Seamless Compliance, Boundless Growth

Amber de Volk serves as Director at Fraxtional specializing in all facets of FinTech and Bank Sponsorship.

As a seasoned C-Suite executive and thought leader with over two decades of experience, Amber provides FinTech pioneers with strategic compliance guidance, leveraging broad expertise. Amber has led the  design, development, and implementation of many CMS and BSA Programs for a diverse array of FinTech ventures, spanning consumer, b2b/commercial, marketplace lending, payments, and BaaS products.

Armed with an LL.M. in Financial Compliance & Risk Management and fueled by a passion for compliance innovation, Amber ensures FinTech compliance excellence by crafting CMS programs and decoding intricate regulatory frameworks, drawing from extensive experience in digital banking and FinTech operations.

Michael Fasanello serves as Director at Fraxtional specializing in digital assets compliance including Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter Terrorist Financing (CTF), global sanctions, and other illicit finance.

Having spent nearly a decade in the public sector serving various agencies of the United States Departments of Justice and the Treasury, Michael has spent recent years honing his expertise from traditional finance to digital assets in a variety of senior level investigative and executive compliance roles. This includes most recently leading compliance efforts for crypto service PowerCoin/Margo as their Chief Compliance Officer.

Bert Friedman, CAMS/CRCM, serves as a Director at Fraxtional, specializing in the construction and enhancement of Compliance Management Systems. His focus includes leading SOC2 certifications, managing BSA/AML & OFAC compliance, and Policy Development.

With a wealth of over 25 years in financial compliance, Bert has garnered extensive expertise collaborating with Founders, FinTech companies, Partner Banks, and BaaS providers. His distinctive skill set equips clients with comprehensive knowledge, ensuring compliance is maintained while simultaneously fostering top-line growth. Bert’s illustrious career spans roles such as an Examiner at the CFPB, a pivotal figure in Financial Crimes at a prominent commercial bank, and Chief Compliance Officer for various FinTech companies at various growth stages.

Bert’s legal proficiency, SEC/FINRA background, coupled with his in-depth understanding of crypto and blockchain, positions him as a valuable leader for clients, offering the exceptional guidance and expertise required to achieve optimal results.

Ricardo Gonzalez is a seasoned executive-level compliance and investment professional with over 17 years of industry experience and Director at Fraxtional specializing in FINRA, SEC, & RIA Compliance. As the owner of Regulatory Compliance Consultants, LLC, established in 2014, Ricardo has successfully engaged with major financial institutions such as JPM Chase, Citibank, and Discover Financial. His extensive background is supported by an array of FINRA licenses, including SIE, 7, 24, 63, 53, 65, 99, and 57, enabling him to offer specialized consulting services that ensure strict adherence to laws, regulations, and internal policies.

Ricardo’s expertise in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and broker-dealer regulations equips him with a nuanced understanding of industry compliance intricacies. He has been pivotal in enhancing compliance culture within organizations, bringing a solutions-focused approach and unwavering commitment to ethical standards and regulatory compliance.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Ricardo bridges communication gaps in diverse work environments, fostering strong relationships. His leadership roles as Chief Compliance Officer, AML Chief Officer, and Municipal Bond Principal for numerous billion-dollar, internationally owned SEC-registered investment advisories underscore his capability and influence.

Ricardo’s notable contributions to organizational culture include collaborating with Salesforce to highlight the importance of a robust compliance program, showcasing the tangible return on investment an effective compliance strategy can deliver. Additionally, he has successfully filed continuing membership applications (Form 1017) with regulatory bodies, enabling the addition of new business lines and facilitating ownership changes in various firms.

His areas of expertise are broad and include Anti-Money Laundering, FINRA and SEC Audits, SEC ADV Filing, CRD-IARD, Account Opening Reviews, Transaction Monitoring, EDD, BSA, KYC, and a range of investment vehicles, including stocks, bonds, options, ETFs, mutual funds, and cryptocurrency. Ricardo’s deep knowledge of FINRA rules and regulations further solidifies his distinguished career.

Sonia Desai is a Director at Fraxtional specializing in BSA/AML & Private Equity, as well as Advisor at HyperVerge, a B2B SaaS company specializing in AI-based KYC and KYB for FinTech and beyond.

Sonia joins Fraxtional and brings with her a distinguished resume of global achievement in the BSA/AML/OFAC space.  Sonia is a globally-recognized subject matter expert on compliance programs, anti-money laundering, sanctions, counter-terrorism finance, and trade sanctions, to name a few.  In 2003 she was awarded “The Franklin Award” by the State Department for the management of the terrorist designation program post 9-11.  In addition, in 2014 Sonia was awarded the “CEO Award” for the design and implementation of the global anti-bribery and corruption program at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

During the course of her career Sonia has led best-in-class BSA programs at high-growth FinTech and venture backed companies including Revolut and Hard Yaka Ventures, along with Senior positions at Charles Schwab and Bank of the West.

Tana Rugel serves as Director at Fraxtional specializing in BaaS Enterprise-Wide Risk Management & FinTech.

With over 25 years of experience in the banking sector, Tana is a seasoned BSA (Bank Secrecy Act) and risk professional. Her extensive career encompasses diverse roles in enterprise-wide BSA and risk programs, particularly within high-risk sectors such as MSBs (Money Services Businesses), prepaid, and fintech.

Tana has a proven track record of developing multiple risk organizations, including Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs). Notably, she recently established a comprehensive risk organization that encompasses BSA Quality Control, BSA Systems, BSA Reporting, and Compliance Oversight Testing teams. Her expertise extends to addressing regulatory issues at various levels, requiring remediation, and she has undergone examination experiences with the Office of Comptroller of Currency.

Tana Rugel holds current certifications, including the ACAMS FCI (Advanced Financial Crimes Certification) and ABA CERP (Certified Enterprise Risk Professional).

Robin Garrison serves as Director at Fraxtional and is also the founder and managing director of GCC. She has over 13 years experience in the industry specializing in FinTech, Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), RegTech and Cross-border remittances. With a strong focus on risk management and regulatory compliance, Robin has successfully developed and implemented robust AML and compliance programs for both startups and established financial institutions.

Robin provides factional Chief Compliance Officer services for fintechs and regtechs, as well as general compliance advisory and remediation services in AML/BSA, Risk Management, program development, scaling and oversight, marketing/UDAP/UDAAP, consumer protection, banking and product development. Her experience includes management and senior management level roles at companies such as Western Union, Wise, MainStreet Bank, Rize and FirstBank.

Robin is an active contributor to the industry, having participated as a speaker and panelist at numerous conferences, and served on various advisory councils. She holds an advanced CAMS-Audit certification.

Maria Andrews, Esq.  is a Director at Fraxtional specializing in Crypto, Web3, and Licensing, as well as Founder and President at Alt Compliance, LLC, a firm specializing in digital assets and Web3 Fintechs.

Maria joins Fraxtional as a Compliance professional with a decade of experience and a licensed attorney in the State of New York.  She comes equipped with the skills to advise a broad range of high-growth businesses.  Maria has served as the first Compliance hire at two early-stage cryptocurrency and Web3 startups.  She has scaled Compliance programs from scratch, with a focus on licensing, BSA/AML/OFAC, consumer protection regulations, policies, procedures, and training.

Sean Parker, a CFE and CAMS, is the Canadian Director at Fraxtional, specializing in Canadian specific AML legislation, but with specific international experience related to transaction monitoring, payments risk and correspondent banking.

Sean’s started his career consulting with a variety of reporting entities including Money Services Businesses, FinTechs, Third Party Payment Processors and dealers in precious metals and stones. More recently, Sean has had more focused compliance experiences for the past decade, working with a large international bank, and then a domestic Canadian financial institution. Those experiences included rolling out a global compliance program, optimizing a transaction monitoring program, addressing FINTRAC reporting requirements, and developing and delivering extensive training on a variety of topics including but not limited to sanctions, bribery and corruption, fraud and payment risk.

Sean’s unique skill set and industry experience along with in-depth AML knowledge provides comfort to clients that he understands the challenges that clients face and is a trusted advisor that provides workable solutions.

Kat Rief serves as Director at Fraxtional specializing in Compliance, Risk, and TPRM for FinTechs and Bank Sponsors.

Kat has over 17 years experience in the industry, including Audit, Compliance, Risk and Operations, as well as Banking as a Service (BaaS), Risk Analysis, and Regulatory Relations. With a focus on regulatory compliance and overall risk management, Kat has created and implemented several successful programs for Banks and Fintechs alike. Kat provides Chief Compliance Officer services for fintechs and Banks, as well as general compliance advisory and remediation services in all spaces of Compliance, Risk, BSA/CFT, and TPRM. Her experience includes C-Suite and senior management level roles at companies such as BNP Paribas, Cross River Bank, and i3 Bank.

Kat is an active contributor to the industry, having participated as a panelist for various discussions and panels related to Compliance for Fintechs and Sponsor Banks.

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Julie Reinoso serves as Director at Fraxtional, specializing in BSA/AML/Financial Crimes, Fraud and BaaS services.
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With over 20 years of experience in the banking sector, Julie is a seasoned BSA (Bank Secrecy Act) and risk professional. Her extensive career encompasses diverse roles in enterprise-wide BSA and Risk programs, particularly within high-risk sectors such as MSBs (Money Services Businesses), CRBs (Cannabis Related Businesses), and fintech.

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Julie has a proven track record of developing multiple risk organizations, including Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs). Notably, she recently established a comprehensive BSA program that encompasses BSA Quality Control, BSA Systems, BSA Reporting, and Compliance Oversight Testing teams. Her expertise extends to addressing regulatory issues at various levels, requiring remediation, and she has undergone examination experiences with the Office of Comptroller of Currency (OCC), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

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Julie Reinoso holds current certifications, including the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

Mai Nguyen is a visionary executive with over 17 years of experience transforming customer experience and operational processes to drive growth, loyalty, and engagement. She specializes in developing data-driven, customer-centric strategies that align seamlessly with business objectives, optimizing every touchpoint for lasting impact. Throughout her career, Mai has led complex, cross-functional teams in banking and financial services, implementing multi-million-dollar transformation initiatives that streamline operations, enhance digital engagement, and deliver exceptional results.

At Five Star Bank, Mai served as Head of Customer Experience, where she pioneered a comprehensive CX framework that improved Net Promoter Score (NPS) by 15 points and increased customer retention by 25%. Her strategic initiatives, such as an automated customer complaint resolution system and a digital user experience overhaul, significantly elevated service quality and brand loyalty. Mai’s leadership extends to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, where she has fostered an inclusive culture by embedding DEI standards into customer interactions and employee engagement practices.

Prior to Five Star, Mai held senior roles at M&T Bank, where she managed large transformation projects. She brings expertise in change management, professional services, and P&L accountability, with a proven track record of enhancing both financial performance and customer satisfaction.

Known for her strategic vision and innovative problem-solving approach, Mai is dedicated to empowering teams, improving user experiences, and delivering sustainable growth across all facets of an organization.

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Massimo Zavatti is the Director of Growth & Operations at Fraxtional, a New York-based boutique consulting firm specializing in risk and compliance leadership that caters to FinTech, BaaS Banks, and Crypto firms.

With over 20 years of sales and sales management experience in the tech sector, Massimo understands client needs and providing the value necessary for them to achieve exponential growth.  Coupled with his decades of driving top-line growth, Massimo spent many years in the fraud space at a globally recognized international bank which has allowed him to appreciate the unique needs of clients operating in the financial services industry.

In addition to these experiences, Massimo spent several years as Director of Operations at Confidence Systems, a Silicon Valley SaaS startup offering automation and workflow tools catered to FinTech and traditional banks.

Rick Zabel is the Director of Bitcoin, Crypto, & AI Infrastructure at Fraxtional, a New York-based boutique consulting firm specializing in risk and compliance leadership that caters to FinTech, BaaS Banks, and Crypto firms.

Rick joins Fraxtional to continue his storied career as an innovator, problem solver, crypto expert, and Founder of Bit-sulting, LLC; an advanced technology consulting company covering a wide-range of industries, including Bitcoin.  In addition to his work with Bit-Sulting LLC, Rick spent several years as Director of Business Development at Post Process Technologies, a 3D printing manufacturer he helped launch from the ground up.  Most recently, Rick served as Director of Business Development at Foundry, a world leader in Bitcoin mining pools and infrastructure based out of Rochester, NY.

An early adopter of Bitcoin and other digital currencies, Rick has a keen awareness of the crypto industry and its relation to the power grid and AI industry, along with a deep understanding of the risks to consider, methods to mitigate, and the intersection between these two technologies.

Michael Luksich, CCI, GRCP is a Director at Fraxtional specializing in cryptocurrency and digital assets. With nearly a decade of experience, Michael has built a reputation for delivering robust AML/BSA frameworks tailored to the unique challenges of both emerging and established financial ecosystems. His expertise spans managing compliance programs for Bitcoin ATM networks, cryptocurrency exchanges, and blockchain ventures, as well as traditional fintech MSBs like Robinhood and Gusto.‍

Michael’s background includes ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, optimizing transaction monitoring systems, and strengthening customer due diligence programs. He has successfully aligned compliance programs with global standards such as FATF, FinCEN, and state-specific regulations, addressing the unique regulatory demands of both fintech and cryptocurrency firms.‍

As a fractional CCO, Michael leverages his deep expertise in regulatory compliance, risk management, and innovative technology to help organizations navigate complex regulatory landscapes while fostering growth. With an MBA in Organizational Leadership (in progress) and certifications in cryptocurrency investigation and financial crimes, he is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between traditional fintech and the rapidly evolving digital assets industry.‍

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Jacob Bragin is a Director at Fraxtional specializing in Regulatory Compliance, MSBs, MTLs, TradFi and FinTech.  With over 25 years of business experience, with 15+ years in governance, risk, and compliance, Jacob has developed compliance programs for both large-scale institutions and start-ups. Jacob brings extensive experience working closely with senior management, boards, and founders to build the most effective compliance program for the appropriate situation. Jacob has worked closely with compliance managers in the US and worldwide, assisting in managing regulatory risk and cultivating answers to exams and MRAs. Jacob has developed relationships with regulators and examiners at the state level while procuring Money Transmitter Licenses (MTLs) and subsequent regulatory exams. Technically, Jacob has built and helped staff compliance departments and written policies in most areas, including BSA/AML, KYC, and Enhanced Due Diligence.

Jacob brings his expertise to both traditional financial institutions and is well-versed in the complexities of new ventures, having been a co-founder in several start-ups. Jacob believes that the job of compliance is “to stop money from walking out the back door,” and he will bring that philosophy to develop and strengthen your program.

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Joshua Wasserman is a Director at Fraxtional specializing in Regulatory Compliance, Licensing, Controls, & BSA,  as well as Founder and Vice President of Key Kore Solutions, Inc. in Tampa, FL.

With over 15 years  experience in the financial services industry as a risk and compliance Bank Examiner and executive leader, Joshua provides guidance on Regulatory Compliance, Licensing, and Control Frameworks to Banks, FinTechs, and virtual currency companies. Joshua has rebuilt multiple risk & control frameworks at some of our largest financial institutions.  

Joshua’s core competencies include developing and leading teams along with shaping robust compliance programs, driving strategic initiatives, developing risk & controls frameworks and self-assessments, managing stakeholders, and international payments buildouts (including most of Africa).