MADISON, Wis. — The industry's new fixation on Generation Y–those born between 1977-1997–to grow membership has now become a priority topic for CUNA Mutual Group's annual Discovery Conference this June in Florida. Special sessions will be devoted to the topic plus an Australian entrepreneur has been added to the speaker lineup.

“Gen Y has already shown to have huge marketplace power not only in reaching members but employees as well,” said Rick Uhlmann, senior manager for media relations. “Acknowledgment of this segment from member and staff perspectives is something credit unions cannot ignore as they plan for the future.”

Eight separate Gen Y sessions, far more than were on the 2007 agenda, are on this year's conference program covering such topics as: technology applications, financial planning, debt management, and student lending among others. The conference is being held June 18-21 at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Fla.

Also on the speaker roster with a Gen Y focus is author Peter Sheahan, a New South Wales consultant on workforce trends and generational change. Sheahan will keynote the June 21 closing session.