DENVER–The Mountain West Credit Union Association, which represents credit unions in Colorado, Arizona and Wyoming, joined with the Utah Credit Union Association and Montana’s Credit Unions to host a joint virtual training conference for volunteers and boards.
The event was held over a two-day period and featured a variety of speakers focused on understanding risk, as well as strategies to help members be better off by choosing credit unions. More than 200 people participated in the event called “Rising Above – the 2020 Volunteer and Director Virtual Conference.”
- “In Utah, we had already planned and secured speakers for our Volunteer Conference. As an association, we felt it was pertinent to provide education and training specific for our volunteers and directors in order to serve in their respective credit unions,” said Marilyn Pearson, VP-education and training for the Utah Credit Union Association. “The Mountain West Credit Union Association was in the same predicament, so with a phone call, we discussed the possibilities of merging our two meetings together virtually. Then Montana asked to join. Out of our discussions came…It has turned out to be an outstanding collaboration with our associations.”
- “While we greatly missed being together in-person for our annual Directors’ Conference, the new virtual format saw great attendance and delivered on an important need in our industry,” said Nicole Brusewitz, MWCUA’s VP-education and events. “In these critical times, continuing to invest in and develop board and committee members become deeply important.”
- “Collaboration represents credit unions at their best, and the same goes for credit union leagues providing education too,” said Ranel Smith, VP-relationship management, Montana’s Credit Unions. “What a great event for the three associations to produce together to help educate and inspire their directors and supervisory committees from their own states.”
The Presenters
The event was hosted by Synergy Consulting CEO Ancin Cooley, and included presentations from Alix Patterson of Callahan & Associates; Steve Rick, CUNA Mutual Group’s chief economist; Matt Fullbrook, a board effectiveness researcher and consultant; Scott Klososky, futurist; and a political update presented by the CEOs of the three credit union associations: Scott Earl from the Mountain West Credit Union Association, Scott Simpson from the Utah Credit Union Association and Tracie Kenyon from Montana’s Credit Unions.
In addition, the conference featured networking sessions as well as drawings for prizes which encouraged participation and interaction of the participants, the organization said.
“This is a critical year for delivering information about the changes our industry is facing. Being able to offer a virtual conference for our credit union board and supervisory committee members is incredibly necessary and rewarding.” Brusewitz added.