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Financial Well Being

Exploring Why™ Workshop

Financial Well Being
Jun 10 8:30 AM - Jun 10, 2026 4:30 PM
Jun 10, 2026 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
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Description

The National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) Exploring Why™ Workshop is an experiential training program that credit unions and system partners can use to help their employees connect to the credit union difference and discover new and better ways to drive value for the members and organization. Exploring Why is intended for all credit union employees regardless of tenure.  

 

Agenda

8:30am – 9:00am
Registration – Breakfast Bites, Coffee 

9:00am – 9:30am
Welcome & Introductions 

  • About this Workshop, Facilitators / The Foundation
  • Group activity: Introductions + desired outcomes

9:30am – 10:00am
Business vs Social Mission

  • Group activity: Business or Social?
  • Reflect on how your CU balances serving members and ensuring financial success of the org 
  • Discuss factors that contribute to business decisions within CUs 

10:00am – 10:45am
The CU Difference, Co-op Principles 

  • Review CU vs Banks 
  • Discuss cooperatives and the Cooperative Principles 
  • Discuss how these principles differentiate us

10:45am – 11:00am
Break

11:00am – 12:00pm
CU History 

  • Explore how and why CUs were created  
  • Group activity: How our organization started
  • Discuss origins of the credit union movement + key events 
  • CU system overview 

12:00 – 12:30pm
Lunch

12:45pm – 1:30pm
CU Champions Activity

  • Group activity: Champions - learn about key CU leaders and accomplishments 
  • Discuss lessons from CU history + relevancy to today 
  • Modern day challenges and champions

1:30pm – 2:30pm
Financial Well-Being for All 

  • Understanding the concept, challenges and opportunities 
  • Discuss this work in detail and where CUs are finding success 

2:30pm – 2:45pm
Break

2:45pm – 3:30pm
Your Values, Your Why

  • Discuss core values and the importance of alignment 
  • Group  activity: Reinforcing our “why” 

3:30pm – 3:45pm
Wrap Up
Recap of day, final discussion, and reflection as a group 

 

 

 


  

Additional Info

Speakers

Ben Bauer

Vice President Marketing | Simplicity Credit Union

Ben is the Vice President of Marketing at Simplicity Credit Union. Ben and his team lead the marketing, creative, and public relations efforts at Simplicity CU. He got his start with a degree in graphic design and an early entrepreneurial career with his printing and marketing company that he founded and operated for over 11 years. As with many credit union professionals, a chance encounter brought Ben to Simplicity CU and he’s been in love with our movement ever since. Ben brings a diverse set of talents including marketing, graphic design, public relations and strategic leadership.

He has been immersed in many roles including as a member of 15th wave of the i3 program at the Filene Research Institute, and is a Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE). Ben is a Credit Union Certified Marketing Executive (CUCME) and a member of the America’s Credit Unions Marketing & Business Development Member Resources Committee. In 2020, Ben was recognized by Credit Union Magazine as a Credit Union Rockstar for his volunteer and service work to drive credit union innovation, advocacy and purpose.

He is an active member of the community including serving as a board member for the Marshfield Rotary Club, Marshfield Area Community Foundation, Inc., Main Street Marshfield, Spencer Youth Recreations, Inc. and has coached sports from the youth to high school varsity level for 2+ decades. In 2025, Ben added “Author” to his list of accomplishments, publishing his first children’s book. Ben and his wife Katie love to spend as much time possible with their two children and in their spare time enjoying Marshfield and Wisconsin in the great outdoors, biking, running, hiking and camping.

Josh Roberts

Vice President of System Collaboration & Development | The League

Josh is responsible for promoting credit union service and outreach and fostering opportunities for credit union growth. You can also find Josh helping Wisconsin's small credit unions with operational consulting, provides strategy assistance by facilitating Strategic Planning Sessions, and providing various training for credit union leaders, staff, and boards. Additionally, Josh spearheads diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for The League and its member credit unions and is also the League Liaison for the Wisconsin Credit Union Foundation and oversees its operations.

Josh has nearly 20 years of experience in the financial industry, having served credit unions as a vice president, controller, and compliance officer.  He is a graduate of CUNA Management School, where he served as Class President, and a 2016 graduate of the Credit Union Development Educators (CUDE) program.  

Josh currently serves on the Executive Committee of the CUNA Lending Council and is Vice-Chair of CUNA Lending Council’s Member Resources Committee and Vice-Chair of the Engagement Committee. In addition, he is engaged in the community, serving as Board Chair for the Milwaukee Area Technical College Accounting Advisory Board, and as a member of the Milwaukee Area Technical College Banking and Finance Advisory Board. He has previously held positions and volunteered with local neighborhood associations, the American Red Cross, and local environmental organizations.

Event Type

In-Person

Fees

Early Bird: $99
Early Bird Deadline: May 20th 

Regular: $129

Location

Northcentral Technical College
Wausau Campus 1000 W Campus Drive, WI 54401