Last month, I had the pleasure of venturing to sunny San Diego to attend my first-ever Jack Henry Connect.
Between attendees, vendors, Jack Henry associates, consultants, members of the media, and others, there were over 4,500 people there. That’s about the same size as the entire population of the small Midwestern town where I first went to college.
And it hit me that this event was pretty much a community all on its own.
A Family With Flair
The first day I was there, I donned the “First-Timer” flair on my lanyard. I saw a lot of people I recognize. I saw plenty of others who I felt like I almost recognized. And I met a lot of fellow first-timers.
It was good to be a part of this “family reunion” (the way Jack Henry President and CEO Greg Adelson referred to the event during his opening remarks) this year. When he used that phrase at first, you think maybe he was just joking around with the emcee. Then you realize he wasn’t joking.
Jack Henry Connect is truly an event rife with kinship and camaraderie. Where people are way more likely to greet each other with hugs than handshakes. (And I say that as someone who is totally fine with handshakes.)
It didn’t take long for the insights to flow my way like whitewater rapids. I heard a lot of cool stuff from the Main Stage as well as in the breakout sessions.
I’d heard the announcement from Jack Henry and Moov about Tap2Local™ back in mid-August and thought I had a good understanding then. But I learned so much more from the live Main Stage panel discussion. A writer from the fintech news site Finopotamus believes it can be a game-changer for SMBs and recently recapped the reasons why.
Memorable Moments, Shared Connections
There were a lot of memorable – I’ll call them “human moments” – as well. This part of the conference experience stood out to me the most.
A thank you speech from one of the 2025 Cobalt Award winners almost had me choked up.
Throughout the week, I watched as Jack Henry presented six $10,000 checks to the charities chosen by the Cobalt Award-winning banks, credit unions, and fintechs – plus another one for $25,000 to Make-A-Wish San Diego, this year’s conference charity.
Each was accompanied by stories of how those donations will help real people in the communities they serve. And you could tell it wasn’t lip service. The work these charities do matters, the people on the stage understand why, and the message they shared hits you in the heart even if you’re not trying to let it.
Events beyond the convention walls also had an impact that week.
On 9/11, we paused, reflected, and acknowledged the weight of the date with a special tribute that’s described in the day 4 recap blog post but deserves a mention here, too. That moment reminded us how connection, community, and compassion matter.
As the day went on, I was reminded over and over about the shared humanity this group of 4,500+ people represented. The common cause we all seem to have. Caring about people. Serving communities. Supporting financial dreams and meaningful moments. And the shared thread of wanting to connect.
People, Passion, and Positivity
Besides appreciating the undeniable spirit of community present, I also marveled at the creativity that was on display. It was an innovative spark that was impossible to miss.
I’ve been to several conventions across different industries, and the Tech Hall at Jack Henry Connect is a sight to behold.
In the Tech Hall, you can throw the football, shoot the basketball, drain the putt, play the casino game, wield the sword, build a LEGO® minifigure, score the stylish swag, hold the puppy (yes, actual puppies you could snuggle with), and tons more.
Combining fintech with live animals? Didn’t have that one on my Bingo card.
Maverick, Is That You??
For our final night denouement, we stepped aboard the USS Midway, a decommissioned aircraft carrier located in the harbor near the San Diego Convention Center. It is a massive ship with multiple levels, and our celebration event included food, drinks, live music, and other entertainment. Being able to set foot on the Midway would be awesome any day of the week. Being there on 9/11 made it even more of an honor.
The longest line of the night led to a photo opportunity with “Val Kilmer” and “Tom Cruise” – all decked out (no pun intended) in full Top Gun attire. The actors were both good, but the guy portraying Maverick turned my direction and smiled at one point, and the resemblance to Tom Cruise was uncanny.
He later hopped on his motorcycle and rode off. True story.
I’m Going to Kansas City … Kansas City, Here I Come
During the final Main Stage session, emcee Mark Jeffries announced that next year’s Jack Henry Connect will be in Kansas City, Missouri. As a Midwest guy, I’m already counting down the days: October 19 – 21, 2026.
If my team wants me to represent and be part of Jack Henry Connect again next year, I’m all in – 100% unequivocally. And I hope to see many of my fellow 2025 first-timers returning as 2026 second-timers. I can practically taste the barbecue sauce already.
I’m also hoping to meet lots of first-timers next year in KC. (After all, why should those of us who’ve been to Jack Henry Connect before have all the fun? Answer: We shouldn’t.)
See you there!
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