SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich.–Lois Kitsch and Mark Lynch have formally announced the launch of their new consulting business, cu.difference. The firm is “designed to help others to recognize, develop and use the credit union difference to optimize member experience, build member capacity, build staff capacity and optimize community development.”
With more than 80 years combined in the credit union industry, Kitsch and Lynch said their “passion for credit unions and the difference they
can make in the lives of people around the world led them to establish cu.difference.”
They added that cu.difference is a way to help credit unions, and organizations that support credit unions, to use the credit union difference to improve peoples’ lives.
“Over the past several years, Mark and I have been a part of the National Credit Union Foundation team,” said Kitsch. “Together, we would like to use our experience and expertise to further the work of the Foundation while taking on projects that are of particular interest to us. I am excited about this new adventure, and this new-found time will allow me to do far more global work.”
Cu.difference offers a wide variety of opportunities and tools for credit union organizations to leverage to help members achieve financial stability, while at the same time growing credit union membership and enhancing the financial viability of credit unions, according to Kitsch and Lynch.
Business & Social Goals
Kitsch and Lynch said they will use their expertise to offer consulting to develop strategic plans that focus on both business and social goals, assist with the creation of training development programs that will help teams understand the credit union difference, and provide presentation opportunities to help credit unions create a long-term vision to incorporate the credit union difference into their culture.
“I’m excited to be working with Lois on this new business venture,” said Lynch. “Having seen what happened to credit unions in Australia, where ‘the credit union difference’ was overwhelmed by the desire to focus predominantly on the business strategy, I am passionate about helping credit unions in this country value the credit union difference and use it to better serve their members in a way that supports the business strategy.”