League system collaboration, Financial Well-being for All and advocacy evolution highlighted at American Association of Credit Union Leagues Winter Conference
WASHINGTON, DC (December 15, 2022) — With a focus on collaboration for advancing the credit union movement, credit union leagues gathered in South Carolina last week for the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL) winter conference. AACUL’s annual conference provides a valuable forum for leagues and other system leaders to share ideas, discuss emerging trends, strategize on advocacy issues, and collaborate to further strengthen the credit union system.
The conference brought together League presidents, League service corporation and association executives, League chairs, government and political affairs professionals, state credit union foundation executives, CUNA board members, national and state regulators, as well as system partner organizations. Key discussions focused on advocacy, consumer awareness, innovation, and financial inclusion.
They heard from a notable lineup of speakers including NCUA Chairman Todd Harper, NCUA Board Member Rodney Hood, and CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle.
Nussle spoke about the ways advocacy strategy is evolving, why successful CUNA-League System collaboration continues to be paramount, and the importance of measuring and showcasing the ways credit unions support financial well-being and advance the communities they serve. National Credit Union Foundation Executive Director Gigi Hyland and CUNA Chief Economist Mike Schenk provided updates on the Financial Well-being for All journey and State Credit Union Foundation executives shared financial well-being initiatives happening across the nation.
A Credit Unions for Kids panel discussion highlighted the alignment between supporting local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and fostering financial well-being within communities. League presidents John Bratsakis, Diana Dykstra, Troy Stang, and Caroline Willard shared the reasons and ways their leagues champion Credit Unions for Kids in their states and nationwide.
Conference participants also heard from Christopher Lorence, executive director, CU Awareness, LLC; Ryan Donovan, president/CEO, Council of Federal Home Loan Banks; Ronny Chapman, senior vice president fintech solutions, CUNA Mutual Group; and Dr. Troy Hall, culture strategist, bestselling author, talent retention expert.
AACUL holds its annual meeting in conjunction with the conference during which AACUL members elected the following to serve on the AACUL Board for the coming year.
- John Bratsakis, president/CEO of the MD & DC Credit Union Association;
- Patrick Conway, president/CEO of the CrossState Credit Union Association;
- Jeff Olson, president/CEO of the Dakota Credit Union Association;
- Debbie Painter, president/CEO of The Kentucky Credit Union League;
- Dan Schline, president/CEO of the Carolinas Credit Union League.
Olson will serve as Chair, Conway will serve as Vice Chair, and Painter will serve as Secretary/Treasurer of the board.
Other ex-officio members of the AACUL Board include Diana Dykstra, president/CEO of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues (Immediate Past Chair); Jim Nussle, president/CEO of CUNA; and Brad Miller, president of AACUL.
AACUL President Brad Miller and CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle join League Presidents for a photo at the 2022 AACUL Winter Meeting.
About American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL)
The American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL) is the national association for the state and regional credit union leagues/associations throughout the United States. AACUL’s mission is to leverage the collective power of Leagues to create advocacy wins for credit unions and build a strong network of credit union associations. We do this by providing advocacy support to yield impact, fostering collaboration and professional development for league staff, and representing the League System to the national association and other industry partners in order to protect and advance a vibrant credit union system.
