During the first week of May, 40 credit union professionalsbecame Credit Union Development Educators in Madison,Wis., after participating in group exercises, fieldtrips and issue discussions with speakers from around the creditunion system.

To complete the program, they were required to conclude teamprojects proposing solutions for credit unions to help alleviate oreliminate challenging situations in any given area.

NCUF's Credit Union Development Education training helps bothnew and veteran credit union professionals understand thephilosophy of the credit union and apply it to day-to-day operatingprincipals while reminding leaders why they joined the movement inthe first place.

“During DE training, we work to ensure the lessons in creditunion philosophy are applicable and relevant to current events,”said Lois Kitsch, DE facilitator and NCUF national programdirector. “For example, for the final case studies, participantsworked through and presented solutions to critical issues thatincluded credit union solutions to payday lending, a small creditunion merger dilemma, the low-income designation, building anIslamic banking center, developing a credit union awarenesscampaign, and league consolidation.”

Graduates acquire skills in credit union outreach initiatives,problem solving, technical assistance, team building and publicpresentation. In addition, they join a networking group includingover 1,000 graduates across America and over 30 othercountries.

“My experience at DE training was eye-opening andinspirational,” said Lisett Olsen, business development officer atAlhambra CU in Phoenix, Ariz. “We need to go out and tell our storyso we can keep the unique legacy and vision of our founders aliveof 'people helping people.' The DE program is the electricity thatwe need to light our continuing path to the future.”

Class Graduates

The spring 2013 graduating class included credit union movementrepresentatives from across the U.S., the Caribbean,and from the Philippines. They are:

• Sam Adams, SECU in North Carolina
• Linda Birt, Peoples Trust FCU in Texas
• Emma Boczar, Boulevard FCU in New York
• Dean Borland, Credit Union Resources Inc. in Texas
• Tom Candell, NCUF in Wisconsin
• Megan Carpenter, Champion CU in North Carolina
• Holly Carter, Central City CU in Wisconsin
• Jama Dagenhart, SECU in North Carolina
• Randall Dixon, Energey Capital CU in Texas
• Jamila Draper, PSCU Credit Union Cooperative Society inTrinidad
• Don Emmer, Best Advantage CU in Wisconsin
• Lindsay Hanson, Heritage CU in Wisconsin
• Chris Kemm, Mountain West CU Association in Colorado
• Karen Knowlton, Champion CU in North Carolina
• Patrick La Pine, League of Southeastern CUs in Florida
• Becky LaFontaine, Northeast Family FCU in Connecticut
• Tracy Lennox, Northeast Regional CU in Missouri
• Alana Listoe, Montana CU Network in Montana
• Vanessa Lowe, NCUA in Virginia
• Stacey Mills, Welcome FCU in North Carolina
• Vanessa Molla, Members CU in Connecticut
• Jim Morrell, Peninsula CU in Washington state
• Graham Nesbitt, BIU Members CU Co-Op Society in Bermuda
• Amy Nigrelli, CUNA in Wisconsin
• Lisett Olsen, Alhambra CU in Arizona
• David Paltza, Evangelical Christian CU in California
• Arna Reynolds, Amarillo Community FCU in Texas
• Carla Schrinner, CUNA in Wisconsin
• Shirley Senn, Corporate America CU in California
• Toni Silbernagel, MAPS CU in Oregon
• Kim Stephenson, SECU in North Carolina
• David Tuyo, Lending Solutions Inc. in Florida
• Kathy Varese, CUNA Mutual Group in Wisconsin
• Rudz Villanueva, National Confederation of Cooperatives inPhilippines
• Christine Walsh Rogers, Tapco CU in Washington
• Grant Weiland, CU Association of Oklahoma
• Jamie Wenger, CUNA Mutual Group in Wisconsin
• Adena Whitman, League of Southeastern CUs in Florida
• Tawna Wolfe, Tarrant County CU in Texas
• Lisa Wyman, Complex Community FCU in Texas.

The next CUDE training will be held at the Lowell Center inMadison, Wis. on Sept. 4-11, 2013.