PreConference Registration

(Those attending the main conference are welcome to register at this time as well)

Opening Remarks

PreConference Session

Networking and Refreshment Break

PreConference Session Continued

PreConference Wrap Up

Conference Registration

Welcome Reception

Welcome Reception – Join “The Ones In Red,” and your credit union conference peers from across the country & their guests for cocktails, light dining & great conversation! 

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

Conference Registration

Breakfast

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

Opening Remarks

Trends in Retail & Workplace Strategy:
Redefining Branches and Workplaces in Financial Services

Kevin Blair
President & CEO
NewGround

The pandemic permanently changed how members, employees, and institutions engage with physical space. For financial services organizations, this shift has accelerated long-standing questions around the relevance of the branch and the role of the corporate workplace.

Today’s branch is no longer transaction-centric. Routine activity has moved to digital channels, while the physical branch has evolved into a hub for onboarding, relationship building, complex sales, and advisory services. Technology integration, data, and omnichannel experiences now define both the purpose and design of the branch.

At the same time, financial institutions are under increasing pressure to attract and retain top talent without a clearly defined workplace strategy. Traditional 8–5 office models are giving way to flexible, hybrid environments that support collaboration, culture, and employee wellbeing—while still meeting regulatory, security, and performance requirements.

This session examines how leading banks and credit unions are aligning retail and workplace strategy to drive growth, deepen relationships, and create differentiated experiences in a post-pandemic world.

Key Questions We’ll Address:

• What is the evolving role of the financial services branch?

• How have workplace expectations changed for today’s banking workforce?

• What branch and workplace design trends are shaping the industry?

• How are institutions elevating member and employee experiences to create competitive 

Networking and Refreshment Break

Economic Update

Steven Rick
Chief Economist
TruStage

The presentation will discuss how the global economy, the overall financial sector and the labor market will affect the U.S. economy, U.S. interest rates and ultimately credit union balance sheet and earnings performance.  Steve Rick will analyze and establish standards against which your credit union’s own performance can be measured. Mr. Rick will also identify trends of savings and loan activity, and weigh the influence of future economic events on growth patterns out into 2027.

Winning Beyond Price: Five New Value Strategies for Relevant Distinction– Part I

Dr. Neil Goldman

President

Goldman Consulting & Strategy (GSC, Inc.)

This session is designed for leaders who know that competing on price is becoming a losing game. Part of the Winning Beyond Price framework, this session explores how organizations can create value members willingly pay more for—and feel good about. Building on The Experience Economy, Neil Goldman will reveal how the landscape has evolved over the past 25 years, introducing five new value economies that are reshaping competition today. Through practical insights and real-world examples, participants will learn how to escape commoditization, strengthen differentiation, and win in markets where price alone no longer decides the outcome.

Group Luncheon

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

Winning Beyond Price: Five New Value Strategies for Relevant Distinction– Part II

Dr. Neil Goldman

President

Goldman Consulting & Strategy (GSC, Inc.)

Join Neil after lunch for the continuation of his in-depth look into winning beyond price.

Deepfakes, Synthetic Media & Reputation Risk

Casey Boggs
President and Chief Reputation Officer
ReputationUs

With synthetic media (deepfakes) becoming more realistic, organizations face brand impersonation, misinformation, or manipulated communications. This session covers how to identify, respond to, and mitigate reputation damage caused by deepfake content, plus how to build communications playbooks for these scenarios.

Daily Wrap-Up

Breakfast

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

Introduction

When Is an Investment Outside a Credit Union’s Risk Tolerance?

Bruce Smith
Executive Benefits Consultant & Founder
PARC Street Group
&
Greg D. Shufro
Partner, PARC Street Advisors
Principal, Shufro Rose Co., LLC

Employee Benefit Prefunding Accounts (EBPA) and Charitable Donation Accounts (CDA) offer credit unions a compliant way to offset rising benefit costs and fund community impact but only when implemented with discipline and clarity. This session examines where these strategies fit, how they differ from increasingly popular exotic investment products, and how boards should evaluate equities and managed portfolios in the context of the credit union’s full risk profile.

Key takeaways include:

• When EBPAs and CDAs are appropriate tools versus when restraint is the better decision

• How to evaluate equity exposure relative to total balance sheet risk and obligations

• Practical governance questions boards should ask before approving non-traditional investments

Networking and Refreshment Break

Roundtable Discussion By Asset Size

One of the most valuable aspects of attending a conference is the opportunity to network with other credit union professionals from across the country. Networking with those from credit unions of similar asset size is even a greater benefit. Join fellow attendees for a roundtable session to discuss the pressing issues facing credit unions. 

Small Business Owners/Entrepreneurs/Gig Workers:
A Treasured Economic Resource

Sheilah Montgomery
President
ProActice Impact, LLC

Small business owners, entrepreneurs, and gig workers have long been the driving force behind economic growth and community vitality. Credit unions are uniquely positioned to champion this spirit of entrepreneurship by expanding access to capital, offering meaningful financial education, and fostering collaborative partnerships.  

AI is a game changer. Small business owners are now “Influencers”.  They can garner more likes and potential business clients than ever before. 

In this session, we’ll explore the powerful ways credit unions can support small business owners, helping them secure the financial tools they need to strengthen their businesses, enhance their quality of life, and contribute to the long term sustainability of this economy.

Daily Wrap-Up

Breakfast

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

Opening Remarks

The Power of Being: Transforming Your Challenges into Your Desired Results

Elaine Powell
Thought Disruptor™
MindSpeak International

Credit union leaders are navigating constant change, complex decisions and increasing pressure to deliver results while keeping their people and members at the heart of what they do. But creating different results is not always about doing more. Sometimes it starts with changing how we show up.

In this engaging, interactive session, Elaine Powell will challenge participants to look at their challenges through a different lens. At the heart of the session is her Being Blueprint, a practical framework for shifting how you show up so you can change your results. Participants will experience in real time how a shift in perspective can change their actions and ultimately their outcomes, applying the tool to a real challenge they are facing.

Networking Refreshment Break 

The Psychology of Risk: How Personality Shapes Decision-Making

Tom Glatt, Jr.
Principal/Strategy Consultant
Glatt Consulting Group, Inc.

Every strategic decision is filtered through the personality of the leaders making it. Leveraging the Risk Type Compass™ framework, this session explores the human side of governance. You will discover your own risk disposition—from "Wary" to "Adventurous"—and learn how to balance these personality types within your board and executive team to avoid "groupthink" and ensure robust, resilient decision-making.

Conference Wrap-Up