Storytelling for Business – Lessons CU Leaders Can Learn from a Top Hollywood Animator

Storytelling is the #1 business skill necessary to connect, motivate, and lead people in today’s world. Stories compel us to engage in experiences, learn lessons, and define our values and ourselves within our organization. Matthew Luhn, a 20-year Pixar story veteran, brings his experience creating and developing 10 blockbuster films at Pixar (including Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, Up, Toy Storys 1-3, Monsters, Inc., Monsters University, and Cars), and provides practical strategies that teach and inspire people and teams to connect more effectively with audiences on an emotional level.  Matthew uses the power of storytelling to bridge the gap between business and heart, driving your story toward one unforgettable selling point.

Speaker: Matthew Luhn, Former Pixar Animator, Story Artist & Author

Future-Proof Your Board: How CU Leaders Must Adapt in the New Normal

A brand-new world of Fintech, investment and digital innovation

For years, super-funded Fintech and Big Banks have been gaining a competitive edge by spending billions of dollars creating cutting-edge, digital solutions while CUs have struggled to keep up. Curql is working to change that. With its $252 million investment fund backed by investments from 69 limited partners, Curql serves a gateway for Fintech and CUs to collaborate and develop new digital and AI solutions. The goal is to bring transformative technology to market so more CUs can stay relevant in the evolving digital market and compete. Discover the trends that are shaping the newest digital innovations and the emerging solutions coming to market that may benefit your CU and your members.

Speaker: Nick Evens, President & CEO, Curql Collective, LLC

Financial Roundtable: Lessons learned from the top performing CUs & the tactics you can apply

Get ready to jot down one action item after another in this high-energy discussion as you explore the tactics of the Top Performing CUs – and how you can apply them at your CU. Find out how the Top 1% do it – and how you can too! You will learn about the strategic choices that were made … how CFOs manage their balance sheets in unpredictable times … and the 6 paths CUs must consider for continued growth. This hands-on, interactive discussion led by CU finance expert Pete Duffy, will give you the tools you need based on what’s working among the country’s top CUs.

Speaker: Peter Duffy, Managing Director, Piper Sandler

Big Three MX strategies for better results for your CU & your members

  Fortune 1000 companies focused on Customer Experience (CX) are now generating 5.7x more revenue compared to competitors and their customers are 5x more likely to purchase from them. Yet, only a fraction of CUs are pursuing similar Member Experience (MX) initiatives, which are now more critical than ever in the digital era. Based on work with 120 CUs, David Dean shares the Big Three MX Strategies for CUs to (1) build referrals, (2) increase engagement and, (3) improve the digital experience for members. Plus, you won’t want to make a move until you follow David Dean’s #1 secret to create an effective MX strategy in your CU.

Speaker: David Dean, COO, Marketing Solutions at CU Solutions Group 

Jeopardy! It’s not just a game show

Jeopardy, the game, is all about strategically managing risk and reward. The same is true for credit unions. Come play along with the “Alex Trebek of Credit Unions,” Patrick Adams, as he discusses the hottest topics on the playing board including Corporate Culture, Competition, Digital Solutions, Member Experience, Financial Strength, Market Relevancy, Sustainable Growth, and Brand Strength as he reveals what’s working in each category to help your CU better compete. Just like the hit TV show, this session will be fast-paced and fun with Patrick delivering one proven idea after another for your credit union to come out ahead of the game.

Speaker: Patrick Adams, Strategic Advisor, St. Louis Community CU, St. Louis, MO

Top 4 financial strategies every CU must consider in a post-COVID economy

As unemployment rates stabilize, consumer spending recovers, interest rates begin to rise, and net interest margins get squeezed, how should CUs adjust in a post-COVID economy? Join ALM First’s Emily Hollis as she reveals the top 4 financial strategies every CU must consider including pricing loans … the “secret sauce” in your ALM reports … leveraging derivatives … and investing opportunities to seize (and those to avoid!) Plus, you’ll get Emily’s “Picking up Pennies Tips” – small things that can yield significant income over time.

Speaker: Emily Hollis, Owner, ALM First

Values-based branding: The secret to creating enduring & authentic relationships with members

If you are leading with messages of lower loan rates, less fees and higher deposit rates you’re missing 4 out of 5 prospects in your market. Instead, lead with your values. Prior to the pandemic, 64% of consumers wanted to do business with companies that share the same values. Today, that figure is now 78% as more millennials and Gen Z’ers dominate the market. Find out how brand managers at CUs are moving away from product-centric messaging and creating effective value-based, customer-centric campaigns that are now increasing member loyalty, member engagement and even employee engagement.

Speaker: Amanda Thomas, Founder & President, TwoScore, LLC 

Leading an organization that matters

Purpose makes a difference. Business leaders who understand why their organization exits in the market, who it serves best, and how it makes a difference outperform their competitors in just about every category. Why? Employees are more engaged, members are more loyal and organizational leaders are more inspired. Recent studies show organizations with a purpose-driven culture generate return to shareholders that are  10 to 12 greater than their competitors. Find out what purpose driven businesses, and especially purpose driven credit unions, are using to create an organization that delivers amazing financial results and the positively impact the lives of those they serve.

Speaker: Tim Harrington, CPA & President, TEAM Resources

Niche Marketing Made Simple: 3 Steps to Generate 20% YoY Growth in Any Channel

Segmenting markets and product offerings sound like great ideas in meetings, but few actually move forward. Why? “Too much work … won’t make a difference … new channels are required.” Perhaps you’ve heard these complaints or even mumbled them yourself! Yet, studies consistently show niche marketing is far more profitable and generates higher conversion rates. Join one of the world’s leading digital marketing advisors and best-selling author James Robert Lay discuss how to find ideal market segments, build a brand within your niche and cultivate highly profitable relationships whether you’re marketing online, over the air, in-person or in the mail. See for yourself how other CUs are generating 20% growth rates YoY using the Digital Growth Institute’s 3-Step Niche Marketing Formula.

BONUS: Every attendee also receives a digital version of James Robert Lay’s new book, Banking on Digital Growth. 

Speaker: James Robert Lay, CEO, Digital Growth Institute and author of the best-seller, Banking on Digital Growth. 

 The Big 3 skills needed for the CU executive of the future

What does the executive of the future look like? Is it someone with thousands of Twitter followers who can move the needle with a Tweet? Is it someone who can talk financials one moment, digital marketing the next, data analytics over Zoom, and then make deals over lunch? Or is it someone with an old-school work ethic who is focused on innovative fintech solutions? Join John Janclaes, retired President & CEO of Partners FCU and now President of Nymbus CUSO, as he shares the Big 3 skills that executives need – and boards should look for – to create the growth and innovation credit unions must have to compete in the future.

Speaker: John Janclaes, President, Nymbus CUSO and board member of NACUSO and AKUVO

Keys to Growing Your Loan Portfolio Organically

Too many CUs are relying on mergers, participations, and indirect lending as their primary growth engine. The problem is that this strategy is short-sighted. It dilutes your brand equity and gives up market share to your competitors. The solution: Grow your loan portfolio from within by leveraging enterprise risk management, marketing, and the technology your CU needs. Those that do are seeing significant gains in brand equity, membership growth, and checking growth as they capture a larger share of the market. In this engaging conversation, Ancin Cooley shows you step-by-step how grow organically and give your CU an edge in the most challenging markets.

Speaker: Ancin Cooley, Principal, Synergy Credit Union Consulting 

Enduring Brands: How CUs are “living the mission” & winning hearts and minds

Want to differentiate your brand? Look no further than your own mission. In a world where social issues and values mean more to the next generation of consumers, some of the country’s top CUs are creating common bonds that run deeper than where people might live, work or worship. In this fast-paced and energizing session, credit union evangelist Susan Mitchell, shows how CUs are gaining a competitive edge over Big Banks and Fintechs by creating purpose-driven, values-based cultures and are connecting with new and emerging markets like never before.

Speaker: Susan Mitchell, CEO, Mitchell, Stankovic & Associates, & National CU Foundation’s Herb Wegner Outstanding Individual Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

Bill Hampel’s Economic Outlook for 2022 & Beyond

One of the credit union movement’s most respected economists, Bill Hampel, returns to share his expert analysis of the economy for the next 18 months. Find out what factors might impact economic growth … consumer spending … interest rates … inflation … unemployment and more. Plus, find out first-hand how your CU’s loan demand, savings flows and earnings may be affected – and how these economic trends may affect member behavior.

Speaker: Bill Hampell, Economist

The Robots are Coming! – Machine Learning/AI in Consumer Lending

AI is taking over more loan decisions as human beings gradually cede control. What does this mean for your CU? What is the impact to your lending portfolio? And how might it affect your delivery channels?

In this impactful session, Don Arkell from CU Lending Advice will discuss how AI is taking over lending decisions and the challenges presented to credit unions. We will cover:

• How ML/AI replicates a loan decision
• Extending your credit risk appetite across space and time
• Regulatory concerns and challenges
• The metrics you need to analyze
• The problems AI can create for you and your members — and how to avoid them

Speaker: Don Arkell, Owner, CU Lending Advice, LLC