Wednesday, February 7

10:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Credit Union Roundtable

10:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Emerging Leaders Workshop

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Visit with Vendors – Exhibit Hall

2:40 PM – 3:00 PM
Sprint Session

3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Concurrent Sessions

3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Visit with Vendors – Exhibit Hall

4:10 PM – 4:30 PM
Sprint Session

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Foundation Awards Gala Reception

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Foundation Awards Gala

10:00 am – 2:30 pm    Emerging Leaders Workshop

Networking for Growth and Career Development

10:00 am – 10:30 am    Assessment Overview

Prior to the workshop, attendees will individually complete the online assessment 16 personalities based on Myers Briggs. We will briefly cover the dimensions of the assessment and focus on Extravert vs. Introvert and how energy is gained.

10:30 am – 12:00 pm     Networking

We will cover the history, facts, and benefits of networking for growth and career development. Attendees will then participate in interactive scenarios covering details like entering and exiting a conversation, body language, and more. This interactive session allows participants to practice networking situations while bringing awareness to the importance of details. Participants will also share their own stories so they can learn from each other. There is always laughter on how to overcome awkward situations (we all have them) and how to navigate those situations. Participants will be moving around and working with other individuals one-on-one. This is an excellent session for everyone, introverts or extroverts.

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm     Lunch Break

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm    Networking Communications

We will navigate the different types of networking and best practices on several platforms including LinkedIn, email, and video calls. We’ll touch on how to look your best on video, as well as your elevator pitch and how it’s used for more than just getting a job.

Courtney Aldrich, Associate Director of the Institute for Leadership Advancement

2:30 pm – 3:00 pm    Exhibit Hall – Visit with the Experts

There will be experts of all kinds from more than seventy different companies in the exhibit hall.

3:00 pm – 3:20 pm    Exhibit Hall – Sprint Session

Description Coming Soon

3:00 pm – 3:45 pm    Concurrent Sessions

ATMs, ITMs & Branch Transformation

Current landscape for ATMs & ITMs.  How are the major providers handling product line sunsets, software licensing, ITM projects, etc.  What is coming in future years for the market and how do ITMs enable a more cost-effective branch of the future.

Joe Woods, SVP, Marketing & Channel Partnerships, Dolphin Debit Access

Designing Your Retirement Program to Leverage Growth and Foster Retirement Financial Security 

Please join Morgan Stanley for an interactive and insightful session discussing the trending tropics in retirement plan design, specifically for credit unions. This session will help you to: 

• Offer a custom-tailored, sustainable retirement and financial benefit – allowing your credit union to thrive and attract top talent at all levels. 
• Empower your employees to retire on time, with financial security. 
• Ease administrative workload, eliminate errors, and streamline operations. 

Joe McLaughlin, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor, Corporate Retirement Director, Financial Wellness Director, The Kelliher Corbett Group at Morgan Stanley 

How’s Your Security Fitness? – Emerging Technologies for 2024 and beyond.

In a world obsessed with ransomware, phishing emails, and AI threats, credit union leaders are concerned about regulatory guidance and protecting member data. Are there tools that can potentially lower my risk from a cyber breach? Will those security technologies fit into our compliance program and protect the network for the next few years? This session will cover topics including:

• Cyber Security Planning for Compliance and Security
• Emerging Technologies in world of Cloud Computing and AI
• Security Information Event Management (SIEM)
• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
• Cyber Incident Review of a Real-World Hack
• Q&A

Dean Marshall, CISSP, MBA Executive VP, Compliance & Security, eScope Solutions Inc.

3:45 pm – 5:00 pm    Exhibit Hall – Visit with the Experts

There will be experts of all kinds from more than seventy different companies in the exhibit hall.

4:10 pm – 4:30 pm    Exhibit Hall – Sprint Session

Description Coming Soon

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm    Foundation Awards Gala Reception

Gather for food and drinks to celebrate this year’s Credit Union Foundation Award Winners.

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm    Carolinas Credit Union Foundation Gala Awards

The Carolinas Credit Union League is a proud supporter of the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation, and together we will honor several credit unions for their outstanding work and service.

Thursday, February 8, 2024

8:00 am – 9:00 am    Breakfast and Exhibit Hall

There will be experts of all kinds from more than seventy different companies in the exhibit hall along with breakfast.

9:00 am – 9:45 am    Concurrent Sessions

7 Ways to Create Opportunities – Yes, In This Market! 

Ready for some good news and practical steps you can take in this challenging mortgage market? Join Dawn Rudie and Andrew Williams from myCUmortgage for strategies that make sense for your credit union today and position you for future market changes. With a “control what you can” approach, you’ll see how the combination of smart online systems, knowledgeable staff, lending strategies and scalability can provide solutions, earn business and help your members with their goal of homeownership. 

Andrew Williams, Partner Success Manager, myCUmortgage 

Dawn Rudie, Credit Union Development Manager, myCUmortgage 

Navigating into 2024-The Importance of Total Balance Sheet Strategy  

Balance sheet managers have been attempting to navigate their way through the largest interest rate and liquidity swings that they have seen in the last twenty years.  

Increasing cost of funds, stubborn loan rates, and ever-tightening margins are just a few of the most common worries heading into 2024. Now, more than ever, it is critical that credit union leadership take a whole balance sheet approach, as understanding and utilizing wholesale markets (asset and funding) could significantly reduce some of these pressures. Please join The Baker Group at the Carolina Credit Union Launch Event Session to hear how to navigate and start 2024 in the right direction. 

Andrew Okolski, Associate Partner, Director of Credit Union Strategies, The Baker Group

TruStage

Description Coming Soon

9:45 pm – 10:45 pm    Exhibit Hall – Visit with the Experts

There will be experts of all kinds from more than seventy different companies in the exhibit hall.

10:15 am – 10:35 am    Exhibit Hall – Sprint Session

Description Coming Soon

10:45 am – 11:30 am    Concurrent Sessions

Fostering Financial Inclusion with Member-Centric Lending

Access to credit unlocks opportunities and dreams for members and businesses alike. But credit scores invented many decades before the emergence of modern computing and AI, often decide the fate of millions of dreams. Most credit unions agree that existing credit instruments require a new lease of life. 

The use of AI in credit decisioning can be a game changer for credit unions looking to support their members.  Instead of tightening their belts, credit unions can use AI to tighten their underwriting. Through the use of AI, credit unions can take a more holistic member view and provide members with fast, transparent and inclusive access to credit, personalized loan options, and create a meaningful credit experience. 

In this session, we’ll delve into the extensive benefits AI offers in credit decisioning. Hear firsthand from AI experts and Credit Union leaders as they share their transformative experiences with AI, shedding light on how it has revolutionized their loan decision processes for the betterment of their members. 

Key Takeaways

• Demystifying AI in credit through real experience sharing 
• Role of alternate data in creating a holistic member view 
• Roadmap to safely increasing approvals and automation 
• Using AI for proactive engagement with members 
• How to start your AI journey 

Pankaj Kulshreshtha, CEO, Scienaptic AI

Effective Liquidity Management in a Dynamic Rate Environment

The last decade has seen the credit union industry swing from tight liquidity in 2017-19 to extreme excess liquidity during the pandemic to unprecedented lack of liquidity over the past two years, seemingly in the blink of an eye. This session will highlight multiple tools credit unions can use to measure, monitor and manage liquidity, as well as appropriate stress tests that can help prepare for possible future volatility. Most importantly, the methodologies demonstrated will run the gamut from simple ratio calculations to help the smallest credit union up to sophisticated cashflow forecasting for more complex institutions.

Frank Santucci, Managing Director, Stifel Nicolaus and Company

Refresh – The Latest in Branch Transformation

Modernizing your branches to best serve your multi-generational members, both existing and potential, is crucial in today’s competitive environment.  How your branches look says a lot about your brand, your financial stability, and your commitment to the community. It can also play a key role in employee recruitment and retention. But what if a complete remodel or full-on renovation isn’t in the budget? Many credit unions are finding themselves in this predicament which is why “Refresh” has become a recent answer. This session will cover exactly what Refresh is and why it’s become a major strategy in a credit union’s retail branching strategy, the latest approaches for implementation, what elements constitute a refresh vs a remodel, and proven tiering initiatives to ensure a successful outcome that is right for your budget. Attendees will also review peer case studies that demonstrate the benefit of integrating technology into the branch as part of the refresh process, including the successes and the pitfalls.

You don’t need to spend thousands and thousands of dollars to “refresh” a branch. By the end of this session, you will know how to improve and modernize your retail branch network and increase profitability at a fraction of the cost.

Glenn Grau, Senior Vice President, Sales, PWCampbell

11:30 am – 1:30 pm    CUxEL Protégé Competition Finals Luncheon

Conclusion of the 2024 CUxEL Protégé Competition where top finalists from North and South Carolina will compete for the chance to be named this year’s CUxEL Protégé. The winner and two runners-up will receive developmental scholarships sponsored by the Carolinas Credit Union League. 

11:45 pm – 1:30 pm  Lunch & Exhibit Hall

There will be experts of all kinds from more than seventy different companies in the exhibit hall along with lunch.

1:30 pm – 2:15 pm    Concurrent Sessions

How Technology Can Best Impact Member Experience 

In this session, Sean Farrell, CEO of QDS, will discuss ways technology can be implemented across various channels to deliver optimal member experience, while optimizing use of staff. 

Sean Farrell, CEO, QDS

Clarity in the Midst of the Chaos, Part II

Revisiting a talk from the summer of 2022 where we focused on rising rates and the impact to cost of funds, earnings, and net worth we’ll again attempt to focus on a framework to remove the “noise” and uncertainty of the market.  How do we gain clarity on strategy for our members while so much is unknown?  During our time, we will apply a different lens to this market in order to gain a better understanding of what this all means for “capital” allocations in the future.

Dave Richter, Vice President, Performance Trust

Delivery Comprehensive Business Services: Unlocking Growth, Risk Diversification, and Earnings Enhancement 

In this presentation, we’ll explore the strategic power of leveraging business services to achieve multifaceted goals. Discover how our three lines (IBS, Ultum Group, and Tru Treasury) of commercial services seamlessly integrate to help you grow your balance sheet, diversify risk, and boost earnings. From innovative financial solutions to meaningful fraud prevention strategies, we’ll show you how to harness the full potential of commercial services to drive sustainable and dynamic success for your organization. Join us and gain a deeper understanding of how synergy can transform your Financial Institution’s business services and balance sheet. 

Mark Cox, Innovative Business Solutions

Theresa Tschumperlin, Ultum Group

John Ballantyne, Tru Treasury

2:30 pm – 3:15 am    Concurrent Sessions

Branch Design Secrets for Improved Customer Experience and Employee Engagement  

“Is your branch creating a member experience that is easy to navigate and memorable? Do your employees have the needs of today’s banking readily accessible to best do their job? Branch design can be essential in promoting the engagement of team members, as well as improving the members’ experiences and bringing an ROI. Design can balance customer convenience with staff efficiency and create an inviting atmosphere that encourages interaction. It helps with developing services and products tailored to specific customer needs, helping each guest feel valued. Through our experience with branch design, we aim to offer financial institutions a blueprint for developing successful, engaging branches in their own communities.

Adam James, Partner, Senior Architect, Design Collaborative

NAVCO

Description Coming Soon

Bob Allan, VP Group Sales Manager – East, NAVCO

The Power of Strategic Partnerships for Credit Unions

Collaboration has been a strength in the credit union industry for many years, and as member preferences become more and more digital focused, CU leaders are engaging financial technology firms to help modernize their services. But how do you find the right partner? What does success look like? 

Join Eric Loehr, chief revenue officer at Reseda Group, for an informative discussion on the importance of collaboration and innovation in building a strong and vibrant credit union industry. He has extensive experience in the credit union industry as the former head of partnerships at the Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL) as well as managing the Sprint Credit Union partnership program. 

Loehr will share insights and learnings from Michigan State University Federal Credit Union’s (MSUFCU) efforts to build an ecosystem of collaboration and innovation through its award-winning CUSO, Reseda Group. Since its founding in 2021, Reseda Group has been helping credit unions by discovering and investing in innovative fintech solutions to help make sure best-in-class solutions are available to the industry. 

Eric Loehr, Chief Revenue Officer, Reseda Group

3:15 pm – CUxEL Protégé Competition Finals Luncheon