believes China’s overseas growth represents a major investment opportunity. His presentation will explore the globalization of Chinese brands and more than 50 overseas companies founded by Chinese entrepreneurs.

TOPICS IN FINANCE 

  • Dr. Jingzhi Huang 

    Faculty Chair in Finance and Professor of Finance and Mathematics in the Smeal College of Business at The Pennsylvania State University

    Topic: Finance Majors in the Era of AI 


    Jingzhi Huang is  the Faculty Chair in Finance and Professor of Finance and Mathematics in the Smeal College of Business at The Pennsylvania State University. His research interests include credit risk, fixed-income markets, derivatives, institutional investors, and FinTech. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Finance and Data Science and an Associate Editor of several other finance journals, including the Asia-Pacific Journal of Financial Studies, Journal of Credit Risk, Journal of Empirical Finance, and Quarterly Journal of Finance.

  • Dr. Yichuan Zhao

    Professor of Statistics at Georgia State University 

    Topic: Jackknife Empirical Likelihood for Infinite-Order U-statistics

    Dr. Yichuan Zhao is a Professor of Statistics at Georgia State University, with affiliations in Neuroscience and Public Health. His research spans biostatistics, data science, survival analysis, bioinformatics, and statistical modeling. He has published 100+ research articles, co-edited seven books, and delivered more than 200 invited talks worldwide. Dr. Zhao is a Fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA) and an elected member of the International Statistical Institute.

  • Dr. Shijie Deng

    Professor Shijie Deng is a tenured faculty member in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology

    Topic: Quantitative Trading with AI in Financial and Energy Markets

    Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) are opening new opportunities for quantitative trading across financial and energy markets. This presentation explores case studies demonstrating how modern AI techniques can enhance trading strategies in equity and energy commodities. The results show that integrating domain-specific statistical and data knowledge with advanced AI architectures can improve forecasting accuracy, strengthen risk management, and increase profitability. These studies offer practical insights into combining AI with quantitative methods for researchers and practitioners in finance.

AI & FIN TECH

  • Mazen Abouelela

    Data & AI Solutions at Aprio 

    Topic: Panel Discussion - Data in AI Era

    Data & AI Solutions at Aprio
    Expert for the firm's AI and Data Strategy offering across six concurrent engagements, building the AI readiness scorecard, initiative prioritization model, and executive roadmap, Specify AI underwriting assistants for multifamily real estate investor

  • Ben Hu 

    Former world bank CTO; Chair of IIADMS (International Institute for Advanced Data Management Study,  
    www.iiadms.com)

    Topic: Panel Discussion: Data in AI Era 


    Mr. Hu is the former CTO of the World Bank and former CIO of Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission. He also served as a Commissioner at the China Securities Regulatory Commission. He currently chairs IIADMS and founded DAMA China, both nonprofit data management organizations. His work focuses on “Human and Data,” exploring how human insight improves data understanding. He holds degrees in Physics and Computer Science and completed executive programs at Harvard, Stanford, and INSEAD.

  • Dr. Min Wu

    Min Wu is an Associate Director at one of the largest US risk management consulting firms

    Topic: GenAI: Risk and Testing for security 

    Min Wu is an Associate Director at one of the largest US risk management consulting
    firms. Prior to his current role, Mr. Wu worked for technological firm and a private equity firm, focusing on data analysis and valuation analysis.

  • Melanie Zhao,CFA 

    Principal of CGV Capital

    Topic: AI in Asset Management, from AI assistant to digital coworkers

    Melanie is a Vice President and Engineering Lead at BlackRock’s Portfolio Management Group, where she leads AI adoption across the investment process, including quantitative research, risk modeling, and portfolio decision-making.

    Previously, she worked as a Software Engineer and Data Scientist at NCR. She holds degrees in Computer Science and Biology from Emory University, including an M.S. in Computer Science.

COMMERCIAL BANK

  •  Forrest Tuemmler 

    Manager in Aprio’s Data and AI practice

    Topic: Panel Discussion - AI & Banking Industry


    Forrest Tuemmler is a Manager in Aprio’s Data and AI practice, where he provides full-lifecycle solution delivery - client engagement, requirements gathering, solution design, development, project management, integration, and delivery.

     

    Forrest uses a variety of tools to develop client solutions and is always looking to learn more. He has experience in many areas of data engineering and analytics, including data cleansing, data pipelines & ETL, data warehousing, RPA, solution architecture, and data visualization.

  • Dr. Hengzhong Liu

    Executive in Residence in the MIS Program at Duke University

    Topic: Panel Discussion - AI & Banking Industry

    As an Executive in Residence in the MIS Program at Duke University, Hengzhong Liu teaches courses on the application of machine learning, AI and quantitative methods in banking and finance. He previously held Managing Director and SVP positions at Bank of America, Citigroup and other major US banks, leading teams in decision science, quantitative risk, and business strategy across both the retail and wholesale sectors. His publications include books, research papers, and articles in Chinese and English on topics such as financial markets, marketing strategies, and China’s economic reform and development.

  • Dr. Henry Yu

    Henry Yu, A retired Global Executive

    Topic: Panel Discussion- Commercial and Global Banking 

    Henry Yu is a retired global executive and 38-year banking veteran with extensive experience in global and international banking. He has advised businesses on U.S.–Asia investment and cross-border opportunities and frequently speaks on global supply chains, Asian business, finance, and banking at leading U.S. and Chinese universities. He also served as COO of an Asia-based private equity fund investing in China and Korea.

  • Dr. ZhongYang Chen

    Professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Finance, Renmin University of China

    Topic: Panel Discussion - Commercial and Global Banking 

    A Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the School of Finance, Renmin University of China, and a Fulbright Scholar, he has over 20 years of experience in finance and risk management. A leading expert in modern financial risk management, he pioneered China’s first master’s and doctoral finance programs specializing in risk management and previously served as Vice Dean of Renmin University’s International School.

  • Dr. Wei Ge 

    Senior Manager, InterContinental Exchange

    Topic: Panel Discussion - AI and Banking Industry

    Dr. We Ge is a Senior Manager of Strategic Financial Analytics at InterContinental Exchange, where he contributes to strategic analytics initiatives supporting the firm’s global financial markets operations. Previously, he was a Director of Research at Parametric Portfolio Associates and held positions at UBS, Merck, and Rutgers University. He has proven success in creating data analytics systems in both finance and biomedicine, including data retrieval, analytics, illustration, applications of machine learning and data mining methods. 

  • Dr. Tao Hua

    Topic: The Benefit of Diversification

    Hua Tao works at Invesco, a global asset management company, as a research analyst for over 10 years. He focuses on building multi-asset portfolios in a quantitative and systematic way. His team is managing multiple billion dollar portfolios for both institutional and retail investors. Before joining Invesco, Hua also worked at a startup in Silicon Valley for 3 years and spent 6 years at Goldman Sachs as strategist in New York. He earned a Ph.D in math, a master in finance and a master in computational science from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

  • Tanygna Touch

    VP, Business Banker

    Topic: Panel Discussion - AI & Banking Industry 

    Tanygna Touch is a Vice President and Relationship Manager for the Georgia market in Business Banking at Bank of America. In this capacity, her responsibilities include leading a team of specialists focused on understanding each client’s unique needs to deliver strategic financial guidance and solutions. Tanygna mission is to help local companies thrive by achieving their business goals, no matter how simple or how complex.

  • Egon Earl 

    SVP at Commercial Banker at JP Morgan Lending Treasury Management, Banking and Asset Management 

    Topic: Panel Discussion - Commercial and Global Banking 

    Egon with over 20 years of experience, specializing in providing tailored financial solutions to mid-sized companies in Atlanta and international corporate clients in the Asia-Pacific region. As a senior Relationship Manager for Bank of America's Business Bank, Egon brings a wealth of expertise in serving Asian-owned businesses, as well as companies in the technology and manufacturing sectors. His collaborative approach, combined with a deep understanding of his clients needs, enables him to drive growth and operational efficiency. 

  • Simon Li

    Managing Director at WilliamsMarston

    Topic: Panel Discussion - AI & Banking Industry 

    Simon Li is a Managing Director at WilliamsMarston, where he leads the Data Automation and Advisory Solutions (DAAS) group. He advises finance leaders on finance transformation and the strategic application of AI and emerging technologies.

    Previously, Simon held consulting and leadership roles at KPMG and EY, helping public and private companies modernize finance operations, improve decision-making, and implement technology-enabled transformation.

    Simon holds an MBA in Finance and Strategy from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.

TRUST, TAX & LAW

  • Haidi Huang 

    Auchel World - President & CEO
    Grand Prospects Financial & Insurance Services President & CEO

    Topic: Unlock Your Wealth Legacy


    Over 30 years of global experience in the financial and insurance industry. CLU- Chartered Life Underwriter; ChFC- Chartered Financial Consultant; MDRT Top of the Table & Lifetime Member; AAIFPA, Asian American Insurance & Financial Professional Association; Founding President, CAIFPA, California Asian Insurance & Financial Professional
    Association Former President Guest speaker on several TV and Radio programs for the financial and insurance field Premier member of the Institute of Registered Financial Consultants in China
    Former Prudential Financial Development Manager; former Mutual of New York Sales Manager


  • Mina Zhan

    Mina Zhang: Co-Head of the China Practice & Partner, Smith Gambrell Russell

    Topic: Managing Legal Through Business Growth

    Mina Zhan’s practice focuses on corporate formation and compliance, regulatory compliance, and commercial transactions (including M&A, joint ventures, and buy-sell). She also leads clients through employment and HR compliance issues, customs and trade matters, and trademark portfolio management, providing practical, business-oriented counsel that aligns legal objectives with commercial goals.

    Before joining Smith Gambrell & Russell, Mina’s practice focused on business dispute resolution, restrictive covenants, employment law, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) claims, and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) litigation. She also has developed a
    strong international background by practicing corporate law and Intellectual Property (“IP”) law in China, during which she counseled international companies in business formation and compliance and brand protection matters.

  • MIchael J. Riesen 

    Head of the Atlanta Intellectual Property and Head of SGR Labs

    Topic: From AI Ambition to Enterprise Adoption: Bridging the Gap Between Executive Expectations and Scaled Implementation

    Michael J. Riesen is a Partner in the Intellectual Property Group at Smith Gambrell & Russell and Executive Director of SGR Labs. A U.S. patent attorney and U.K. Solicitor, he advises global companies and technology innovators on intellectual property, AI and technology transactions, fintech, regulatory compliance, and commercialization. With a background in physics, materials science, and artificial intelligence, Michael bridges complex technology with practical legal and business strategy.

Why Speak at PFPA Annual Conference?

  • Showcase your expertise to a targeted audience of professionals.
  • Network with industry peers and build valuable connections.
  • Contribute to the professional development of attendees.
  • Enhance your reputation as a thought leader in your field.
  • Receive recognition in conference materials and promotions.

Speaker Requirements

  • In-depth knowledge and expertise in the chosen seminar track topic.
  • Ability to deliver an engaging and informative 45-minute seminar.
  • Willingness to participate in Q&A sessions and engage with attendees.
  • Commitment to align with the conference's goals and values.

How to Apply