Conference Registration

Opening Remarks

How CUSOs Help Credit Unions Thrive & Survive

John Dearing
Partner
Capstone

More than ever, as competitive pressures increase, credit unions seek growth beyond traditional organic means. This discussion explores how the CUSO ‘vehicle’ and external growth are serving as strategic levers to expand capabilities, enhance efficiency, and drive ongoing relevance, helping credit unions navigate today’s environment while positioning for long-term success.

Networking and Refreshment Break

The Next Generation CUSO: Building Shared Infrastructure for Credit Union Growth

Austin Wentzlaff
Founder & CEO
Nook

Credit unions are under increasing pressure to modernize their data, technology, marketing, and member engagement capabilities, but few can efficiently build everything on their own. This session will explore how the next generation of CUSOs can help credit unions share infrastructure, expertise, risk, and economic upside. Using Nook as a real-world example, attendees will learn how credit union-owned technology companies can create standardized, secure solutions while giving participating credit unions a voice in shaping—and ownership in—the future of the industry.

Daily Wrap Up

Welcome Reception

Join us for cocktails, light dining, and great conversation. Registered guests are welcome to attend.

CU Conferences is grateful for the support of its sponsor, PARC Street Group, and would like to thank them for co-sponsoring the reception. 

Breakfast

Join us for a hearty breakfast. Registered guests are welcome to attend.

Opening Remarks

Change is Scary….Transition Isn’t: Leading a Credit Union Through an Era of Constant Change

Mark Arnold
Founder and CEO
On the Mark Strategies

Change doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, even in an environment where it never seems to stop. While change is unavoidable, how people experience it is something leaders can influence. This session focuses on the human side of change and helps credit union leaders understand why transition feels difficult and how to guide employees and directors through it with confidence.

This session will cover:

• The difference between change (what is happening) and transition (how people experience it)

• Why even positive change creates feelings of loss and uncertainty

• The stages employees and directors move through during transition and what they need from leaders at each stage

• Practical tools leaders can use to support, stabilize and engage their teams during change

Networking and Refreshment Break

The State of CUSO Regulation and the Threat of CUSO Examination

Brian Lauer
Partner
Messick, Lauer & Smith P.C.

Credit unions of all sizes have been working together and collaborating through CUSOs for decades to provide better and more cost-effective services. This increased focus by credit unions has led the NCUA to increase its focus on CUSOs.

In this session, Brian Lauer will walk you through the current and future states of CUSO regulation.

• The current CUSO regulation

• The proposed CUSO regulation

•  The framework for CUSO “exams”

• The impact of regulation on the industry

Leveling the Playing Field – Using CUSOs to Leverage Technology Trends

Becky Reed
CXO, BankSocial, CEO/Founder, BRaaS Consulting

Technology is changing constantly – can your credit union keep up? Learn how partnering with a technology CUSO can be a game changer for your credit union’s future.

Group Luncheon

Join us for lunch. Registered guests are welcome to attend.

CUSOs are “THE ANSWER” to New Products & Member Engagement

John Dearing
Partner
Capstone

With rising member expectations and continued innovation across the financial services market, credit unions must continue to evolve. This session highlights how CUSO partnerships and investments are a practical path to launch new products, expand member engagement, and accelerate strategic growth in a rapidly changing market.

Avoiding Board & Leadership Blind Spots

Shawn Temple
Chief Strategy Officer
On the Mark Strategies

The most dangerous leadership challenges aren’t the ones you see—they’re the ones you don’t. Every board member and executive leader has blind spots: behaviors and habits that quietly influence decisions, relationships and results. Left unaddressed, these blind spots limit strategic thinking, weaken culture and reduce board and leadership effectiveness. This session helps credit union leaders recognize common blind spots and offers practical ways to surface and address them before they get in the way of strong governance and leadership.

This session will cover:

• What leadership blind spots are—and why they matter most in the boardroom

• The most common blind spots affecting boards and executive teams

• How blind spots quietly undermine trust, accountability and strategy

• Practical ways to reduce blind spots through feedback and self-awareness

Daily Wrap-Up

Breakfast

Join us for a hearty breakfast. Registered guests are welcome to attend.

Opening Remarks

CUSO Hot Topics

Brian Lauer
Partner
Messick, Lauer & Smith P.C.

We’ll dive into the most pressing issues shaping the industry today. Brian Lauer from Messick Lauer & Smith P.C., will break down key market, regulatory, and legal trends, providing expert insights into the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Networking and Refreshment Break

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) & Credit Unions: From Disruption to Cooperative Advantage

Becky Reed
CXO, BankSocial, CEO/Founder, BRaaS Consulting

Decentralized finance (DeFi), isn’t a threat to credit unions, it’s a blueprint. This session cuts through the hype to show how DeFi principles like tokenized value, programmable money, and trust-minimized rails align naturally with the cooperative model. Attendees will learn where DeFi actually creates leverage for credit unions, where the risks are real, and why waiting on the sidelines is the fastest way to lose relevance. The future isn’t banked or unbanked, it’s cooperatively built, on chain, and already underway.

Conference Wrap-Up