DCECU young professional selected to ‘crash’ 2020 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference
MIDLAND, MI (February 4, 2020) — A staff member at Dow Chemical Employees’ Credit Union (dcecu.org) has been selected to “crash” the Credit Union National Association Governmental Affairs Conference (CUNA GAC) later this month.
DCECU Accountant Alison Lutren of Sanford has been identified by The Cooperative Trust of Filene Research Institute as an emerging leader in the credit union movement. As a result, she will join more than 50 young professional leaders and thousands of other credit union advocates at the year’s largest credit union industry event, which takes place Feb. 23 through 27 in Washington, D.C. As a “Crasher,” Lutren will represent both DCECU and the Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL) as she meets with lawmakers and regulators, advocating on industry-
wide issues that affect credit unions and their members, including DCECU’s nearly 69,000 members.
“I am thrilled to be selected to represent Michigan credit unions at this premier event,” Lutren said. “I eagerly look forward to sharing the credit union difference with lawmakers, learning from world-class speakers and networking with other like-minded young professionals.”
Lutren was selected through a highly competitive process, earning complimentary registration to the CUNA GAC. She and the other Crashers will receive leadership development tools, attend mentoring sessions with leaders of industry organizations and enjoy exclusive networking opportunities with more than 5,000 top credit union advocates.
“We are very proud that one of our own was selected for this incredible opportunity,” said DCECU Controller Alison Taylor, Lutren’s supervisor. “Alison is making a name for herself amongst her peers, as this is her third ‘Crasher’ event in the last year. We are confident that Alison will passionately and professionally represent DCECU and the entire credit union industry.”
Filene Research Institute Director for Community Development Cortney Angeley said the organization is “excited to introduce the next generation of leaders to this life-changing experience. The Cooperative Trust and the Crash Program provides exceptional experiences to help emerging leaders develop their careers. Most importantly, the connections made at CUNA GAC are a catalyst to building a lifelong network of passionate credit union advocates.”
Crash the GAC is the largest Crash Program event Filene organizes each year. It is a nonstop, career-changing program that allows young professionals to participate in the credit union industry’s largest advocacy conference. Representing nearly every U.S. state, the 2020 class of Crashers includes young leaders with diverse roles at their credit unions.
“The Crashers bring so much energy and passion to CUNA GAC,” said CUNA President and CEO Jim Nussle. “I always look forward to meeting each new group, knowing that these folks are the people that will lead our movement in the future. I am so impressed with this year’s class, and I am excited to see where this leadership opportunity takes them in their careers. CUNA is proud to join Filene and The Cooperative Trust to make this special program possible year after year.”
Alison Lutren.
About Dow Chemical Employees’ Credit Union
Dow Chemical Employees’ Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution that is owned by its members and dedicated to providing them with smart, affordable banking solutions. Located in Midland, Michigan, DCECU has $2.1 billion in assets and nearly 73,500 members and has been recognized multiple times by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) for top performance in saving members money. Membership is open to employees and retirees of nearly 100 Select Employer Group companies and their family members, as well as donors to the Midland Area Community Foundation’s DCECU Members Endowed Scholarship Fund. For more information, visit dcecu.org or call 989.835.7794 or 800.835.7794.
Follow DCECU on Facebook at facebook.com/dcecu and on Instagram at instagram.com/dcecu_mi.
About Filene Research Institute and The Cooperative Trust
Filene Research Institute strengthens organizations through innovative research and incubation to improve consumer financial well-being. As an independent cooperative finance think tank, Filene’s membership network connects a community of leaders and bright minds to change lives through
innovation, truth and cooperation. In addition to delivering cutting-edge, actionable academic research, Filene also provides incubators to test and scale solutions, events to spark organizations into action, and advisory services to help accelerate and implement innovation. For more information, visit filene.org. Filene’s The Cooperative Trust, with its award-winning Crash Program, is the international community of young credit union professionals, made possible by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). The Cooperative Trust won the National Credit Union Foundation’s Herb Wegner Award for Outstanding Program in 2017. The Cooperative Trust’s Crash Program is designed to empower young credit union professionals through professional development and by finding and amplifying their voices to advocate for the role of young people in the industry. Learn more at cooperativetrust.com.
About the Credit Union National Association (CUNA)
CUNA is the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America’s credit unions, which are owned by 115 million consumer members. CUNA, along with its network of affiliated state credit union leagues, delivers unwavering advocacy, continuous professional growth and operational confidence to protect the best interests of all credit unions. More information is available at cuna.org.
