Kathy Stokes
Director, Fraud Prevention Programs
AARP
Kathy Stokes has worked in and around the financial security arena for most of her career. As Director of Fraud Prevention Programs with AARP’s Fraud Watch Network, she leads AARP’s efforts in helping members and other consumers protect themselves and their families from scams and fraud. In addition, Kathy serves as a subject matter expert on Social Security for AARP’s consumer outreach activities.
Prior to joining AARP in 2016, Kathy worked with the Brookings Institution’s Retirement Security Project, the Employee Benefit Research Institute, the American Savings Education Council and Ernst & Young’s national tax group. She also ran her own communications consulting practice for a decade with clients in the financial education and retirement space.
Kathy holds a bachelor’s degree in Rhetoric and Communication from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in American Government from the Johns Hopkins University.
John Buzzard
Fraud & Security Analyst
Javelin Strategy & Research
John Buzzard is nationally recognized financial industry fraud and security expert. He has influenced the card fraud, risk and security services for financial institutions throughout the United States through research, writing whitepapers, public speaking and consulting.
With more than twenty years of experience, John helps clients resolve problems within the areas of fraud, security and risk management. He understands the fine balance between protecting an enterprise while delivering customer experiences with reduced friction. John combines his inquisitive approach to understand the new threats that are impacting the financial services industry with actionable insights on how to mitigate the risk.
Before joining Javelin Strategy & Research, John worked as an Industry Fraud Expert within the credit union sector. Previously, he worked for FICO and FIS. He is often consulted by industry publications and various media outlets such as NBC, Fox News and the Wall Street Journal as a subject matter expert on card skimming, consumer scams and cyber security.