42 credit union leaders graduate from Foundation’s DE Program
Graduates now Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs)
MADISON, WI (April 18, 2019) — Forty-two credit union leaders were certified as Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs) after completing the National Credit Union Foundation’s (the Foundation) Credit Union Development Education (DE) Training.
The April DE Training was held April 3-8, 2019 at the Lowell Center in Madison, Wis. and was attended by employees and volunteers from credit unions and system partners across the United States and the globe.
DE Training is a unique experiential training program that provides lessons in credit union structure, purpose and the “why” that differentiates credit unions from other financial institutions. During the Foundation’s signature program, participants are involved in group exercises, field visits and interactive speaker sessions that provide insights into how credit unions can leverage their unique business model to help their members and communities overcome the financial and developmental issues they face.
Hear what a few graduates had to say about their experience:
- “DE Training was one of the most inspiring programs I have had the privilege to attend. It’s bigger than professional development involving a deepening awareness at a personal, community, credit union, and international level. It’s a reawakening to what should be our purpose on this planet and a catalyst to put a person back on the path of keeping that purpose constant.” – Clarissa Lane, Clinchfield Federal Credit Union.
- “Everything about the DE experience shined so bright. A deeper understanding of development issues, empathy, and how to turn ideas into action is what I am taking out into our movement. I’m fired up to make a bigger impact.” – Julie Ferguson, JRF Consulting.
- “From a perspective of a mature, long time credit union employee, DE reinforced what I can still do. The power I still hold, the skills built over time that are still useful. Not only are credit unions still relevant, so am I.” – Sally Woodcock, Cutting Edge Credit Union.
Class Graduates
The most recent DE graduating class included credit union movement representatives from across the U.S. as well as representatives from Kenya and for the first time ever, Botswana. They are: Tumelo Abednico, Maitlamo SACCO in Botswana; Crystal Abshire, Campus Federal Credit Union in Louisiana; Krystal Aimi, Seasons Federal Credit Union in Connecticut; Priscilla Awkard, Coastal Credit Union in North Carolina; Janie Bright, Local Government Federal Credit Union in North Carolina; Develon Davis, Peach State Federal Credit Union in Georgia; Michael Doi, Coastal Credit Union in North Carolina; Jane Eichenbaum, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union in California; Julie Ferguson, JRF Consulting Services in Pennsylvania; Amanda Ferwerda, Dane County Credit Union in Wisconsin; Shelly Floreani, Southern Lakes Credit Union in Wisconsin; Misti Gravouia, Maple Federal Credit Union in Louisiana; Chiannon Harvey, Carolina Foothills Federal Credit Union in South Carolina; Gamaliel Hassan, Stima SACCO in Kenya; Joshette Jackson, Energy Capital Credit Union in Texas; Patrick Kiage, Sheria Sacco Society LTD in Nairobi; Clarissa Lane, Clinchfield Federal Credit Union in Tennessee; Jessica LaRocca, Southwest Louisiana Credit Union in Louisiana; Renee Lyman, Montana’s Credit Unions in Montana; Ester Martinez, Guadalupe Credit Union in New Mexico; Kyle McDougal, America’s First Federal Credit Union in Alabama; Laura McFadden, Mountain West Credit Union Association in Colorado; Kris Moore, BayPort Credit Union in Virginia; Renson Ndoro, Imarika Sacco Society LTD in Kenya, Amy Nelson, TwinStar Credit Union in Washington; Brent Nevins, West Michigan Credit Union in Michigan; Sterling Nowka, Credit Union National Association in New Jersey; Hazelmae Overturf, BECU in Washington; Anne Owuor, Stima SACCO in Kenya; Nick Phillips, PSCU in Florida; Jacqui Regenbogen, CUNA Mutual Group in Wisconsin; Brett Schnur, People’s Trust Federal Credit Union in Texas; Stephanie Sievers, Star of Texas Credit Union in Texas; April Simmons, Clinchfield Federal Credit Union in Tennessee; Randi Simmons, Peoples Advantage Federal Credit Union in Virginia; Jen Stanton, Simplicity Credit Union in Wisconsin; Debra Steele, Suncoast Credit Union in Florida; John Warner, Clackamas Federal Credit Union in Oregon; Maria Watts, CoVantage Credit Union in Wisconsin; Kayla Wolosin, Reliant Federal Credit Union in Wyoming; Sally Woodcock, Cutting Edge Federal Credit Union in Oregon; and Amber Young, Gesa Credit Union in Washington.
Training Staff
The program was facilitated by the Director of DE and Cooperative Culture at the Foundation and co-facilitated by Debbie Wege from BECU in Washington. Onsite event coordination was done by Maggie Wolff from the Foundation. The class was mentored by a group of six credit union professionals and CUDE alumni: Charles Akinbola, Elements Financial in Indiana; Hayley Andrews, Rivermark Community Credit Union in Washington; Chris Court, Service 1st Federal Credit Union in Pennsylvania; Tiffany Ficklin, Nusenda Credit Union in New Mexico; Kristina Grebener, Credit Union National Association in Wisconsin; and Ray Lancaster, Pyramid Federal Credit Union in Arizona.
Interested in Attending DE Training in 2019?
There is still availability in our September and November DE Trainings. Click here for more information and to register or email us at cude@ncuf.coop to be put on a notification list for additional registration information.
Graduates of the April 2019 DE Training stand with training staff outside the World Credit Union Center Campus in Madison, Wis.
About National Credit Union Foundation
The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) is the charitable arm of the U.S. credit union movement and works as a catalyst to improve people’s financial lives through credit unions. Through grants and programs, the Foundation is strengthening financial well-being, igniting passion, and instilling knowledge about the credit union difference, and uniting resources to help credit union people during disaster. Donations to the Foundation ultimately enable credit unions to help their members reach life-changing goals and achieve financial freedom.
About the DE Program
Since 1982, more than 1,900 credit union advocates from over 35 countries have graduated from DE Training to become Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs). Once they earn their CUDE designation, people return to their jobs with a sense of personal enrichment and renewed energy to share what they have learned. This growing corps of credit union advocates devotes professional and volunteer time to spreading the credit union message to audiences throughout the country. For more information on the DE program, visit www.ncuf.coop.
