2025 Schedule at a Glace

Wednesday, February 12

10:00 AM – 2:30 PM: Credit Union Roundtable

10:00 AM – 2:30 PM: Emerging Leaders Workshop

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Visit with Vendors – Exhibit Hall

2:40 PM – 3:00 PM: Sprint Session

3:00 PM – 3:45 PM: Concurrent Sessions

3:45 PM – 5:15 PM: Visit with Vendors – Exhibit Hall

4:10 PM – 4:30 PM: Sprint Session

4:15 PM – 5:15 PM: General Reception

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Foundation Awards Gala Reception

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Foundation Awards Gala

Thursday, February 13

7:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Breakfast & Exhibit Hall

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM: Concurrent Sessions

9:45 AM – 10:45 AM: Visit with Vendors – Exhibit Hall

10:15 AM – 10:35 AM: Sprint Session

10:45 AM – 11:30 AM: Concurrent Sessions

11:30 AM – 1:30 PM: CUxEL Protégé Competition Finals Luncheon

11:45 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch & Exhibit Hall

12:50 PM – 1:10 PM: Sprint Session

1:30 PM – 2:15 PM: Concurrent Sessions

2:30 PM – 3:15 PM: Concurrent Sessions

3:15 PM: CUxEL Protégé Winners Announcement & Grand Prize Raffle

3:30 PM: Show Concludes

10:00 am - 2:30pm - Emerging Leaders Workshop

10:00am – 12:30pm

Addressing and Resolving Conflict

This session, Addressing and Resolving Conflict, provides an overview of the various types of conflict, helps identify the root causes of conflict and equips participants with tools to help effectively resolve the issues at hand. The program will cover both internal conflict and how one’s values, beliefs and emotions impact its resolution, as well as external conflict and the challenges that interpersonal differences, communication breakdowns and situational factors create. Participants should leave with a clearer understanding of their own conflict style, practical strategies for managing internal and external conflicts and tools to foster the most positive conflict outcomes. Ideas for conflict prevention will also be shared.

Bill Nagle, AngleUp Consulting

12:30pm – 1:30pm

Lunch Break

1:30pm – 2:30pm

CEO PANEL: Breaking Barriers

Join our local CEOs for a candid, transparent conversation. This panel will feature Tabitha Allen, First Flight Federal Credit Union; Brian McKay, Spero Financial; and Jake Robinson, Champion Credit Union. Take a deep dive into the world of a CEO while we discuss leadership, values, career pathing, industry disruptors, and more. Come prepared to ask our panelists questions during the open discussion segment.

Tabitha Allen, First Flight Federal Credit Union, Brian McKay, Spero Financial , and Jake Robinson, Champion Credit Union

Breakout Sessions

Next Gen Digital Lending

  • Improved Digital Origination with AI Chatbots and engaging workflows 
    • Chatbot with core connectivity 
    • Conversational workflows during online application  
  • Supplying the demand for omnichannel loan origination 
    • One-Stop-Shop for origination and ancillary product sales 
  • Automate manual tasks via a workflow approach combined with decisioning 
    • Online flows pushing seamlessly into the LOS 
    • Automated Loan Processing 
    • Predictive Analytics and Algorithmic Based Lending Decisions 

Jesse Fruge, Vice President of Product Management, Algebrik AI

Elevating Member Experience: Technology Trends in Mortgage Servicing

Dive into the latest trends in mortgage servicing with a focus on enhancing the member experience through innovative technology. This session explores key topics that impact member satisfaction, from digital platforms that streamline communication to data-driven recapture solutions. We’ll discuss how advancements in technology are transforming the way servicers interact with members, improve transparency, and handle inquiries efficiently. Gain insights into the tools and strategies that leading servicers are using to meet rising member expectations and set new standards for mortgage servicing. This session is ideal for professionals aiming to leverage technology to build stronger, more responsive member relationships in the mortgage sector. 

Anna Krogh, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Dovenmuehle Mortgage, Inc.

Ensuring Future Success: Succession Planning and Talent Development 

Learn the critical processes of succession planning and talent development designed to safeguard the future of your credit union. In this session, we will explore effective strategies to identify and nurture top-performing employees, ensuring their engagement and retention. Learn how to build a resilient leadership pipeline, address potential talent gaps, and create a culture of continuous growth and development. This presentation will equip you with the tools and knowledge to protect your organization and capitalize on the strengths of your workforce, driving long-term success. 

Paul Marston, Chief Operating Officer, HR Performance Solutions

Hot Topics in Business Services

Not Making Commercial Loans? Not Taking Business Deposits? Need to Offset Consumer Loan Runoff? The bad news is you’re not alone. Want to diversify risk and grow membership and diversify income? This session will explore ways to start a business services platform to drive a safe and sound loan portfolio while growing business deposits and non-interest income through several collaborative initiatives designed to expand the services offered to your members and communities. We’ll also talk about the hottest topics in commercial lending: Post election economy, regulators, pitfalls and risks to avoid. All to ensure you have a high-quality low risk loan portfolio.

Mark Cox, President & CEO, Innovative Business Solutions

Navigating the Battlefield of Capital Allocation 

Dave Richter, Vice President, revisits last year’s LAUNCH discussion where we focused on rising rates and the impact to cost of funds, earnings, and net worth. While today’s environment is entirely different, we’ll again attempt to focus on a framework to remove the “noise” and uncertainty of the marketHow do we gain clarity on strategy for our members while so much is unknownDuring our time, we will apply a different lens to today’s market in order to gain a better understanding of what this all means for future “capital” allocations. 

Dave Richter, Vice President, Performance Trust

Cybersecurity and the Board of Directors 

The NCUA has some clear expectations for the Board of Directors in regards to CyberSecurity at their Credit Unions. In this session we will go through some of the major points of that engagement. We will discuss the how’s and why’s the NCUA says that Boards should prioritize cybersecurity as a TOP oversight and governance responsibility alongside the financial soundness of the institution. We will then dive into four key areas that the Board needs to ensure are within the Information Security Program they oversee: 

  • Training 
  • Business Continuity and Resilience 
  • Operational Oversight 
  • Incident Response Planning 

Steve Koinm, CISO, Co-Founder, Vice President, Professional Services, Pure IT

Strategy First

Driving institutional success requires the integration of strategies and tactics across departments and initiatives. When not aligned, activities can slow or derail goals from being met. The retail engagement plan must include integration with technology and online presence, branding and marketing, and facilities planning. This session will provide a roadmap for success through integration of planning of network optimization and coordination of the online and in-person member experience.   

Glenn Grau, Executive Vice President, PWCampbell

Financial Inclusion – Importance of Meeting Your Members Where They Are 

While the cost of living continues to rise, wages for many workers have not kept up, leading to financial strain for lower- and middle-income households. A large portion of Americans do not have enough savings to cover unexpected expenses, leading to financial stress in the event of job loss, medical emergencies, or other crises. 

In addition, the modern credit scoring system dates back decades and does not consider other factors in making credit decisions, such as the member relationship with the credit union. The current credit scoring system is still evolving; however, it currently puts those members that are credit invisible or have credit thin files at a disadvantage. 

In this session learn the importance of considering your member relationships in making credit decisions and how this might expand your lending solutions to be more inclusive and support your members’ financial health. Meet your members where they are when needs arise, and they do not qualify for traditional lending. 

Kristin Roche, QCash Financial

Boost Manager Productivity by 25% by Eliminating Your Reliance on Tribal Knowledge 

Do managers, directors, and VPs spend their time answering the same employee questions and fixing the same mistakes? It’s time to modernize how your credit union transfers knowledge from those who know to those who do.   

In this session, Greg DeVore will outline a proven framework for eliminating tribal knowledge, growing employee independence, and freeing up managers’ time to focus on what moves your credit union forward. 

Greg DeVore, CEO & Co-founder, Screensteps 

AI-Driven Lending: A Blueprint for Growth and Inclusivity in Credit Unions 

By 2026, financial institutions that have adopted AI-driven lending for at least three years are projected to cut loan approval times by 70% and expand credit access by 50% over those using traditional methods. 

This isn’t just a trend—it’s a pivotal moment for the industry. Credit unions now have a unique opportunity to lead by embracing AI, not as a tool, but as a catalyst for growth, smarter decisions, and more meaningful member engagement. AI’s power extends beyond efficiency; it enables credit unions to design lending experiences that are faster, fairer, and more tailored to each member’s needs. 

Session Highlights 

  • Speed and Simplicity: Discover how AI cuts turnaround times and enables same-day approvals, reducing friction for members without sacrificing risk control. 
  • Proactive Member Engagement: Learn how AI can identify lending opportunities proactively, offering pre-approvals and personalized packages that resonate with members’ needs. 
  • Expanding Credit Access: Find out how alternative data and AI-driven insights help credit unions confidently extend credit to underserved or thin-file members, broadening financial inclusion. 
  • Personalized Digital Experience: Explore how data-driven insights empower credit unions to offer precisely tailored loan products that enhance the member’s digital journey. 
  • Transparency and Trust: Understand how explainable AI models help credit unions stay compliant while providing clear, understandable credit decisions that build trust. 

This session will feature insights from industry leaders and credit union executives who have successfully leveraged AI to drive growth, deepen member relationships, and advance financial inclusion. 

Scienaptic AI

Emerging Risk Outlook 

Keeping ahead of the complex array of ever-changing risks, compliance issues, and industry regulations that are impacting credit unions requires keen awareness, effective preparation, and loss control scrutiny. When risk management is effective, typically nothing bad happens. But, if you’re blindsided by a problem, your credit union reputation takes the hit. Don’t let not knowing which emerging risks are around the corner take the blame. While each credit union has its own unique risk footprint, this Emerging Risks Outlook introduces risks and trends that should be on your radar. 

TruStage

Linking Payments, Parenting, and Partnership: How to Engage and Attract Young Members.

Join Visa in a discussion on how credit unions can stand out to the youngest consumers by leveraging payments as a key differentiator. This session will explore innovative strategies, including partnerships with financial services organizations like Goalsetter, to unlock value and attract the next generation of members. Learn how existing members can become powerful channels for growth while staying true to the core value of financial literacy. Plus, get the latest insights from Visa on Gen Z preferences and trends.

Jorge E. Esteban, Vice President, Southeast Region, Community Financial Institutions, Visa