Innovative Change Champions

Redefining what it means to be a financial consulting firm, we seek to go beyond being just any other vendor. We strive to form meaningful bonds and partnerships that drive significant change and positive impact for our industry, using future-forward approaches in all the work we do.

From Idea to Impact: Our Story

Papilio Collective is a women-owned, strategic financial consulting firm where human and technical insights ignite innovative collaboration. We take a human-centered, data-driven approach to meet you where you are, going beyond conventional consulting services and vendor processes.

Our paths have taken us across the country and internationally, where we’ve acquired comprehensive skillsets of diverse methodologies and processes that have led to groundbreaking advancement for the financial industry. Drawing on hundreds of years of combined experience, our founders saw a tremendous opportunity to become a support system like no other. And thus, Papilio Collective was born.

Latin for butterfly, Papilio represents the beautiful outcome only made possible through a transformational process. That’s exactly what we seek to do for the financial industry!

Headquartered in Rancho Cordova, California, we are passionately dedicated to redefining what it means to be a financial consulting agency, delivering unparalleled experiences and transformational outcomes for the financial industry at large. From Credit Unions and Banks to Fintech’s, Associations, and beyond, we’re dedicated to empowering our peers to thrive and confidently tackle the challenges of the industry’s next evolution.

We genuinely care about the success of our industry and prioritize building impactful relationships with those who align. We believe collective success defines our industry’s future and that meaningful progress can create ripple effects of positive change.

We look forward to partnering with you on your next big initiative! Learn more about our areas of expertise and how we leverage our industry ecosystem to provide next-level support.

We are nimble, empathetic innovators who seek to empower you with the tools, resources, methodologies, and experience you dream about.

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We Get It Done

We are passionately dedicated to redefining what it means to be a financial consulting agency and want to be your partner, advocate, and confidante. We love to get things accomplished—we are known for it!

Charlie Lai
I've had the privilege of collaborating with Tarrah and Rob for years. As innovators in the financial services industry, they are relentless in their pursuit of transformative change. Our partnership has influenced the creation of impactful solutions that truly make a difference in the communities we serve. They constantly seek new and novel ways to address today’s business challenges, connecting bright, like-minded professionals to work towards common goals. Working with them is always a rewarding experience.
Charlie Lai
Fairwinds Credit Union
Dave Goulden
Papilio isn't just a partner; they're your key to unlocking the Credit Union market. Their in-depth industry expertise guides you every step of the way, from high-level strategy to tactical execution. Papilio's impressive network opens doors, connecting you directly with senior decision-makers at lightning speed. If you are a fintech looking to break into or expand the Credit Union channel, I'd highly recommend working with Papilio.
Dave Goulden
Fundshine
Ning Duong
Over the years, I've had the privilege of knowing the leaders of Papilio and have seen their genuine passion for making a difference firsthand. They don't just focus on the customer but are deeply committed to creating positive impacts for everyone involved. They truly desire to elevate the entire industry and ensure every interaction and decision contributes to the greater good. It's rare to find a team so dedicated to uplifting both people and the financial world at large.
Ning Duong
Credit Union West

The Papilio Team

Tarrah Palomino

Tarrah Palomino

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer

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Rachel Zillner

Rachel Zillner

Co-Founder

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Anne Descalzo

Anne Descalzo

Co-Founder

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Rob Mills

Rob Mills

Principal Strategist

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Chris Hokom

Chris Hokom

Principal Trainer

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Alexiss Abad

Alexiss Abad

Sr. Director, Organizational Experience

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Jason Fonseca 2

Jason Fonseca

Learning Experience Designer

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Having experienced day-to-day exchanges firsthand, we’ve faced the struggles found in roadblocks and learned the best methods for adapting. These methods have equipped us with a unique skill set and remarkable attributes that we can bring to every project. We can also train your teams on these distinctive methodologies.

Ask us how!
Tarrah Palomino

Tarrah Palomino

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer

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Driving Innovation and Strategic Leadership in Financial Services

Tarrah is a seasoned executive with over two decades of experience leading change for organizations dedicated to enhancing financial health and personal welfare. Known for her expertise in spearheading innovation, launching pioneering products, and excelling in dynamic environments, Tarrah is driven by a passion for human-centered design concepts that empower customers and organizations to achieve their next-generation goals. She excels in building and leading high-performing teams, delivering best-in-class experiences that enhance revenue streams and drive operational efficiencies.
Tarrah's expertise encompasses strategic planning, solution design, digital engagement, change management, and more. She has a proven track record in identifying new market opportunities and fostering cross-team collaboration that fuels growth on both sides of the table. Her leadership is complemented by strong public speaking skills and delivering top-level presentations that inspire and inform.

As Chief Operating Officer/CXO at Clutch, Tarrah oversees the organization’s growth and operation, including brand strategy, go-to-market decisions, and operational excellence, ensuring exceptional experiences for employees and customers alike. Earlier in her career, she developed software solutions for State and Local Government and Education, focusing on public health, social services, and digital commerce. Her previous roles included Director of Product Management at Perceptyx and Executive Director of Digital Banking Product Strategy at NCR, where she shaped forward-thinking strategies for North America's digital banking landscape, supporting over 600 financial institutions and 22 million customers. During this time, Tarrah was responsible for strategic partnerships and the innovation labs driving change for financial services. Before NCR, Tarrah served as Vice President at a $3 billion Community Credit Union, where she led transformations across technology, data, and human experience.
Throughout her career, Tarrah has been recognized for her contributions to digital transformation and customer-centric innovation. She has been a featured speaker at industry conferences and has received awards for integrity, teamwork, and leadership excellence. Tarrah continues to drive impactful change in the financial services sector, blending innovation, human empathy, and strategic foresight to propel organizations toward sustained growth and customer satisfaction.

Rachel Zillner

Rachel Zillner

Co-Founder

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Award-Winning Financial Industry Trailblazer

With over two decades of financial industry experience, Rachel has a proven track record of fostering genuine connections and meaningful collaborations driven by a passion for innovation. She aims to create a future where empathy, impact, and purpose drive every endeavor, embracing challenges, nurturing creativity, and inspiring others to achieve excellence.

In past roles, Rachel found herself climbing the ranks. As Assistant Vice President of Community Banking at a $3 billion Credit Union, she oversaw Indirect Lending Sales and Education & Development departments, where she led learning and development, business banking, call center, and the strategic planning and implementation of business development initiatives. Her successful contributions ranged from generating over $25 million in mortgage loan sales annually, increasing staff efficiency, leveraging ATM networks to gain access to employers (SEGs), 40% increased production in the first year, and reducing overtime to zero. Additional contributions include increasing new hire retention by 15%, securing $750,000 in training grant funding, launching a first-of-its-kind comprehensive product & service workshop series, implementing company-wide service strategies training, and doing it all without an increase in budget. She has also spearheaded the development of new financial education programs and SEGs, introducing groundbreaking programs that enhanced employee benefits and played a key role in expanding the credit unions charter into new markets. Rachel’s passion for leading extends to her dedication to the community, where she’s served as a board member of CU-PIE and Credit Union League. These remarkable attributes earned her the prestigious BankOn Grizzly Leadership award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the industry.

As a former finance professional, Rachel’s entrepreneurial spirit and curiosity lead to expanding her portfolio and co-founding Clutch, a human-centered strategic consulting agency serving the public and private sectors. Tapping into her passions, knowledge, and experience driving success, Clutch has propelled as a consultancy of choice, becoming one of Sacramento’s Fastest-Growing Companies for 2023 and Inc. Magazines 2024 Regional Fastest-Growing Companies in the Pacific region. Recognized for visionary leadership, Rachel received the 2018 Executive Woman of the Year (NAWBO) and the 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year (Folsom Chamber of Commerce, Choose Folsom). Additionally, she was named Ernst & Young’s 2023 Bay Area Entrepreneur of the Year.

Dedicated to investing in her community, workplace, and next generation, Rachel thrives when mentoring and supporting fellow startups, co-leading a women’s investment group, and championing angel investing for women. Passionate about elevating and empowering female voices, she also co-founded Sacramento’s BOLD, a women empowerment speaker series.

She continuously strives to elevate experiences, build meaningful connections, and drive measurable results.

Anne Descalzo

Anne Descalzo

Co-Founder

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Award-Winning Financial Business Leader and Entrepreneur

As the co-founder of Clutch, a government-certified women-owned consulting business providing expertise and services for organizations experiencing growth and change, Anne is passionate about creating solutions tailored to meet the needs of Government, Small Business, and Financial organizations. With an intentional approach to leadership with empathy, she leads a team of community-minded professionals who seek to improve the financial well-being of those who live, work, and play in the Greater Sacramento region.

For more than 15 years, Anne excelled at a $3 billion Credit Union, beginning as a front-end service rep to becoming the Assistant Vice President of Community Banking. During her tenure, Anne oversaw the event activation team, affiliate relationship managers, and employee volunteer program. She created and developed community engagement opportunities through large- and small-scale event management, growing new membership, and maintaining existing membership for the credit union. She also strategically oversaw the credit union’s community involvement and curated wellness and financial education programs for adults and youths.

Always guided by the core values of connection, optimism, drive, evolve, and curiosity, Anne is a multi-passionate entrepreneur. In addition to Clutch, she co-founded two new ventures: MinervaVerse and Frequency Coworking & Events. Both organizations aim to create more access, resources, and transformation in the entrepreneurial ecosystem via partnership with public and private entities aiming to change the way the world works.

Rob Mills

Rob Mills

Principal Strategist

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Driving Strategic Innovation Excellence

Providing award-winning leadership and operational excellence for nearly three decades, Rob has been a dynamic leader in the financial industry, combining expertise in strategy, innovation, technology, and precise execution. His career highlights a deep understanding of the collaborative dynamics between credit union boards, CEOs, and professional staff, focused on defining strategic direction and empowering teams to deliver exceptional value and industry-leading solutions to their members and organizations.

Throughout his career, Rob has applied his expertise to a wide range of financial entities, including credit unions, fintech companies, online banking software firms, and credit reporting companies. This breadth of experience underscores his versatility and deep-rooted knowledge of industry dynamics, making him a respected figure in financial sector leadership.

With his leadership extending beyond, he has played integral roles on corporate advisory boards for industry giants like Fiserv and NCR, where he chaired the NCR/Fiserv Joint Advisory Board and led the Fiserv DNA API and Extensibility Sub-Committee. Additionally, his contributions to professional associations such as Fintech PDX, Agile PDX, and Mobile Portland highlight his commitment to advancing industry standards and fostering collaboration across financial ecosystems.

Rob continues to drive innovation and excellence in the financial industry, leveraging his extensive experience and steadfast commitment to advancing the strategic goals of credit unions, community banks, and industry partners.

Chris Hokom

Chris Hokom

Principal Trainer

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Transforming Organizational Cultures Through Cutting-Edge Sales, Service, and Leadership Development

Chris's global journey has seen him ignite change from Bahrain to Belgium, Singapore to Sydney, and across North America. His message is electrifying and consistent: foster long-term, mutually beneficial relationships through continuous learning and skill enhancement. His ability to adapt to cultural diversity and deliver high-impact training makes him a sought-after facilitator and coach.

What sets Chris apart is his meticulous attention to detail and his talent for creating engaging, safe, and comfortable learning environments. His sessions resonate with employees at all organizational levels, ensuring that the skills and knowledge gained are seamlessly transferred back to the workplace.

As a Certified Senior Master Trainer and Progress Coach, Chris has propelled the careers of hundreds of trainers across the U.S. and abroad. Leveraging the latest in adult learning concepts, he ensures his trainers and coaches excel, mastering facilitation, coaching, and communication skills that drive workplace success.

Whether mentoring a new generation of trainers or inspiring seasoned professionals, Chris's energy and expertise are unmatched, making him a pivotal figure in the financial services sector.

Alexiss Abad

Alexiss Abad

Sr. Director, Organizational Experience

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Experience-Centric Innovator | Cultural & Strategic Alignment Enthusiast | Transformative Results Driver

Serving the financial services industry for 20 years, Alexiss has excelled in multiple leadership and sales roles, demonstrating her well-rounded expertise ranging from retail operations to process transformation, change management, quality assurance, and strategic readiness. With a dedicated passion for curating engaging experiences for all, from executive sponsors to frontline employees, she’s undoubtedly become the connective tissue helping bridge the gap between front and back-end understanding and translation between human and technical elements. Having honed her skills around organizational change management (OCM), internal communications, employee and customer experience, learning and development, and more, her innovative, empathetic approach to championing change has positioned her as a visionary thought leader.

Alexiss' leadership has positively impacted hundreds of individuals, overseeing key positions like Assistant Vice President of Training Branches, Retail Operations, Education & Development, and Strategic Readiness. As a Prosci-certified and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt leader, she continuously brings her passion to help internal and external environments thrive through human transformation. Her unwavering pursuit for excellence and fostering human-first experiences through authenticity and empathy has made her an inspirational presence and breath of fresh air in the industry.

Jenn Martin

Jennifer Martin

Principal Strategist

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Financial Services Innovator | Payments Leadership Expert | Strategic Visionary

Jennifer is a forward-thinking leader in the financial services industry, with over 20 years of transformative payments leadership. With an unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence, she consistently delivers exceptional results, having driven revenue and profit growth within California's largest credit unions and emerging digital banks.

Passionate about strategic planning, loyalty programs, and gamification, Jennifer has a talent for uncovering hidden opportunities, making her a formidable force in the industry. Her extensive experience spans leadership development, product development, market research, risk management, and performance measurement and analytics. Jennifer's impressive career is marked by significant achievements, including the creation of an industry loyalty program and the development of engaging self-service digital experiences, earning her the prestigious Visa Innovation Award. Her dedication and strategic acumen have also led to remarkable outcomes such as increased net income, enhanced fraud prevention, and significant reductions in member impact.

In every role, Jennifer excels at building and leading high-performing teams, fostering a culture of innovation, and continuously improving products, services, and processes. Her ability to develop and execute strategic roadmaps has consistently positioned organizations for long-term success beyond their initial expectations.

Jennifer's passion for understanding market dynamics ensures that customer needs are met, aligning her strategic vision with, or ahead of, industry trends. This makes her an invaluable asset within the financial industry ecosystem.