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The 2019 Credit Union National Association’s Governmental Affairs Conference

#CUNAGAC at the Washington Convention Center

WASHINGTON, DC (March 4, 2019) — The 2019 Credit Union National Association’s Governmental Affairs Conference (CUNA GAC) kicks off next week. 5,000 credit union advocates from all 50 states come to D.C. to make their unified voice heard. More than 600 meetings will be held with elected officials and regulators where credit union members will educate Congress on how it can help tailor regulations to better serve consumers.

The conference features a slew of congressional speakers, keynote addresses and breakout session panelists throughout the week.

Below please find a full schedule, which is subject to change.

RSVP to Register for the Event Here.

WHAT:                 CUNA GAC is the premier event for political impact in the credit union industry, gathering thousands of industry leaders to remind legislators and regulators why credit unions are Americans’ best financial partners.

WHO:                    J. Mark McWatters, National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Chairman

                                Rick Metsger, NCUA Board Member

John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State

                                Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Senate Banking Committee

                                Linda McMahon, Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA)

                                Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), Senate Appropriations Committee

Malcolm Gladwell, New York Times bestseller

                                See below for more.

WHEN:               Monday, March 11 – Wednesday, March 13. 

WHERE:             Walter E. Washington Convention Center  

                             801 Mr. Vernon Place NW

                             Washington, D.C. 20001 

RSVP:                    Link

Note: *Indicates events that are closed to press and/or off the record.

Monday, March 11th

9:30am                                 Presentation with Jim Nussle, CUNA President/CEO

10:00am                               General Session with Keynote Speaker John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State

11:15pm                               Exhibit Hall Open

1:00pm                                 CUNA’s Annual General Meeting featuring comments by Maurice Smith, CUNA Board Chairman, President/CEO of Local Government Federal Credit Union

1:30pm                                 Advocacy update with Ryan Donovan, CUNA Chief Advocacy Officer and Richard Gose, CUNA Chief Political Officer, with guest comments from Mark Riccobono, National Federation of the Blind CEO

3:00pm                                 Breakout Sessions

The State of the Movement: Addressing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the Credit Union Movement

An assessment of how the credit union industry is currently addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion. The panelists will cover gender, race & ethnicity, and financial inclusion.

Moderator

Eric Hansing, VP of Multicultural and Corporate Strategy, CUNA Mutual Group

Panelists

Cathie Mahon, President/CEO, Inclusiv 

Angela Russell, VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, CUNA Mutual Group

Samira Salem, PhD, Senior Policy Analyst, CUNA

CECL — Where We Are and Where Credit Unions Need to Be*

This session will include a comprehensive overview of Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL), including where credit unions are now, how they got here, and what they need to do now to prepare.

Moderator

Luke Martone, Senior Director – Advocacy & Counsel, CUNA

Panelists

Julie Renderos, EVP/CFO at Suncoast Credit Union

Sydney Garmong, Partner at Crowe LLP

Dale Hansard, CEO / President at Caprock Federal Credit Union

Ian Dunn, EVP Products at Visible Equity

The New Congress: Outlook and Opportunity

Panelists will provide their perspective on the first two months of the 116th Congress and divided government in Washington. The panelists will offer bipartisan views on the legislative outlook for 2019 and what credit unions can expect. They will also offer insights from their experiences working on Capitol Hill.

Moderator

TBC

Panelists

TBC

Bank Attacks Bank Attacks and Their Different Forms – Not All Threats Look Alike*

Bank attacks continue to be an ongoing threat to the credit union movement. The bankers have become more advanced in their attacks especially at the state level. Attendees will learn about recent state fights and how credit unions were successfully able to mobilize and push back against these efforts.

Moderator

Mara Humphrey, Vice President, Governmental Affairs and Association Services, Minnesota Credit Union League

Panelists

Ray Springsteen, President, Fort Knox Federal Credit Union

Justin Hupfer, CEO, Policy Works

Richard Gose, Chief Political Officer, CUNA

                                                The Economy and Credit Union Operations

Slowing U.S. economic growth, increased stock market volatility and rising geopolitical risks have some wondering about the prospects for credit union success in 2019. Tariffs could spell trouble for auto lending. Higher interest rates and rising home prices will likely challenge mortgage lending operations. Bankruptcy filings are on the rise. Liquidity is a mounting concern in some quarters. What does the future hold? CUNA economists will review how credit unions are responding to looming challenges and will explore prospects for credit union loan and savings growth and the probable effects on asset quality, earnings and interactions with regulators.

Panelists

Mike Schenk, Chief Economist, CUNA

Jordan van Rijn, Senior Economist, CUNA

Tuesday, March 12th

9:00am                                 Remarks from Linda McMahon, Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), Senate Appropriations Committee

9:30am                                 Panel Discussion on Awareness Initiative’s “Open Your Eyes to a Credit Union” moderated by Jill Tomalin, CUNA COO, and featuring Mike Brooks, Campaigns Lead, BrandCap; Teresa Freeborn, President and Chief Executive, Xceed Financial Federal; Tara Graff, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Business Development, Hiway Federal Credit Union; Graeme Traynor, Managing Director, Glover Park Group

10:00am                               General Session with Keynote Speaker Malcolm Gladwell, New York Times bestseller

11:15pm                               Exhibit Hall Open

1:00pm                                 Remarks from Brett Martinez, Incoming CUNA Board Chairman

1:15pm                                 Panel Discussion led by Jim Nussle, CUNA President/CEO, with National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Chairman J. Mark McWatters and board member Rick Metsger

1:40pm                                 Remarks from Congressman Lacy Clay (D-MO), House Committee of Financial Services, and Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Senate Banking Committee

2:00pm                                 Panel Discussion on partisan communications led by Trey Hawkins, CUNA Deputy Chief Advocacy Officer for Political Action, featuring Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL), House Committee on Agriculture and Alan Meyer, President/CEO of 1st MidAmerica Credit Union 

3:00pm                                 Breakout Sessions

Regulatory and Litigation Threats to Credit Unions in 2019*

The regulatory environment for credit unions has been chaotic the last few years. Even as the regulatory environment may be calming down, credit unions are faced with additional threats, such as frivolous lawsuits brought by aggressive plaintiffs’ attorneys. Our panel of professionals throughout the industry will discuss how the regulatory and legal environment in 2019 will affect credit unions and their operations.

Moderator

Alex Monterrubio, Senior Director of Advocacy & Counsel, CUNA

Panelists

Michael Pryor, Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

Nicholas Santucci, Associate, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

David Reed, Partner, Reed & Jolly, PLLB

Your Role in Credit Union Advocacy

This session will review the programs and resources CUNA has to help you develop relationships with your state and federal lawmakers. With the 116th Congress now in session, building these relationships is more crucial than ever. Establishing these relationships takes place back in your states as well as in Washington, D.C. Speakers will discuss a variety of techniques and programs that currently exist to help you enhance your role in credit union advocacy.

Moderator

Keith Sias, Senior VP of Governmental Affairs, Illinois CU League

Panelists

Jean Peterson, Board of Directors Vice Chair, Aberdeen Federal Credit Union

Kyle Frick, VP of Marketing/Community Relations, Mid-Oregon Credit Union

Steve Gilman, President/CEO, Houston Texas Fire Fighters Federal Credit Union

Payments and Cybersecurity Issues for 2019 and Beyond

Join speakers to discuss top technology issues for 2019 and beyond. This session will feature a discussion by the Federal Reserve Board on faster payments, including an update on the last year’s real-time payments proposal. Ways credit unions can improve and test cyber security preparedness will also be discussed.

Moderator

TBC

Panelists

TBC

                                                Flood Insurance: Educate your Members, Protect Your Business

Credit Unions face unique challenges following natural disasters, experiencing power outages, interruptions in business operation, branch damage, data loss, and employee turnover, all while their members need them most. Join us for a panel discussion on financial preparedness and the issues and opportunities credit unions face in preparing themselves and their members for flooding and other natural disasters.

                                                Moderator

Joseph Luedke, Senior Consultant, Corporate & Legislative Affairs, CUNA Mutual Group

Panelists

Paul Huang, Assistant Administrator for Federal Insurance, FEMA

George Hofheimer, Chief Research & Development Officer, Filene

Jared Ross, Senior VP, Association Services & Governmental Affairs, League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates

Jay Isaacson, VP, Property & Casualty Solutions, CUNA Mutual Group

                                                Credit Union CEO Breakout*

An opportunity to network, share insights and exchange ideas with other forward-thinking credit union CEOs in a candid and enlightening session.

                                                The Economy and Credit Union Operations

Slowing U.S. economic growth, increased stock market volatility and rising geopolitical risks have some wondering about the prospects for credit union success in 2019. Tariffs could spell trouble for auto lending. Higher interest rates and rising home prices will likely challenge mortgage lending operations. Bankruptcy filings are on the rise. Liquidity is a mounting concern in some quarters. What does the future hold? CUNA economists will review how credit unions are responding to looming challenges and will explore prospects for credit union loan and savings growth and the probable effects on asset quality, earnings and interactions with regulators.

Panelists

Mike Schenk, Chief Economist, CUNA

Jordan van Rijn, Senior Economist, CUNA

Wednesday, March 13th

8:30am                                 Remarks from elected officials: Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), House Financial Services Committee, Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), Committee on Foreign Affairs, Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC), House Financial Services Committee, Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO, House Financial Services Committee, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI), House Financial Services Committee

10:00am                               Closing Address with Keynote Speaker Dana Perino, former White House Press Secretary, author, host of ‘Daily Briefing’ – Fox News


About CUNA

Credit Union National Association (CUNA) is the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America’s credit unions, which are owned by 135 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. For more information about CUNA, visit cuna.org. To find your nearest credit union, visit YourMoneyFurther.com.

Contacts

CUNA Communications
communications@cuna.coop

 

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