Mindblowing entertainment announced: Mentalist Frederic Da Silva!
Award Winning Mentalist Frederic Da Silva is performing his mind reading magic show, Paranormal, at the CU Leadership Convention! Be prepared for an evening of mystery, magic, and hypnosis as Frederic delivers a mind-bending, unforgettable evening.
Janelle Shane joins our Keynote Speaker line-up!
Featured on the main TED stage, in the New York Times, The Atlantic as well as being Futurist in Residence at the Smithsonian, Humorist and Artificiation Intelligence expert Janelle Shane is here to de-mystify all that AI is, and help you explore what AI can do for you in her Keynote presentation What AI Can Do – and Can’t.
Announcing our 2025 Keynote Speaker: Super Bowl Champion Joe Theismann
Losing his successful football career at 35 to a serious injury, Joe Theismann learned first-hand how to overcome adversity. Today, he is a world-class businessman, who will take the stage with his positive, high-energy presentation to share his strategies for handling unforeseen change and a comprehensive game plan for success at your CU.
Discover what’s new for 2025 – Agenda items and speakers you won’t want to miss!
Hear why our 2024 audience can’t wait to return in 2025!

60+ sessions
packed with real
world guidance
Dozens of new thought leaders… plus, our returning all-star speakers
8 NEW breakout summits discussing today’s hottest topics
3 NEW Deep Dive Pre-Conference Workshops
Expanded Breakfast of Champions idea sharing session

NEW exhibit hall featuring 50+ solution providers
Opening night entertainment and reception
And much more!
Here are just a few of the HOT TOPICS we discussed in 2024:
- Generative AI and how CUs can use the newest technology to reduce risk & increase member loyalty
- Best practices to manage liquidity in a high-rate, inflationary market
- Executive compensation plans proven to attract and retain your top talent
- Lending solutions that are generating double-digit growth rates – without sacrificing rates
- Effective methods for recruiting new board members
- Sound practices for retaining core deposits, despite rising rates
- New tools some of the top CUs are using to leverage digital optimization
- Governance tactics to keep your board focused on strategic decision-making
- Tactics to build life-long members – not rate-hoppers
- Practical tactics to boost net interest margins in a high-rate environment
- Strategies CUs are using to regain trust with members – and beat the banks on service
- Newest Fintech solutions that are giving CUs a competitive edge
- M&A strategies – and pitfalls – every director and C-suite executive must know
- Proven solutions CUs are employing to attract Gen Y and Z in a digital world
- New regulatory priorities by NCUA and CFPB on lending, overdraft fees, M&As, cybersecurity, crypto, vendor oversight and more
- Leadership strategies that are proving effective in a post-pandemic world
- And much more…

We welcome CU Leaders from all aspects of the movement! Attendees welcome but not limited to:
- CEOs & Presidents
- Board Chairs/Directors
- Supervisory Committee Members
- Chief/VP of DEI
- Chief/VP of Marketing
- Chief/VP of Finance
- Chief/VP of Lending
- Chief/VP of Technology
- Chief/VP of HR
- Chief/VP of Business Lending
ONE ticket = ALL sessions
Pick and choose to attend any sessions from among 9 UNMISSABLE Breakout Summits
Agenda
Deep Dive Pre-Conference Workshops - Tuesday 30th
Convention Registration Opens
Deep Dive Pre-Conference Workshop 1 – Financial Management: How to Decipher Your Financials Quickly & Confidently
One of the country’s leading experts on CU financial management, Tim Harrington, returns to help directors and C-suite level leaders better interpret the financial statements. It is more critical than ever for all CU leaders to understand the key metrics to help make better and more informed decisions.
Today’s economy is unlike what many have seen in recent history. Inflation continues to remain stubbornly high despite interest rates reaching a 20-year high … unemployment is at a 50-year low … talk of “recessionary pressures” continue to make headlines … the wealth gap is widening … and credit unions are under more pressure to lower costs while adding more services.
Join us in this deep-dive, plain-English workshop as Tim Harrington helps you decode your CU’s financials. You will learn:
- The 12 critical ratios that matter most so you can decode them in just seconds!
- Evaluation techniques to determine what each metric means to your CU.
- Real-world benchmarking data you can use to gauge your CU’s performance.
- 5 little-known, but very powerful metrics you can use to give your CU an edge.
TAKE HOME: Every attendee gets Tim Harrington’s Financial De-Coding Manual to take back to your CU to begin deciphering your CU’s most important financial figures.

Deep Dive Pre-Conference Workshop 2 – Governance: Best Practices for Directors & Senior Leadership to Make a Quantum Leap for Their Board & Their CU
- The Right Balance: Striking a balance between strategic direction and operational oversight to provide meaningful guidance without overstepping its role.
- The Right People: Identifying the ideal board of the future and building an effective succession process to obtain it.
- The Right Structure: Evolving their board-level committee structure for governance success.


Deep Dive Pre-Conference Workshop 3 – Growth: Revolutionizing Member Experience by Harnessing the Power of AI and Data
Tired of not seeing growth in driving deeper member engagement? Curious but also concerned about emerging AI Tools? Unable to identify the frictions in the member experience journey to solve them? Wondering how to integrate member engagement objectives into your culture fully?
Join THRIVE Founder Anne Legg and Cohesion Culture Founder Dr. Troy Hall for a dynamic, hands-on, immersive learning experience. They will unpack the AI landscape to provide an overview of the AI tools and give you a blueprint to cultivate your culture for AI and data consumption. Working in small groups, you will apply these concepts to real-world scenarios and begin crafting an action plan tailored to your organization.


Dr. Troy Hall, Ph.D. I-CUDE
Bestselling author on Talent Retention, international speaker, and founder of Cohesion Culture
Read bio#DEITuesday AACUC Welcome Events
All registered conference attendees are invited to participate in AACUC’s Welcome Events on #DEITuesday. Kick back and relax in the AACUC Lounge as early as 3:00 p.m. and don’t miss a warm welcome from AACUC leadership at 4:00 p.m. Then, end the night with one of the most highly anticipated AACUC signature events, karaoke including lip sync this year!
Sponsored by:
Grand Opening of the AACUC Lounge
Be one of the firsts to network and re-connect with friends and colleagues inside the AACUC Lounge. The Lounge is the spot to hang out, connect and recharge.
Presented by:
AACUC Welcome
Join AACUC’s President/CEO Renée Sattiewhite and team as they kick off #DEITuesday with a Vegas-style greeting and a brief special presentation. Meet and greet with fellow members, Board of Directors and Regional Chapter Officers. Plus, learn more about the organization and our partnership with CU Leadership Convention.
Presented by:

Showtime at Caesars: Karaoke & Lip Sync
Ever dream of performing in Vegas? Here’s your chance! Bring your best vocals or whispers for an entertaining evening of karaoke and lip sync!
Presented by:
Agenda
Conference - Wednesday 31st
Registration
AACUC Lounge
All are Welcome!
Network and re-connect with friends and colleagues inside the AACUC Lounge. The Lounge is the spot to hang out, connect and recharge. All registered conference attendees are welcome.
Presented by:
Exhibit Hall Grand Opening & Continental Breakfast
A Winning Perspective Gets the Gold: Keynote Address with Olympic Great, Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Named by Sports Illustrated as “The Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century,” Jackie Joyner-Kersee will deliver the keynote address to open the 47th CU Leadership Convention. Join us as she discusses how her relentless pursuit of excellence on and off the track has led her to give back to her community. Coming from very humble beginnings in East St. Louis, Illinois, Jackie Joyner-Kersee is among the all-time greatest athletes ever to compete in Track & Field. Jackie has won three Olympic Gold Medals, one Olympic Silver Medal, and two Olympic Bronze Medals at four different Olympic Games. Less well known, however, are Jackie’s tireless efforts and remarkable accomplishments off the field as a philanthropist and an advocate for children’s education, health issues (in particular asthma from which she has suffered throughout her life), racial equality, social reform, and women’s rights. Never one to be classified as merely an athlete, Jackie says, “I strive to be a Jackie of all trades.”

A "Magical" Interlude

CEO Panel Discussion: Lessons in Leadership
Renee Sattiewhite (moderator)
Leading a credit union today is filled with challenges – and opportunities. Find out how some of the country’s top CEOs are facing some of the most pressing challenges including the increase in remote working, recruitment and retention in a tight labor market, creating a culture of innovation, serving diverse markets, managing growth and much more. Join us for an open, honest conversation about how CEOs are navigating these challenges, and finding new opportunities to better lead their CUs.



5 x 5: 5 Speakers Share Their ONE Best Idea That Will Have the BIGGEST Impact on CUs Today
Networking Break in Exhibit Hall
Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Awards Luncheon
The African-American Credit Union Coalition’s prestigious biennial award – named after credit union pioneer and WOCCU past president Pete Crear – recognizes a credit union professional or volunteer whose career best embodies the AACUC’s mission to increase the strength of the global credit union community. Join us as we celebrate this year’s honorees. Learn more about the Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Award here.
Sandra DeVoe Bland,
Board Chairman, SRP Federal Credit Union
Sandra DeVoe Bland is the first female and African American Chairman of SRP Federal Credit Union’s Board of Directors, where she has served for 27 years. Her influence has set strategic direction, amplified members’ voices and reinforced SRP’s commitment to its communities.
Dan Berger,
Retired CEO, National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU)
Before merging with CUNA to become America’s Credit Unions, Dan Berger’s leadership as NAFCU CEO was instrumental in making NAFCU the premiere advocate for the credit union industry. He has been recognized as one of Washington, D.C.’s top lobbyists for 18 consecutive years.
Networking/Dessert in Exhibit Hall
Leadership Summit — Winning the Battle for Gen Z
Driven by economic events and generational coming of age, US consumers’ credit card needs and preferences are evolving. Come learn how Gen Z is different from their predecessors and how your organizations can attract, engage, and retain Gen Z customers.
Sponsored by:

Marketing & Branding Summit — Top 5 AI Strategies Every CMO Must Know to Increase Membership & Retention
Discover the top five AI strategies to attract and retain members at your credit union in a 25-minute session led by BlastPoint’s CTO & Co-Founder. Learn how you can personalize member experiences for greater satisfaction, predict and prevent member churn using AI, deliver optimized product recommendations to boost engagement, and more. Join us to gain actionable insights to help you better predict, understand, and drive member behavior.
Sponsored by:

FinTech Summit — Go Small to Go Big! How to Capitalize on an Innovative Growth Strategy Serving Niche Markets (session repeats at 2:30 pm)
You’ve heard the expression riches in niches – a new growth strategy in which brands reap huge rewards focusing on small, but profitable target markets. Think university alumni, workers in the gig economy, newly enlisted family members, and small law firms. Each segment has very different needs that might be better served with a new digital financial brand without the time-consuming challenges of creating a new credit union. Find out how some CUs are creating new all-in-one digital brands to reach new markets, grow market share, and increase their ROA. If you you’re looking for unique growth strategies, you won’t want to miss this session!


Lending Summit — Navigating Auto Finance Challenges for Near- and Non-Prime Consumers
Steep borrowing costs and inflation-driven high prices make buying a vehicle increasingly difficult for those in the near- and non-prime credit segment. On a macro level, these barriers make it harder for lower-credit consumers to achieve upward credit mobility, putting the future of the automotive industry at risk. Learn how you can increase ROA, achieve yield targets and serve the underserved without adding extra risk. In this session you will learn:
- How younger generations view vehicle ownership and automotive financing.
- Opportunities to counter consumer distrust in financial institutions and the lending process.
- How to safely expand risk-based lending activity by identifying creditworthy near- and non-prime borrowers.
Sponsored by:

HR Summit — Inspire, Empower, Guide: Essential Disciplines for TODAY's Leader
More than ever, it’s not “just about the money” when it comes to attracting and holding on to top talent. People are going where they know their leaders care, where their work has meaning, and they have a real chance to learn, grow and develop.
In this engaging and interactive session, we’ll confront today’s toughest leadership challenges – head on.
- Attract – and KEEP – the best people in this fast-moving environment
- Cultivate leaders at ALL levels – regardless of title or position. Your front line people are the face of your credit union, and your member’s first impression!
- Learn why human-centric leadership is critical in the ever growing world of AI
- Connect people to PURPOSE – not just a job
- Engage people in the face of uncertainty

Trending Summit — Why, How, What: Preserving Humanity in an AI world
In a chilling, new report by Citigroup, the banking industry will be the hardest-hit by the deployment of AI, with 54% of roles at risk for AI-led job displacement. AI will indeed change “what” we do as humans, and in many ways, “how” we can improve our roles in the credit union. But the “WHY” that motivates us to do what we do (beyond just a paycheck!) is irreplaceable. The good news is that the “WHY” matters to consumers. Additional research shows most consumers value genuine human empathy and creativity over AI driven emulations. Find out how to keep pace with new technology while also articulating your “WHY” in an increasingly automated world.
Sponsored by:

Financial Summit — 6 Practical Financial Management Strategies Every CU Should Consider
It’s safe to say that CU executives have not experienced an economic environment like we have today. Interest rates remain at a 40-year high, deposit growth is waning, investment income is more challenging than ever, and members seem to want everything cheaper – and faster! CUs may operate as non-profit, but profit is indeed needed to meet member and staff expectations. Join Pete Duffy as he share 6 considerations for enhancing the bottom line. These are the same tactics already in practice by top performing CUs you can use right away. Find out the steps every CFO should consider when rates and liquidity return to “normal.” Plus, take home 6 practical strategies you can use to better manage your CU’s finances.

Transitional Break
Leadership Summit — Recruiting and Retaining Your Highest Performers in the C-suite
It is truly a war for talent in the C-suite right now. CUs are competing with larger institutions that can offer better pay packages, more resources, and more attractive opportunities whether it’s with other credit unions, community banks, FinTechs or other emerging financial services. And once you have someone in place, the challenge is keeping your talent – and not losing them to the competition! Join us for this in-depth session as we discuss the latest trends in recruitment of highly talented individuals and equip you with:
- A key secret to recruiting high-performers.
- Practical strategies to match the expectations of highly-talented individuals with your goals.
- The difference between a truly high performer and average performer (and what it means to you).
- And 4 key secrets to retaining great talent once they are on-board.
When you leave this dynamic and vital session, you will have the tools you need to be able to set your credit union up for future talent success.

Marketing & Branding Summit — Healthy Growth in the Age of Uncertainty
Pursuing a growth-oriented focus in uncertain times is more challenging than ever. Now is the time to focus on the values and cooperative principles that set credit unions apart in the financial industry! This interactive session is jampacked with examples of innovative, inspiring initiatives other credit unions have embarked on to supercharge their marketing and impact efforts in the midst of ongoing volatility. You’ll learn how to lean into your credit union superpowers to:
- Grow your membership and loans
- Increase community impact
- Improve the financial well-being of your membership
- Avoid getting stuck in the reactivity trap

Fintech Summit — Credit Union Fintech Investments: The Good, The Bad, and the Profitable
Explore the highs and lows of fintech investments for credit unions. In this session, industry expert Nick Evens will highlight successful investments, common pitfalls, and how to de-risk investments for profitability, relevancy, and competitiveness. In this session you will learn how to:
- Spot high potential fintech opportunities that align with your credit union’s strategic goals and have the potential for high returns.
- Gain insights into the most common mistakes credit unions make when investing in fintech and how to avoid them to protect your assets and reputation.
- Leverage the newest tech to stay competitive and meet the evolving needs of your members.
- Uncover the “Curql Method” for de-risking fintech investments to ensure profitability and sustainability
- Discover emerging trends that could impact your credit union’s investment strategy and overall business model.

Lending Summit — 7 Tactics to Increase Your Loan Portfolio and Non-Interest Income (session repeats Thursday, 10:45 - 11:15 am)
As lending and non-interest income continue to wane at CUs nationwide, some are bucking the trend and experiencing dramatic growth. Find out how to increase your loan portfolio and non-interest income using some of the same highly-effective lending strategies Latonya Allen uses at GPO FCU that have generated a 17.1% ROI on one loan campaign, a 74% credit card penetration rate and 41% overall loan growth rate during the past 2 years. Whether you are looking to enhance your member loyalty programs, increase auto lending or grow your credit card program, you’ll take home practical strategies you can use right away.

Latonya Allen, CUDE
Chief Lending Officer at Government Printing Office Federal Credit Union
Read bioHR Summit — HR Strategies for Highly Effective Credit Unions
Discover how Apple FCU, one of the country’s largest and most innovative credit unions, is solving some of the movement’s toughest challenges today including: talent acquisition, leadership development and employee engagement. Learn how the CU is following a 3-year HR strategy to help measure its effectiveness, improve management performance, develop talent, and get an inside look at how the CU plans to re-scale and up-scale staffing as AI changes the workplace. Plus, find out how Apple FCU is retaining 95% of its management with its leadership development program and how it has managed to keep its overall turnover rate under 15%. Take home real-world HR strategies that you can use in your own CU.

Trending Summit — Strategies to Leverage Banking Data and AI to Deepen Member Relations
AI is allowing credit unions to make better credit decisions, improve efficiency, personalize loan offers, increase retention, and decrease costs without having to employ data scientists and coders to make it all happen. What once tooks months can be done in days. Find out how the most forward-thinking credit unions are employing banking data and the newest AI technology to better serve members, increase member retention and improve back-end and front-end operations. Get the tools and strategies you need to take advantage of the latest data sources and newest AI solutions that you can begin to employ quickly and easily.
Sponsored by:

Financial Summit — Repositioning the Deposit Strategy
The market has spoken, and the Fed has signaled a pivot. At least for now. The recent bond market rally and expected Fed cuts mean that the peak in deposit competition for this cycle is likely behind us. Now the question is, what lies ahead on the other side? The yield curve remains inverted and margin pressure is not going away in the short run. In fact, deposit rates lag on the way down just as they do on the way up. What will be your plan? Join Darling Consulting Group as they explore the 2024 deposit strategy outlook.
Sponsored by:


Transitional Break
Leadership Summit — Leadership Principles for High-Performance Boards
Quick Quiz: What is your board’s purpose? Is it to oversee the safety & soundness of the credit union? Or, is the purpose to push the CU forward to success and relevancy in an uncertain future? It’s a trick question; the answer is both. But most boards either ignore or are unaware of the second answer. Those that choose the easy path and don’t force themselves into the unknown – and simply work to maintain the status quo in a familiar and predictable market – risk losing their members and often struggle just to survive. Discover how high-performance boards are transforming their CUs by moving beyond their “safety and soundness” focus and becoming collaborators with management to create the preferred brand and a successful future for the credit union.

Marketing & Branding Summit — Disrupting the Credit Union Brand: Fintech Marketing Strategies to Win Back Market Share
With neobanks and fintech staking an ever-greater claim on consumer wallets, is the onus now on credit unions to disrupt the market? Explore some of the most successful brand and marketing strategies employed by emerging and established fintech, and how that playbook can be adapted to help credit unions win with consumers who just want everything faster, cheaper and on-demand.

FinTech Summit — Go Small to Go Big! How to Capitalize on an Innovative Growth Strategy Serving Niche Markets (session repeated from 1:15 - 1:40 pm)
You’ve heard the expression riches in niches – a new growth strategy in which brands reap huge rewards focusing on small, but profitable target markets. Think university alumni, workers in the gig economy, newly enlisted family members, and small law firms. Each segment has very different needs that might be better served with a new digital financial brand without the time-consuming challenges of creating a new credit union. Find out how some CUs are creating new all-in-one digital brands to reach new markets, grow market share, and increase their ROA. If you you’re looking for unique growth strategies, you won’t want to miss this session!


Lending Summit — Potential to Profit: How to Double Auto Loan Profit in Just 12 Months
Over the past decades, CU direct loan loyalty has halved, with 75% of members now using the dealer channel for auto loans. Join us for an interactive session demonstrating a novel strategy to put CUs back in control of their members’ auto loans, boosting profit per loan by 35%-40%. Learn how creatively structuring loans can save members thousands in ownership costs and provide the car ownership experience they hope for. Enjoy this entertaining presentation where speakers use crowd feedback to reveal how to double direct loan revenue, and make direct loans the launchpad for growing profitable member relationships in 2024.
Sponsored by:


HR Summit — Top 5 Methods to Leverage Your Culture to Drive Retention and Engagement
Deloitte’s research shows 94% of executives and 88% of employees believe a distinct workplace culture is important to organizational success. Today’s evolving workplace dynamics has ensured that leaders focus on their culture to maintain competitiveness. Employees are well informed about how they want to work and are not shy about their needs. In this session, leaders will hear the top five strategies to refine and leverage their culture to achieve their business goals while also retaining their top talent. Discover the same methods other CUs are using to increase retention and boost engagement by 30%. This session will provide participants with:
- How emotional wellness and safety impacts engagement
- The five methods HR leaders should include in their operational plan
- Practical strategies to reduce turnover and support employees

Trending Summit — 3 Key Habits of Highly Effective Analytics Programs in CUs Today
The most effective analytics programs in credit unions are built on 3 key habits: (1) Creating a culture of data-driven decision-making; (2) Building a learning environment around analytics and, (3) Focusing attention on just 5 critical metrics that drive your credit union. Join this panel discussion as some of the credit union movement’s leading analytics executives share how they are applying these 3 key habits to better serve their operations and their members. Take home the same strategies that have grown membership by over 35% through data driven marketing, eliminated thousands of hours of repetitive / manual reporting and saved millions of dollars in losses from fraud. This session is designed for all management levels and data/analytic team members.
Sponsored by:



Financial Summit — Going Beyond the M&A Headlines: Lessons Learned From Both Sides of the Deal
The fastest path to growth is through either a merger or acquisition. But not all M&As are successful. Get a behind the scenes look from both sides of the deal to learn why an M&A might work for you … how to assess potential partners for a merger or acquisition … what to consider when evaluating key deal points and pricing … how to properly conduct due diligence … and best practices for communicating with all stakeholders to keep your key people engaged. Join us for a no-holds barred discussion to learn how one deal succeeded, and another fell apart at the 11th hour. Don’t miss it. This is one everyone will be talking about.



Happy Hour in the Exhibit Hall with Nash Fung
Relax and unwind after a full day of inspiration and guidance at Happy Hour in the Exhibit Hall. Plus, enjoy some “street magic” with Magician Nash Fung!
Sponsored by:
Opening Night Entertainment with Rita Rudner
Opening Night Comedy with Rita Rudner is only open to registered attendees, guests and vendors. Must have your badge to enter.
A house-filling favorite in Las Vegas since she opened as one of the hottest tickets in town in June 2000, Rudner is known for her epigrammatic one-liners. Over the course of a multi-year run she sold almost two million tickets, grossed over a hundred million dollars and become the longest-running solo female comedy show in the history of Las Vegas. She was named Las Vegas’s Comedian of The Year nine years in a row and in 2006 received The Nevada Ballet’s Woman Of The Year Award. In October 2017 she was given the Casino Entertainment Legend Award.
Rita’s first solo HBO special, Rita Rudner’s One Night Stand, was nominated for several awards, as was her eponymous English BBC television show that later appeared in the USA on A&E. Rudner’s two one-hour specials for HBO, Born to Be Mild and Married Without Children, were ratings standouts and she performed all over the country, filling Carnegie Hall in New York three times. In 2008 Rita Rudner: Live From Las Vegas was PBS’s first ever stand-up comedy special.
Rita Rudner has written six books; her bestselling non-fiction titles, Naked Beneath My Clothes, Rita Rudner’s Guide to Men and I Still Have It…I Just Can’t Remember Where I Put It, plus the novels Tickled Pink and Turning the Tables. The audio version of Naked Beneath My Clothes received a Grammy nomination. Her autobiography, My Life in Dog Years, was published earlier this year.
Drink Service Hosted by:
Agenda
Conference - Thursday 1st
AACUC Lounge
Network and re-connect with friends and colleagues inside the AACUC Lounge. The Lounge is the spot to hang out, connect and recharge. All registered conference attendees are welcome.
Presented by:
Exhibit Hall Open
Breakfast of Champions
Come prepared to share with your peers ONE idea that worked in your CU, and enjoy a delicious breakfast to begin the day! All attendees have been asked to RSVP to ensure availability.
Opening Keynote: Trust and Inspire: The Leadership Solution for a New Era of Work
Our world has changed drastically in just the last few years. Unfortunately, leadership styles have not. Although many might not like to admit it, most organizations still operate from a model of “Command & Control” focusing on hierarchies and compliance. Yet, the world, the workforce, the work itself, and the choices we now have for where and how to work and live have all changed – and the old rules of leadership no longer apply.
Trust & Trust & Inspire is a new way of leading that starts with the belief that people are creative, collaborative, and full of potential. People with this kind of leader are inspired to become the best version of themselves and to produce their best work. People don’t want to be managed; they want to be led. Discover how to lead effectively, drive incredible performance, and put into practice the fundamental beliefs of a Trust & Inspire Leader.

The Magic of Empathetic Leadership: Communication Techniques to Lead with Empathy
By day, Nash Fung is a keynote speaker & magician but as night falls, he is a crisis line volunteer. This unique journey taught him many meaningful lessons on creativity, empathy, and human connections. Discover practical empathetic techniques you can use to:
- Create better solutions for some of your toughest challenges with your team.
- Develop deeper trust and increase employee retention.
- Ensure your colleagues feel heard, understood and valued.
- Implement a golden rule in crisis situations every leader can use to support their people.
Be prepared to take away innovative techniques and inspiration … all with a touch of magic.

2024 Renée Sattiewhite Neoteric Changemaker Award Ceremony
Transitional Break
Leadership Summit — Curating Executive Benefits for Multicultural Leadership
Description – This presentation explores an often-overlooked method for accelerating diversity in the C-suite: evolving executive compensation strategy to meet the needs of a multicultural workforce. An overview on the brief state of the industry, credit union leadership statistics, and DEI-centered challenges, leads into a discussion on five contemporary executive mindsets that are emerging as the C-suite becomes more diverse. The session concludes with a set of empathetic questions leaders can ask of their sitting and successive executives to reach greater parity with their expectations.
Sponsored by:

Marketing & Branding Summit — Competitive Conquesting: How to find and eat your competitor's lunch
This workshop is designed to equip credit union leaders with ultra-effective strategies for reaching potential members who are currently exploring or have already engaged with rival financial institutions. Participants will gain insights into how to harness competitive intelligence to its fullest, with a deep dive into how cutting-edge tactics like precise geofencing, device ID retrospection, and automatic content recognition (ACR) are driving astonishing outcomes.
CU marketers will discover how these incredibly potent new promotional techniques and cutting-edge marketing technology tools are revolutionizing the landscape of digital marketing engagement. Take home:
- Strategies for reaching individuals who receive marketing from competing CUs
- Methods to engage with prospects who have previously conducted transactions with rivals
- Tactics to capture the attention of prospects exposed to ads from other financial institutions
- Advanced geofencing strategies to target prospects who have visited the physical branches of competing CUs
- Tips to construct custom member segments based on online activities related to competitors

DEI Summit — Best Practices to Serve More Members & Create a Better Experience for All (Panel)
For CUs to grow, they must serve more diverse markets that make everyone feel welcome. The question is how best to go about creating an effective DEI culture both internally and externally? Discover how some of the country’s most innovative CUs are effectively managing their DEI strategies with member programs designed to serve all members, unique supplier diversity initiatives, regular reviews to determine what’s working and what needs improvement, and much more.
Presented in Partnership with




Sedric Brinson
Chairman and Co-founder, L.E.A.D (Leaders Engaged in Action and Development) MS
Read bioLending Summit — 7 Tactics to Increase Your Loan Portfolio and Non-Interest Income (session repeated from Wednesday, 1:50 - 2:30 pm)
As lending and non-interest income continue to wane at CUs nationwide, some are bucking the trend and experiencing dramatic growth. Find out how to increase your loan portfolio and non-interest income using some of the same highly-effective lending strategies Latonya Allen uses at GPO FCU that have generated a 17.1% ROI on one loan campaign, a 74% credit card penetration rate and 41% overall loan growth rate during the past 2 years. Whether you are looking to enhance your member loyalty programs, increase auto lending or grow your credit card program, you’ll take home practical strategies you can use right away.

Latonya Allen, CUDE
Chief Lending Officer at Government Printing Office Federal Credit Union
Read bioHR Summit — Resilency: The Cornerstone of Success in Rapidly Changing Environment
Grab a seat early for this one as Milton Hunt, one of the most popular speakers from 2023, returns to help you overcome stress and challenging circumstances whether you are working on the frontlines, in the office, the boardroom or from home. Resiliency is a necessary skill for CU leaders that can be improved over time with the right toolset. When someone is resilient, they are able to respond to change in an effective and positive manner. Milton will give you the tools you need to overcome the roller coaster of change … identify the characteristics to adapt in uncertain times … develop resilience in yourself … and support its development in others. Milton is an edu-tainer, a motivator and an energizer. This is one everyone will be talking about!

Trending Summit — The $500+ Billion Opportunity: How to Harness Member Travel Spend to Future Proof Your CU
Credit union members spend an estimated $500+ billion per year on travel. Most credit unions are missing this opportunity and losing market share to banks who meet their travel needs. It’s time for your credit union to take a stand! Learn how to harness your members’ spend and develop a tailored travel strategy proven to enhance member engagement, deposits, market share, and your bottom line.
Sponsored by:

Tech Demo - Abrigo and Open Lending
Connecting the Dots: Improving the Management Decision-Making Process with Abrigo Connect
Join us for an engaging demonstration of Abrigo Connect, a cutting-edge analytics tool designed to enhance decision-making capabilities across credit unions. This session will explore how Abrigo Connect leverages artificial intelligence, natural language search, and advanced analytics to transform raw data into actionable insights that empower credit union leaders.
Speaker: Justin Crawley, Senior Advisor, Abrigo
Sponsored by:
New Fundamentals of Automotive Lending
The recent changes in automotive retailing and lending technology are driving new fundamentals in automotive lending. This session will shed light on fundamentals that auto lenders should consider in their operations.
Speaker: Matt Roe, Chief Revenue Officer, Open Lending
Sponsored by:


CU Connect – Why Volume is the Greatest of the Big Data V’s
(Invitation only please)
When it comes to big data, credit unions have pursued the three V’s—volume, velocity and variety—with equal effort. The rise of AI is changing this dynamic. In today’s battle for big-data budget, volume is inching slightly ahead of its velocity and variety of competitors.
That’s because AI is ravenous for data—big data. The bigger, the better.
When credit unions expand the volume of data that fuels their analytics, they will finally be able to deliver the personalized, predictive experiences today’s members expect.
In this session, CUDX’s Adam Wright will explore what can happen when credit unions feed into and share access to a rich, anonymized and analytically valuable data set.
Sponsored by:

CEO Forum: Practical Leadership Strategies to Unleash Greatness in Others
Note: This special forum is ONLY available to CEOs. A separate registration fee of just $195 is required.
CEOs are invited to a special workshop with New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Stephen M.R. Covey as he shows step-by-step how to boldly apply a Trust & Inspire leadership style.
Find out how truly great leaders unleash greatness in others – and how you can too each day in your credit union. You will learn how to apply the 3 stewardships of a Trust & Inspire leader by applying a practical and actionable framework that includes:
- Modeling: Who you are
- Trusting: How you lead
- Inspiring: Connect to why
Stephen brings with him decades of leadership experience as the former President & CEO of the Covey Leadership Center, founded by his late father and author of the seminal leadership book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. As head of the Covey Leader Center, Stephen M.R. Covery nearly doubled revenues, increased profits by 12 times, and boosted shareholder value by 67 times as the company grew to become the largest leadership development firm in the world.
A Harvard MBA, Stephen co-founded and currently leads FranklinCovey’s Global Speed of Trust Practice. He serves on numerous boards, including the Government Leadership Advisory Council, and he has been recognized with the lifetime Achievement Award for “Top Thought Leaders in Trust” from the advocacy group, Trust Across America/Trust Around the World.
Stephen is a highly sought-after international speaker who has taught trust and leadership in 57 countries to business, government, military, education, healthcare, and NGO entities.
Today’s world of work and culture calls for a radical shift in the way we lead in the 21st century, and Stephen will show you how.

Networking Break in Exhibit Hall
Leadership Summit — From Data to Decisions: Leveraging AI to Drive Strategy and Plan for Risk at Your Credit Union
Are you curious about AI and how it could be the key to unlocking your credit union’s full potential?
In this session, credit union executives will learn how to harness the power of AI by taking raw data and transforming it into actionable insights for strategic planning and risk mitigation. Whether it’s identifying growth opportunities, understanding employee efficiency, and anticipating future risks, integrating AI into your institution’s reporting and dashboarding will be imperative in this ever-changing financial landscape.
Join us to discover innovative approaches to visualizing data, enabling more effective board reporting and streamlined decision-making.
Sponsored by:

Marketing & Branding Summit — Pink Goldfish: Amplify Differentiation to Stand Out in the Marketplace
True differentiation in banking is rare. CUs need solutions to stand out and not just settle in a sea of sameness. This session features an unconventional eight-part F.L.A.W.S.O.M.E. framework for achieving competitive separation.
As a result of this session, you will take away:
- Tools:Get equipped with how to uncover weakness and weirdness in their DNA.
- Skills: Understand how to design in order to amplify uniqueness.
- Empathy: Gain a deeper appreciation for the need to exceed customer expectations.

DEI Summit — Allyship Through a DEI Lens: Even When the View Isn’t Always Popular
Let’s face it. For many, DEI is suddenly taboo. Elon Musk recently posted, “DEI must DIE.” It is more challenging than ever to have discussions about DEI practices, and it can be even more challenging for allies to step up and support change amid a growing backlash. Join us for an open, honest discussion about how CU leaders can be an advocate for others … how to strike a balance between serving members and protecting employees … when to stand by someone and when to speak up … how to move past the acronym and create equal access for all, inside and outside the walls of the CU … and how to ensure open financial access to everyone in your community.
Presented in Partnership with





Lending Summit — Network Lending: The Future of Cooperative Lending
Today credit unions face unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Traditional lending models are being disrupted by technological advancements and changing consumer preferences, necessitating innovative solutions. This presentation explores network lending, a cooperative model where financial institutions pool resources, agree on common underwriting and pricing standards, and optimize liquidity management by collectively originating, buying, and selling loans. Through insightful case studies and practical strategies, attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how network lending can facilitate access to broader lending opportunities, improve risk management, streamline processes, and enhance competitiveness. You get the same strategies used by other CUs that have gained access to a younger demographic (average of 28 years old), borrowers with average FICOs of 750 and average income of $130,000, and improved liquidity management. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the transformative potential of network lending and how it can drive growth, efficiency, and member satisfaction.

HR Summit — Increasing Human Digital IQ to Harness the Power of Artificial Intelligence
AI will not replace jobs; your organization will choose to replace jobs. This session discusses the importance of increasing Digital IQ across all levels of your organization, from Board Members to Member Service Representatives (MSRs), ensuring that everyone is equipped to thrive in this new era of work. Join us to explore actionable strategies for leveraging AI within your credit union. Understand how to foster a culture of continuous learning and digital literacy, enabling your team to effectively utilize AI technologies. Gain insights into real-world applications of AI that can streamline operations, improve member services, and drive strategic and operational decision-making. Don’t let your credit union be left behind – join us to increase your Human Digital IQ and leverage AI to your benefit.

Trending Summit — Let's Beat the Bad Guys! Practical CU Strategies to Protect Your CU and Your Members from Ransomware Attacks
The most recent attack that crippled more than 60 credit unions showed just how vulnerable many CUs are to ransomware attacks. Find out how to arm yourself before an attack and respond in the “fog of war” so you never have to pay a dime – and resume operations safely and soundly within hours, not weeks. Discover the 4 practical strategies from prevention to response every CU must follow whether you are managing your cybersecurity in-house or through a third-party vendor. Plus, take home the lessons learned from the most recent attacks to ensure your CU and your members’ data is protected.

Financial Summit — Financial Strategies in Uncertain Times
As we navigate this uncertain economic environment, it’s crucial to stay informed and prepared. In this interactive session, insights and strategies will be shared that can help you manage risks, identify opportunities, and make informed decisions to safeguard and grow your credit union. You will get practical, actionable advice that you can implement immediately to enhance financial resilience.

Networking Luncheon
CEO Summit Luncheon
Networking Break in Exhibit Hall Exhibit Hall Finale
Two Guest Experiences to choose from!
Guest Experience Packages
(Choose 1 of 2 options held Thursday afternoon, Aug 1. Limited only to Registered Guests.)
GUEST EXPERIENCE PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- One admittance to either the Meow Wolf Tour OR the Mob Museum & Speakeasy Tour
- One admittance to 9 Time Comedian of Year Winner, Rita Rudner!
- All conference continental breakfasts (not including Breakfast of Champions).
- Access to ALL refreshments, plated luncheons and dessert socials.
Step into the Past: Experience Las Vegas’ Underworld at the Mob Museum & Speakeasy
Uncover the fascinating stories of organized crime, the notorious figures that shaped Las Vegas as we know it. Take a guided tour of the museum and it’s exhibits located in the historic former U.S. Post Office and Courthouse. Explore the distillery to learn about the art of moonshine production and enjoy a taste of this historic spirit. Be sure you know the password to stop by the speakeasy, where we will relax and savor a crafted cocktail in an authentic Prohibition-era setting. The Mob Museum offers an immersive journey into a captivating chapter of American history!
- 1:30pm: Meet at Convention Registration Desk
- 1:45pm: Transportation to the Mob Museum
- 2:00pm: Mob Museum & Distillery Tour and Speakeasy Visit
- 4:15pm: Depart and Return to Caesars
- 5:00pm: Arrive Back at the Hotel
Meow Wolf Las Vegas Guest Experience
Guest Experience Packages
(Choose 1 of 2 options held Thursday afternoon, Aug 1. Limited only to Registered Guests.)
GUEST EXPERIENCE PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- One admittance to either the Meow Wolf Tour OR the Mob Museum & Speakeasy Tour
- One admittance to 9 Time Comedian of Year Winner, Rita Rudner!
- All conference continental breakfasts (not including Breakfast of Champions).
- Access to ALL refreshments, plated luncheons and dessert socials.
Step into the Surreal: Discover the Fantastical Wonders at Meow Wolf Las Vegas
Join us for an “out-of-this-world” experience at Meow Wolf in the heart of AREA15, where art and adventure blend into an immersive interactive experience. Explore a wild, colorful world filled with mind-bending installations, secret passageways, and interactive exhibits that ignite your imagination and curiosity. As you explore this mesmerizing labyrinth, stop by the secret bar to enjoy a delightful cocktail. Meow Wolf is an adventure around every turn, an experience you will never forget!
- 1:30 pm: Meet at Convention Registration Desk
- 1:45 pm: Transportation to MeowWolf
- 2:00 pm: Self Guided Tour of MeowWolf’s Omega Mart
- 3:30 pm: Cocktails at Area 15
- 4:15pm: Depart and Return to Caesars
- 5:00pm: Arrive Back at the Hotel
Leadership Summit — Governance Pathways for Strategic Growth
Where are credit unions heading? And how can governance help your credit union get there? Learn why governance evolution should be a part of your strategic plan and how to prepare for asset growth. Just as your credit union operations must evolve to meet new technology and marketplace demands, so too must your governance become more sophisticated to mirror that evolution. Lynette will share ideas that just may spark a strategic growth discussion at your next board meeting.

Lynette Smith
Chief Engagement Officer, Quantum Governance & retired President/CEO, TruEnergy FCU
Read bioMarketing & Branding Summit — The Marketing Mosaic for 2025: Credit Union Strategies that Drive Business Results
The velocity of change has never been so challenging. Prospects are evolving rapidly, the economy is driving new issues, and the country’s trust crisis creates a marketing challenge…or huge opportunity depending on your strategy. How do you stand out to prospects in a crowded market when they pay less attention? Repetitive messaging no longer works, and prospects no longer trust traditional advertising. To appeal to today’s evolving prospects, we must apply new strategies that capture attention, help us stand out from the Sea of Sameness, and drive them to take action. Join marketing and consumer behavior expert, Shawna Suckow, in this engaging session as she shares the latest economic and consumer trends underway, and predictions for 2025. Don’t worry, it’s not a boring lecture! She’ll share her Marketing Mosaic strategy that will help you drive new business in the year ahead. Find out how to create impactful and memorable Marketing regardless of budget or staff size…truly stand out to help you attract more business…and get the template that will help you easily plan your marketing mix going forward.

DEI Summit — Connection and Contribution: How to Make Belonging the Linchpin in Your Strategic Advantage
Belonging – a fundamental human need and the sense of being accepted and included by others – is essential to any DEI strategy. That’s because just making employees feel comfortable at work isn’t enough to get the job done. Organizations must foster a sense of belonging for team members to be connected to purpose, to bring their best contributions to the workplace and ultimately to drive organizational performance. In this session, we’ll unpack the costs and benefits of prioritizing a culture of belonging and learn how to go beyond the status quo to make belonging a strategic advantage for your organization.
Presented in Partnership with

Lending Summit — Recruitment and Retention Strategies for CU Lending Departments
Join us for an insightful engagement tailored specifically for credit union professionals focused on enhancing their lending departments. This session will discuss effective recruitment techniques that attract top-tier talent and talent management retention strategies designed to keep your team motivated and engaged. Learn best practices, innovative approaches, and practical solutions to build a dynamic lending department that drives member satisfaction and organizational growth. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your approach to staffing and management in the competitive financial services landscape.
Sponsored by:

HR Summit — Spy Games: How to Decode Personality Types to Boost Communication
Get ready to crack some codes. Find out how to quickly and easily identify personality types that often shift depending on the circumstances, mood, and even time of day. Whether you’re in the boardroom, the C-suite, coaching employees, or meeting with members, you can use the intel gained to improve your communication, understand others and get the desired results faster and without the drama. Join Keith & Rebecca for a fun, entertaining and eye-opening presentation with practical tips anyone can use anytime, anywhere.

Trending Summit — Cyber Risk: The Greatest Threat to The Credit Union Bottom Line
This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the current cyber threat landscape, including emerging threats and vulnerabilities unique to the financial sector. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on best practices for implementing robust cybersecurity measures, from securing online banking platforms to protecting against sophisticated phishing attacks, customer data and ransomware. Marquis Carroll, a seasoned cybersecurity professional with extensive experience in the financial sector, will share real-world examples and actionable advice to help you fortify your credit union’s defenses.
Sponsored by:

Financial Summit — Managing Investments In A Volatile Market: Practical Approaches CUs Can Easily Apply
As net income margins continue to tighten, CUs are looking for alternative income streams to manage the balance sheet. In this session, ALM expert Emily Hollis discusses the fixed investments allowable under NCUA and some states and which sectors perform best in a highly anticipated falling rate market. For those seeking enhanced yield, she also reveals various options through the Employee Benefits Pre-Fund and Charitable Donation accounts. You won’t want to miss her top investments to avoid! Plus, be among the first to learn about a new fund with AACUC that everyone will be talking about.

CU Connect — What's Your Philosophy About Executive Benefits?
(Invitation only please)
The session title is not a rhetorical question! This session will address the need for a meaningful Executive Benefits philosophy, what should be considered, and how to implement and document the process.
Sponsored by:


Transitional Break
Leadership Summit — Rebuilding Trust: A Journey of Strengthening Board and Executive Relationships
Join Senior Executive Liz Ponder as she recounts one of the most challenging periods of her career. In this compelling narrative, Liz shares her journey of rediscovering and rebuilding trust between an Executive Team and their Board of Directors. Be inspired by her candid reflections and the valuable lessons she learned, which resonate with many credit union Executives and Boards today.

Branding & Marketing Summit — Keys to Building Life-Long Members, Not Rate-Hoppers
In an era where members often chase the best rates, building lasting relationships is key to credit union success. This session explores proven strategies to foster loyalty and engagement among members, moving beyond transactional interactions. We will delve into effective communication techniques and innovative differentiators that resonate beyond financial incentives. Join us to discover how to transform your credit union into a community hub, where members stay not just for great rates, but for the invaluable connections and long-term partnerships you create.

Juli Lewis, CMPFinCap, CCUFC, CUDE, CCUE
VP of Community Engagement, USF Federal Credit Union
Read bio
DEI Summit — Two Vastily Different Continents - One Shared Mission
Africa is one of the fastest growing regions for credit unions in the world with more than 34,000 CUs and financial cooperatives serving 43 million people in 29 countries — a vastly different market compared to the U.S. The median age of its population is 18 and the average loan is only $339 per member. Yet, CUs in both continents share the same mission of people helping people. Find out how CUs in Africa are leveraging Fintech to serve members, utilizing digital transformation, overcoming cultural barriers as they try to serve more women, and make positive impact in their communities. Discover how to apply the same strategies in this emerging market to your credit union today.
Presented in Partnership with


Lending Summit — Real-World, Practical Tactics to Increase Loan Growth & Member Loyalty
When was the last time your lending department called members to get ALL of their business? Get a behind-the-scenes look into how one CU is beating the competition by actively going after new loans and refinancing opportunities by contacting their members to generate a 96% L/S ratio. The secret is how they did it and tracked their metrics. Plus, you will learn from the trainers who worked with the lending department on best practices for engaging with members, uncovering hidden opportunities for saving members’ money, and taking market share from the competition. You will learn not only what they did, but how they did it!


HR Summit — The Leadership Pipeline: Creating a System for Developing Tomorrow's Leaders in Your CU
CUs face a trifecta of challenges: the ongoing war for talent, the retirement wave of Boomers, and the imperative to cultivate trust and loyalty. Join us for an insightful and content-rich session where we discuss strategic solutions to nurture and develop leadership within CU, navigate the complexities of succession planning, foster a culture that not only retains existing talent but also attracts new members and employees. Gain clarity on actionable steps to not only adapt to the current challenges but to thrive in the dynamic work climate. Elevate your CU’s potential by proactively addressing the issues at hand and charting a course towards a resilient and prosperous future.

Trending Summit — Data Analytics: Your CU's Secret Power for Creating Member Value
Data isn’t the issue for credit unions; activating it is. For the majority of credit unions, data feels completely overwhelming. Common questions are: How do I access the most reliable and valid data? How can I use it to improve my members’ lives? Do I need new tools? Do I have the right people? How much and how long? This session will highlight the data journey of Royal Credit Union and learn from Tad Carlson, Royal’s VP – IT Solutions & Development and how they use data to drive key decision-making and create member value. Spoiler Alert this does involve AI. Plan on attending this session to gain actionable takeaways to help jump-start your data journey.


Financial Summit — Inspire What’s Next: A Glimpse into Innovative Payment Trends Across the Globe
Consumer preferences have changed dramatically over the last four years. In this session, Velera Senior Vice President of Emerging Services Scott P. Young provides insight into the latest financial technology innovations around the globe and here in the U.S. – and how your credit union can best leverage them to provide your members with the personalized, connected experiences they expect. Regardless of asset or membership size, this session will provide practical tips to prepare your members for what trends may be coming next.
- Gain insight into some of the latest fintech innovations around the globe and here in the U.S. – and how your credit union can best leverage them to provide your members with the personalized, connected experiences they expect.
- Learn where payment innovation may be headed in order to match growing consumer demand for immediacy, convenience and personalization.
- Learn why credit unions should capitalize on the trust factor among their membership, and why now is not the time to forego innovation on behalf of your members.
Presented by:

AACUC Signature Closing Party
AACUC’s Signature Closing Party is a must-attend event and this year in Vegas won’t disappoint! This is your time to step out and dance the night away at an affair like none other, hosted by THE DJ Callihe. All registered conference attendees are invited to participate in AACUC’s Signature Closing Party.
Presented by:
Agenda
Conference - Friday 2nd
AACUC Lounge
Last chance to meet up with friends and colleagues. All registered conference attendees are welcome. The Lounge will close at noon.
Presented by:
Buffet Breakfast
Underground Collision: Generative AI — Who’s Gonna Tell Your Story?
Generative AI is creating both excitement and anxiety. The latest technology has the potential to transform how we do business, similar to how the Internet upended how we bank, shop and communicate. Yet, for the first time, technology has the potential to learn and create – like humans. Learn how to control your story as the technology unfolds in this controversial panel discussion. Find out where the real risks lay ahead for CUs … how to leverage AI for go-to market strategies … how boards will need to govern in an AI world … and how the technology can be used to make a positive impact on your CU and your members.




2-Minute Spotlight: 5 Speaker Have Just 2 Minutes to Share One BIG Idea in this Theatrical Presentation
Putting Thought to Action: Applying Your Best Take-aways
This dynamic 15-minute session will transform your best conference insights into actionable steps, while also giving you one more opportunity to connect with someone new. In this short time, you’ll harness the full potential of your conference experience and leave with practical tools to implement your newfound knowledge immediately. You’ll engage, connect, and propel your goals forward with your fellow attendees.

EI vs AI: 5 Powerful Lessons for Credit Union Leaders
While AI might be able to automate tasks and even boost productivity, the need for leaders to connect on a human emotional intelligence level is more critical than ever. EI (not AI) gives us the ability to develop strategic visions, collaborate, lead, adapt, provide better member service and make ethical decisions. In short, we need to strike a delicate balance of leveraging our human skills while also taking advantage of AI advancements. Join one of the CU Leadership Convention’s highest-rated speakers, Brandi Stankovic, in this closing keynote as she explores 5 strategies CUs are effectively using to integrate EI with AI to better serve their members, their credit union and their communities.

Conference Adjourns
Be a part of the #1 event for growth-minded CU Leaders in 2025 with our BIGGEST savings yet!
Take advantage of our 2025 Early Bird discount rate and save up to $340/person. Attending the CU Leadership Convention as a group? Save even MORE with our Group Pricing! Don’t wait – our Early Bird prices end soon!
100% Money-Back Guarantee
We’re so confident that the CU Leadership Convention will meet your credit union needs that we are offering our 100% Money-Back Guarantee. If you don’t return to your credit union with the strategies needed to contribute to the growth of your organization, write us and we will promptly return your entire registration fee—no questions asked.
Cancellations and Substitutions:
Our cancellation and substitution policy are as follows: If you’re unable to attend, you’re welcome to send a substitute. Or, if you cancel in writing by Thursday, May 1, 2025, you may get a full refund. After that date, there is no refund, but you may use your registration fee at next year’s CU Leadership Convention. Registrants who do not cancel and do not attend are liable for the full conference fee. Cancellations via phone will not be accepted.
Connect Face-to-Face with C-Suite Leaders & Directors from August 12th – 15th, 2025 in Las Vegas
The 48th Annual CU Leadership Convention is a one-of-a-kind, in-person experience: a unique blend of networking, collaboration and thought leadership between credit union c-suite executives, presidents, board chairs and sponsors.
The program is custom designed to encourage conversation about best practices, relationship building and knowledge sharing across all functional areas on the most pressing issues facing credit unions today.
Join us in Las Vegas from August 12th – 15th, 2025, to engage with over 1,000 forward-thinking CU leaders looking for answers to their most challenging issues.
Premier Sponsorship Programs
Premier Sponsorship provides a complete 360-degree experience throughout all aspects of the event.
Principal Sponsorship
- The Exclusive Principal Sponsor of one of the CULC Summits (Leadership, Trending, Lending, Human Resources, FInTech, Branding & Marketing and Financial Management)
- Keynote speaking opportunity kicking off the specified summit on Wed., July 31
- Premium branding as the Principal Sponsor of the summit of your choosing
- Premium branding where sponsors appear throughout the CU Leadership Convention
- Full page advertisement in event guide
- Six (6) staff passes (in addition to your speaker, 7 total)
- 10’ x 20’ exhibit space (includes standard pipe and drape)
- Company logo & listing on website
- Company listing in event guide
- Pre- and post-show email to CULC registrants
- Seat drop pre-speaking session (1)
- Pre and post show registrant lists
Lead Sponsorship
- Branding: Your firm will be branded at the Lead Sponsor level
- One speaking opportunity (specific details to be determined with CULC Chairman)
- Full page advertisement in event guide
- Four (4) staff passes (in addition to your speaker, 5 total)
- 10’ x 20’ exhibit space (includes standard pipe and drape)
- Company logo & listing on website
- Company listing in event guide
- Pre and post show registrant lists
Sponsorship
- Branding: Your firm will be branded at the Sponsorship level
- One speaking opportunity (specific details to be determined with CULC Chairman)
- Half-page advertisement in event guide
- Three (3) staff passes (in addition to your speaker, 4 total)
- 10’x10’ exhibit space (includes standard pipe and drape)
- Company logo & listing on website
- Company listing in event guide
- Pre and post show registrant lists
Additional Sponsorship Opportunities
Taking place on the night before the conference kicks off, this premier program provides sponsor with a private hosted dinner for a curated audience of CEOs.
- Branding: Your firm will be promoted as a sponsor of the Forum, where sponsors are listed.
- Attendee Passes: Your firm receives three (3) passes to attend the CEO Dinner and CU Leadership Convention
- Pre and post show registrant lists (name, title, company)
Curated session: Your firm will have the opportunity to create an interactive session and work with CULC to curate an audience from the CULC attendees.
- 10’x10’ exhibit space (includes standard pipe and drape)
- Company logo & listing on website
- Company listing in event guide
- Two (2) staff passes (allows access to conference sessions and public networking events)
- Pre and post show registrant lists (name, title, company)
Every attendee will create a walking billboard for your firm throughout the event. Sponsor’s logo will appear on the event lanyards provided to all attendees upon registration.
- Branding:
- Your firm will be branded at the Sponsor level
- Your firm will be branded as sponsor on break signage
- 10’x10’ exhibit space (includes standard pipe and drape)
- Company logo & listing on website
- Company listing in event guide
- Two (2) staff passes (allows access to conference sessions and public networking events)
- Pre and post show registrant lists (name, title, company)
The 4×7 Tech Demo will feature a session with 7 firms receiving 7 minutes on stage to present and demonstrate their technology offering.
- Branding as a sponsor and participant in the 4×7 Tech Demo
- One presentation slot in one Tech Demo (exact one TBD)
- 10’x10’ exhibit space (includes standard pipe and drape)
- Company logo & listing on website
- Company listing in event guide
- Two (2) staff passes (allows access to conference sessions and public networking events)
- Pre and post show registrant lists (name, title, company)
As the exclusive sponsor of CULC’s registration area, your brand will be in the one place every single attendee must visit.
- Branding:
- Your firm will be branded at the Sponsor level
- Your firm will be branded as sponsor on break signage
- 10’x10’ exhibit space (includes standard pipe and drape)
- Company logo & listing on website
- Company listing in event guide
- Two (2) staff passes (allows access to conference sessions and public networking events)
- Pre and post show registrant lists (name, title, company)
Sponsor receives premium sponsorship branding on every tote bag, distributed to all attendees.
- Branding:
- Your firm will be branded at the Sponsor level
- Your firm will be branded as sponsor on break signage
- 10’x10’ exhibit space (includes standard pipe and drape)
- Company logo & listing on website
- Company listing in event guide
- Two (2) staff passes (allows access to conference sessions and public networking events)
- Pre and post show registrant lists (name, title, company)
Sponsor may suggest a branded password for WiFi access during the event. This will be advertised on signage and tent cards throughout the venue.
- Branding:
- Your firm will be branded at the Sponsor level
- Your firm will be branded as sponsor on break signage
- 10’x10’ exhibit space (includes standard pipe and drape)
- Company logo & listing on website
- Company listing in event guide
- Two (2) staff passes (allows access to conference sessions and public networking events)
- Pre and post show registrant lists (name, title, company)
Sponsor receives premium sponsorship branding surrounding the networking breaks
- Branding:
- Your firm will be branded at the Sponsor level
- Your firm will be branded as sponsor on break signage
- 10’x10’ exhibit space (includes standard pipe and drape)
- Company logo & listing on website
- Company listing in event guide
- Two (2) staff passes (allows access to conference sessions and public networking events)
- Pre and post show registrant lists (name, title, company)
Be the first to greet attendees in the morning as the host of the conference breakfasts.
- Branding:
- Your firm will be branded at the Sponsor level
- Your firm will be branded on breakfast signage as the sponsor
- 10’x10’ exhibit space (includes standard pipe & drape)
- Company logo & listing on website
- Company listing in event guide
- Two (2) staff badges (allows access to conference sessions and public networking events)
- Pre and post show registrant lists (name, title, company)
Align your firm with the premier think tank session – The Breakfast of Champions!
- Branding:
- Your firm will be branded at the Sponsor level
- Your firm will be branded as sponsor on break signage
- 10’x10’ exhibit space (includes standard pipe and drape)
- Company logo & listing on website
- Company listing in event guide
- Two (2) staff passes (allows access to conference sessions and public networking events)
- Pre and post show registrant lists (name, title, company)
- Thought Leadership Sponsor may help in the sessions at the discretion of the CULC Chairperson
- Sponsor may provide branded pens/pads for the session
Sponsor receives exclusive sponsorship branding on aisle signs throughout the exhibit hall
- Branding:
- Your firm will be branded at the Sponsor level
- Your firm will be branded as sponsor on break signage
- 10’x10’ exhibit space (includes standard pipe and drape)
- Company logo & listing on website
- Company listing in event guide
- Two (2) staff passes (allows access to conference sessions and public networking events)
- Pre and post show registrant lists (name, title, company)
Be one of 15 exhibitors participating in the contest for attendees.
Each passport sponsor will be featured on a bingo style card. Attendees must visit and engage with passport sponsors at their booth visit sponsors and have the sponsor stamp their card with their unique stamp.
Upon completion, attendees turn their cards in for a chance to win prizes.
- Branding: Your firm will be branded at the Sponsor level
- 10’x10’ exhibit space (includes standard pipe & drape)
- Company logo & listing on website
- Company listing in event guide
- Two (2) staff passes (allows access to conference sessions and public networking events)
- Pre and post show registrant lists (name, title, company)
You’re invited to the #1 event for growth-minded CU Leaders
The CU Leadership Convention held every summer in Las Vegas is regarded as one of the top conferences for credit union executives and directors with more than 1,200 attendees and 50+ solution providers.
Previously known as the Directors & CEO Conference, the country’s leading event for Directors, CEOs and C-suite level leaders is now the CU Leadership Convention. For 47 years, the conference has delivered the best content, packed with practical guidance and innovative solutions from the country’s leading SMEs, CEOs, executives, directors and consultants willing to share what’s working – and what’s not.
This year is no exception! Join us in Vegas to share ideas, network and learn from the country’s leading credit union experts. This year’s convention features:
- 63 sessions with real-world guidance from CEOs, directors and SMEs.
- 9 NEW Breakout Summits on today’s hottest topics, including AI, liquidity, DEI lending, HR, leadership, fintech and more. Pick and choose your favorite topics!
- 3 NEW Deep Dive Pre-Conference Workshops on Board Governance, Data, AI, and Financial Management.
- Expanded Breakfast of Champions idea exchange: Share your best idea, with proven results, and hear from your peers about their biggest successes to revolutionize your CU (Limited to the first 300 paid attendees)!
- NEW exhibit hall featuring 50+ solution providers.
- Opening night entertainment and reception.
- And much more!
Since we are not an association or a CUSO, we deliver unbiased perspectives from the industry’s leading thought leaders, so you have the information you need to better serve your communities, your members and your employees. This commitment to top-quality content and thought-provoking speakers – all while in America’s most exciting city – makes the CU Leadership Convention a must-attend event for any credit union leader.
We look forward to seeing you in Vegas!
Dennis J. Sullivan, Chairman
For Board Members:
- Learn and adopt best-in-class strategies to grow your credit union and improve profitability in a sustainable way.
- Build on your current plans and ideas by exchanging information with fellow innovative board directors pioneering the credit union movement.
- Discover how to generate 10-12x the returns for your credit union at the all-new CU Leadership Summit – dedicated to helping board directors provide their C-suite with the right level of direction. Take your board director skills to the next level by learning about the hottest topics for credit unions, including new sessions on how AI and Liquidity impact CUs.
- Differentiate yourself from banks by gaining access to fintech experts, solution providers and unvarnished perspectives focused on supporting credit unions and their boards to win more business.
- Crowdsource innovation – take part in this year’s Expanded Breakfast of Champions idea exchange. Share your best idea, with proven results, and hear from your peers about their biggest successes to revolutionize your CU (Limited to the first 300 paid attendees).
- Join this getaway with your spouse, unwind and enjoy all that the US entertainment capital has to offer.
For C-Suite Executives:
- Learn about the hottest topics in the movement, based on your area of expertise. Choose from 8 Summits covering fintech, leadership, marketing, DEI, HR and more to develop actionable strategies that will have impact in your CU.
- Get the best of both worlds at CU Leadership Convention – entertainment and education. Connect with your peers over breakfast or at one of our evening events whilst experiencing the most progressive speakers, content and solution providers for your CU by day.
- Network with fellow C-suite to tackle shared challenges and discover innovative solutions, including how to communicate effectively with your board.
- Learn the top 3 emerging risks every executive needs to know and find out how to apply the big changes affecting strategy, structure, governance, and leadership for credit unions, so you can play your part in driving growth.
See what you missed in 2024…
The CU Leadership Convention is one of the largest events in the country bringing together credit union directors, CEOs, Presidents, and C-suite executives from across the nation.
Keynote speakers and entertainment acts have featured Dan Rather, Jon Taffer, Cal Ripken Jr., Chris Gardner, Howie Mandel, Jay Leno, and Penn & Teller. Most importantly, the convention hosts more than 60 industry experts to share best practices and guidance to help credit unions of all sizes grow and better serve their employees, members and their communities. In addition, the convention includes more than 50 solution providers in its exhibit hall showcasing the newest technology and services available to credit unions.
Celebrating its 47th anniversary July 30-August 2, 2024 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, the CU Leadership Convention typically hosts more than 1,200 credit union leaders. Content is focused on the key areas of managing credit unions including lending, Fintech, cybersecurity, DEI, finance, leadership, Generative AI, member service, and branding. The convention is hosted by PEI Group, and is not affiliated with any trade group or political organization so we can give you unvarnished content designed to help you grow and solve your toughest challenges.
To download any of the Resources, a valid work email is required. Personal emails that use @outlook.com, @gmail.com, @yahoo.com, @icloud.com, etc. cannot be accepted.
Pre-Event Resources
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Learn, play, and unwind at Caesars Palace
It’s time to indulge and treat yourself while learning and networking at the 48th CU Leadership Convention. Play, dine and unwind like royalty at Caesars Palace Las Vegas: the remarkable, palatial, center-strip resort. From luxurious hotel rooms to world-class entertainment, it’s time to experience a trip that’s one for the books.
Caesars Palace Las Vegas
3655 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
866-227-5944
Hotel bookings are now open!
Phone reservations: 1.866.227.5944
Reservation Contact: Lynn Taggart ltaggart@flamingolasvegas.com
All convention registrants also get these exclusive benefits as guests at Caesars Palace:
- Unlimited local phone calls
- Two (2) admissions per day to Fitness Center
- In-room internet access to include two (2) devices per room per day
Hotel Deposit & Cancellation Policy:
All reservations must be guaranteed with a deposit for the first night’s guestroom and tax charge. If reservation is guaranteed to a credit card, the first night’s guestroom and tax charge, per guestroom, will be billed immediately to the cardholder’s account. Any reservations made via the telephone call center will be assessed a fee of $15.00 plus current sales tax, per reservation. This fee will not apply to reservations made via the internet.
Property allows individual attendee cancellations without penalty up to seventy-two (72) hours prior to the attendee’s scheduled arrival date. Property will charge the individual attendee one night’s guestroom rate plus tax for cancellations within seventy-two hours (72) hours of the scheduled arrival date or failure of the individual attendee to check-in on the scheduled arrival date (each a “no-show”).
It is Property’s standard policy to require a credit card or cash deposit from individual attendees upon check-in for incidental charges. Hotel check in time is 4:00 pm. Check out time is 11:00 am. Any departures after 11:00 AM are subject to the full day charge. Each guestroom must have at least one registered guest twenty-one (21) years of age or older.
Learn, play, and unwind at Caesars Palace
See what you missed in 2024…
Great news! The CU Leadership Convention is proud to partner with the African-American Credit Union Coalition to host this year’s AACUC Annual Conference, and we look forward to welcoming you to Las Vegas!
As an AACUC member, you will enjoy all the benefits of networking and sharing ideas – and you get the opportunity to experience the country’s most thought-provoking speakers, world-class entertainment, and more chances to apply innovative solutions to the challenges facing credit union leaders today – all in America’s most exciting city! AACUC Members are eligible for an exclusive registration discount! Keep scrolling to access the discount.
Here are just 10 of the benefits AACUC members will enjoy:
- Special opening-day welcoming reception for members to meet old friends and forge new relationships.
- AACUC curated breakout sessions — including our ALL-NEW DEI Summit — discussing the hottest topics in lending, HR, Fintech, Financial Management, Marketing & Branding, Leadership and much more.
- Special Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Award luncheon celebrating this year’s winners.
- AACUC thought-leaders featured throughout the convention all four days!
- A unique opportunity to meet with more than 60 solutions providers in the country’s largest exhibit hall for credit union leaders.
- More chances to learn what’s working — and what’s not — from more than 1,000 of your colleagues.
- Celebrate this year’s recipient of the Renée Sattiewhite Neoteric Changemaker Award winner!
- More opportunities to network and collaborate with your peers at the exclusive AACUC Member Lounge.
- World-class entertainment you and your guests can only experience in Las Vegas!
- A special closing party for you to relax and enjoy your time with friends and colleagues.
- And much more…
Don’t miss Olympic great Jackie Joyner Kersee
Named by Sports Illustrated as “The Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century.”
2024 Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Awards Luncheon
Come celebrate the 2024 Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees during the 47th CU Leadership Convention on Wednesday, July 31. Congratulations to Sandra DeVoe Bland, Board Chair of SRP Federal Credit Union, and Dan Berger, retired President/CEO of NAFCU. This prestigious award recognizes a credit union professional or volunteer whose career best embodies the African-American Credit Union Coalition’s mission to increase the strength of the global credit union community.

Sandra DeVoe Bland
Board Chair
SRP Federal Credit Union

Dan Berger
Retired President/CEO
NAFCU
We look forward to welcoming you to the 47th CU Leadership Convention, presented in partnership with AACUC.
Register TODAY and SAVE with your AACUC Member Discount Code!
Access the AACUC Member Discount code by logging into the AACUC Info Hub.
Not an AACUC Member?
Have questions for AACUC about your membership status or the AACUC Member Discount?
Contact us at membership@aacuc.org.
Great news! The CU Leadership Convention is proud to partner with the African-American Credit Union Coalition to host this year’s AACUC Annual Conference, and we look forward to welcoming you to Las Vegas!
As an AACUC member, you will enjoy all the benefits of networking and sharing ideas – and you get the opportunity to experience the country’s most thought-provoking speakers, world-class entertainment, and more chances to apply innovative solutions to the challenges facing credit union leaders today – all in America’s most exciting city! AACUC Members are eligible for an exclusive registration discount! Keep scrolling to access the discount.
Here are just 10 of the benefits AACUC members will enjoy:
- Special opening-day welcoming reception for members to meet old friends and forge new relationships.
- AACUC curated breakout sessions — including our ALL-NEW DEI Summit — discussing the hottest topics in lending, HR, Fintech, Financial Management, Marketing & Branding, Leadership and much more.
- Special Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Award luncheon celebrating this year’s winners.
- AACUC thought-leaders featured throughout the convention all four days!
- A unique opportunity to meet with more than 60 solutions providers in the country’s largest exhibit hall for credit union leaders.
- More chances to learn what’s working — and what’s not — from more than 1,000 of your colleagues.
- Celebrate this year’s recipient of the Renée Sattiewhite Neoteric Changemaker Award winner!
- More opportunities to network and collaborate with your peers at the exclusive AACUC Member Lounge.
- World-class entertainment you and your guests can only experience in Las Vegas!
- A special closing party for you to relax and enjoy your time with friends and colleagues.
- And much more…
Don’t miss Olympic great Jackie Joyner Kersee
Named by Sports Illustrated as “The Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century.”
2024 Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Awards Luncheon
Come celebrate the 2024 Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees during the 47th CU Leadership Convention on Wednesday, July 31. Congratulations to Sandra DeVoe Bland, Board Chair of SRP Federal Credit Union, and Dan Berger, retired President/CEO of NAFCU. This prestigious award recognizes a credit union professional or volunteer whose career best embodies the African-American Credit Union Coalition’s mission to increase the strength of the global credit union community.
Sandra DeVoe Bland
Board Chair
SRP Federal Credit Union
Dan Berger
Retired President/CEO
NAFCU
We look forward to welcoming you to the 47th CU Leadership Convention, presented in partnership with AACUC.
Register TODAY and SAVE with your AACUC Member Discount Code!
Access the AACUC Member Discount code by logging into the AACUC Info Hub.
Not an AACUC Member?
Register with my AACUC Discount Code:
Have questions for AACUC about your membership status or the AACUC Member Discount?
Contact us at membership@aacuc.org.
ANNOUNCING OUR 2025 KEYNOTE SPEAKER: NFL CHAMPION JOE THEISMANN
Keynote Presentation: The Challenge of Change
NFL Legend Joe Thiesmann
Joe will bring his signature charisma and powerful message to the stage with his keynote, The Challenge of Change. With humor and heart, he’ll share how he turned a career-ending injury into a springboard for a winning mindset – whether on the field, in business, or in life. Expect inspiration, practical insights, and plenty of laughs as he draws parallels between teamwork in sports and achieving big wins in your CU.
Joe Theismann, legendary quarterback for the Washington Redskins, led his team to Super Bowl XVII glory and carved his name into NFL history with record-breaking performances, MVP honors, and a fierce dedication to excellence. After a dramatic end to his career following a nationally televised injury, he reinvented himself as a dynamic entrepreneur, Emmy-winning NFL analyst, and motivational speaker, inspiring countless others with his insights on resilience and success. A College Football Hall of Famer and author of the empowering How to Be a Champion Everyday (2020), Joe’s story is one of triumph, transformation, and unrelenting determination. Known for his long-standing community service efforts, Theismann currently sits on the Sports Advisory Board of the St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
JANELLE SHANE JOINS OUR 2025 KEYNOTE SPEAKER LINEUP!
Keynote Presentation: What AI Can Do – and Can’t
Janelle Shane, Artificial Intelligence Speaker, Humorist
AI is making headlines and disrupting banking. But what IS artificial intelligence, and what is it good at? AI expert Janelle Shane takes a weird and humorous approach to a complex topic and talks about the kinds of problems where AI will succeed, fail, or succeed at solving the wrong problem entirely. She has been featured on the main TED stage, in the New York Times, The Atlantic, WIRED, Popular Science, All Things Considered, Science Friday, and Marketplace, as well as being Futurist in Residence at the Smithsonian. Her book, “You Look Like a Thing and I Love You: How AI Works, Thinks, and Why It’s Making the World a Weirder Place” uses cartoons and humorous pop-culture experiments to look inside the minds of the algorithms that run our world, making artificial intelligence and machine learning both accessible and entertaining. Shane was named one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business, and an Adweek Young Influential.
Agenda
Deep Dive Pre-Conference Workshops - Tuesday 12th
Convention Registration Opens
Deep Dive Pre-Conference Workshop 1 – M & A - Strategic Considerations for Member Focused CUs
Deep Dive Pre-Conference Workshop 2 – Staying on Strategy: Applying Your Strategic Plan into Your Operations and Culture

Deep Dive Pre-Conference Workshop 3 – Leadership: Best Practices for CU Directors

Agenda
Conference - Wednesday 13th
Registration
Exhibit Hall Grand Opening & Continental Breakfast
Keynote Presentation: The Challenge of Change
Learn more here
CEO Roundtable Panel
Details to follow
5 x 5: 5 Speakers Share Their ONE Best Idea That Will Have the BIGGEST Impact on CUs Today
Networking Break in Exhibit Hall
Lunch
Networking/Dessert in Exhibit Hall
Leadership Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
Marketing & Branding Summit - Open a Can of Whoop-Ads!
CXO Summits – details to follow
FinTech Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
Lending Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
HR Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
Trending Summit - Conversant Group?
CXO Summits – details to follow
Growth Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
Transitional Break
Leadership Summit - Digital Partnerships -- How CUs Can Gain a Competitive Advantage to Acquire More Members & More Loans

Marketing & Branding Summit - What makes your CU Unapologetically Unique?

Fintech Summit - Fintech Partnerships: A Blueprint for Credit Union Success

Lending Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
HR Summit - Top Strategies for Effective Succession Planning in the C-Suite

Trending Summit - Top Cybersecurity Challenges Facing CUs Today & How to Respond

Growth Summit - M&A Panel Discussion: A No-Holds Barred Conversation about the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Transitional Break
Leadership Summit - Momentum Now: A Proven System to Lead with Confidence in Your Credit Union

Marketing & Branding Summit - Shifting to a New Value Proposition to Drive Your CU Forward

FinTech Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
Lending Summit - Leveraging Data Analytics to Grow Your Loan Portfolio
CXO Summits – details to follow
HR Summit - The Neuroscience of Trust & CUs Can Empower their Employees

Trending Summit - Building a High-Trust, Member-Centric Culture
Growth Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
Agenda
Conference - Thursday 14th
Exhibit Hall Open
Breakfast of Champions
Come prepared to share with your peers ONE idea that worked in your CU, and enjoy a delicious breakfast to begin the day! All attendees have been asked to RSVP to ensure availability.
Opening Keynote - What AI Can Do -- and Can't
Details to follow
Keynote
2025 Neoteric Changemaker Award Ceremony
Transitional Break
Leadership Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
Marketing & Branding Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
AI Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
Lending Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
HR Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
Trending Summit - The Triple Win: A People-First Approach to CU Mergers

Tech Demo
CXO Summits – details to follow
CU Connect - What's Your Philosophy About Executive Benefits?

CEO Forum
CXO Summits – details to follow
Networking Break in Exhibit Hall
Leadership Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
Marketing & Branding Summit — Marketing your CU in the Joyful and Dark Moments in Your Members' Lives

AI Summit - Engaging Members: From Smiling Faces to AI Interfaces
CXO Summits – details to follow
Lending Summit - Bridging Gaps: Empowering Communities with Non-Prime Auto Lending Solutions
HR Summit — Succession Planning: Best Practices for Building Leaderss and Developing Engagement Among Employees

Trending Summit — Succession Planning: How to Craft a Plan that Supports Your CU’s 5-Year Strategy

Financial Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
Networking Luncheon
Networking Break in Exhibit Hall Exhibit Hall Finale
Guest Experience #1
Guest Experience #2
Leadership Summit — The Parternship Advantage: How Strategic Partnerships Can Revitalize Your CU

Marketing & Branding Summit — Re-branding: Effective Practices to Reinvent Your CU in a Dynamic Market

AI Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
Lending Summit — Best Practices to Grow Your Loan Portfolio Profitability

HR Summit — The Serious Business of Happiness: Proven Principles for High Performance
Trending Summit — Catering to Niche Markets: How One CU Serves Members and Families with Dementia

Financial Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
CU Connect
CXO Summits – details to follow
Transitional Break
Leadership Summit - Resilience in Times of Uncertainty
CXO Summits – details to follow
Branding & Marketing Summit — Break Free from Collaboration Chaos: Reimagine Strategically-Aligned Teamwork for Marketing Success

AI Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
Lending Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
HR Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
Trending Summit - Growth By Focusing on Community: Real World Tactics Every CU Should Know
CXO Summits – details to follow

Growth Summit
CXO Summits – details to follow
Signature Closing Party
Agenda
Conference - Friday 15th
Buffet Breakfast
Underground Collision: Underground Collision" Does the Future of Credit Unions Makes You Want to CUSS!
2-Minute Spotlight: 4 Speakers Have Just 2 Minutes to Deliver their Most Powerful Idea for CUs Today
CXO Summits – details to follow

General Session with Closing Keynote
Details to follow
General Session with Closing Keynote
Details to follow
Conference Adjourns
Hear why our attendees come back year after year!
Learn why David Sowers, CEO of Gulf Wind Credit Union brought his whole C-Suite to the CU Leadership Convention in 2024
Hear from Nick Gowey, CU’ Answers, about why he found the 2024 partnership with the AACUC so valuable
David Tracey, Credit Union REPOS comments on how the CU Leadership Convention helps him better serve the CU community
Mindblowing entertainment announced: Mentalist Frederic Da Silva!
Award Winning Mentalist Frederic Da Silva is performing his mind reading magic show, Paranormal, at the CU Leadership Convention! Be prepared for an evening of mystery, magic, and hypnosis as Frederic delivers a mind-bending, unforgettable evening.
Experience the impossible as internationally acclaimed mentalist Frederic Da Silva takes the stage at the CU Leadership Convention 2025. Known for his mesmerizing show PARANORMAL, Frederic will captivate you with mystery, magic, hypnosis, and mind reading that will leave you spellbound.
Voted Best Mentalist in Europe and ranked as the #1 Magic Show in Las Vegas, Frederic’s jaw-dropping mind reading, elegant humor, and unique charm promise an unforgettable performance. Witness the magic and see why audiences around the world are left questioning reality!

Latonya Allen, CUDE
Chief Lending Officer at Government Printing Office Federal Credit Union
Latonya Allen, Chief Lending Officer at Government Printing Office Federal Credit Union (GPOFCU), is a respected leader with over 23 years of experience in the credit union industry. She is known for her expertise in member lending services, product development, and strategic leadership. In her role, Latonya guides members toward financial success by crafting personalized solutions tailored to their goals. She also shapes the strategic direction of the credit union, driving marketing initiatives for growth and impact. Latonya’s achievements include multiple Marketing Trailblazer Awards and recognition as a 2022 Credit Union Rockstar. She embodies the philosophy of “People Helping People” and is actively involved in industry initiatives, serving as a Chapter Liaison for the African-American Credit Union Coalition and an advocate for the Underground Movement. Through her commitment to excellence and empowerment, Latonya Allen continues to make a significant impact on the credit union movement.

Jen Anthony
Vice President, Think|Stack
Jen serves as Vice President of Cybersecurity and Risk at Think|Stack, providing strategic and visionary oversight to the portfolio of security services offered to Think|Stack partners and clients. With over 24 years of experience in national defense and response, highly regulated corporate technology environments, and the nonprofit sector, Jen offers a unique and highly personalized approach to the way we think about Cybersecurity and its implications for businesses, consumers, and leaders at every level.
Prior to joining Think|Stack, Jen served as the Chief Information Officer for a 10-facility healthcare firm where she rapidly introduced best practices and processes that eliminated 7 critical audit findings and reduced the IT spending across all business lines by 27% within her first 12 months. Additionally, Jen is a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force where she had the privilege to lead the command and control of 11,000 offensive and defensive cyberspace operators serving across the globe in support of Department of Defense requirements.

Raj Bandaru
CIO, Kinecta FCU
Bringing over 25 years of experience in leading digital transformation initiatives within the banking, financial services and credit union industries, Bandaru is responsible for managing the technology infrastructure and digital strategic initiatives to support Kinecta's strong financial position and longstanding commitment to its members, employees and communities.
Bandaru started his career as an Oracle database developer and an AIX system administrator and consulted with several different Fortune 500 companies prior to joining JPMorgan Chase & Co, where he worked for 14 years holding various leadership roles of increasing responsibilities managing global teams and leading several strategic initiatives, mergers, acquisitions, conversions, datacenter consolidations and offshoring initiatives.

Jason Bedsworth
Founder & President, CFS Insight
Jason is the founder of CFS Insight. Two things that Jason enjoys most about his role with CFS include the following: First is building road maps for CFS customers to accomplish their goals. The second is recruiting and enabling CFS Insight’s team members to see the benefits of their effort in helping customers successfully navigate those road maps. Jason’s work experience includes a variety of sales and engineering roles in the software development industry. Jason is married to his very capable and beautiful wife (Louise) and has four children (Sarah, Emma, Kyle and Anna Mae). Jason recently moved to the Nashville, TN area and is enjoying exploring and discovering his new surroundings.

LaSonya Berry, SPHR
CHRO, AACUC / CEO, McPherson, Berry & Associates
LaSonya Berry is an HR thought leader, author, and speaker. She is also the founder of McPherson|Berry - an industry award winning firm that provides HR consulting services, leadership development, champion diversity, equity & inclusion, and capacity building solutions to grow organizations. She leads an organization that helps businesses and individuals achieve their full potential by increasing performance, driving operational excellence, minimizing risks, and building leaders.
LaSonya is an Enterprising Woman of the Year, WBENC Business Star, NMSDC Supplier of the Year, one of the 25 Most Powerful Minority Women in Business, and among the list of Charleston Business Journal’s Forty Under 40. McPherson|Berry made the exclusive HR industry Leadership 500 Excellence Award for leadership development and programs specifically for women and individuals in STEM areas. LaSonya is the developer of the national business development program for minority millennial CEOs and the Next Level Programs for increasing diverse leaders in the workplace and in business.
She has served on various boards including the NAAAHR, SHRM Georgia State Council, and the CVMSDC. A two-time Clemson University alumna, LaSonya holds a BS in Industrial Engineering, an MS in Human Resource Development, and ABD in Educational Leadership. She frequently writes human resources content and publications, is featured in several magazines, a sought after national speaker, and works with executives as a Performance Coach. LaSonya has authored several books including “101 Power Tips for the Workplace” and the “CEO Strategy Planner” for business owners and executives.

John Bissell
President & CEO, Greylock FCU
Greylock Federal Credit Union is honored to announce that its President/CEO John L. Bissell was elected to a three-year term on the national board of directors of the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC).
The AACUC was created to increase the strength of the global credit union community and recognizes the differences and distinctions of each individual, group, or organization that are represented in society and within the credit union movement.
“We are delighted to receive John’s talents on the AACUC Board of Directors,” states Maurice R. Smith, AACUC Board Chairman. Smith continues, “John brings a proven record of thought leadership to the Organization. The Board continually contemplates how to best serve the entire Credit Union Movement. We are excited for the contributions John already provides for our endeavors.”
Bissell was one of three elected from a pool of esteemed nominees from across the credit union industry. In response to his successful bid, Bissell said “I am passionately committed to achieving true financial inclusion. My commitment with Greylock is to overcome the impact of historic redlining practices in local communities, expose and eliminate bias within credit scoring and lending, and raise up professional leadership voices from underserved communities.”

Jennie Boden
CEO, Quantum Governance
Jennie Boden is Chief Executive Officer at Quantum Governance. She brings to the position more than 30 years of leadership and management experience in the nonprofit sector and extensive experience in credit union governance and strategic planning.
Ms. Boden leads a team of consultants including both full-time and adjunct consultants, topical specialists and other experts to meet the governance and strategic needs of the firm’s clients. Additionally, Ms. Boden directs product and services development and future alliances with strategic partners.
During her tenure at Quantum Governance, she has worked with clients as varied as Camphill Village, the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, Hudson Valley Credit Union, Redwood Credit Union, Rivermark Community Credit Union, Con Edison, Gerontological Society of America, Queens County Farm, Children of Faith Missions, the Credit Union Executives Society, the Friends of the National Arboretum, the Tipping Point Community and many, many more.
Previously Jennie served as Executive Director of the Severna Park Community Center, a community-based nonprofit that enhances family life and individual development. During her tenure, SPCC grew its revenues from $1.1 million to more than $1.6 million in 16+ months. Prior, she served as the ED of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, realigning its programs, developing its first strategic plan; re-building its Board; and managing nearly $1 million in state and federal grants.

Tomer Borenstein
CTO & Co-Founder, BlastPoint
Tomer Borenstein has significantly expanded BlastPoint by developing AI technology for highly regulated industries. His leadership fostered partnerships, extending the technology’s reach that currently serves over 20% of the United States. He has been named a Business Times’ “30 under 30,” has authored numerous articles and speaks regularly at conferences on the benefits of A.I. and machine learning for customer engagement and business growth. His previous work in the startup space includes an exit to Apple. Tomer holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a Master’s in Machine Learning and Computer Vision from Carnegie Mellon University.

Jim Bouchard
Founder, The SENSEI LEADER Movement
By his own admission, Jim should have been dead or in jail many times over. Martial arts helped him overcome a life of crippling self-doubt and self-destruction. In his programs, Jim shares his inspiring transformation from dropout and drug addict to Black Belt and Sensei -- and how that experience made him a genuine leader. He went on to open 5 martial arts schools, helping hundreds of people achieve their Black Belt rank, and thousands more discover their best selves.
Today, Jim helps leaders around the world connect on a deeply human level to attract, engage, and lead people to their highest levels of performance and productivity.
He provides interactive keynotes and leadership programs for credit union audiences around the world. Clients include The Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions, SCCUA, CUNA, CUES, and many others.
His articles are featured in CU Insight, CU Journal, CU Times, and he appears regularly on TV and radio, including such programs as CU Broadcast, BBC Worldview and FOX News. Jim also hosts Walking The Walk, a leadership podcast highlighting compassionate, engaged leaders from all areas of business, diverse cultures and experiences.

Leigh Brady
President and Chief Executive Officer, SECU
Leigh Brady is the President and Chief Executive Officer of State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU), the first female to hold this position at the nation’s second largest credit union. Prior to being named to her current position in July 2023, she was Chief Operating Officer, providing oversight for retail operations, deposits and central functions, card services, human resources, training, marketing, communications, outreach, the Credit Union’s CUSO services, and the SECU Foundation. Having been at SECU for over 36 years, Leigh began her career as an accountant at SECU and has served in a variety of operations positions throughout the organization, helping to grow the Credit Union, which now serves nearly 2.8 million members and operates branches in all 100 North Carolina counties. Brady holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from North Carolina State University and a Master of Business Administration from Meredith College. She previously held several insurance licenses and obtained the Credit Union Development Educator designation.

Sedric Brinson
Chairman and Co-founder, L.E.A.D (Leaders Engaged in Action and Development) MS
Sedric Brinson lives his life by the simple standard of the Golden Rule of treating others how he would like to be treated. A born leader who wants nothing more than to see others succeed and to see their goals accomplished. His passion for people is what fuels his desire of seeing communities thrive financially. Sedric’s purpose in life is simply to bring awareness to the Credit Union mantle of people helping people. He is a huge advocate for Financial Literacy and helping to meet the needs of members in the community. Sedric has served in the finance industry for 20 years. As a converted (Banker), he used those experiences as a driving force to make a difference in the Credit Union Space. Sedric received his C.U.D.E designation in the Best Class Ever of November 2017. Sedric is also a graduate of the Southwest Credit Union Management School at TCU in 2019. He currently serves as the chairman and Co- founder of L.E.A.D MS (Leaders Engaged in Action and Development), which is a young professionals group geared specifically toward the development of young, eager professionals looking to be mentored and developed in their careers. This initiative has already received national attention from other CU pioneers all over the country. He believes that young people are the driving force of this country moving forward and he wants nothing more than to be a mentor toward the excellence that they already possess. Outside of family and work, Sedric has a strong passion for music. Sedric is one of the Lead singers for the 601 Live Band. An energetic cover band that loves to bring people together in unity to have a great time. Singing all the hits from Old School Stevie Wonder to today’s top hits. Sedric believes that God, Family, and Friends are the pleasures and joys of life. Without them, there is no success.

Sharon Camper
Chief People Officer, Apple FCU
Sharon Camper has extensive experience in human resources and administration. Sharon currently serves as the Chief People Officer at Apple Federal Credit Union since September 2019. Prior to this, they were the Managing Director of Human Resources and Administration at State Department Federal Credit Union from July 2005 to August 2019. Before that, they worked at Discovery Communications as a Human Resources Client Manager from November 1997 to October 2004. Earlier in their career, they held the position of Director of Human Resources at Hechts, May Corporation from July 1995 to December 1997.
Sharon Camper holds a Master of Science degree in Organizational Development and Strategic Human Resources from The Johns Hopkins University. Sharon also obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Potomac College-Washington, with a specialization in Business Administration and Management. Additionally, they have obtained a certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Building a Diverse Workforce from Cornell University in December 2022.

Tad Carlson
VP – IT Solutions & Development, Royal Credit Union
Results-oriented IT leader with over 20 years of experience leading IT teams across various industries, including financial, retail, insurance, and manufacturing. Championed the development and implementation of a robust business intelligence and analytics program. Successfully integrated this program into business units leading to increased efficiency and revenue, while improving operational expense, Member experience and innovative mindset.

Marquis Carroll
Chief Executive Officer, MSC Security
Marquis Carroll is an accomplished Cyber Security expert that has consulted and worked for Fortune 500 companies and government agencies leading large scale security programs. His decorated career has led him to building MSC Security, a leading managed services firm that supports government agencies and businesses with their IT, Cyber Security, and Software Development initiatives.

Zach Christensen
Director, DEI & Digital Services, Mitchell, Stankovic & Associates
Zach Christensen is an executive leader with both strategic and technical skills. As a digital marketer, video and virtual engagement producer and credit union fanatic, he has quickly shifted to a virtual environment driving execution of initiatives for both his organization and clients. He is the director of communications and digital marketing at Mitchell Stankovic & Associates driving change in leadership and strategic planning in this new, virtual world. He is a key contributor of thought leadership for the Underground Collisions and is a co-founder of CU Pride.
Zach has over 15 years of experience within the credit union industry in business development, client relationships, market awareness and consumer service evaluation. His expertise includes the development of candidates for key strategic positions within credit unions and high level of communication with C-Suite executives. Highlights:

Stephen M.R. Covey
Bestselling Author, Trust & Inspire
Stephen M. R. Covey is a sought-after and compelling keynote speaker and advisor on trust, leadership, ethics, and high performance, he speaks to audiences around the world. He is the New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The SPEED of Trust, a groundbreaking and paradigm-shifting book that challenges our age-old assumption that trust is merely a soft, social virtue and instead demonstrates that trust is a hard-edged, economic driver. The Speed of Trust has been translated into 22 languages and has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. Stephen M. R. Covey latest book is Trust & Inspire in which he lays out his vision for a new form of leadership as well as a framework and in-depth advice to guide you there.
Stephen M. R. Covey is the former CEO of Covey Leadership Center, which, under his stewardship, became the largest leadership development company in the world. Covey personally led the strategy that propelled his father’s book, Dr. Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, to one of the most influential business books of the 20th Century, according to CEO Magazine.
Over the years, Covey has gained considerable respect and influence with executives and leaders of Fortune 500 companies.

Justin Crawley
Senior Advisor, Abrigo
Justin started his career as a consultant 12 years ago in Atlanta, GA with a boutique financial consulting firm named Vertical Capital Advisors. His time there was focused primarily on securing alternative financing for clients with troubled debt in the years immediately following the Great Recession. That role led to relationships with many special assets departments at community banks across the Southeast, and Vertical Capital Advisors built a practice around court appointed receiverships for defaulted commercial loans over which Justin was appointed Director.
In 2018, Justin joined the then-small advisory team at Sageworks and spent the first 5+ years helping credit unions and banks transition their allowance methodologies and align the institutions with best practices surrounding the Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) accounting standard. Over the last 12 months, Justin transitioned to a role on the Advisory Solutions team at Abrigo and assists in developing novel reporting and analytics tools, such as Abrigo Connect and the accompanying Advisory Services curated intelligence deliverables.
Justin holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Georgia and lives in Raleigh, NC with his wife and their 3 year-old son.

Dohnia Dorman
Chief Experience Officer, African-American Credit Union Coalition
Dorman is an experienced credit union professional with more than 10 years in the industry, having served as Vice President of Marketing for Rio Grande Credit Union ($518 million in assets) and most recently several positions at Suncoast Credit Union ($14 billion in assets) including Enterprise Agility Portfolio Manager, Vice President of Account Relationship Operations (formerly Deposit Operations) and Marketing Director.
In 2012, she was named “Rookie of the Year” by the Credit Union Executive Society and received Albuquerque Business First’s Woman of Influence award in 2013. She is an accomplished professional holding a Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication and double major in Spanish from the University of New Mexico, along with several certifications such as Certified Diversity Equity and Inclusion from the University of South Florida and Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Nonprofit Leadership Center.
An avid learner, teacher and volunteer, Dorman has participated in Filene Research Institute’s i3 innovation program and has taught at her alma mater’s Department of Communication and Journalism. Dorman is no stranger to AACUC, having been a member since 2020 and responsible for chairing the AACUC Annual Virtual Conferences in 2020 and 2021. She serves her local community in different capacities, including the Junior League.

Peter Duffy
Managing Director, Piper Sandler Companies
Peter Duffy is Managing Director at Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. in New York City. Duffy works with Credit Unions and banks nationwide in competitive analysis, investment portfolio development, charter decisions, board meetings, loan portfolio sales and ALM.
Duffy is the former Chairman of the Credit Union Executive Society Financial Suppliers Advisory Committee and has been a frequent speaker at credit union and bank conferences since 1996, including the November 2006 AEI Panel on the CU Charter. Duffy has worked with credit unions and banks since 1993, has written a monthly column for C.U.E.S. and has been published in C.U. Times and C.U. Journal discussing issues such as competitiveness, investments, asset/liability management, the economy, the right metrics for CUs and charter decisions.
Prior to Sandler O’Neill, Peter Duffy spent 11 years at the Procter and Gamble Company in sales and sales management where he was involved in many test market initiatives for the company. Duffy was also a Sales Manager for Sealy Mattress and National Foods. Most recently, he spent 10 years at First Empire Securities and a year and a half at KBW both in New York.
Duffy is a 1977 graduate of Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, Texas where he earned a B.A. in Business Management with a Minor in Marketing. Duffy is a 1973 graduate of Plano High School.
Peter Duffy lives in New York, has coached youth sports for over 30 years and fly fishes whenever he can.

Nick Evens
President & CEO, Curql Collective, LLC
As President and CEO of Curql Collective, Nick cultivates opportunities to help fintech and credit unions collaborate on breakthrough technologies that minimize threats and successfully improve, disrupt and position the industry with a best-in-class member experience.
Prior to leading Curql Collective, Nick was President of The Veridian Group, Inc. (TVG), the wholly-owned CUSO holding company of Veridian Credit Union, where he led investment strategy and direction for the $5.2B institution. Based in Waterloo, Iowa, TVG’s holdings include Veridian Insurance and Veridian Fiscal Solutions with total staff over 45 strong. During his tenure, Nick managed TVG’s more than ten direct minority investments in CUSO companies, positioning the organization with direct equity stakes in Dwolla, Alkami Technology and Moov Financial and committing approximately $10MM in six venture or seed capital funds.

Deborah Fears
President & CEO, Chicago Post Office Employees CU
Deborah Fears currently serves as President/CEO of Chicago Post Office Employees Credit Union. With more than 20 years of experience in finance, accounting and human resources management, she has spent the last several years steering the credit union to unprecedented loan and membership growth – while working to cultivate an environment of financial wellness for all.
Deborah received an MBA in Business Strategy and Decision Making, and a B.S. in Finance with minor studies in Japanese, both from DePaul University. She holds the Certified Credit Union Executive (CCUE) designation from CUNA, and is a Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE).
Deborah is involved with various credit union boards and committees within the industry. She is the current Chapter President for the Midwest Regional Chapter of the African American Credit Union Coalition and serves as a Director on the Envisant board - the CUSO of the Illinois Credit Union League. She is also the Vice Chair for America’s Credit Union’s Small Credit Union Committee.
Deborah has a strong belief in the credit union’s mission of ‘People Helping People’ and works each day to do so in the communities where she lives, works and serves.

John Felton
CEO, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union
John has been instrumental in establishing Southern Chautauqua FCU as the only Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Credit Union in Chautauqua County, which is one of the poorest counties in New York State. Under his leadership, the credit union received the following awards:
• Juntos Avanzamos designation from Inclusiv recognizing their Hispanic outreach efforts,
• The Desjardins Financial Education Award from the New York Credit Union Association,
• The Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award from the New York Credit Union Association, and
• SCFCU was recognized by the National Youth Involvement Board for their Kids’ Credit Union program.
Additionally, he was recognized by The Business Teachers Association of New York State with the Hobart H. Conover Friend of Business Education Award for 2018-2019.
John lives in Lakewood, NY with his family and enjoys traveling, family time, and the occasional golf game.

Juan Fernandez
President & CEO, Louisiana Credit Union League
Juan comes from the Credit Union Association of New Mexico, where he served as President and CEO. Juan has worked in the credit union movement for over two decades and has a strong background in Government Affairs. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Binghamton University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Western Governors University.

Eric Fifield
Chief Revenue Officer, EFG Companies
Eric Fifield brings more than 30 years of automotive industry experience to EFG Companies. As the Chief Revenue Officer, he is responsible for client development and acquisition. Eric holds his team accountable for setting continuously higher standards and providing EFG’s clients with the highest level of expertise and engagement. Prior to EFG, Eric served as the Regional Sales Manager and Vice President of sales for Great American Insurance. His career began with the Penske Corporation where he worked in many capacities, including the director of training. Eric’s clients have included organizations such as AutoNation, Ford Motor Company, Honda Motor Company, Chicago Automobile Trade Association, and hundreds of agents and dealers across the country.

Nash Fung
Magician & Keynote Speaker
Nash Fung is a keynote speaker & magician who empowers his audiences through his engaging keynotes. Drawing from his 16 + years of experience as a crisis line volunteer, he now unveils the curtain on the magic of empathetic communication, teaching leaders how to lead with empathy and make others feel heard, understood, valued, and empowered.
In his keynotes, Nash uses magic, engaging stories, and interactive exercises to guide his attendees to experience the key messages. His presentations have been featured on TEDx, and he has inspired corporate audiences like Meta, Amazon, credit unions etc…People are the heartbeat of your organization, and Nash is passionate about helping your team excel in connecting & empowering each other.

Tamra Gaines
President, Tamra Gaines & Associates
With nearly three decades of multifaceted experience spanning corporate environments and association leadership, Tamra Gaines is deeply committed to nurturing the growth and advancement of individuals. Her primary focus lies in leveraging her expertise as a speaker and certified business coach to guide others on their unique journeys toward impactful leadership.
A seasoned CUDE (Credit Union Development Educator) with a decade-long tenure collaborating with credit unions at the league-level, Tamra's innovative approach and strategic acumen have delivered tailored programs catering to a diverse spectrum, ranging from young professionals to board volunteers.
Her published work, "The Pillars of Confidence" (2015), stands as a testament to her dedication, evolving from her volunteer contributions with Big Brothers-Big Sisters. This passion project offers laser-focused strategies for fostering confidence in both personal and professional spheres.
Tamra's leadership has garnered numerous accolades, underscoring her exceptional contributions. Her commitment extends beyond individual endeavors, as she has actively served on multiple boards and advisory councils, shaping and influencing various sectors.

Johnny Garlich
Founder, The Member Closing Center
Johnny Garlich has devoted more than four decades to fostering synergy between innovation and technology. As the Founder of The Member Closing Center in 2014, Johnny assumes the role of the principal visionary. Johnny is dedicated to empowering members to save thousands in car ownership expenses, while concurrently driving revenue growth and enhancing wallet share. Johnny's commitment to ensuring the availability of this strategic vision was underscored as he taught himself coding skills to develop an interactive, educational software. Pioneering again, Johnny spearheaded the creation of a credit union-centric remote auto loan closing process. Prior to The MCC, Johnny's entrepreneurial journey encompassed roles as Dealer Principal for dealerships in Kansas and Missouri. Transitioning into the financial services sector he founded Heart Dealer Financial Services, an aftermarket agency with a distinguished 30-year history of exceptional performance. A Stanford University alumnus, Johnny brings a wealth of knowledge, industry acumen, and innovative thinking to every venture he undertakes.

Ryan Giffin
SVP, Client Success, LendKey
Ryan oversees the Client Success team, comprised of account management, client services, and implementations. These teams are responsible for the growth, development, and on-going support of our lending partners to ensure program success and profitability. Ryan has spent his career in financial services and was a credit union lending executive prior to joining LendKey. Ryan majored in finance at Indiana University, Bloomington, and received his Master’s in Business Administration from Ohio State University.

Billy Guthrie
Managing Director, Darling Consulting Group
Billy is a Managing Director at Darling Consulting Group, working directly with financial institution executives to leverage data analytics to support strategic deposit decisions through Deposits360°®, DCG’s proprietary tool. In addition to supporting deposit strategy, he also educates DCG’s client base on validating and better understanding key deposit assumptions utilized in risk models.
Billy began his career with DCG in 2008 as a financial analyst. He is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a degree in finance and management.

Emma Hayes
Chief Learning & Engagement Officer, SECU
Emma Hayes is the chief learning and engagement officer for the Raleigh, North Carolina-based State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU). She has over 25 years of experience serving in various roles. In her current role, she oversees equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) learning and organizational development, and employee engagement. Through corporate partnership, Emma also serves as the chief diversity officer (CDO) for the African American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC).

Ronaldo Hardy
President and CEO, NACUSO
As a purpose-driven, high-results CEO Ronaldo led Southwest Louisiana CU to become a certified CDFI and $950,000 CDFI Award-Winner working with CU Strategic Planning. His legacy at SWLACU is the development of an executive team capable of maintaining the phenomenal 1.22% ROA, 7% yield on average loans and more than 10% annual loan growth left in their hands.
Ronaldo is a thought leader and highly sought after speaker on Diversity Equity and Inclusion raising awareness of and knowledge about the practicum as a keynote speaker at CUNA Management School, SW CUNA Management School, Western CUNA Management Alumni Association, CUES, and the NCUA's Inaugural Diversity Summit. He is published in The Credit Union Journal, CU Times, CU Insight, Credit Union Magazine and CU Today. Dozens of peer CEOs receive his counsel annually including in recovering from, responding to and establishing new processes in the wake of the industry's most significant, headline-making racial crises in 2018 and 2019. He currently serves as the President and CEO of NACUSO, an organization focused on inspiring innovation and cultivating collaboration in the credit union industry.
Ronaldo received holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and Masters of Science in Human Resource Education with a concentration in Leadership Development. He is an alumnus of the Urban Leadership Development Institute and CUES CEO Institute at the Wharton School of Business.

Tim Harrington
CPA, President, TEAM Resources
Tim Harrington started working with banks and credit unions in 1988. Tim and TEAM Resources have a long history of helping financial institutions move forward with greater confidence, profitability and integrity, to serve their market or field of membership better. His leadership topics and board governance training have taken him beyond the financial services industry.
While there are many “speakers,” Tim “talks.” He talks from the heart. More importantly, he talks to the heart. It is the heart where each of us truly lives. Inspiring people in an organization requires first, touching their hearts. Helping them to feel and see what a group is attempting to accomplish is the key. Everyone wants to do their best – for themselves, their family, their co-workers, their customers. When their “heart is in it” their best can emerge.
In Tim’s talks, Eisenhower on Enlightened Leadership and A Higher Purpose, he inspires people to live their highest dreams and their highest ideals. He encourages individuals and organizations to live “on purpose.” To do something so someone else’s life can be better. Tim reminds people that if they help other’s achieve their dreams, they will achieve and even surpass their own.

Emily Hollis
CEO, ALM First
Emily Hollis has served as a principal of ALM First Financial Advisors since the company was established in 1995. As CEO, Emily’s mantra of always putting clients’ best interests first along with her open-door management style has developed a strong and capable team of trusted, unbiased advisors. Under her leadership, the company has steadily grown to more than $50 billion of investments under management, with a client base of more than 300 financial institutions representing more than $425 billion in assets. Emily’s advice on complex issues, such as derivatives use, is sought-after by industry leaders and regulators alike.
A well-known figure in the investment community and a renowned expert in asset liability management, Emily is a popular speaker at industry functions. Speaking engagements have included sessions for the Financial Managers Society and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as well a number of bank and credit union trade associations. Emily is also a loyal contributor to bank and credit union publications such as CU Business, CU Times, CUNA Councils, Bank ALM, Western Banker Magazine and more.
Prior to ALM First, Emily was vice president for Kidder Peabody Asset Management; chief investment officer for a large financial institution; and an investment trader for a New York Stock Exchange Company, responsible for executing trades for the firm’s fixed-income and foreign receivable portfolios. Her experience includes managing a $6 billion fixed-income investment portfolio and investing in derivatives.
Emily holds a master’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in arts from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Texas Christian University. She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

Ashley Holloway
Partner Sales Manager, Amazon Web Services
I am a hard-working hands-on leader who strives to execute and deliver quality products and services to support internal and external customers achieve success. I'm accustomed to operating in high-stress, high-tempo environments on complex projects with high visibility. I enjoy facilitating discussions and negotiations with business and technical stakeholders and strive to promote different perspectives within an organization. I have experience in various levels of an organization in both the public and private sector.
I graduated from the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University with a Bachelor Degree in Computer Science and also completed a Masters Degree from Loyola University Chicago in Management Information Systems. I also served in the Army National Guard for eight years. With the mix of education, military and working experience, I am driven to understand and solve problems, create innovative solutions that challenge the "status quo" and promote teamwork to help achieve common goals and objectives.

Rob Hoyle
Chief Information Officer, Vantage West Credit Union
Rob is a passionate servant-leader who thrives on finding innovative ways to solve problems. Having led technology teams for more than 25 years, he is currently the Chief Information Officer at Vantage West Credit Union. As the CIO, he has ultimate accountability for Technology, Digital Banking, Decision Intelligence, Information Security, and the Project Management Office. He is known as a collaborative leader and enjoys working across the credit union to improve the lives of Members and staff alike.
Rob’s background in technology leadership spans several verticals including municipal government; cognitive psychology, large-scale visualization, and medical imaging research at the university level; healthcare; and facilities management. He has excelled at developing and implementing transformative technologies in each of these arenas. He joined the Credit Union movement in 2018, bringing with him a unique viewpoint based on the variety of his experience and has enjoyed applying those lessons to contribute to the success of Credit Unions.

Delana Huling
President & CEO, Baylor Health Care System Credit Union
Ms. Huling currently serves as President and CEO of Baylor Health Care System Credit Union in Dallas, Texas. With over 20 years of operational and transformational leadership in the financial industry she has a proven track record of building diverse teams and leading coalitions to drive organizational peak performance. Delana’s passion for people fuels her commitment to identify, coach and develop emerging leaders.
Delana earned her bachelor’s degree from Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, Texas. She is an alumnus of the Best Southwest Leadership program (TX) and earned a certified diversity professional designation from Cornell University (NY). She recently earned the Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) designation.
Delana is the Texas Regional Chapter President for the African American Credit Union Coalition and incoming AACUC national Board Director. She is a member of Credit Union Women Leadership Alliance, Credit Union National Association CEO and Operations Councils, Global Women’s Leadership Network, Healthcare Credit Union Association, and North TX Sister Society.
Baylor Health Care System Credit Union was founded on July 11, 1957 by 11 health care professionals who deposited a total of $572.75 in an effort to help each other with loans and savings opportunities. Today the Credit Union has over 5,400 members and $91 million in assets. Over the course of our 60+ year history, the Credit Union has grown to be a full service financial institution, serving the diverse needs of members and their families for lifetimes and generations.

Milton Hunt
President, author of 10 Keys to Maximizing Your Potential
For more than 30 years, Milton Hunt has lived all that he teaches and speaks in his Employee Training, Motivational Speaking, and Employee Coaching services and programs. Hunt is a Native American, a member of the Lumbee tribe. Having embraced his heritage, the principles, methods, and messages he utilizes and shares with clients and audiences are a blend of both professional expertise and personal experience.
Hunt recognizes vulnerabilities among populations and unifies cultural and generational differences among individuals and groups of all ages. Those who engage with Hunt easily identify with him and they sense, “He understands me.” And he does. Hunt has trained and coached in the corporate, government and private sectors. He also is a keynote and motivational speaker, an “edu-tainer,” known for delivering powerful and proven ideas in informative, captivating, and exciting ways. In all endeavors, Hunt performs with high energy and immense dedication.

Tracey Jackson
President/CEO Treasury Department FCU
Jackson has over thirteen years of experience in the credit union industry and has in-depth experience providing analysis of cash management and asset-liability management modeling. Jackson joins the executive management team and is responsible for leading comprehensive financial programs and initiatives across all businesses and products at an enterprise level.
Jackson has a Master’s of Science in Financial Management from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Morgan State University. Additionally, she is certified as one of CUNA’s Certified Credit Union Financial Counselors (CCUFC) and has held that certification for seven years.
Jackson shows her devotion to service by volunteering her time to the credit union industry. She has served as a President for the Financial Managers Society Maryland Chapter, Internship Program Manager for the African American Credit Union Coalition, Board Member of the CUNA CCUFC Advisory Board, and an Advisory Board Member for the Maryland District of Columbia Credit Union Association’s Young Professional Network. Jackson is currently serving as a Board Member for the African American Credit Union Coalition.

John Janclaes
President, NYMBUS
Janclaes has spent more than 30 years in the credit union industry, starting in 1989 as an executive vice president and chief business development officer at Logix Federal Credit Union. In 2004 he took the helm as president and CEO of Partners FCU, the credit union chartered to serve Disney employees and their families. In his time at Partners, Janclaes oversaw five-fold asset growth, and the credit union today holds more than $2.1 billion of assets.
Nymbus, a firm providing technology solutions for banks and credit unions, has launched its own credit union service organization and selected John Janclaes as the first president of Nymbus CUSO. The firm is intended to help credit unions grow by connecting them with fintechs that can help grow revenue while improving relationships with members.

Carolyn Jordan
Chief Growth Officer, Neighborhood CU
Carolyn Jordan leads the growth areas of the credit union, including the online and mobile digital channel, data analytics, special projects, product development, marketing, and advocacy. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas A&M-Commerce with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She also holds a Graduate Marketing Certificate from SMU’s Cox School of Business. In 2021, she earned her Master of Science in Business Analytics from Texas A&M University-Commerce. With over four decades of industry experience, Carolyn is well respected by her peers on the local, state, and national levels. Carolyn currently serves on the Consumer Depository Institutions Advisory Council for the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank, the Credit Union National Association Political and Grassroots Network, and the executive committee of the Texas Regional Chapter of the African American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC). She is a past Chair and current member of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Operations and Member Experience Council, a nationwide forum for credit union leaders.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Olympic Great
Born in 1962, in East St. Louis, Illinois, Jackie Joyner Kersee came from very humble beginnings. To this day, she is still humble and loves to give back to the community despite having been dubbed ‘The Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century’ by Sports Illustrated.
Jackie’s athletic accomplishments are world-renowned and are literally second to none. By the conclusion of her career in the heptathlon and long jump events she had amassed 6 Olympic medals and 4 World Champion titles. Jackie was the first woman in history to earn more than 7,000 points in the heptathlon, and today, over 20 years later, she still holds the world heptathlon record of 7,291 points. She continues to hold the Olympic and national records in the long jump, and her 1994 performance in the long jump remains the second-longest in history. In addition to heptathlon and long jump, Jackie was a world-class 100m and 200m runner and, after a decorated All-American career in basketball at UCLA, she eventually played professional basketball for a short time.Less well known, however, are Jackie’s tireless efforts and remarkable accomplishments off the field as a philanthropist and an advocate for children’s education, health issues (in particular asthma from which she has suffered throughout her life), racial equality, social reform, and women’s rights. Never one to be classified as merely an athlete, Jackie says, “I strive to be a Jackie of all trades.”
Jackie Joyner Kersee has received many prestigious awards, including the St. Louis Ambassadors Sportswoman of the Year, Sporting News Athlete of the Year Award (the first woman to receive either of these awards), the Sullivan Award, and consecutively winning the Jesse Owens Memorial Award. She is available for speaking engagements, personal appearances, and autograph signings.

Nancy Kappler-Foster
Board Treasurer, Hudson Valley Credit Union,
Nancy Kappler-Foster has been a member of Hudson Valley Credit Union for over 30 years, and a committed volunteer for two thirds of that time. She began serving in 2002 as a member of the Supervisory Committee, chairing the committee in 2010/2011. During her tenure on the Board of Directors from 2012 - June of 2024, she held positions including Assistant Treasurer, Treasurer, and Chair of the Board. She chaired the most recent CEO Search Task Force and served on many committees including Policy and Governance, Compensation and Benefits, and Asset Liability Management. In addition, she served on two task forces, which worked to streamline board/management communications through use of an online portal. Mrs. Kappler-Foster brings a wealth of accounting experience to her volunteer role, serving in staff and management positions with IBM. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in American Studies from Syracuse University, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from SUNY New Paltz. A continuous learner, she has completed several courses, seminars, and conferences on credit union and Supervisory Committee related topics.

Maria Kell
Co-Founder, KellMoore & Associates
Maria Kell advises businesses on qualified and non-qualified benefits, as well as Corporate-Owned Life Insurance (COLI). Her expertise in mergers and acquisitions, audit, lending, credit, accounting, and banking enables her to provide innovative solutions to fit her clients’ needs.
Maria has over 25 years of experience designing and implementing executive compensation plans for a diverse group of businesses and organizations. As an executive at a $1.3 billion dollar organization, she created and managed sales and incentive compensation.
When Maria is not helping clients maximize their compensation plans, she enjoys spending time with her four children and 12 grandchildren.

Joe Kennerson
Managing Director, Darling Consulting Group
Joe is a Managing Director at Darling Consulting Group, where he works directly with senior management teams on building customized balance sheet strategies to improve earnings and manage risk. Joe strives to be an expert in overall Asset Liability Management and educates ALCOs in the inevitable balance of financial performance and regulatory appeasement. Joe speaks at numerous industry associations reaching thousands of bankers every year. He is an expert at helping bring clarity to the complex and delivers a high level of energy to his ALM presentations.
Joe has been with DCG since 2005, where he has benefited from working with nearly a thousand ALCOs throughout the country on ALM and strategic initiatives. He lives in Boxford, MA with his wife and two daughters and has been an active member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Joe is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a degree in finance.

C. J. Klump
Senior Director, Consumer Credit Products, Visa
C.J. Klump leads the U.S. Consumer Credit Strategy & Solutions team at Visa. In this role, C.J. manages a team that helps financial institutions launch new Visa credit products, services, capabilities, and benefits. Prior to joining Visa in 2012, C.J. spent five years at Citi working with retail clients on optimizing their private label and co-brand product marketing programs and growing their sales finance businesses.
He holds a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University’s Owen School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Illinois’ Gies College of Business.

Gabe Krajicek
CEO, Kasasa
Gabriel Krajicek empowers community financial institutions with disruptive innovations and champions them in their fight for market dominance against megabanks and new industry players. Gabe is captain of Kasasa®. CEO since 2005, he has provided more than 900 community banks and credit unions with banking technology and marketing services, including the nationally branded Kasasa product suite. If all Kasasa financial institutions were a single bank, they'd be the fourth largest bank in the country, based on number of branches.
Inc. Magazine heralded the company's advances under Gabe's guidance, naming it the 23rd fastest-growing private company in America in 2009. That year, Gabe unveiled Kasasa, a national brand of highly profitable consumer-centric financial products offered exclusively at select community financial institutions. In 2018 Gabe was named to Glassdoor’s Employee’s Choice List of the Top CEOs at Small and Medium Companies. Kasasa’s accolades include two American Banker Best Places to Work in Fintech awards, three “Best of Show” Finovate awards, seven Austin Business Journal Best Places to Work awards, a FinTech Breakthrough Award for Best Consumer Lending Platform, and a FinTech Breakthrough “Banking Innovation” award for ORB Marketing.
Gabe won the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Central Texas 2011 Award in his third consecutive year nominated as a finalist. In 2019, he was invited to join the elite Young Entrepreneur Council. He also serves as a Community Board Member at the Center for Child Protection.
Prior to Kasasa, Gabe was President and CEO of DealerSkins, an automotive web solutions provider that served 1,200 auto dealers. Gabe took the helm in 2001, spearheading a five-year plan to drive the company into profitable territory. In 2005, Trader Publishing (parent company of Auto Trader magazine) acquired DealerSkins.
Gabe earned his MBA from Vanderbilt's Owens Graduate School of Management and his BS from Louisiana State University. He graduated both as valedictorian.

Anne Legg
Founder & President, Thrive Strategic Services
Anne Legg is the founder of THRIVE Strategic Services. She is an award-winning, internationally recognized credit union industry leader who is leading change via the development of data transformation strategies for Credit Unions. She is an author, educator and marketplace presenter who holds an MBA thesis on the credit union business model as well as two internationally published whitepapers on credit union business strategy. She has worked with nearly 600 credit union senior leaders to help them leverage their data for exponential growth.

Juli Lewis, CMPFinCap, CCUFC, CUDE, CCUE
VP of Community Engagement, USF Federal Credit Union
Juli Lewis currently works as the VP of Community Engagement for the USF Federal Credit Union and as Chief Relationship Officer for Michael Walters Advertising, a journey she began in early 2021. Prior to that, Juli worked in the credit union industry for more than 25 years, starting her career with Suncoast Credit Union and then joining the League of Southeastern Credit Unions in 2014, serving as Director of the Southeastern Credit Union Foundation where her main focuses were financial capability, community development, disaster relief and professional development. She has served on the Executive Committee of the National Youth Involvement Board since 2008 and as Chair from 2014-2016, and is currently a Board member for the FPP Coalition and Florida & Alabama Jump$tart.
Juli graduated from the University of South Florida in 1998 with a Bachelor’s in Social Work. She has also earned the Credit Union Development Educators (CUDE), the Certified Credit Union Financial Planning (CCUFP) and Certified Credit Union Executive (CCUE) designations, and HR and Marketing certifications. Juli was also a member of the Pilot/BETA Cohort of the Certified Practitioner in Financial Capability, having earned her Master level CMPFinCap in February 2020.

Cory Madden
Board Director, Ventura County CU
Cory Madden is a Product Manager for Modern Campus, an educational technology company that builds solutions for institutions all over North America. He’s a Board Member for the Ventura County Credit Union as he provides strategic oversight of the technical initiatives that impact members. Between his professional career and serving on the credit union board, I enjoy seeing how my decisions can make a positive impact on people’s lives.

Travis Markley
President & CEO, Hoosier Hills Credit Union
Travis Markley is the President and CEO of Hoosier Hills Credit Union where he leads the organization in its mission to a make a positive difference in the financial lives of members and in the communities Hoosier Hills serves. Travis has dedicated his professional career to the development of people-first, service-oriented cultures, transparent and engaged leadership, and driving innovation to facilitate excellent member experiences.
The success experienced by Hoosier Hills Credit Union since Travis became President and CEO serves as a testament to his vision and leadership. Since 2020, Hoosier Hills Credit Union has grown by 50% to over $900MM in assets, established itself philanthropically as the first credit union in the United States to join the Pledge 1% program, completed a merger with Dearborn County Federal Credit Union, and is currently engaged in a merger agreement with Centra Credit Union – the largest credit union merger in Indiana's history.

Paul Marston
COO, HR Performance Solutions
Paul Marston serves as Chief Operating Officer of HR Performance Solutions, LLC, an HR SaaS company. For the past 7 years he has consulted with credit unions to align best practices and talent management trends with best in class software solutions. Paul oversees the introduction of forward-looking functionality to the HRPS suite of products. In addition to managing operations Paul has spoken at a number of League sponsored Lunch and Learns, virtual national CU webinars and The Michigan Credit Union League's HR&R summer event.

Dayatra Matthews
CLO & GC, LGFCU/Civic FCU
Matthews joined LGFCU in 2012 as the Senior Vice President of Legal and Compliance and was named Chief Legal Officer in 2021. Prior to joining LGFCU, Matthews was a partner in the Raleigh law firm of Bailey & Dixon LLP.
As Chief Legal Officer, she oversees all legal, compliance and risk functions, including supervising vendor and enterprise risk management programs, assessing bond and insurance policy needs, and providing guidance to Executive Management and the Board of Directors on matters related to corporate governance.
Matthews graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and obtained her Juris Doctorate from Duke University School of Law. She has served on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Credit Union Advisory Council and currently serves as a member of the Credit Union National Association’s Credit Union Powers Subcommittee. A past recipient of Triangle Business Journal’s Corporate Counsel of the Year Award, Matthews was recently selected for inclusion into the National Top 100 Black Lawyers.
Currently, she serves as President-elect of the 10th Judicial District Bar and as Chair of the Board of Directors of EarthShare North Carolina. She is a past President of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys and its Political Action Committee; former Board member and Grievance Committee Chair of the Wake County Bar Association; past President of the Capital City Lawyers’ Association; and former Board member of Movement of Youth, a Durham-based nonprofit with the mission to prepare diverse youth to lead and succeed in the 21st century.

Susan Mitchell
CEO, Mitchell, Stankovic & Associates
Founding Chair of the Global Women’s Leadership Network, & National CU Foundation’s Herb Wegner Outstanding Individual Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Susan Mitchell is a passionate believer in making a difference! As the CEO of Mitchell, Stankovic & Associates, a consulting firm that has provided over 5,000 credit unions innovative consulting services, including strategic planning, board governance, and online education. She is a successful entrepreneur who started two companies and forged strategic alliances with Fortune 500 companies nationwide.
Susan was CEO and co-owner of O’Rourke, Mitchell, advancing leadership development and executive transitions. Mitchell facilitates the Global Future Forum, an international CU think tank and created the Underground Collision to engage thought leaders in authentic dialogue regarding industry disruption, innovation and impactful business practices. Susan is on the Board for the Worldwide Foundation and is the founding Chair of Global Women’s Leadership Network, with 2,600 members from 78 countries, 100 Sister Societies and 57 scholarships to advance women in society.
In 2017 GWLN received the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor given globally for credit union service. Susan was nominated by CUTimes for the Final Four Most Influential People in the last 25 years, and received the inaugural Diversity and Visionary Award from the CA/NV CU League. In February 2018, Mitchell was recognized for her outstanding industry contribution with the prestigious National CU Foundation’s Herb Wegner Outstanding Individual Lifetime Achievement Award.

Barbara Mojica
Executive Director, National Latino Association of CU Professionals
Barbara started her financial industry career in 2014 but did not discover her passion until 2017 when she started as an account manager at Coastal Credit Union. She quickly realized the difference between a bank and a credit union. Barbara states that she finally merged her value system with her employment and has not looked back since.
During her time at Coastal Credit Union, she was able to participate in the Protégé Program Competition that is hosted by the Carolina Credit Union League. Barbara found that she could bring her knowledge of what it meant to tap into DACA/TPS/ITIN lending for credit unions. With much research and the help of other credit union professionals, she was able to win the competition both internally and at a state level. Since then, Barbara has made it her mission to educate people on immigration policies and how they tie into fair lending.
As the new Executive Director of NLCUP, Barbara is committed to advocating for the underserved communities of America because she realizes the impact it can have on people’s lives. Barbara is excited to share her passion and the vision of NLCUP with everyone she has met along the way and those that she will meet. She hopes that she can take NLCUP to the next level and create a safe space for all Latinx folks in the credit union industry.

Tyler Moore
Co-Founder, KellMoore & Associates
Tyler Moore has worked for 22 years in the financial industry primarily as a financial advisor. His expertise is working with business owners and financial institutions, which gives him a broad, holistic perspective that enables him to provide innovative solutions to his clients’ needs.
A graduate of Texas Tech University, Tyler holds a Bachelor of Administration in Finance, and he has spent the last 7 years working for a diverse group of businesses and organizations designing and implementing Sales and Executive Incentive Compensation plans. Tyler advises companies on business transition planning, key-person retention, qualified and non-qualified benefits, and he also works to integrate these plans into personal plans for owners and partners.

John Moreno
Managing Partner, Newcleus Credit Union Advisors
John has been serving the needs of credit unions and their members since 1999. His career in the movement began with CUNA Mutual Group as a face-to-face financial advisor. Following that start in the Credit Union industry, he moved to Madison, Wisconsin to work with Members Capital Advisors in the institutional client service, marketing and sales.
After his time at MCA, he re-joined CUNA Mutual Group as a specialist in non-qualified deferred compensation plans and non-703 investments. After leading his division in client acquisition and service for 4 consecutive years, John joined Meyer-Chatfield to bring truly innovative institutional investment and insurance solutions from the large bank market and insurance market to credit unions.
Contact John at jmoreno@newcleus.com.

Tyrone Muse
CEO, Visions FCU
Tyrone E. Muse serves on the Board of Directors of TruStage, a leading provider of insurance and financial services to credit unions, their members and valued customers worldwide. He joined the board in November 2019.
As President and CEO of Endicott, NY-based Visions Federal Credit Union, Muse oversees 650 employees serving 203,000+ members online and across 51 branches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Over his first four years as CEO, he and his leadership team grew Visions’ assets by $1 billion.
Prior to joining Visions in 2013, Muse served in a variety of progressive roles at institutions including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Goldman Sachs’ Archon Group, and GE Asset Management. He most recently served as CFO at Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union.
Active in the industry and community, Muse serves on the boards of Excellus Lifetime Care, Filene, and is the vice chairman of the board for the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on both the New York and national Federal Reserve Board Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council, acting as regional chair. Locally, he is active with many causes and organizations including the Binghamton Bearcats Athletic Association, Binghamton University, Community Foundation for South Central New York, United Way, among others.
Honored for his service, Muse is a recipient of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce 2019 Civic Leader of the Year Award and the Broome County 2018 Distinguished Citizen Award from the Boy Scouts of America.
Muse attended Northeastern University in Boston, MA where he attained his undergraduate degree, master’s in accounting, and his MBA. He and his wife reside in Vestal, NY with their daughters.

Scott Olson
SVP, Chief Data Officer, CoastHills Credit Union
Scott Olsen, Chief Data Officer at CoastHills Federal Credit Union, has over 25 years of experience in data and analytics. He leads initiatives to build a data-driven culture, creating dynamic dashboards and reports that align departmental goals with corporate strategy. A PMP-certified Project Manager and experienced software engineer, Scott has developed around 160 data-driven applications. Using tools like Power BI and SSRS, he delivers user-friendly interfaces for effective decision-making through analytics. Scott excels in explaining complex issues to diverse audiences and is passionate about empowering the credit union’s departments in harnessing the power of data for informed decision-making.

George Ombado, AADE, I-CUDE, HSC
Executive Director/CEO, ACCOSCA
George Ombado is Development Economist with a keen interest in strategic management and discourse that helps developing countries attain financial inclusion and access. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business, master’s degree in Economics of Development from Erasmus University in the Netherlands, and a Master of Science in Management from Strathclyde Business School, UK.
He has 17 years of experience supporting financial inclusion and access initiatives. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the African Confederation of Cooperative Savings and Credit Association (ACCOSCA), an institution that supports the development of cooperative financial institutions in Africa. In this role, he has spearheaded strategic planning for a number of financial cooperatives in Africa.
George serves on the boards of the Africa Co-operative Development Foundation (ACDF) and The CADASTA Foundation. He is also the Director of Africa Development Educators Program and holds an I-CUDE designation. He is a part of the executive team providing leadership on a project funded by IFAD in Tanzania, Malawi and Ethiopia known as “Improving Rural Financial Inclusion through Financial Co-operatives” in partnership with the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada and the Irish League of Credit Unions Foundation. George has contributed to numerous financial publications, including The Capital Conundrum for Cooperatives, published in 2015 by the International Cooperative Alliance.

Stan Phelps
Author, Forbes Contributor, TEDx Speaker, IBM Futurist
Stan is a Forbes Contributor, TEDx Speaker, IBM Futurist, Certified Speaking Professional®, and best-selling author of the Goldfish Series. He is also an Instructor for the ANA School of Marketing and Rutgers Business School.
A show and tell speaker, Stan empowers audiences to take action that delivers bottom-line impact. He strives to change the paradigm of marketing by encouraging audiences to focus on experiences as the ultimate competitive differentiator. He believes purposeful DX wins the hearts of employees and customers, and differentiation ultimately boosts loyalty, retention, referrals, and results.
A masterful storyteller who quickly connects with audiences, Stan has delivered keynotes and workshops for Fortune 100 brands including IBM, Target, and more. He works directly with you to customize content that matches your audience and your goals to create a memorable and meaningful experience every time. Count on Stan to show up early, arrive prepared, and disrupt the all-work-and- no-play methodology with his sharp wit and trademark showmanship. He makes it his mission to exceed expectations and inspire audiences in ways they just can’t help but talk about — and won’t soon forget.

Sam Plester, CUDE
CEO & Founder, Mission Brands Consulting
Sam Plester CUDE is the CEO and Founder of Mission Brands Consulting, a brand and marketing partner for financial cooperatives. He has more than 20 years of marketing and communications experience across the UK and USA.
Sam has held national leadership roles within the U.S. credit union movement, focusing on brand strategy, affinity marketing, and content strategy and development. Prior to working in the credit union system, Sam held a series of marketing roles in the public sector, working across social housing, youth services and employment departments.

Espy Poblano
Training Manager, AACUC
Esperanza Poblano "Espy", is the Training Manager for the African-American Credit Union Coalition and has developed strong ties with AACUC members. Espy is responsible for delivering our flagship offering, which the DEI Leadership Academy for Financial Professionals. Espy leverages both her knowledge and personal perspectives, having been in the financial industry for 9 years with 4 of those years being in training and development, to create empathy
and understanding of the needs of our members. She has developed strong relationships and ties to numerous organizations and is widely considered as a cultural Ambassador. After Crashing the GAC and crashing the AACUC Commitment To Change in 2020, Espy found that her passion was not only being an advocate of the credit union movement but being a DEI advocate at AACUC. Espy has inspired and nurtured many participants in the AACUC DEI Leadership Academy for Financial Professionals. Her inspiration to continue working towards building more awareness around DEI is her personal experience. As a second generation Mexican-American she has experienced racism throughout her life and is ready to make a move in the right direction for generations to come. Espy has demonstrated outstanding leadership, passion, and integrity and she also has served as an important role model and leader young professionals in the credit union industry.

James Pogue, Ph.D
Chief Executive Officer, JP Enterprises
Dr. James Pogue is the president and CEO of JP Enterprises. For more than 15 years he has worked with organizations across industries and the globe to help leaders reach peak performance, sharpen strategic initiatives all with the intention of leaving organizations with a healthier culture. A critical tool in this work has been the Inclusive Leadership Assessment (ILA)™. The ILA™ results in a snapshot of where an organization’s culture is and where it wants to be. Dr. Pogue is also the creator of The No Nonsense Experience™, a series of discussions in cohort model using emergent and best practices to keep participants ‘The RIGHT Kind of Uncomfortable’™. The No Nonsense Experience™ has been used by thousands of professionals to build comfort, confidence, and the muscles necessary to help leaders address challenges.

Jim Pond
co-founder, JXM
Jim Pond is the co-founder of JXM, a brand consultancy and digital agency located in Massachusetts. Jim has worked with dozens of credit unions ranging from less than one hundred million in assets, to multi-billion dollar.

Liz Ponder
Senior Executive, SRP FCU
Liz began her career as a teller for First City Bank in Fort Walton Beach Florida. Her twenty-year financial resume speaks to many leadership positions which include Wells Fargo and Regions Bank. Her Credit Union journey began as Vice President of Redstone Federal Credit union, a $5 Billion organization in Huntsville, Alabama.
Liz ignites positive change in the credit union movement by empowering people to have courage to do what is right and bring their diverse perspectives to the table to better serve the community.” As an Executive Vice President and Chief Retail Officer for SRP, she gives great focus to the service of the member, and to the well-being and development of her employees, while placing emphasis on positively impacting her community by creating opportunities for people to grow and thrive.
Having earned her B.A. degree from Alabama State University, as well as obtaining her Certified Credit Union Executive Designation, Liz embraces the Credit Union Movement as one of her best life decisions. “People Helping People” is congruent with her values and beliefs.
Liz applies the eight cooperative principles, which are part of the credit union mantra, to bring positive and innovative change to the Credit Union space.

Matt Roe
Chief Revenue Officer, Open Lending, LLC
As the Chief Revenue Officer at Open Lending, Matt oversees all aspects of the customer partnership model by providing high quality consultation, training, and deployment strategies for the Lenders Protection product.
Matt has been with Open Lending since 2007, serving a variety of crucial roles within the company across more than ten years. Matt works cross-functionally with Marketing, Implementation, Operations, Finance, and IT systems within the organization to collaborate with sales leaders and meet target growth.
Matt actively reviews sales and account management strategies at Open Lending and consistently identifies opportunities to increase productivity, efficiency, and enable growth. His extensive experience as both a National Account Manager and Marketing Manager within the company provides sufficient knowledge for Matt to create and oversee cutting edge marketing strategies and implementation.
Matt possesses unique skills as a system and product analyst and has experience acting as a technical contact for clients during the implementation phase. He’s also provided direction and guidance for project teams to ensure product compliance and timely execution in the areas of project management.
Matt holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. He and his wife reside in Austin, Texas with their four children.

Renee Sattiewhite
CEO & Founder, Sattiewhite Training Productions, Inc.
Ms. Sattiewhite is credited for giving organizations a “new look” in the areas of customer satisfaction, employee relations, marketing materials and training materials. Ms. Sattiewhite also serves as an executive coach, mentoring trainer and assists organizations with marketing campaigns.
She is a former instructor for Spelman College’s Continuing Education Department, and a graduate of Oglethorpe University with a B.A. in Communications. Ms. Sattiewhite has presented keynote addresses at conferences held by Clemson University, the Georgia Lottery, the North Carolina Education Lottery, the United Way of Greater Atlanta, the National Credit Union Administration, Trinidad/Tobago Credit Union League, the Combined Council of Automotive Credit Unions and the AACUC. She is the past Director of the AACUC Reaching Toward the Future Internship Program. She is currently the Executive Director of the AACUC.

Michael Scholl
Director of Analytics, Chartway Credit Union
Coming soon.

Keith & Rebecca Klein Scott
Owners, TALLsmall Productions, LLC
Get unstuck and gain momentum. We curate the strategies you and your team need to boost your communication skills and coach you through the process in an interactive style. What do our clients experience?
-Enhanced confidence and stronger presentation skills
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-Filler word reduction and storytelling superpowers.
-Boosted understanding of body language.
-Sharper negotiation skills. Strategies for navigating conflicts and difficult conversations.
-New career moves. Businesses launched. Cohesive teams.

Debbie Smith
CEO, Georgia United CU
Debbie Smith joined Georgia United Credit Union in 2002, serving in several roles before being appointed CEO in 2013. Debbie brings over 30 years of experience in organizational, people and cultural development, strategy and policy development, cost reduction and a storied history in civic and community work. Debbie has been an advocate of the credit union philosophy for many years, beginning in 1984 as a Credit Union Advisory Board member.

Kwame Smith
Executive Benefits Specialist, TruStage (formerly CUNA Mutual Group)
Coming soon...

Lynette Smith
Chief Engagement Officer, Quantum Governance & retired President/CEO, TruEnergy FCU
Lynette Smith is the DIrector of Engagement at Quantum Governance, L3C — a limited-liability, low-profit consulting group dedicated to the public good. They work exclusively with credit union and nonprofit Boards and C-suite-level executives to develop exceptional leadership.
Lynette is a renowned credit union leader and was recognized by NAFCU (National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions) in 2011 receiving its CEO of the Year Award. She recently retired as the President/CEO of TruEnergy Federal Credit Union in the Washington D.C. Metro area. Prior to serving as CEO of TruEnergy, she enjoyed a long career at Treasury Department Federal Credit Union where she served for 19 years as the Vice President/ Finance and Administration, Vice President/ CFO, Vice President/COO and Acting CEO. Lynette is a 25+ year CUES member and in March of 2021, she was inducted into the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC) Hall of Fame. Lynette currently serves on the Board of the AACUC and has also served as Chairman of that Board

Maurice Smith, Esq.
CEO (ret.), Local Government FCU, M Smith Law, PLC
Maurice Smith is the retired CEO of Local Government Federal Credit Union and Civic FCU. Both are financial cooperatives serving the financial needs of employees, appointed officials, elected officeholders and volunteers of local governments in North Carolina.
Smith began his career in financial services as a loan officer for State Employees’ Credit Union. Smith served in several capacities including vice-president/city executive and vice-president of marketing/training. Smith joined LGFCU in 1992 as the Executive Vice- President and was promoted to President in 1999 and later CEO. Civic was chartered in 2017.
Smith received his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and earned a Juris Doctorate from the NC Central University School of Law. Smith is licensed to practice law in North Carolina, the District of Columbia and before the United States Supreme Court. Smith is also a North Carolina Certified Superior Court Mediator.
Smith achieved a NC Real Estate Brokers License, Certified Credit Union Executive Designation and attended several management and marketing schools.
Smith and his wife have two children and live in Cary, North. Carolina. He is a Deacon at Wake Chapel Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, and participates in several community and civic activities.
Smith is a self-proclaimed cooperative nerd. He believes that a business model that empowers its members to engage in democratic, self-help, classless principles is superior to other business types. As a fan of credit union ideals, Smith is avid about his beliefs.

Brandi Stankovic, Ed.D.
Host & Producer, The Strategic Hotbox
Dr. Brandi Stankovic, Ed.D., is an organizational change expert, motivational speaker, artist and mommy who inspires firms globally with her models of leadership, engagement, and award-winning education. Dr. Stankovic is a trusted advisor and strategic planning facilitator who guides CEOs and Boards on risk appetite, organizational health, profitability and growth. Dr. Stankovic is the coauthor of The Strategic MVP, a book of 52 growth and leadership tools and the host of the energizing podcast, The Strategic Hotbox, designed to help executives reach their greatest potential. Dr. Stankovic is a director and cofounder of CU Pride, industry organization serving LGBTQ+ community and allies. She also serves on the CMN Hospitals Credit Unions for Kids advisory group, HRD Network Board, and is a Development Educator CUDE and I-CUDE. Dr. Stankovic volunteers for the World Young Credit Union Professionals Affiliates Council and the Global Women's Leadership Network, World Council of Credit Unions, helping advance young executives and women in leadership across the globe. Dr. Stankovic received her Bachelors in Finance and Economics at University of Nevada, TESOL and Teaching Practice Certificate from the College of Teachers in the United Kingdom, Masters of Business Administration from the University of San Diego and Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University.

Katie Stone
CEO & Co-owner, PixelSpoke
A lifelong sports fan, I am motivated by a strong competitive drive and the thrill of taking on new challenges. I am fascinated by the concept of synergy and I strongly believe that a cohesive team can accomplish more together than the sum of the individual contributions of team members. As the Chief Operations Officer at PixelSpoke, I utilize my strong analytical and organizational skills and my talents around process improvement to help our team and clients achieve big and small wins!
I have a diverse professional background that includes roles in sales, operations, and finance. I have a B.A. in English from UCLA and an M.B.A. from West Texas A&M University. I have a strong natural curiosity and a love of learning that drives me towards continual improvement.
At PixelSpoke, I love that I get to work alongside passionate, smart, and dedicated colleagues who embody teamwork and pursue creative Everybody Wins solutions!

Shawna Suckow
Author & Speaker
Ranked among the top women speakers in business, Shawna Suckow uses her 20 years of expertise as a million-dollar B2B Buyer to help sales professionals and business leaders better engage today’s evolving customer. Suckow has worked with audiences across 5 continents to sharpen their networking skills, update their sales tactics, and modernize their marketing approaches.
A Certified Meeting Professional, Suckow’s relevant takeaways and vibrant presentation style have earned her a place among Successful Meetings Magazine’s “25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry” for three consecutive years. She is one of Meeting & Conventions Magazine’s Planners’ Favorite Speakers of 2014 and 2015, sharing a list with household names like Bill Clinton, Patrick Stewart, and Anderson Cooper.
Suckow is a four-time author. Her first two books put planners and suppliers in each other’s shoes, imparting insights on what each party looks for in the other as well as what they staunchly avoid and why. Her other book Don’t Become Extinct: Join the Sales Evolution! looks at how the buying process has changed, what works today in sales, and what doesn’t.

Kerala Taylor
Co-owner and Director of Marketing & Impact
Kerala Taylor is also a PixelSpoke co-owner and serves as its Senior Marketing Manager. She has over 20 years of digital marketing experience for a wide range of mission-driven organizations, starting with a nonprofit storytelling website she co-founded that merged with National Geographic. She is also a co-host of PixelSpoke’s Remarkable Credit Union podcast.

Tom Tobin
Founder & CEO, Modelshop
Tom Tobin is a technologist and a financial industry veteran who has been building analytic decision platforms in the credit and fraud risk space for over 30 years. In 2015, he founded Modelshop with a vision of democratizing access to AI model automation and decision engines for financial institutions, regardless of their size. Modelshop’s no-code, AI platform has been used by clients to design, deploy and monitor AI engines that add intelligent automation to existing tech-stacks. Prior to Modelshop, Tom served in technology and business leadership roles at FICO, HP, Oracle and Fiserv delivering solutions that have produced over a billion in revenue for those organizations. Today, under Tom's leadership, Modelshop proudly powers AI model automation and decision-making solutions.

Maryellen Valaitis
Former Director, McGraw-Hill FCU
Maryellen Valaitis is a business-focused Human Resources Executive with special expertise developing and supporting businesses in transformation as a member of the Executive Team. A valued strategist and problem-solver, she is able to organize, plan and execute solutions in complex situations. Maryellen is an Adjunct Instructor for the South Carolina State College System and has a small practice, Edge Consulting.
As Chief Human Resources Officer, Maryellen led a complete reorganization of McGraw-Hill Education as it separated from The McGraw-Hill Companies into a new, independent entity. This resulted in $50 million annualized savings. She led the Human Resources function for more than 5,000 employees and more than $2.2 billion in revenue, and directed the design and implementation of new incentive plans and benefit programs. She launched the global Learning and Development initiative to provide online and instructor-led programs.

Adam Wright
Managing Director of CUDX Operations, Trellance
Adam Wright was hired as the Managing Director of CUDX Operations in July 2023 making him the first CUDX employee. He has a rich background in data science, decision science and data strategy across the financial services, with an increasing focus on credit unions in recent years. Adam brought extensive operations research and leadership experience to the private sector from a twenty-two-year Army career. He is passionate about providing a high level of service and expertise to enable the Credit Union Movement. Through CUDX, he is helping credit unions compete with large banks by sharing data and cooperatively innovating with analytics.

Scott Young
SVP, Emerging Services, Velera
Scott P. Young oversees the Innovation and Emerging Services Team at Velera. With over twenty-five years of experience in payments, Scott started his career at First Data in Omaha before moving to Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) and more recently, Bank-Fund Staff Federal Credit Union before joining PSCU (now Velera) in late 2019. A passionate advocate for the credit union movement, Scott is also a leader in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts at Velera and across the industry. Scott is a graduate of the University of Nebraska.