Fresh off the plane from the recent GAC show in D.C., it seems credit unions are hitting on all cylinders. And that's definitely a good thing, as we have happily departed from those gut-wrenching recession days. There may still be a few lingering effects, but overall credit unions are starting performing well now. That said, is it time to rest on your laurels and hope to reap the rewards? Is it time to put it on cruise control and believe a river of new members will continuously flow through the door? No way. Now's the time to capitalize on our industry's momentum -- and nobody knows that better than Weber Marketing's President/CEO Mark Weber. Mark will be the first to tell you that marketing is a key element in maintaining and even exceeding performance expectations when times are good. He'll even tell you to keep the hammer down when times are bad. Now you're probably thinking that's a biased message coming from an experienced marketing professional. It's easy to go there, but Mark provides many credit union marketing success stories that keep his message objective -- and on target adding proven advice for any CU looking to get a leg up on the competition. But not everything is rainbows, sprinkles, and sunshine in the credit union marketing world. Although many industry campaigns have won awards and garnered much praise, credit unions still have a ways to go in this area -- especially as marketing has become more complex today with the multiple channels that need to be covered consistently to reach a varied audience. Again, Mark provides some potent and practical advice supported by more winning examples. We also touch on Weber Marketing's affiliation with CUES and the upcoming Golden Mirror Awards. In addition, to help CU marketers master their skill for enhanced exposure, Weber and CUES have slated dates for their Strategic Marketing School (July 14-16, 2014) for those pros who desire the coveted Certified Strategic Marketing Executive (CSME) title. We had quite an extensive chat with Mark, but it's absolutely loaded with educational information anybody can use to elevate their marketing skills and knowledge. Well worth the time, so check it out! Visit: webermarketing.com cues.org CUES School of Strategic Marketing Golden Mirror Awards Short on time? Watch the trailer below... Well, here we are with the final installment of 2014 GAC coverage. I think this show will be talked about for a long time with its stellar speakers, record attendance, and all around good vibe -- not to mention the few inches of snow we received on Tuesday and Wednesday. Pretty cool to see for a San Diegan like myself. So take a few minutes and enjoy part 2 of our coverage, as we asked folks about their conference mission/goals, CU pain points, what to expect in 2014, etc.
Here's a rundown on this episode's interviews: -- CUES' Chuck Fagan (2:04) -- D. Hilton's David Hilton (2:49) -- CO-OP's Samantha Paxson (3:38) -- YFP Tips' Sean McDonald (5:17) -- Cornerstone Advisors/GonzoBanker's Sam Kilmer (5:35) -- NACUSO's Jack Antonini (6:47) -- NCUA's Michael Fryzel (7:48) -- Transamerica's Michael Maloney (8:52) -- NCUA's Rick Metsger (9:54) Sorry for the extreme close-up angle on this one. But Rick's content is good! -- TMG's Ryan Anderson (11:19) -- Bluepoint Solutions' Andrew Tilbury (12:15) -- NCUF's Gigi Hyland (13:08) -- MVi's Scott Cowan (14:35) -- ALKAMI's Stephen Bohanon (15:39) -- AACUC/Washington Gas Light FCU's Lynette Smith (16:30) Our many thanks to CUNA and all those who took the time and patience to field my questions this year. It's always a mighty fine time seeing and chatting with everybody again in person. Just wish there was more time! Enjoy. Visit: cuna.org There's probably one thing we can all agree on: Teaching kids at an early age about financial literacy is a good thing. That said, there are a myriad of organizations out there, many in the CU industry, that are taking a proactive approach to educating kids about managing money. One such movement coming up next month happens to be CUNA's National Credit Union Youth Week (April 20-26, 2014), which has been a huge shot in the arm helping kids learn about proper finances. We invited CUNA's Manager, Adult Member Education Janet Garkey (who's in charge of Youth Week) on the show to provide us with the plans for 2014's Youth Week events, benefits, and goals. We also talk about the National Youth Saving Challenge and why credit unions should be signing up for that venture, as well. Both endeavors are worthy causes but can't make great change unless there's massive movement from the grassroots level -- that means you credit unions. So sign up today (March 7 last day to save) and lead the way, giving your kids a head start in the world of finance. Their future will thank you. Visit: cuna.org/youthweek/ Short on time? Watch the trailer below... In the final part of this series, PSCU's President & CEO Mike Kelly and GTE Financial's AVP of Marketing Jennifer Maxfield discuss how yoga, Big Insight, and SMAC coupled with the "Make Your Money Matter" campaign can enhance a credit union's connection with its community and Millennial audience for future success. It's all about organic growth without being too salesy. (6:19)
Visit: www.pscu.com www.gtefinancial.org www.makeyourmoneymatter.org Many folks who attended the 2014 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C., last week will most likely say it was one of the best GACs of all time. Record attendance, an overwhelming positive vibe, and lots of business going down were the themes of this show. Oh yeah, Tony Blair and Madeline Albright were also keynoters at this year's gathering, as well. Not bad icing on the cake there.
That said, I was bouncing around the D.C. Convention Center like a pinball hopped up on a 12-pack of Jolt Cola. (Those of you who remember Jolt Cola, the "energy drink" of the '80s, won't forget that experience of double the caffeine, double the sugar, and double the nausea. Take than Monster and Rockstar!) Anywho, the busy-ness allowed me to interview way more people than I have in the past -- which means our annual "Nearly Complete" Coverage of the GAC will be a two-parter this time around because so many attendees wanted to tell the credit union story. Good stuff, I say! Some of the folks we interviewed in this episode include: -- Theresa Benavidez, Corelation -- Jeremy Clark, State National -- Andy Greenawalt, Continuity Control -- Linda Clampitt, CU Members Mortgage -- Joe Dearborn, Credit Unions for Kids -- Christopher Morris, NCUF -- Steve Van Beek, Howard & Howard -- Jim Cardwell, Cardwell Leadership -- Mickey Goldwasser, Payveris -- Bob Hackney, CSCU -- Jon Sarvis, TMG Financial Services -- Anna Pena, Coopera -- Andrea Stritzke, PolicyWorks -- Chris Cardwell, Cardwell Solutions So please, take a few minutes and enjoy a quick look back at this winter wonderland conference (it snowed big time) in our nation's capital -- and my apologies to those I couldn't get to for interviews. Time flew by like fresh, off-duty, D.C. taxi cab heading for the local pub. And stay tuned for part 2 of our GAC coverage when we talk to NCUA (Michael and Rick), CUES (Chuck), NCUF (Gigi), CO-OP (Samantha), D.Hilton (David), AACUC (Lynette), and more! Visit: cuna.org |
Mike Lawson, HostMarried to a beautiful and wonderful wife, raising 5 kiddos (including twins!), enjoy helping others tell their stories, and love surfing SoCal waves. Keep it simple. Categories
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