The Kansas Credit Union Association is launching a new leadership program in February to prepare up-and-coming credit union professionals for senior executive positions.

In 2014, a task force made up of association board members and staff researched and developed a 72-hour curriculum called CUlead: Leadership Excellence and Development, which will include a mix of classroom work and experiential instruction, according to the KCUA. CUlead participants will have a mentor who will play an active role in their development throughout the year. The mentor is expected to provide participants with guidance, encouragement and accountability.

The task force built into the curriculum field trips to give participants hands-on experience on the similarities and differences of how an agriculture cooperative is managed compared to credit unions, the association said. They will also visit the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City, Kan., and credit unions across the state to gain a deeper understanding about their daily operations, opportunities and challenges.