It's a new day at TheCooperative Trust as James Marshall takes the reins from founder Brent Dixon.

Dixon founded the Crash Network in 2010 as the Filene Research Institute's young adultadviser, and with a three-year funding commitment from CUNA MutualGroup in 2012, it became The Cooperative Trust.

Over the past three years the grassroots community of youngprofessionals has grown from gaining access to a wealth of wisdomby crashing CUNA's GAC conference, to becoming change agentsdedicated to the future of the credit union industry.

The Cooperative Trust stems from more than 10 years of Filene research examining the young adult issuesthat credit unions and cooperatives face.

“What started as an experiment for young adults to be moreengaged with the credit union industry turned into a community ofyoung adult leaders fighting for the future of credit unions,” saidDixon. “Working collectively and alongside credit unionveterans, this group is already making an impact in moving creditunions forward.”

Marshall, who has been an active Trust member, crashed the GACin 2013 and was a finalist for the Credit Union Foundation's TracySlane Award.

Prior to joining Filene and the Trust, he served as themarketing manager at Plane Saver Credit Union in London, one of thelargest credit unions in the United Kingdom.

Specializing in branding, social media and marketing strategies,he worked on a variety of projects and campaigns based onincreasing the membership base of the credit union and loanapplication targets.

With an eye on increasing its profile and ensure itssustainability, plans include further developing The CooperativeTrust in four key areas of mentorship, online community, meet-upsand product development for young adults.

Working with Filene and Trust Community Manager TheresaHilinski, Marshall will also be looking at developing the Trust'spresence around the world and throughout the cooperative movementin a bid to help credit unions engage with and grow their youngadult memberships.

“Building on the clear vision and momentum achieved underBrent's direction, we want to evolve the Trust into aself-sustaining organization with long-term value and viability. By2020, young adults will dominate the workforce,” saidMarshall.

“In growing the Trust and making it self-sustaining and apermanent community, we're ensuring that young credit union andcooperative professionals have the opportunity and resources to getinvolved in the industry now,” he said.