October 29 – 30, 2024
LIVE from Appleton, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Credit Union Connect gives credit union professionals an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate the latest products and services, learn in high-level educational sessions, meet with industry experts, and network with fellow credit union colleagues.
It’s a truly unique opportunity to find out how to meet tomorrow’s challenges today.
2024 Schedule at a Glance
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
1:00 p.m.
General Session or Breakout Sessions
5:00 p.m.
Reception & Expo Hall Grand Opening
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
8:00 a.m.
Registration, Breakfast, and Visit with the Vendors
9:00 – 9:45 a.m.
Concurrent Educational Sessions
9:45 – 10:30 a.m.
Visit with the Vendors
10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
Concurrent Educational Sessions
11:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Visit with the Vendors
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Concurrent Educational Sessions
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch & Networking
1:30 – 2:15 p.m.
Concurrent Educational Sessions
2:15 – 2:45 p.m.
Visit with the Vendors
2:45 – 3:30 p.m.
Concurrent Educational Sessions
3:30 – 3:45 p.m.
Cash & Prize Give-aways
3:45 p.m.
Show Concludes
2023 Topics and Presenters Are Below
Check Back Soon For Topics and Presenters for the 2024 Conference
Keynote Address
Wisconsin, Regional and National Economic Outlook
Do not miss the chance for an in-person meeting and presentation from John Koskinen, Chief Economist for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.
He has the latest information and the statistics to back it up. Get valuable insight into the recent past and near future on a host of important economic factors and trends. This is important for any financial professional in order to be knowledgeable and familiar with our ever-changing economy. John will cover a variety of areas including:
- State Income Growth
- GDP
- Inflation
- Tightening of Lending Standards
- Home Sales and Commercial Real Estate
- The Debt Limit
- Interest Rates
- Employment Growth
- Employee Wages and Salaries
- Personal Debt
- Performance of Different Business Sectors
- Business and Household Surveys
John Koskinen
Chief Economist
Wisconsin Department of Revenue
Breakout Sessions
9:00 AM
How Will You Survive the Epic Funding Crisis?
The urgent need for liquidity has created an ever-growing funding gap where community banks and credit unions are having to pay extraordinarily high costs for those needed deposit. Community financial institutions must take action now to improve and stabilize their balance sheet in order to reduce risk.
Ryan Ohendalski
SVP of Sales
Kasasa
How to Supercharge Branch Traffic in a Digital World
As member expectations evolve, how do you know what elements will best engage them in your branch? Learn how financial institutions are leveraging unique applications of technology and innovation to drive foot traffic and increase engagement within their brick-and-mortar locations.
Key Takeaways:
- Learn how the consumer experience can impact brand loyalty through the use of digital display
- Walk through the use of Artificial Intelligence to inform personalized messaging and capture of valuable member data
- See how a midwest financial institution saw significant growth through after leveraging smart, curated applications of technology throughout their branch
Kim Jankowski Tim Klatt
Client Solutions Director Director of Retail Strategies
LaMacchia Group LaMacchia Group
10:30 AM
Let’s Get “Phygital”: Seamless Digital and In-Branch Experiences
As our physical and digital worlds collide, what is your credit union’s “Phygital” (physical + digital) strategy?
Most CUs agree that strengthening relationships with their members through both in-branch and digital conversations is not only important but increasingly vital to the success of any credit union. In the process, seamless experiences that transition smoothly between the physical and digital worlds are key.
In this session, Mike Mares, Account Executive for Eltropy, will provide an overview of how a credit union can roll out an effective digital and in-branch communications strategy, including having a baseline of communications technologies like Text, Video Banking, Secure Chat and voice.
Attendees will learn:
- What a “Phygital” strategy means for a credit union
- How in-branch and digital conversations can be used seamlessly
- Why each method of communication is effective at different times
Having a “Phygital” strategy is increasingly paramount to the success of any community bank or credit union. Building such a platform systematically, securely, and compliantly will ensure that members receive a personalized, seamless experience, wherever they are – in-branch, on their phone, or on any device.
Mike Mares
Account Executive
Eltropy
From Profit to Purpose: Charitable Donation Accounts for Credit Unions
Join us as we explore the transformative impact of Charitable Donation Accounts (CDAs) for credit unions. Through CDAs, credit unions can support their charitable giving strategies and member communities through investment returns, rather than operating income.
From fostering financial literacy programs to funding disaster relief efforts, CDAs offer a versatile approach to community giving. The final CDA rule by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) states that credit unions must donate a minimum of 51% of their investment earnings to one or more qualifying 501(c)(3) charities. Credit unions retain the flexibility to allocate the remaining 49% of investment earnings toward other initiatives, such as expanded service offerings or member benefits. By providing credit unions with the flexibility and financial resources to give back more, CDAs serve as a win-win for both credit unions and communities. Jason Ritzenthaler, Chief Investment Officer of Members Trust Company, will discuss:
- Understanding the fundamentals of Charitable Donation Accounts (CDAs)
- Exploring the regulatory landscape and NCUA guidelines
- Maximizing the benefits of CDAs while meeting charitable requirements
- Showcasing CDA success stories
- Q&A session
Jason Ritzenthaler
Chief Investment Officer
Members Trust Company
Collaborate to Grow: The Power of Strategic Partnerships for Credit Unions
Collaboration has been a strength in the credit union industry for many years. As member preferences become more and more digital-focused, credit union leaders are looking for strategic fintech partnerships to enhance member experience and expand product and service offerings. But how do you find the right partner? What does success look like? And what is the difference between a true partnership and a vendor?
Join Ben Maxim, chief technology officer at Reseda Group and chief digital strategy and innovation officer at Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU), for an informative discussion on the importance of collaboration in building a strong and vibrant credit union industry.
Maxim will share insights and learnings from MSUFCU’s efforts in building an ecosystem of collaborative strategic partners 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 companies to help make sure best-in-class solutions are available to the industry.
Ben Maxim
Chief Technology Officer
Reseda Group
11:45 AM
Biometrics & Beyond: Multi-Factor Authentication and Fraud Prevention in the Contact Center
An exploration of the challenge with meeting member expectations for streamlined, welcoming credit union contact center interactions, the current threat landscape for fraud and account takeovers, and how to balance risk mitigation with member experience. This session will explore current authentication methodologies, the pros and cons of each option, and the potential impact on member experience associated with adding more security layers. The talk will explore what makes passive voice a leading option for the contact center and IVR based on the current capabilities of technology and adoption rates.
John Dabbs
Senior Account Executive
Illuma
Next Best Action: Overflowing Credit Union Revenue Streams with Predictive Analytics
Banks and FinTechs are creating relevant and personalized experiences based on data insights that deliver value and steer clients towards a NEXT BEST ACTION. Insights gained through predictive analytics are opportunities based on data that can be turned into actions. However, these insights are only as good as the data collected. Learn what credit unions can do to get into the action of NBA.
Patrick McElhenie
Chief Sales Officer
Trellance
1:30 PM
Strategies to Drive Engagement and Non-Interest Income with Your Business Members
Small and midsize businesses need help from their community-focused financial institutions. Market volatility, inflation, employee recruitment, and rising healthcare costs are challenging employers like never before. Credit unions have an opportunity to re-engage with their business community by delivering new, innovative, and value-added services. In this session, we will introduce new strategies that have proven to help credit unions increase their non-interest income streams while re-engaging with their business members.
Jesse Kohl
President of InterLutions
Corporate Central Credit Union
CEO Benefits in a Changing Landscape
This session focuses on the changing components of executive benefits being offered to CEOs today. This includes an overview of the top three emerging CEO retention challenges faced by credit unions, including increased risk of CEO turnover, economic uncertainly and promoting work/life balance. Based on your CEO benefits package, how can your organization continue to compete with potential poachers and keep your top executive motivated as they progress in their career.
Eric Earle
Executive Benefits Specialist
TruStage
2:45 PM
Health Care Economics and How Credit Unions can take control of their Health Care Spend
This session will discuss something all employers, especially nonprofit organizations, think about – the rising cost of health care. These costs concern employers and their employees and families, who continue to spend more of their income on health care.
Doug Benzine, Vice President of Finance and Operations at The Alliance and a veteran of the Credit Union space, will discuss the cost of healthcare on a larger scale and where Wisconsin falls on the national cost continuum.
Melina Kambitsi, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Business Development and Strategic Marketing at The Alliance, will share strategies employers across the state use to uncover opportunities to save healthcare dollars. You will also hear about how your network can help as well.
Doug Benzine Melina Kambitsi, Ph.D.
Vice President of Finance and Operations Sr. Vice President, Business Development & Strategic Marketing
The Alliance The Alliance
Driving New Member Acquisition and Deposits via All-Digital Account Opening Processes
Since the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank earlier this year, many small FIs have experienced a drain on deposits as consumers and businesses alike have moved to larger institutions under the guise of increased safety. Conditions are now ripe for small and mid-sized credit unions to take back those losses. In this session, we’ll describe how targeted campaigns coupled with a fully automated, digital onboarding service can increase member acquisition as well as online deposits.
Mike Duncan
CEO
Bankjoy
