Tuesday, August 5
9:30 am – 10:00 am
Registration
10:00 am- 11:00 am
Welcome & Opening Keynote, Kindness is the New Etiquette: Navigating Awkward Moments with Grace
Linda Cohen, Professional Speaker | Linda Cohen Consulting
Ever spotted a colleague with their zipper down or stumbled through a forgotten-name introduction? We've all been there. In this interactive session, we'll explore how kindness can be your go-to tool for navigating many common workplace dilemmas. This isn’t about outdated rules—it’s about showing up with warmth, building trust - through authenticity and curiosity, and making a positive impression wherever you go. Whether you're guiding a member through a sensitive conversation or shaking hands with a board member whose name escapes you, you’ll walk away with confidence and kindness in your back pocket. Because when in doubt… choose kindness.
11:15am – 12:00pm
Recruit, Retain, Mentor, Motivate
Shari Storm, Professional Speaker | Category 6 Consulting
The labor shortage - especially with young people - does not appear to be getting better any time soon. How can you recruit and retain talent when you don't have the budget to pay what your competitors can? How can you make your organization more attractive to great employees within your current limitations? This lively, funny, interactive presentation gives straight-forward, applicable advice on how to build a reputation of being a place people want to work. This stand-out session shares strategies on building morale, mentoring rising stars, and keeping teams motivated over the long marathon that our jobs often are. And best of all, the advice is immediately actionable.
12:00pm
Networking Lunch
12:45pm – 1:45pm
Breakouts
Networking with Authenticity
Linda Cohen, Professional Speaker | Linda Cohen Consulting
Whether you’re a seasoned connector or someone who breaks into a sweat at the word networking, this session will help you reframe how you show up and build relationships. True networking isn’t about collecting business cards—it’s about cultivating meaningful connections grounded in curiosity, kindness, and generosity.
We’ll talk about how to show up with intention, listen with presence, and follow up in ways that keep the conversation going after the event ends. You’ll leave with simple strategies to ease anxiety, boost confidence, and connect in a way that feels good (and gets results).
Expanding Impact: Leadership & Global Opportunities in the Credit Union Movement
Marcey Ciaccio, Philanthropy Manager | Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions
Discover how the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions are transforming lives through financial inclusion, advocacy, and leadership development across the globe. This session will provide an in-depth look at the critical work these organizations do to strengthen credit unions worldwide and the opportunities available for emerging and experienced leaders to get involved. Explore how Global Women's Leadership Network (GWLN) and Worldwide Young Credit Union Professionals (WYCUP) empower professionals to expand their leadership, build global connections, and make a lasting impact in their communities and beyond. Whether you're looking to develop your leadership skills, engage in international initiatives, or connect with like-minded professionals, this session will provide valuable insights and pathways to get involved. Join us to learn how you can be part of the movement shaping the future of credit unions on a global scale!
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Breakouts
Running A Good Meeting: Maintaining Momentum from Meeting to Meeting
Shari Storm, Professional Speaker | Category 6 Consulting
One of the most overlooked talents for any professional is how to run a good meeting. Unfortunately, this is a skill that is rarely taught.
When someone is adept at running a meeting, they are viewed as more competent, more capable, and a better candidate for promotion. A good meeting includes getting the right people in the room, guiding the conversation to a successful outcome, and holding everyone accountable after the meeting.
Momentum lives and dies from one meeting to the next. If your team doesn't know how to manage meeting time, it will be much more difficult for your credit union to achieve its goals.
The good news is, there are a few simple steps you can take to make running a good meeting easy and even enjoyable!
Who is Writing Your Story? The Importance of Your Advocacy
Sarah Wainscott, President & CEO | The League
In Wisconsin alone there are 816 groups registered to advocate for their interests. Just two associations reliably talk about credit unions - the credit union association, and the banks' association, and many other groups may be making assumptions based on what they think they know about credit unions. It's critical that credit unions enter the discussion about our own industry and our own future. If we aren't talking about credit unions, how can we expect policymakers to know, understand, and rally behind our impact and our interests. Join the session for coaching on why advocacy is a part of your job, and how you can effectively and comfortably engage for the betterment of your career, your credit union, and your communities.
3:15pm – 4:15 pm
Keynote: Leading the Way to Financial Well-Being for All: Empowering Your Employees
Josh Roberts, Vice President of System Collaboration & Development | The League
Gerry Singleton, President/CEO | Montana’s Credit Unions (MCU)
The goal of this session will be to equip leaders with knowledge and practical strategies to effectively champion and support employee financial well-being within their teams and the organization to better support financial well-being needs of their members and community. Our Imperative: if we are financial first responders, we must first look out for ourselves before we can think about supporting others.
This interactive discussion and presentation will include:
- Our Comfort Zone
- The Leadership Imperative: Why Financial Well-Being Matters
- Key Aspects of Effective Leadership in Financial Well-Being
4:15 pm – 5:00 pm
Hot Topic Roundtables
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Networking Sponsor Reception
Dinner on your own
Wednesday, August 6
8:00 am – 9:00 am
Mentorship Program Celebration Coffee Hour
9:00 am – 9:30 am
Breakfast
9:30am – 10:30am
Design for Digital: Technology and the Fintech Ecosystem for Credit Unions
Christie Kimbell | Filene Research Institute
Digital transformation remains a critical priority for all credit unions in an era of constant technological change. This presentation explores the rapidly evolving fintech landscape, uncovering key trends shaping the financial services ecosystem and their implications for credit union strategy. How do credit unions identify, develop, and launch cutting-edge solutions while optimizing their processes to get the most value out of their technology partnerships? From cultivating nimbleness and navigating the risks of experimentation to maintaining operational excellence, this session provides credit union leaders with a roadmap to create a digitally forward organization.
10:45am – 11:45am
Unlocking Potential: Cultivating a Culture of Growth & Innovation
Sarah Fecht, Certified Speaker-Trainer | Best Self Leadership
Imagine a workplace buzzing with creativity and daring ideas, where taking risks is celebrated! We'll dive into effective strategies for spotting and boosting individual talents while setting up dynamic feedback systems that keep the momentum going. With captivating success stories, this keynote promises to show how embracing innovation can lead to incredible achievements.
Key Takeaways include:
- Leadership's Role in Growth Mindset: Discover how leaders can become the champions of innovation, inspiring their teams to grow and explore new horizons.
- Safe Environment for Creativity: Learn how to craft a place for creativity, where bold ideas and risk-taking are welcomed.
- Strength Recognition Techniques: Uncover exciting ways to spotlight and amplify the unique superpowers of each team member to unleash their full potential.
- Feedback Loops for Improvement: Master the art of setting up lively feedback channels that fuel ongoing growth and development.
11:45am – 12:00pm
Conference Wrap Up
Tristate Collaborative League Presidents