Our
Staff
Amanda Wick
Founder and CEO
Michelle O’Connor
Chief Strategic Officer
Yari Farias
Director of Operations
Michelle O’Connor
Chief Strategic Officer
Michelle O'Connor is the Vice President of Brand & Communications at TaxBit, a prominent industry leader in tax and accounting for digital assets. With her expertise and passion, Michelle is a powerhouse that spearheads all marketing and public relations efforts to position TaxBit as a force to be reckoned with.
Michelle's impact extends far beyond her role at TaxBit. As the Expansion Chair at NYC Women in FinTech, she drives the growth and empowerment of women in the financial technology sector. Her commitment to fostering innovation led her to serve on the Board of Directors of Crypto Connect and the Blockchain Steering Committee of the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA), where she actively shapes the future of these emerging technologies.
Renowned as a seasoned speaker, Michelle captivates audiences with her deep knowledge and insights into the realms of crypto, web3, and fintech. Throughout her impressive 20-year career, she has graced numerous prestigious conferences, establishing herself as a subject matter expert in these cutting-edge fields.
A seasoned technology and financial services executive, Michelle is the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives & Global Communications at TaxBit. In this role, she leads all marketing and public relations to elevate TaxBit’s brand as an industry leader. Her team promotes an inclusive culture, driving engagement, and encouraging thought leadership and collaboration.
In addition to her role at TaxBit, Michelle is a well-known FinTech leader, Voted top 30 FinTech Marketer and Leading Web3 Executive.
She is passionate about improving access to financial services for the unbanked and has a proven track record of leading brand management, marketing communications, and community building in the FinTech space.
Before joining TaxBit, she was the VP of Marketing and Community at Uphold, a digital money platform. In that role, she developed and implemented the brand’s marketing strategy, brought cohesion and intention to the brand voice, and facilitated Uphold’s online community. She also managed public relations, content marketing and development, and social media strategy.
Michelle is also the Expansion Chair of NYC FinTech Women, a founding member of the Association Women in Crypto member, advisor for The Financial Club and Blockchain steering committee of WTIA.
Our
Board
Ayana Murphy
Board Member
Beth Bisbee
Board Member
Gabriella Kusz
Board Member
Mike Carter
Board Member
Steve Vallas
Board Member
Mike Carter
Board Member
Mike Carter is an expert in digital assets, regulatory compliance, and financial crimes investigations. Mike has extensive experience providing advisory and investigative services for financial crime matters globally, including leading complex engagements for financial institutions, payments companies, and digital asset service providers to address risk and compliance concerns.
Mike is currently a Senior Managing Director at FTI. He served as the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) from 2020-23 at a major digital asset exchange where he led the scaling and redesign of the global compliance program addressing issues related to money laundering, sanctions, fraud, data privacy and protection, market surveillance, product risks, licensing, and regulatory examinations.
In addition to his experience as CCO, Mike has led numerous compliance and regulatory projects at global consulting firms including: addressing regulatory risks at numerous digital asset companies during startup and growth phases, supporting government-appointed monitors, conducting sensitive investigations for high-profile matters, building executable compliance roadmaps, and implementing data models to assess risk.
He has assisted clients in the digital assets space since 2017 and served as the AML/BSA Committee Chair for the Virtual Commodity Association in 2019-20. Mike also served on the AML Committee for TRUST Travel Rule from 2020-23.
A frequent contributor to financial crimes industry publications, Mike has been featured in Bloomberg Law, Wall Street Journal, and the New York Law Journal. He recently authored the digital assets section of the COSO/ACFE 2023 Fraud Risk Management Guide.
Mike is a US Army veteran and served in Operation Enduring Freedom. He is PMP, CFE, CAMS, and CGSS-certified.
Our
Ambassadors
