With more than 30 educational sessions, you’ll be sure to walk away from this year’s Convention with new insight and knowledge to help you take action, innovate and embed sustainable growth at your credit union. Read details on all of this year’s sessions and start planning your Convention experience.

General Sessions

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The Rabobank Model: Cooperative. Local. Global. How’s that work?

Arnold Kuijpers; Director, Corporate Affairs, Rabobank Nederland
Wednesday, Oct. 3 • 9-10:30 a.m.

While America’s credit unions have maintained a hyper-local focus, Rabobank Group has expanded its cooperative reach to 48 countries serving over 10 million consumers. Rabobank is rooted in the cooperative model, founded at the end of the 19th century by farmers of modest means who were left out by larger, established banks. It is recognized today as one of the world’s safest financial service providers. How has it endured as both an international mega bank and a federation of local, financial institutions? Arnold Kuijpers will share the Rabobank story including its colorful history, focus on collaboration and the challenges and opportunities for the independent cooperative banks that are part of its brand. In addition to its cooperative structure, Rabobank shares many traits of American credit unions including a rich history of foundation outreach and advocacy. Mr. Kuijpers’ keynote address promises to share experiences and challenges cooperatives have in common while shining new light on a global perspective.

Lessons to be Learned from our Cooperative Neighbors

Canadian Credit Union Panel
Wednesday, Oct. 3 • 3-4 p.m.

Credit unions have a lot to learn from each other, and Canadian credit unions have a lot to share with their U.S. brethren. This session will set the stage in helping place in context issues of scale and sustainability that are now affecting us all. Join us as John Lass moderates this session which will include Brigette Goulard, vice president of Credit Union Central Canada; and Dominic Vinci Interior Savings Credit Union senior vice president and COO as they discuss in a open panel setting their perspectives on capital alternatives, operational efficiency and international North American collaborative opportunities now available to all credit unions.

Remaining Relevant in the Future of Payment Systems

Jeff Russell; Senior Advisor, The Members Group; President and CEO, TMG Financial Services; Chief Strategy Officer, Affiliates Management Company
Thursday, Oct. 4 • 8:45-10 a.m.

The days of offering a simple checking account to members are long gone. So are the days of posting marketing flyers in your sponsor’s break room and hoping the HR department gets new employees signed up. Credit unions compete with the most sophisticated financial services companies on the planet, and members want a variety of payment options, including access from multiple channels and devices. They expect integration, not only with product offerings but with outside entities like Facebook, Twitter and independent Personal Financial Management (PFM) websites. Plus, with new players emerging in the payments arena with names like Google, Verizon and Apple, the focus on innovation is as important as ever. Jeff Russell, CEO of TMG Financial Services and senior advisor for The Members Group, will provide an overview of this new landscape and what it means for credit unions. He will also share his thinking on how credit unions can remain relevant in their members’ payment lives as the world changes in the coming years.

From Research to Action: Understanding our NW Consumers

Neil Goldman; Senior Partner, Goldman Consulting & Strategy, Inc.
Thursday, Oct. 4 • 3:30-4:45 p.m.

What message will help people understand the credit union difference and join? The NWCUA commissioned renowned credit union consultant Neil Goldman to survey nearly 900 Northwest consumers to find out. The results are dramatic. The Primary Financial Institution (PFI) Highway reveals a chilling net promoter score for Northwest banks and determines what it will take formembers to make credit unions their primary financial institutions. In his address, Goldman will share key drivers of organizational success with credit union leaders who will then be able to turn this unique research into action.
 

Education Breakout Sessions

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Key: Innovation.Action.Growth.

Building the Credit Union of the Future

Target Audience: Board Members and Exec. Management
 

John Lass; Senior Vice President, Strategy & Business Development; CUNA Mutual Group
Wednesday, Oct. 3 • 1:30–2:45 p.m.

Building upon the sustainable growth framework, John Lass will lead us on a deeper dive examination of the key revenue and expense challenges and opportunities facing credit unions today, with a particular focus on changes in consumer channel preferences, demographics, economic events, competition and regulation. Lass will also examine real-time case studies to learn how competitors are using different strategies and value propositions to re-shape retail financial services of the future.

There is an App for That: How Credit Unions Can Engage Members Through Tablet and Smartphone Applications

Target Audience: CEOs, Exec. Management, Board Members, Marketing Staff, Technology Staff
 

Brett Wooden, Brett Wooden Consulting, LLC
Wednesday, Oct. 3 • 1:30–2:45 p.m.

Software applications today for mobile devices do everything from entertain to inform and can be designed to reach virtually any customer segment. As mobile phone and tablet users get younger, the opportunity to develop apps tailored toward the cognitive capacity of children increases. Tablet and smartphone adoption is exploding. Nearly 5% of U.S. consumers own a tablet and 36% own a smartphone, according to technology site Android Authority. Current active application counts for iOS devices show no surprise with games in the lead with 114,279, owning 17.53% of the app store. In second place is education with 64,703 owning 9.92%. Finance applications have 13,809 active applications owning 2.12% of the app store market. Games and education all have unique differences to them but finance apps all seem to use the same platforms, look, feel, and have no customization. Imagine what it would look like if a financial institution developed their own applications to educate, engage, and market to its customers/members. Mobile devices and custom app development across multiple platforms will become critical in differentiating one financial institution from the next. As tablet devices surpass the sales of PC devices it will become even more important to strategize on the surpassing of online banking to people utilizing mobile banking.
Join this session and learn:

• What types of financial applications for mobile devices are currently present in the market place—key players, developers, and examples
• How can the customization of applications change internal and external member's behaviors? Is it worth customizing an app or going with a standard template?
• What would a few prototypes and ideas look like for the financial sector?
• What can you do going forward?

Unbelievable Chapter UnSession

Target Audience: Current and Future Chapter Members
 

Holly Duckworth, CEO, Leadership Solutions International
Wednesday, Oct. 3 • 1:30–2:45 p.m.

Chapters have a strong history as part of the Credit Union Movement and are as relevant today as they were when they started. Have you been looking for affordable education and networking opportunities for staff and board members? During this session the group will go “un-session” and “un-plugged” about chapters. Then the group will go off the record to talk frankly about chapters, hear about their best practices and learn how your credit union can become more involved. The group will explore the challenges and successes of navigating an ever-evolving chapter landscape at the ground level. Facilitated by Holly Duckworth, CAE, CMP, this is your chance to un-plug, un-wind and have a dialogue about chapters in an “un-conventional” way.

Online Banking Risks

Target Audience: Board Members, CEOs, Exec. Management, Operations Staff
 

Joni Lovingood; Senior Consultant, Credit Union Protection Risk Management Division; CUNA Mutual Group
Wednesday, Oct. 3 • 1:30–2:45 p.m.

Cyber thieves have been compromising accounts through online banking systems at break neck speed as password stealing banking Trojans, such as Zeus, become more prevalent making most forms of two-factor authentication ineffective. Credit unions have experienced their fair share of online banking fraud. This session will include an overview of the following:

• How cyber thieves infect computers with banking Trojans
• Overview of man-in-the-browser attacks
• Loss case studies
• Overview of the FFIEC's updated authentication guidance
• Mobile banking overview

Accounting & Auditing Update—Current Issues and What Lies Ahead

Target Audience: Board Members, CEOs, CFOs, Finance and Accounting Staff, Compliance Staff
 

Gabe Nachand, Partner, Moss Adams LLP
Ryan Sturgis, Senior Manager, Moss Adams LLP
Wednesday, Oct. 3 • 1:30–2:45 p.m.

The current economic environment has created many challenges from an accounting and regulatory compliance perspective, and significant changes are on the horizon. Learn about the key accounting issues being dealt with today, such as mergers and acquisitions, credit quality, and fair value. Yet more importantly, get your team prepared for what the future of the FASB landscape has in store, such as the drastic proposed changes to the financial instrument impairment model and lease accounting, as the industry head toward the path of convergence with international reporting standards.

Focus and Alignment for Growth and Success

Target Audience: Exec. Management and Leadership 
 

Neil Goldman, Senior Partner; Goldman Consulting & Strategy (GCS), Inc.
Wednesday, Oct. 3 • 1:30–2:45 p.m.

This session addresses the reality of the whirlwind, and addresses managing change, and the critical roles of communication and measurement in creating a cohesive, uniformly focused institution. The bottom line is alignment of actions with objectives and purpose; for without re-alignment, the existing whirlwind of daily to-do’s and competing department needs will always win.

Accepting Deposits From Public Entities—How to Successfully Build it Into Your Credit Union’s Strategy—and How it Works

Target Audience: Exec. Management and Board Members 
 

Bernie Brixius, COO, Central Minnesota Credit Union
Andrea Belz, Public Funds Manager, Oregon State Treasury
Patrick O’Clarie, Finance Director, City of Beaverton
Wednesday, Oct. 3 • 1:30–2:45 p.m.

Panel Discussion with Bernie Brixius, COO of Central Minnesota Federal Credit Union, Andrea Belz, public funds manager at the Oregon State Treasury, and Patrick O’Claire, finance director at the City of Beaverton. You will leave this panel discussion ready to begin planning for the implementation of a public funds program at your credit union. This Panel of experts will walk you through the benefits of participating in a pool, ways to approach a municipality, and planning in the works for Oregon State Treasury’s new Public Funds Collateralization Program for Credit Unions. You will hear from a credit union expert who has managed a public deposit program for more than a decade. Public entity deposits contribute to a strategic ALM approach and provide the liquidity needed to fund member lending needs as a strategic community outreach. Presenters will give a brief presentation and then open it up to the audience for discussion.

Going Further With Tablets & Smartphones to Transform Internal and External Member Service

Target Audience: CEOs, Exec. Management, Board Members, Marketing Staff, Technology Staff
 

Brett Wooden, Brett Wooden Consulting, LLC
Wednesday, Oct. 3 • 4:15–5:30 p.m.

Leave this session armed with new tactics for developing tablet strategies and a high level of enthusiasm for the year. With lower costs, ease of use and great interactivity, smart devices are poised to transform member service for many organizations. With these highly portable devices, personnel will be able to get out from behind the counter and engage the member with a device, answer questions, access purchase history or reservations, and process transactions. They can also communicate with their personnel in a highly effective manner, sharing the latest in product information and giving them access to members’ account information in a safe environment. Today's members have information at their fingertips to comparison shop and check reviews; therefore organizations need to provide their personnel with similar data offerings. Tablets can aid all areas of member satisfaction and increase sales. This session will give a pragmatic view of how tablets and Smartphones will play a key role in the evolution of member service and engagement in the retail experience.
Join this session and:

• Understand how smart devices will improve member service and engagement
• Learn the needs and requirements for adopting and deploying tablets and/or smartphones
• Assess considerations for ROI, productivity, and internal/external member service
• Create action plans for immediate implementation

This session will be interactive and there will be ample time for discussion and participation from all attendees. If you have a tablet or smartphone, be sure to bring it to this session.

Future Financial Consumers

Target Audience: Board Members, CEOs, Marketing, Branch Managers, Exec. Management
 

Bob Hoel, Senior Scholar, Filene Research Institute
Wednesday, Oct. 3 • 4:15–5:30 p.m.

How will financial consumers be changing over the next five years and beyond? Your understanding of change is critical to effective strategic planning in your credit union. This session will go beyond projections and will show you how your credit union can prepare for a bright future. The session will look at changing demographics, lifestyles, income, employment, debt, consumer fears, perceptions of financial institutions, money attitudes and financial service delivery preferences.

Building a Top-notch Advocacy Program in Your Credit Union

Target Audience: Credit Union Advocates, Board Members, Exec. Management
 

NWCUA Grassroots Advocacy Committee and Staff
Wednesday, Oct. 3 • 4:15–5:30 p.m.

Back by popular demand, this advocacy training promises to again be an informative as well as fun session detailing how credit unions can set up a strong yet simple advocacy program. In the new era of super PACs, strong opposition of our agenda by industry competitors and unprecedented partisanship, the status quo no longer is enough. Join us at this session for training by Association governmental affairs staff as well as best practices shared by credit union advocates.

Board Succession Planning

Target Audience: CEOs, Board Members
 

Deedee Myers & Mike Sessions, DDJ Myers Advancing Leadership Institute
Wednesday, Oct. 3 • 4:15–5:30 p.m.

Board succession planning has multiple parts to it and this session starts you on a successful path to review your in-term legacy, how to create a board succession plan, and what to do to successfully recruit. This session is facilitated by an expert in recruitment who shares the dos and don'ts and gives you a toolkit to start the board recruitment process today. You will leave with board recruitment lingo, ways to approach candidates and how to make your board be the best choice a new member makes. If you want to have potential multiple new members on your nominating ticket, this session is for you.

Legal Update

Target Audience: Exec. Management, Compliance Staff, Operations Staff
 

Brian Witt and Hal Scoggins, Shareholders, Farleigh Wada Witt
Wednesday, Oct. 3 • 4:15–5:30 p.m.

Industry experts Brian Witt and Hal Scoggins will provide insight on current legal issues affecting credit unions, including major new and proposed NCUA and CFPB regulations and other operational topics. This session will offer analysis on key areas affecting your credit union so don't miss this relevant and timely session. The regulatory avalanche continues, but Brian and Hal can help you avoid getting buried.

Reality-Based Strategies for the CU System: How to Achieve Sustainable Growth

Target Audience: CEOs, Exec. Management, Board Members
 

John Lass; Senior Vice President, Strategy & Business Development; CUNA Mutual Group
Wednesday, Oct. 3 • 4:15–5:30 p.m.

In this interactive presentation, Lass will cover three primary topics:

• Why the credit union system is more important now than ever before
• How credit unions can gain share of market and share of wallet
• What credit unions must do to ensure sustainable growth into the future

The group will discuss the key challenges facing the CU system today, including loss of fee income, assessments and a shifting landscape for lending products. The presentation will also discuss strategies and actions that credit unions can implement to overcome these critical "headwinds." Your active participation in this session is not only welcome but strongly encouraged.

Resources to Make Your Financial Education Outreach More Effective

Target Audience: Board Members, CEOs, Marketing Staff, Branch Managers, Exec. Management
 

Teresa Shively, Education Specialist, Gesa Credit Union
Danielle Brown, "BizKid$" Program Coordinator, National Credit Union Foundation
Wednesday, Oct. 3 • 4:15–5:30 p.m.

Community outreach is in the DNA of most credit unions. Financial education is as important a goal as a healthy portfolio. You want your educators to reach hundreds of youth and adult students every year, but do they have time to prepare the presentations? Join your Association’s Financial Education Committee to learn about resources already available for your credit union’s use. Hear the best practices of the credit unions that reached over 400,000 students last year—the programs that work and how they’re connecting with audiences of all ages.

Collaboration Within the Credit Union System

Target Audience: Board Members, CEOs, Exec. Management, Management
 

John Lass, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, CUNA Mutual Group
Thursday, Oct. 4 • 12:15–1:45 p.m.

The credit union system has generally relied on organic growth and consolidation to achieve economies of scale. Collaboration represents an alternative approach for achieving the scale needed to compete in today's challenging environment. John Lass will examine how credit unions can benefit from collaboration, what some of the hallmarks of successful collaboration are and what pitfalls can cause collaborative efforts to go wrong. John will also discuss real-time case studies to demonstrate how credit unions both inside and outside the U.S., as well as companies outside the financial service industry, leverage collaboration to achieve increased economies of scale and improved competitiveness.

The Branch as Killer App—Technology and the Consumer in the Branch Experience

Target Audience: Exec. Management, Board Members, Branch Management
 

Paul Siebert, Vice President of Financial Design, EHS Design
Thursday, Oct. 4 • 12:15–1:45 p.m.

Consumers are purchasing more than 25 million mobile devices annually. These devices provide a powerful new and constantly evolving communication tool that significantly impacts the member and staff experience. EHS Design’s credit union clients ask us to help them understand how to maximize new technology integration opportunities in branches. This includes building relationships and bonding, educating, driving efficiency, competing against the big banks, entertaining while increasing engagement, institution relevance and revenue generation. In terms of branch design, technology is becoming the "5th Dimension" that is helping to drive a true "4th Place" reality. In this session, Siebert will present EHS Design’s observations and findings from recent work with medium to large credit unions and banks in the development of advanced branch and member service concepts that integrate new technologies, staffing models, branch business models and brand experiences. Examples will be provided in terms of concept design drawings and photographs including national and international trends in branch design and technology integration. The speakers have collectively completed over 6,500 branches and numerous new prototype projects for financial institutions across North America, Hawaii and Guam. The speaker will share what they are learning about what is really working in terms of creating highly effective financial service delivery environments.

Insight into State Legislative Issues

Target Audience: Credit Union Advocates, Board Members, Exec. Management
 

NWCUA Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Team
Thursday, Oct. 4 • 12:15–1:45 p.m.

What will your Association lobbyists be advocating for in Salem and Olympia next year? Come and find out as this panel of Association staff and committee members share with you the process for determining our state legislative agenda, the specifics in the bills we’ll be pushing and what changes you’ll see if the legislation becomes law. Also hear a regulator’s perspective on updating the state credit union acts, and what they anticipate from our legislatures next year.

Member Business Lending

Target Audience: Those currently active in business lending or considering it
 

Bob Hogan, President, and Jim Devine, CEO; Hipereon, Inc.
Thursday, Oct. 4 • 12:15–1:45 p.m.

A certain amount of risk is inherent in every loan transaction. Credit risk, one of the most prominent, is the failure of the borrower to repay the loan as agreed. However, this can be minimized through the following actions:

• Considering multiple aspects when making the repayment determination
• Matching repayment to the asset’s ability to generate cash
• Using loan covenants
• Taking advantage of demand loans (situational dependent)

To ensure proper protection against credit risk, a written business loan policy statement and internal control procedures should be established. This can be accomplished by following some basic procedures.

Best Practices in Board Governance

Target Audience: Board Members, CEOs
 

Bob Hoel, Senior Scholar, Filene Research Institute
Thursday, Oct. 4 • 12:15–1:45 p.m.

This session is filled with practical tips for improving the effectiveness of your board and its governance process. It draws on three recent in-depth Filene Research Institute studies of governance in corporations and in credit unions—Hoel was the primary author of those studies. His research concentrated on three areas:

• Power and governance
• Board-CEO relationships
• Specific techniques that enable boards to add more value to their organizations

The research concluded that textbook advice about governance is often wrong, and almost all credit union boards can do better.

Leadership Presence: The Critical Missing Ingredient

Target Audience: Anyone responsible for a team
 

Mark Haeussler & Peter Myers, DDJ Myers Advancing Leadership Institute
Thursday, Oct. 4 • 12:15–1:45 p.m.

Being a leader does not automatically happen with a title. Only a few individuals have natural leadership talent; the rest of us have to learn and develop certain way of being that attracts others to be part of our team, to follow us and trust us in decision making. Compelling leaders have three parts to their development; one is their intelligence ability; the second is their subject matter expertise, and third is how they show up as a leader. This session explores congruence between thought and action, leadership stance, and practices to show up as authentic, meaningful and on purpose as a leader. This session is ideal for successful leaders who coach others and want to deepen their coaching practice. This session is perfect for aspiring and mid-level managers who want to be the best possible leader in their career.

Understanding the Implications of Supplemental Capital

Target Audience: Board Members, Exec. Management, Senior Management
 

John Lass, Senior Vice President, Strategic & Business Development, CUNA Mutual Group
Jennifer Wagner, Vice President of Legislative Advocacy, NWCUA
Matt Stephenson, Executive Vice President/COO, Rogue Federal Credit Union
Thursday, Oct. 4 • 2–3:15 p.m.

Current federal statute restricts credit unions' ability to build capital only from the retained earnings of the members, thus limiting their ability to properly serve their members in the new economy. Across the region and nation, many healthy credit unions are being forced to turn away deposits and to restrict lending to satisfy overly rigid regulatory capital requirements. Access to supplemental capital will eliminate this dilemma and help credit unions of all asset sizes. In fact, supplemental capital enhances credit unions' ability to serve their members and help consumers and small businesses access affordable credit, which in turn will help to grow jobs and stimulate economic recovery. This session will address key concepts and current initiatives related to supplemental capital.  

What You Need to Know About Elder Abuse

Target Audience: Compliance, Operations Staff, Member Service Staff
 

Mary Sroufe, Attorney at Law
Thursday, Oct. 4 • 2–3:15 p.m.

Elder Abuse—we all have members who are taken advantage of but, what's a credit union to do? How can we help these members and still stay within the boundaries of privacy and legality? Join Mary Sroufe, attorney at law and former Director of Compliance Services for the Northwest Credit Union Association for a frank discussion of credit union options and resources. The group will cover how to recognize the signs of elder abuse, what credit unions can and cannot do, and discuss out of the box solutions.

Interest Rate Risk Management: Creating a Sound ALM Program

Target Audience: Exec. Management, Board Members
 

Mark DeBree, Director of ALM Services, Catalyst Strategic Solutions
Thursday, Oct. 4 • 2–3:15 p.m.

This session will review the requirements of Part 741 and the impact on credit unions; who is impacted and what is expected by examiners. In addition, the session will lay out for credit unions the key components of a sound interest rate risk program and the key point of integrating IRR exposure into the decision making process. This will help credit union's take ALM Theory and use it to help manage the credit union's balance sheet structure and IRR exposure.

Health Care Reform: the Supreme Court Decision & What it Means to You

Target Audience: CEOs, Exec. Management, Human Resources Staff, Compliance Staff, Operations Staff
 

Brad Pricer, Group Benefits Product Manager, CUNA Mutual Group
Thursday, Oct. 4 • 2–3:15 p.m.

With the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding most of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as being constitutional, employers are left asking questions: what does this mean for us? Are we compliant? What steps do we need to take now? What opportunities might lie ahead in the way of this decision? Will it all change again with the upcoming elections? Join Brad Pricer as he helps you uncover the answers to these questions and provides you with an overview of ACAs.

Plastic Card Fraud

Target Audience: Credit Union Staff and Board of Directors
 

Joni Lovingood; Senior Consultant, Credit Union Protection Risk Management Division; CUNA Mutual Group
Thursday, Oct. 4 • 2–3:15 p.m.

The plastic card environment remains extremely volatile—especially in light of the record numbers of merchant data breaches. Over the last decade, CUNA Mutual Group has helped credit unions combat plastic card fraud. They continue to identify trends and security measures necessary to educate credit union customers on prevention tools.

Common Errors Made by CEOs and Boards: How to Avoid Them in Your Credit Union

Target Audience: Board Members, CEOs
 

Bob Hoel, Senior Scholar, Filene Research Institute
Thursday, Oct. 4 • 2–3:15 p.m.

Top CEOs and boards in most industries frequently make predictable errors that harm and sometimes even destroy their organizations. Research into the causes of these errors yields surprising results that are proving highly useful. In fact, the research recently won a Nobel Prize. Follow-up Filene Research Institute studies find that credit union leaders often make these same types of errors. In this session, the group will examine eight causes of strategic errors in credit unions, chuckle about how they sneak into our thinking processes, and develop ways to avoid them.

Mergers – Taking Advantage of the Branch Network and Headquarters Opportunities

Target Audience: CEOs, COOs, CFOs, Marketing Staff, Human Resources Staff
 

Paul Seibert, Vice President of Finance, EHS Design
Chris Hamilton, Principal, EHS Design
Ken Seigman, Partner, EHS Design
Thursday, Oct. 4 • 2–3:15 p.m.

Mergers of small, medium and large credit unions are expected to continue as the regulatory, economic, technological and competitive environment continues to become more complex and less forgiving. Many elements impact the success of a merger including how existing branches, headquarters and leases are integrated into new delivery channel and real estate strategies. In this session the presenters will share what they have learned about creating high value branch networks and operations facilities working with their credit union clients across North America. They will include an examination of their “Zero Base” planning approach to create branch network perfection, systems integration to drive accurate data analysis, building use and sales options and how to apply “brand wrapping” to existing and merged facilities to deliver a consistent brand experience for members and staff.

In support of this strategy, the presenters will share their experiences preparing organizations for an acquisition and the development of programs that maximize the synergies between two credit unions. There are numerous steps to take prior to an acquisition and even more to take between the agreement of a deal and reaching operational day one.