Ahead of the graduation of this year's cohort of MnCUN’s Trailblazers Executive Readiness Training program in September, we will be highlighting the credit union professionals participating in the third year of the program. MnCUN’s Trailblazers Executive Readiness Training program is a 12-month program is designed to accelerate executive-level leadership skills and build credit union-specific knowledge needed to succeed in our industry. The cohort meets the second Thursday of the month for 12 months –virtually and in person – providing participants the opportunity to build a close network of colleagues. The program runs September - September. The deadline to apply for the next cohort is July 26, 2024. ![]() Sarah Kuesel, Senior Manager of Remote Services, Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union Why have you chosen a career in credit unions? I very intentionally moved from a career in private banking to a credit union. Knowing that I work for an organization that prioritizes member needs over profits is incredibly important to me as it aligns with my own core values as a financial professional. I find it incredibly fulfilling to be able to work in such a member focused environment, and haven't looked back since joining my credit union family! How do you think the Trailblazer program will impact your career? The Trailblazer Program has expanded my understanding of credit union operations in areas I was previously unfamiliar. It has also helped me grow stronger in areas in which I was already familiar by giving me a new perspective. I am taking away new strategies for team management and project leadership as well as a stronger understanding of strategy when it comes to compliance and risk management. I've truly enjoyed the personal growth in both knowledge and perspective. This growth will certainly impact my performance and abilities moving ahead, allowing me to continue to grow in my career. What have you enjoyed most about the program? I have truly enjoyed the material covered in this program. I valued the time many professionals gave to the students in this program as guest speakers, sharing their expertise and giving us a much broader perspective on both the possibilities and responsibilities of credit unions today. And of course, I've truly enjoyed building relationships with other credit union professionals I would have never otherwise met. I've learned as much from them as I have from the materials and speakers. It's been a wonderful experience. T.J. Trembley, Director of Mortgage Services, City & County Credit Union Why have you chosen a career in credit unions? I have always been in the mortgage industry in one capacity or another. When I started looking into the options available in the credit union world I was learning that it's one big family that enjoys collaborating and growing together and that appealed greatly to me. It's been a breath of fresh air. How do you think the Trailblazer program will impact your career? The Trailblazer program has helped me build my credit union specific knowledge and opened my eyes to how much more there is to gain and grow within my role and the greater credit union space. What have you enjoyed most about the program? Networking, collaboration and growth. Those are the three things I love about the credit union world. The trailblazer program has built a great platform to encourage and foster this for my peers, credit union, and team. Dixon Irwin, Data Analyst, Red Wing Credit Union Why have you chosen a career in credit unions? Red Wing Credit Union was a fit in many ways. Red Wing was where I was born and raised, and I saw it as an opportunity to help the community I grew up in. I've learned a lot about how a Credit Union truly helps their members and I'm happy I can be a part of that in my hometown. After interning here in college and I knew RWCU was going to be a great fit for me. How do you think the Trailblazer program will impact your career? The Trailblazer program will impact my career in many ways. Most importantly, I believe that it has introduced me to the network of wonderful people that work in Credit Unions around our state. The program has also given me insight into becoming a more well-rounded thinker when it comes to all the different facets of our organization. What have you enjoyed most about the program? I've enjoyed this program a lot. As mentioned before, the connections made here are fantastic! We all have different professional backgrounds and different viewpoints on our program's topics coming from institutions of different sizes. I've enjoyed the expertise that was brought in to lead our discussions throughout the year as well. Michael Brine, Branch Manager AVP, TruStone Financial Credit Union Why have you chosen a career in credit unions? I love how Credit Unions put their members and employees first. I previously worked for a "Big Bank". I have seen firsthand the drastic difference in cultures between Credit Unions and Banks. I know that we want what is best for our members, truly care about them and want to help them achieve financial success. How do you think the Trailblazer program will impact your career? This program has helped give me a holistic view of how Credit Unions operate outside my current role. Credit Unions are great at supporting each other while being competitors at the same time. I believe the knowledge I have learned during this program in addition to the connections I have made will help set me up for success in my career. What have you enjoyed most about the program? I have enjoyed learning more about the similarities and differences at other Credit Unions and also the connections I have made with other MN Credit Union Employees.
The CREW Young Professionals Summer Social is scheduled for Thursday, August 8th from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Blacklight Adventures in St. Cloud.
The CREW is excited to bring together credit union young professionals for an evening of fun and networking. This event will include meeting with peers and learning credit union industry updates. This event comes at no cost for attendees and includes escape rooms, laser tag, virtual reality, and food. Space is limited. Registration ends Wednesday, July 31! Agenda: 4:00 p.m. Registration 4:30 p.m. Networking/Dinner 5:00 p.m. Network update/Alloya and Velera Presentation 5:30 p.m. Collaboration Games and Open Forum With questions, please contact MnCUN Director of Engagement Xiong Lee
This program is a partnership of the Minnesota Credit Union Network, Montana’s Credit Unions, and the Wisconsin Credit Union League. Our aim is to expand our reach and bring our collective members a rich and diverse opportunity to network and grow. You’ll get to select if you prefer a Minnesota match or a match from another state. Apply by August 16, 2024
Ahead of the graduation of this year's cohort of MnCUN’s Trailblazers Executive Readiness Training program in September, we will be highlighting the credit union professionals participating in the third year of the program. MnCUN’s Trailblazers Executive Readiness Training program is a 12-month program is designed to accelerate executive-level leadership skills and build credit union-specific knowledge needed to succeed in our industry. The cohort meets the second Thursday of the month for 12 months –virtually and in person – providing participants the opportunity to build a close network of colleagues. The program runs September - September. The deadline to apply for the next cohort is July 26, 2024.
Tim McNeil, VP Mortgage Sales and Operations, Blaze Credit Union
Why have you chosen a career in credit unions? I have been working with banks for most of my career and felt it would be a good time to switch to a credit union culture, best choice ever! How do you think the Trailblazer program will impact your career? It has helped me see many different credit unions and how they currently conduct business, large and small. This helps provide me a more diverse picture of how business is being conducted. What have you enjoyed most about the program? Getting to know the people within the credit union space! Maria Corradi Haines, AVP Operations, Northern Communities Credit Union Why have you chosen a career in credit unions? In today's increasingly digital world, I feel like a lot of us are missing a sense of community, and I've found some of that within the credit union movement. We're people helping people. I believe that credit unions offer a unique and valuable alternative to traditional banking institutions, and I find it gratifying to be part of something that helps make the financial space a more inclusive place for all. How do you think the Trailblazer program will impact your career? I feel like I have a better understanding of how all areas of a credit union operate and how to best connect day-to-day operations with the overall strategic direction of the organization. What have you enjoyed most about the program? My favorite part of the program was our in-person sessions. I love the collaborative nature of credit unions in general, and I found a lot of value in the material that was presented while also being able to share ideas and discuss various topics with fellow cohorts and the presenters. Janell Rewitzer, Senior Vice President - Chief Operating Officer, Northwoods Credit Union Why have you chosen a career in credit unions? I’ve chosen a career in credit unions because I love the credit union philosophy of people helping people. I am a part of a great organization that has helped improve our members’ lives and our community in many ways and I am proud of that. How do you think the Trailblazer program will impact your career? The Trailblazer program has been a great way for me to gain experience and knowledge in all areas of the credit union. This program has allowed me to learn about all different aspects of a credit union and how each department and all working parts of a credit union come together to be successful. This program has also enhanced my leadership skills and helped me gain confidence for leading my credit union. What have you enjoyed most about the program? I’ve enjoyed learning about other parts of the credit union that I haven’t had much experience with yet in my career. I’ve also enjoyed networking with fellow Trailblazers and learning about them, their roles, and their credit unions. Join us for the Minnesota Credit Union Women’s Leadership Network Summer Luncheon, in person, on July 23, from 10:30 to 1:30 at Arrowwood Lodge at Brainerd Lake in Baxter.
We are pleased to welcome Lisa Desrocher, CEO and Co-founder of the local Five Rocks Distillery, who will share her story about trying new things, taking a leap of faith, having the courage to make change, and challenging one’s assumptions. We’ll continue with small group conversations hosted by our WLN Ambassadors during lunch, and conclude with a Credit Union Leader Panel on tips for Courageous Leadership through Change. Date: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 Time: 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM CST Location: Arrowwood Lodge at Brainerd Lakes, 6967 Lake Forest Road, Baxter, MN 56425 Cost: $69.00 Watch for more details coming soon regarding a Give Back Opportunity as well! For more information about the Minnesota Credit Union Women’s Leadership Network, visit the group page online. With questions, contact Vice President of Communications and Engagement Andrea Molnau. ![]() The Tristate Collaborative Leadership Conference, hosted by the Minnesota, Montana, and Wisconsin Credit Union Associations, is a new event that will focus on accelerating leadership skills and building credit union knowledge for the next generation of leaders. The event will be held August 5th and 6th at the JW Marriott Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. Room Block Closes Friday, July 5, 2024. Content will include general sessions and breakouts, with expert speakers sharing practical skills, inspirational stories, and how to incorporate credit union principles into your leadership journey. Plus, attendees will have plenty of time to network with credit union colleagues from across our region. We highly encourage all leaders to register! Young professionals, Women's Leadership Network members, and Tristate Mentorship Match participants: be sure to attend this valuable networking event! Event Details: Tristate Collaborative Leadership Conference Hosted by the Minnesota, Montana, and Wisconsin Credit Union Leagues Date: August 5 - August 6, 2024 Cost: Registration is $449; final registration deadline is Friday, July 19, 2024. Lodging Details: JW Marriot Minneapolis Mall of America 2141 Lindau Lane Bloomington, Minnesota 55425 Group rate is $239 per night Follow this link to book your group rate for TriState Leadership Conference Ascensus, in partnership with registration host the Tennessee Credit Union League, is presenting virtual IRA workshops in October for members of participating credit union leagues, including the Minnesota Credit Union Network.
Join the highly skilled Ascensus trainers for virtual IRA Training - Essentials and Advanced to learn more about IRA services for credit unions. Each training day will be held online from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT, with a 45-minute break for lunch. Ascensus IRA Essentials on Wednesday, October 16, gives attendees a solid foundation of IRA knowledge. Attendees will leave this session able to work with IRA owners and process basic IRA transactions with confidence. This is a beginner's session; no previous IRA knowledge is assumed. Topics may include Introduction & Establishing IRAs, IRA Funding, IRA Distributions, and IRA Portability. Ascensus Advanced IRAs on Thursday, October 17, builds on the attendee's basic IRA knowledge to address some of the more complex IRA issues that their financial organizations may handle. Topics may include IRA Update, IRA Excess Contributions, Required Minimum Distributions, Beneficiary Options, Advanced Portability, Roth IRA Conversion, and IRA Legal Issues. Registered attendees will receive a detailed training guide for each day of study. For convenience, we will record this training for those who cannot attend live or if they want to rewatch part of the training later. 2024 Pricing: $299 per day/per person Join the upcoming Board of Directors Peer-to-Peer (P2P) in person on Wednesday, August 21, starting at 3:30 p.m. This will be an open format designed to get Directors from credit unions across the state to network and discuss what Directors need to know. We will provide training on balance sheets and income statements and what’s most important on a call report. We will discuss governance and best practices and share strategies for recruitment and discuss what it takes to be a highly effective board. The open forum will yield discussion on what is most important and matters to you!
Date: Wednesday, August 21 Time: 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM Location: HomeTown Credit Union 150 18th Street SW Owatonna, MN 55060 Cost: $49.00 Snacks and beverages will be provided. Stay tuned for further announcements and updates! For a list of all P2P sessions, visit our Peer-to-Peer (P2P) webpage. With questions, please contact Xiong Lee, Director of Engagement at [email protected]. |
The PulseThe Pulse is MnCUN's newsletter that keeps credit union professionals and board members updated on current news and information. Archives
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