Sunday, August 31

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"Governance During Crisis: Roles and Response Strategies" by David Reed
From cyber-attacks to horrible bill payment conversions, data breaches to fraud, every credit union should be prepared to launch an effective response when a negative event strikes.   Is your credit union prepared?  Learn how boards and senior management should act during crises—financial, operational, reputational, or natural disasters.  

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“The Future of Payments: Trends, Innovations and What’s Next for Credit Unions” by Becky Reed

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Explore the evolving landscape of payments and what it means for credit unions.
From real-time payments to stablecoin and digital wallets, AI-driven fraud prevention, and emerging
technologies like blockchain, this session will provide insights into the innovations
shaping the future. Discover strategies to stay competitive, meet member
expectations, and navigate regulatory challenges in an increasingly digital world

 

Monday, September 1

 

“Part One: Global Economic Overview” by Frank Kelly

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This session provides a comprehensive global overview of the major geopolitical and economic developments over the past year. Frank Kelly will examine the impact of new tariffs, escalating trade wars, and significant regime changes that have altered the balance of global power and economic cooperation. The session explores how these changes have disrupted supply chains, shifted international trade dynamics, and influenced investor confidence and global market behavior. Attendees will gain a broader understanding of the evolving international environment and the underlying forces reshaping global business, finance, and policy. This overview lays the groundwork for understanding the practical implications explored in Part Two.

 

“Part Two: Global Economic Impact” by Frank Kelly

Building on the global context established in Part One, this session focuses on the real-world impact of these geopolitical and economic shifts—especially the evolving policy landscape in Washington. Frank Kelly will analyze how legislative and regulatory changes are influencing business strategy, investment planning, and market stability. From changes in fiscal and trade policy to shifts in financial regulation and enforcement, this session will detail what has already happened, what may come next, and how these developments are likely to affect you, your business and financial institutions. Attendees will leave with practical insights into managing risk, identifying opportunity, and preparing for the challenges of an increasingly uncertain economic climate.

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Tuesday, September 2

 

“The Batman Utility Belt Strategy: Three Prongs of Sustainable Growth” by Ancin R. Cooley

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What made Batman so formidable—despite having no superpowers—wasn’t just his intellect. It was his readiness. No matter what challenge came his way, he always had a solution tucked into that utility belt. But more than tools, he always had a strategy—and the discipline to execute it.

 

Credit union leaders need the same: not just ideas, but a reliable set of strategic tools—and more importantly, a repeatable way to execute.

 

In this workshop-style session, Anson Cooley of Synergy Credit Union Consulting introduces your team to the Batman Utility Belt Growth Strategy—a three-pronged approach to sustainable growth:

 

• Organic Growth through targeted member experience, marketing, and product alignment.

• Selective Mergers are rooted in shared values and long-term strategic fit.

• Inorganic Leaps like loan participations, fintech partnerships, and specialty portfolios.

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"Beyond the Retreat: How Credit Unions Execute Strategy"by Ancin R. Cooley

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Strategic plans look great in binders, but success lives in the execution. In this follow-up to The Batman Utility Belt Strategy, we roll up our sleeves and dig into what happens after the strategy retreat ends. This hands-on session is all about operational execution: the repeatable systems, meeting rhythms, dashboards, and decision cadences that actually bring strategy to life. Ancin Cooley of Synergy Credit Union Consulting will walk through real-world examples of execution in action, where growth didn’t come from a bold idea, but from doing the right things consistently across teams.

 

You’ll explore:

      •     How to translate broad strategic goals into specific, team-level commitments

      •     The “lead measure” mindset: tracking the inputs that drive your outcomes

      •     How to build accountability without burnout—through cadence and compensation

      •     Examples of execution systems used by high-performing credit unions 

 

Wednesday, September 3

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“Steering Through Change: Credit Unions, Regulation, and the Future of Financial Services” by Rodney Hood

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In this forward-looking keynote session, former Acting Comptroller of the Currency and former NCUA Chairman Rodney E. Hood offers a rare, dual-agency perspective on the current and future state of financial services in the United States. With a career spanning the FDIC, Treasury coordination, and direct oversight of the banking and credit union systems, Mr. Hood brings unique insights into the intersection of capital, liquidity, digital innovation, and regulatory policy.

From Washington, D.C. policy shifts to the global evolution of stablecoins and digital assets, this conversation will explore what credit unions need to know to navigate complexity, compete with confidence, and uphold their mission in a digital-first world. The session includes opening remarks, a fireside chat with a moderator, and audience Q&A.

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“Staying Ahead of the Adversary: Emerging Threats, Technologies, and Strategies to Protect Credit Unions and Their Members”by Gurvais Grigg

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Drawing on decades of experience in the FBI and as a former stock broker and CTO for Global Public Sector at Chainalysis, Gurvais Grigg will share critical insights into the evolving landscape of financial crime targeting credit unions and their members. This engaging session will examine how bad actors exploit traditional fraud techniques and utilize emerging technologies, from cryptocurrencies to AI-driven fraud. Attendees will learn about proven strategies for detecting and disrupting illicit activity, strengthening member trust, and safeguarding institutional resilience. By understanding the adversary’s playbook and leveraging modern security and investigative techniques, credit union leaders can position their organizations to anticipate, counter, and stop threats before they cause harm.