AUSTIN, Texas–Registration is now open for the CU Tomorrow Conference, the affordably priced meeting requested by the readers of CUToday.info that focuses on real-life, peer-group leading credit unions sharing the secrets to their successes with other CUs.
The meeting will be held Sept. 9-11 in Austin, Texas. Registration is just $499 and credit unions can register here (cutomorrow.info).
Important note: Because this is an inaugural event, the number of attendees is limited, and a sellout is expected. Austin was selected because it is centrally located and is served by a discount air carrier.
In July of 2017 CUToday.info’s Cooperator in Chief, Frank J. Diekmann, asked mid-size and even smaller credit unions that do not want a merger to be their only option about their interest in a moderately priced, compact conference dedicated solely to growth strategies, with sessions led by successful peer-group credit unions.
No golf tournament. No TED talks. No high-price, big name keynoters. Just old-fashioned collaboration, with credit unions helping credit unions to grow and better serve their members.
“The feedback was overwhelming from credit union CEOs, managers and senior execs,” said Diekmann. “Speakers sharing 20,000-foot views are entertaining, but what’s far more critical to the future of credit unions is addressing the challenges of those who are on the ground in their offices every day, working to remain viable and relevant to their members. That’s what the CU Tomorrow Conference will be all about.”
Based on extensive feedback from the CUToday.info audience, the conference agenda has been built around:
- New membership growth/effective onboarding
- Building walletshare among current members
- Employee onboarding/training/culture
- Lending
- Efficiencies/vendor management/cost management
While there are still several speaker announcements to come, here’s what’s on the agenda:
- In addition to an opening reception, the first evening of the meeting will kick off with remarks from Joel Hartzler of the Filene Research Institute offering insights on how attendees can make the most of what they will learn over the next day and a half, along with sharing other practical lessons Filene has learned about implementing change.
- Jim McCarthy, CEO of Trailhead Credit Union in Portland, Ore., will share his credit union’s unique and effective approach to onboarding new employees.
- Bobby Michael, CEO of Army Aviation Center FCU and who has led both a $90-million CU and a billion-dollar credit union, will share insights on building walletshare among current members.
- Phillip Buell, CEO of Superior Credit Union, will detail how his credit union has repeatedly delivered peer-leading results and growth.
- Bill Burke, CEO of Day Air Credit Union, will share his credit union’s “secret sauce” for success.
- Two representatives of BECU in Seattle will discuss the lessons learned by the credit union in successfully onboarding new members and capturing relationships, and how it has changed its approach to doing so.
- Jane Dobbs, CEO of Canyon State Credit Union, who previously was brought in by NCUA to turn troubled credit unions around, will discuss the changes implemented at Canyon State to drive its growth.
- Dave Klavitter of Dupaco Credit Union will discuss “Rethinking Rewards,” and how Dupaco has developed a “Thank Use” campaign to generate more relationships per member.
- Brad Smith of Cornerstone Advisors will address common issues in expense management, cost control and vendor management and how to successfully resolve them.
- A credit union that has begun using analytics and its own data in conjunction with CUNA Mutual’s AdvantEdge Analytics will share what it has learned and how it is now benefitting—and so can your credit union.
- With collaboration a cornerstone of the CU Tomorrow Conference, the first day of the meeting will conclude with an hour-long Q&A with all the day one speakers so audience members can further discuss what they’ve heard during the day and gain additional learning.
- The conference will conclude with advice on how to “Take all this information home and kick ass” led by Dr. Jim This and Dr. Brandi Stankovic.
Diekmann noted Jim This and Sue Girsch of James L. This & Associates have been offering their time in assisting with the planning of the meeting in order to keep expenses lower and, therefore, the registration fee.
“It’s prime time to tap one of the great strengths of the credit union community—the community piece—in which people who care about their CUs and members come together, collaborate, learn together, and go home with concrete ideas and strategies to better prepare to compete in the future,” said Diekmann. “It’s an old-fashioned concept whose time may never have been more relevant.”
Watch for announcements of additional speakers. For registration, go here or contact Diekmann at Frank@CUToday.info for any additional questions.