As Western CUNA Management School (WCMS) enters its seventh decade of preparing credit union leaders to meet the challenges of the credit union industry’s future, WCMS is announcing changes in its school administration team. The school is proud to name Brandi Gleason the provost and chief operating officer, Cyndee Lemon the director of support services, and Cory McDaniel the director of campus activities! Today’s announcement further supports WCMS’s focus on the school’s continual refinement of curriculum, as well as its strong support and commitment to alumni, students, and their credit unions. WCMS students come from a diverse array of credit union management occupations and leadership positions across the Western United States. The school has always — and will always — encourage professionals in the credit union movement to take their careers to the next level by learning the breadth and depth of the industry, taking their newfound leadership principles back to their organizations to lead their credit union’s long-term success. To carry out this decades-long “Head and Heart” philosophy that remains instrumental in the advancement of so many credit union leaders across the West, Gleason has joined the WCMS team to manage the school’s robust administrative structure while providing direct assistance to students and alumni. This will continue making the largest Credit Union National Association (CUNA)-recognized school the educationally transformative, relevant, and active institution it is today. Simultaneously, Lemon and McDaniel will give back to the movement by contributing to the next generation of credit union leaders during the rigorous two-week, face-to-face portion of the curriculum occurring every July when WCMS students and faculty gather onsite at Pomona College in Claremont, CA. Having come from a long credit union background, Lemon is currently director of operations and human resources for Pacific Postal Credit Union in San Jose, CA. McDaniel serves as chief lending officer at University Credit Union in Los Angeles, CA — a credit union focused on supporting college and university educational communities. Their roles and efforts will be essential in carrying out the goals of WCMS, as well as the personal achievements of upcoming credit union leaders across the 13 states the school serves. Sharing the Experience and Fire with a New Generation Dr. Michael Steinberger, dean and chief academic officer of WCMS, said he is ecstatic to welcome Gleason to the school’s staff leadership team and Lemon and McDaniel to the intense on-campus session each summer, noting the firsthand and transformative experience that WCMS has had on all three credit union leaders. “Brandi, Cyndee, and Cory will now be a part of sharing that experience and fire with the next generation of credit union leaders as they bring an acute focus on the student learning experience to our administration team — inside and outside of the classroom,” Steinberger said. “One of the key strengths of a WCMS education is the bond students form with their classmates and faculty. In this environment, our new leadership team will focus on a multitude of crucial tasks, including overseeing the co-curricular challenges we give students that allow them to put their classroom education into practice, as well as building their professional network along the way — all in service to their credit union’s members.” Diana Dykstra, president of WCMS and president/CEO of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, said the school is honored to welcome Gleason, Lemon, and McDaniel as it reinforces the fundamental and dynamic life-changing principles that WCMS was founded on by aiding student leaders through their educational and career journeys. “We look forward to leveraging the many talents our new leaders are bringing into our school to support our greatest asset — our students and alumni,” Dykstra said. “Their ‘Head and Heart’ philosophy is aligned with our WCMS mission, and their impressive background will no doubt serve current and future students well as they continue looking forward to making their unique mark on our credit union movement.” Providing Leadership Philosophy Across the West “I am beyond honored and grateful to be selected to continue my love of investing into the next generation of credit union leaders as a member of the Western CUNA Management School administrative staff and leadership,” said Gleason, who graduated in 2013 (Lambda Class) and has devoted many summers and school years to WCMS as former director of support services. “I am obligated to pass on the fire that was ignited in me to others — and I look forward to continuing this time-honored tradition.” Lemon also expressed her excitement as she looks forward to contributing to the future of WCMS students and the school’s future every July. “Attending WCMS shifted my entire career focus,” said Lemon, who graduated in 2012 (Kappa Class), served as a graduate assistant in 2013, and was recognized as the first “Super GA” in 2014 (super graduate assistant). “The well-rounded credit union professional that I’ve had the honor and privilege of becoming today can be attributed to my solid foundation at WCMS — something I will use to pour back into continuing generations of students on campus every July.” Gleason, Lemon, and McDaniel all said they are grateful to have been mentored and guided by WCMS faculty and alumni, as the school has given them an amazing vehicle to share the credit union movement’s leadership philosophy with so many others throughout credit unions in the western states. Over the years, WCMS has equipped them to truly become leaders who use “Head and Heart” as their guide. “I am honored to join the WCMS team,” McDaniel said. “I look forward to working with staff and students to create a memorable on-campus experience.” Nancy Wood — a ‘Key Part of the Heart of WCMS’ — is Retiring Nancy Wood, director of school administration, will retire this December after an overlap with the new school leaders. Wood has served in her current role with WCMS since 2012, and she served as director of support services prior to that for 11 years. Wood was instrumental in many of the recent educational updates to the WCMS experience, including the curriculum review earning 21 semester hours of college credit, implementation of the Frog Tank student innovation competition, and the curricular changes required by and inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We want to wish Nancy all the best as she retires this coming December,” Steinberger said. “She has such a heart for the student experience. For our students, our credit unions and our alumni, Nancy has been a key part of the heart of WCMS. Her legacy is the thousands of WCMS alumni she impacted, who are now using that support to improve the lives of their members. I wish her a joyful retirement — she has earned it. Our new leaders have large shoes to fill, indeed, and I know they will continue Nancy’s work.” WCMS looks forward to continuing its more than 60-year legacy of helping credit union management meet the challenges of the future, utilizing its powerful and cutting-edge instruction to foster strategic change-making leaders — for today and tomorrow! Western CUNA Management School’s new staff leaders (left to right): Brandi Gleason, Provost and Chief Operating Officer; Cyndee Lemon, Director of Support Services; and Cory McDaniel, Director of Campus Activities
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Wescom Credit Union, on the heels of its Central Coast Federal Credit Union (CCFCU) merger news, has today announced that in addition to the eight Southern California Counties it currently serves, the Credit Union will now serve an additional thirteen counties in California. Wescom, one of the largest community credit unions in the entire state, and a fixture in Southern California since 1934, has long served communities throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Imperial, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, including the UCLA community. Now, with the expanded geography, membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in any of the following 13 counties: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus and Tulare. “By expanding our field of membership in an adjacent market, we are able to serve more Californians and make a positive impact in additional communities,” stated Darren Williams, President and CEO of Wescom. “We are looking forward to this next stage of growth which aligns perfectly with our mission to exceed expectations in everything we do through innovative products and services.” In the most populous state in the nation, Wescom’s field of membership now takes the Credit Union from the border with Mexico in the south all the way up to the Northern San Joaquin Valley, just below the Silicon Valley and San Francisco Bay areas. This means that Wescom membership is now available to close to 27.7 million Californians, representing more than 70 percent of the California population. To learn more about Wescom, please visit wescom.org. GoWest Credit Union Association, completing its first successful year as a six-state trade association, announced the 2023-2024 Board of Directors that will help to propel the Credit Union Movement forward in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. GoWest serves more than 300 credit unions with 16.5 million members, 33,000 employees, and $300 billion in assets. Todd Marksberry, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lonetree, Colorado-based Canvas Credit Union, became Chair of the Board during GoWest’s Annual Business Meeting last week. Marksberry praised the work of the association’s 2022-2023 board, the member credit unions, and the association’s team in realizing the vision for GoWest in optimizing advocacy opportunities and helping credit unions to thrive and serve their members, employees, and communities. “We’ve accomplished so much in just a short year. I’m really excited about what the future holds, and I look forward to serving as your chair,” Marksberry said. “And as we always like to say, the absolute best is yet to come.” Marksberry succeeds former Chair Jeff Adams, President and Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Credit Union in Spokane Valley, Washington. Adams said, “Over the course of the inaugural year as GoWest, we have made huge strides in propelling the Movement forward. I couldn’t be prouder, or more confident in the path that GoWest, the board, and these member credit unions are forging for the future.” While he ends his term as Chair, Adams will continue to serve on the board. GoWest President and CEO Troy Stang also lauded the hard work of the membership and board, citing a number of milestones and wins in the past 12 months, including a hyper- local advocacy model that advanced credit union priorities in all six states and a strengthened federal advocacy presence. But it’s the future that truly excites Stang. “We remain dedicated to our bold, future-focused, and innovative approach,” Stang said. “Together, with our members, we are really leaning into our purpose as influencers of policy and social and economic issues so credit unions will continue to be pillars of strength in the communities they serve.” The 12-person Board of Directors for 2023-2024 includes:
Stang, Adams, and Marksberry thanked the following board members who concluded their Board service in 2023:
CEO Neil Kool is pleased to announce that Structure First, Ltd. (www.structurefirst.com), the Cincinnati, OH-based national financial institution consultancy and program management firm specializing in the design, bid, and building of financial facilities, has entered into a strategic partnership with Tucson, AZ-based Tucson Federal Credit Union (www.tucsonfcu.com/) and Livonia, MI-based Zeal Credit Union (www.zealcu.org). According to Kool, “The addition of partners to our CUSO continues to expand our geographic reach and strengthen our service model for our credit union clients. Both Tucson FCU and Zeal CU provide us insight of how our clients operate and view expansion through branches and technology.” Established in 2011 by Co-Founder and CEO Neil Kool, Structure First is known and respected as a disrupter to the traditional Design-Build model used by financial institutions for new headquarters, branches and renovations throughout the country. As an Owner’s Representative, Structure First delivers next generation financial spaces through program management led by an elite team of former community banking executives and design builders who, collectively, incorporate over a century of experience. Having “walked” in their clients’ shoes, Structure First understands first-hand how a financial space needs to look and function to meet operational needs, all while efficiently constructing it to save their clients’ valuable financial and human capital. Since partnering with Chicago, IL-based Chicago Patrolmen’s Federal Credit Union (www.cpdfcu.com) in 2021, Structure First has become the First and Only Owner’s Representative CUSO Serving Financial Facilities Throughout the Country. According to Matthew Gaspari, President/CEO, Tucson Federal Credit Union, “We are excited about our partnership with Structure First and look forward to working together as TFCU reimagines our branch service delivery model.” Julie Kreinbring, President/CEO, Zeal Credit Union, adds, “Structure First has been an innovative, strategic partner in the development of branch locations in the Credit Union industry for many years, and we have had the honor of working with this remarkable team to achieve Zeal’s vision of creating a welcoming environment that reflects the values and innovation our team and members have come to expect. We are excited to see what the future holds in our partnership together.” Todd Clark has departed as President/CEO of Co-op Solutions after leading the company through more than seven years of expansive growth in revenues, product offerings and digital payments transaction processing. Co-op’s Board of Directors has named Dean Michaels, formerly Chief Strategy Officer, as the new President/CEO effective immediately. “Todd has been a strong leader for Co-op since June 2016, having guided the company to realize its vision of transforming into a strategic growth partner and provider of financial technology services and solutions for credit unions,” said Joan Opp, Chairperson of the Board, and President/CEO of Stanford FCU. “Todd’s vision, strategic thinking and leadership have been instrumental in Co-op’s growth and success and will be felt throughout the credit union industry for years to come.” Under Clark’s leadership, Co-op’s annual revenues grew from $276 million in the year prior to his arrival to more than $527 million in 2022. From 2016 through 2022, Co-op delivered more than 150 new products or enhancements to help drive member engagement. Today, Co-op processes more than eight billion digital payments transactions annually, has more than 1,800 employees and is in robust financial health, as the company has funded its transformative investments to-date without any debt outstanding at year-end. Jackie Buchanan, a Co-op Board member and President/CEO of Genisys CU, added that the change in leadership will not change Co-op’s day-to-day business of delivering exceptional products and services to its credit union clients. The company’s goals remain the same, with a focus for 2023 on continued organizational efficiencies to improve both employee and client experience, and improve the speed and quality of product delivery. Dean Michaels Succeeds Todd Clark “I thank Todd for his past leadership, and welcome Dean Michaels as our new CEO,” said Greg Mitchell, a Co-op Board member and President/CEO of First Tech FCU. “I am confident Dean, along with Co-op’s more than 1,800 team members, will carry forward the key initiatives of the company on behalf of its credit unions and their members. Co-op will continue its vital role as a leading provider of digital payments technology to the movement. Dean has a deep understanding of Co-op’s core values and strategic goals, making for a seamless transition. We are delighted to be able to fill the position with such an outstanding internal choice, reflective of the strength of Co-op’s Executive Management Team.” Michaels was appointed Chief Strategy Officer in September 2018, after joining Co-op as Head of Corporate Development and Strategic Relationships in November 2017. Prior to Co-op, Michaels held leadership roles at First Data Corp. (now Fiserv), including General Manager of STAR Network as well as Finance Leader for First Data’s U.S. Merchant Acquiring Business. Michaels has also worked for JP Morgan Chase. There, he was responsible for evaluating and improving the effectiveness of consumer banking cross-sales campaigns, including profit and loss responsibility for JP Morgan Chase’s branch and call center cross-sales programs. “Co-op has continued to make transformative investments in its products, infrastructure and organization to ensure the long-term success of the company, its clients and their members,” said Michaels. “At the same time, Co-op has maintained a strong balance sheet to sustain our role as the integrated payments partner for credit unions. The company is truly energized by our momentum today and I am honored to lead the Co-op team, which is dedicated to the success of our clients and the credit union movement as a whole.” CUES Emerge, the program for emerging credit union leaders that combines online learning, peer collaboration and an exciting competition component, has announced its 2023 judging panel. They are:
· Chris Andrus, SVP/Chief Culture Officer, Altura Credit Union, Riverside, CA · Jean Hopstetter, CSE, CCD, CCE, Senior Executive Vice President, Member One FCU, Roanoke, VA · Frank Mancini, President/CEO, Connex Credit Union, East Berlin, CT · Tansley Stearns, President/CEO, Community Financial CU, Plymouth, MI · Mary Beth Spuck, President/CEO, Resource One CU, Dallas, TX After an initial cohort of 36 applicants were selected into CUES Emerge, 30 continued on into the competition phase of the program, where the judging panel evaluated and scored each participant’s business plan. Judging was based on criteria including project need, value to stakeholders, and realistic viability. The five highest-ranking applicants were then named as Finalists. The Final Five will present their business cases online, live from CUES partner Currency Marketing’s video production studio, Wednesday, October 4 at 1:00 p.m. Central. Each Finalist will be given seven minutes to recap their project, followed by a three-minute Q&A session with Currency Marketing’s Tim McAlpine. The judges will be viewing the final presentations with a critical eye toward the Finalist’s ability to clearly articulate their business idea and describe the benefits. A Top Three will be chosen, and ultimately, the winner of CUES Emerge. Watch the final presentations at CUESEmerge.com. CUES Emerge was created by CUES and Currency Marketing to offer free professional development to the industry’s up-and-coming leaders. Participants who complete the course work and business case earn the Certified Credit Union Manager designation in recognition of their commitment to their career, credit union and the industry. Visit CUESEmerge.com to check out the five Finalists’ business case ideas. The CUES Emerge competition is powered by Currency Marketing. Learn more about CUES at cues.org. Eltropy, the leading digital conversations platform for community financial institutions (CFIs), kicked off its highly anticipated second annual Leadership Summit at the picturesque Sundance Resort in Utah. The exclusive event, running Sept. 11-13, centers around the profound impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on reshaping the landscape of CFIs. The Eltropy Leadership Summit brings together thought leaders, industry experts, and innovators in the community financial institution sector—including Idaho Central Credit Union, InTouch Credit Union, Kinecta Federal Credit Union, Arvest Bank, Union Bank and Fibre Federal Credit Union—for two days of immersive discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities. The summit's primary focus is on the transformative power of AI and its pivotal role in guiding CFIs towards a digital future. Keynote speakers Jim Marous, co-publisher of The Financial Brand and host of the Banking Transformed podcast; and Ron Shevlin, Chief Research Officer at Cornerstone Advisors—both ranked among the top fintech influencers globally—will each set the tone with captivating addresses on how AI is revolutionizing the financial services industry, and the strategic importance of AI integration and utilization within a community bank or credit union. "We couldn’t be more excited to gather again with some of the brightest minds in the industry at our Leadership Summit,” said Ashish Garg, Co-Founder and CEO of Eltropy. “As the financial landscape continues to evolve, embracing AI-driven solutions has become pivotal for CFIs' sustainability and growth. This event underscores our commitment to facilitating meaningful discussions and innovative solutions that empower our community financial institutions." Eltropy is excited to foster an environment of knowledge exchange and collaboration among attendees. The event will also feature engaging workshops and panel discussions, providing a platform for community financial institution leaders to share their experiences, challenges, and success stories. To learn more about Eltropy and its AI-driven solutions for community financial institutions, please visit www.eltropy.com. Wescom Credit Union, one of the nation’s largest credit unions, announced today that its Foundation has raised more than $178,000 in member donations to help support those impacted by the Maui wildfires that decimated the island starting August 08, 2023. The Credit Union will match donations up to $50,000 for a total amounting to just over $228,000 – and counting. The Maui Fire Relief Campaign is now officially Wescom’s most successful donation campaign to date. Within days of the Maui wildfires, Wescom sprung into action:
Wescom has been dedicated to helping build better lives for members, team members and communities in Southern California for nearly 90 years. Driven by the philosophy of “people helping people,” the charitable arm of the Credit Union, the Wescom Foundation, is dedicated to making the communities it serves a better place for all through strategic grantmaking and community engagement. Since 1999, the Foundation has raised an estimate of $4.4 million for community nonprofits. “Our hearts go out to the people of Maui. As a Southern California based credit union, all too often our members and our communities have experienced the tragic losses that come from wild fires,” stated Melissa Pederson, Wescom Senior Vice President, Administration. “The outpouring of support from our members to the people of Maui has been incredible, and makes us so proud of our community’s empathy and unwavering generosity.” The funds raised will directly support the following organizations:
This is not the first instance in which Wescom has encouraged members to support relief efforts outside of Southern California. Earlier this year, Wescom and its members raised more than $88,000 to provide relief for those affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Last year, the Credit Union and its members supported those impacted by the war in Ukraine, raising more than $114,000. To learn more about the Wescom Foundation, please visit: wescom.org/About-Us/Foundation. Neural Payments, fintech innovator offering peer-to-peer (P2P) payment solutions for credit unions, has announced a partnership with GoWest Credit Union Association, a six-state organization serving more than 200 credit unions and their 16.5 million consumer members. Through the partnership, Neural Payments will offer association credit unions its customized, white label P2P platform. Embedded directly and seamlessly within digital banking, the P2P solution makes payments easier for consumers. For credit unions, the technology is a product designed to help expand membership, providing enhanced opportunities to appeal to consumers looking for greater convenience in how they make payments. To further enhance the P2P product, Neural Payments also offers Fraud Rules Engine, a revolutionary technology that leverages real-time automation to lock down, evaluate and respond to suspicious transactions. “For members of GoWest Credit Union Association, Neural Payments offers the opportunity to step onto the playing field of this growing $50 billion industry,” said Mick Oppy, Neural Payments CEO. “It gives credit unions a way to not just remain competitive but to also reduce operating expenses and stay ahead of the fintech curve with technology that consumers really want.” “Within our association, our member credit unions have a keen interest in making a real difference in their communities,” said GoWest Credit Union Association Chief Growth Officer Cameron Smith. “We are excited to partner with Neural Payments because it is easy to see the difference this team’s solution will make for both consumers and credit unions. By making P2P payments easier and safer, Neural Payments is helping credit unions reach more members and create greater impact.” Trellance, a leading technology partner providing innovative analytics, cloud and talent solutions to credit unions today announced a partnership with Cornerstone Resources, part of Cornerstone League, one of the nation’s largest regional credit union trade associations. By partnering with Trellance, both organizations continue to break down silos in the credit union industry. The partnership will increase access to subject matter experts and technology resources, as well as encourage collaboration in terms of solutions and advocacy. “Trellance has always placed great value on our league partnerships,” said James Gukeisen, Leagues & Advocacy Director at Trellance. “They help us develop stronger relationships with credit unions and create solutions that benefit the credit union movement. Partnering with Cornerstone is a major step in increasing our ability to meet with and learn from credit unions in order to better serve their needs.” “We’re excited by the opportunities this partnership presents,” said Ryan Dold, EVP and Chief Revenue Officer at Cornerstone Resources. “Trellance offers innovative technologies and a roster of industry professionals that will help Cornerstone Resources serve its credit unions. This partnership will help Cornerstone Resources fulfill its mission to serve our members as trusted advisors and partners. It’s a great opportunity for us both.” The partnership with Cornerstone is part of Trellance’s ongoing efforts to partner with credit union leagues across the country. To learn more about partnering with Trellance, contact James Gukeisen at jgukeisen@trellance.com. To learn more about Cornerstone, visit cornerstoneleague.coop. |
Author: Mike LawsonMarried to a most gorgeous and wonderful wife, raising 5 kiddos (including twins!), enjoy helping others tell their stories, and love surfing SoCal waves. Keep it simple. Archives
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