Unlocking Cash Trapped in Your Payment Cycle

Jim Nelson
Jim Nelson
Commercial Card & Working Capital Manager
Sunwest Bank
jnelson@sunwestbank.com
801-419-9020

About Unlocking Cash Trapped in Your Payment Cycle

Thu, 08/20/2026 -
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Tamarack Room

Goal of session: Attendees will leave with a new way of thinking about payments and working capital that connects finance, operations, and growth, along with specific actions they can take to make a difference in the next 30 days. During the keynote, we will discuss: • Why many businesses feel cash pressure even when sales are strong • Where cash gets trapped in the Working Capital cycle • A simple way to visualize the end-to-end cash cycle so companies can quickly identify friction, delays, and inefficiencies • How Accounts Payable can be transformed from a back-office cost center into a profit and control center • How payment methods (check, ACH, card, virtual card) really impact cash flow, cost, labor, and risk • Practical examples of how businesses are moving payments to be more efficient without disrupting vendors or internal teams Handouts: We will provide a playbook attendees can take back to their business to start improving their working capital immediately.

About Jim Nelson

Jim Nelson is a veteran financial strategist with over 25 years in working capital optimization, commercial card sales, and treasury management. Jim leads strategic sales initiatives including commercial card, working capital, and treasury management programs. Previously, Jim served in senior roles at J.P. Morgan, U.S. Bank, CIT and First Citizens Bank. Most notably, at U.S. Bank and CIT, he created nationally recognized working capital consulting services, managing over 6,000 client engagements and building optimized payment systems for clients of all sizes. His work earned multiple industry accolades, including recognition from Global Finance and Greenwich Associates. Jim is widely regarded for his ability to align client process with payments innovations. He has personally facilitated over 1,000 consultative engagements and produced more than 200 industry events, including national client summits and sales conferences. Jim is also an active community leader and creative force. He serves as Creative Director, Playwright-in-Residence, and producer at Millcreek Community Theater, which he and his wife co-founded in 2015. Jim and the Theater were honored with the Community Champion Award in 2024 for their contributions to theater education and community outreach. He is also a fiction author, TTRPG game designer, and true lifelong learner, currently enrolled in the prestigious University of Iowa's Writing Program.