PALM SPRINGS, Fla.— The Defense Credit Union Council wrapped up its 2025 Annual Conference last week, with both attendees and the organization’s leadership calling the event a success.
“I’m very pleased with the outcome of this year’s conference,” said Anthony Hernandez, DCUC president/CEO. “We had inspiring keynotes and guest speakers who shared valuable insights and perspectives from both the credit union industry and the financial sector as a whole.”
“Throughout the week, we received a lot of positive feedback on the discussions, breakout presentations, and overall conference experience,” Hernandez continued. “That says a lot to me with a small team running a program this size…I am very proud of the DCUC staff for overcoming many challenges and rising to the occasion. Kudos to Cindy Parker, who has successfully designed and led three amazing DCUC conferences for our members right out of the gate. It fits right in with the theme for this year’s conference: collaboration. Collaborating on advocacy and membership value, new technologies, regulation, and ideas…this was our most ambitious program, and I can't wait for what is in store as we head to Miami and all the events in between.”
A Final Keynote To End the Week
DCUC’s final conference session featured keynote speaker, Mike Rayburn, Hall of Fame speaker, artist, entrepreneur, with his presentation blending a discussion on “What If” with his artistic and comedic approach to popular music renditions.
During the morning session, Rayburn encouraged attendees to embrace their ideas and goals despite potential challenges, uncertainties, pre-established routines, or the comfort of familiarity. Rayburn centered the conversation around a notion that every major invention, accomplishment, and victory in human history began with a simple, “almost childlike curiosity of a ‘What if?’ question.”
He entertained attendees with inventive mashups of popular songs while sharing the simple tools that took him from playing in empty bars to headlining Carnegie Hall several times.
“Those possibilities, opportunities, are in front of you right now. You just need to be the one to ‘unriff’ them—and asking, ‘what if,’ is one way how,” said Rayburn. “When you come across something that seems impossible, what your members, your competition, see as impossible, that’s the time when you ask, ‘What if.’ What if we’re the ones to crack the code?”
In addition to this year’s speakers and discussions, DCUC’s conference also featured its seventh class of Crashers.
‘Conference With A Purpose’ Fundraiser
Hernandez concluded the conference by announcing DCUC’s 2025 Conference with a Purpose raised over $60,000 for Fisher House Foundation, the largest fundraising total in DCUC’s conference fundraiser history. The contributions brought the total funds raised for DCUC’s Conference with a Purpose initiative to $523,000 since 2003.
This year’s fundraiser included an online Silent Auction, the popular 50/50 drawing, and mulligan and gimme string sales during the Annual VADM Vincent Lascara Golf Tournament.
Contributions came from DCUC member credit unions— Fort Sill FCU, Global CU, Kirtland FCU, Scott CU, and Tinker FCU—as well as from sponsors, TruStage and Earnest Consulting Group (ECG). DCUC’s board of directors and ECG matched the full Silent Auction proceeds.
Next year, DCUC will host its 2026 Annual Conference at the JW Marriott Turnberry Resort & Spa in Miami, Florida, from Monday, Aug. 3 to Friday, Aug. 7.