Financial Service Centers Takes Retail Delivery Conference to Chicago

CU Times Senior Staff Reporter

SAN DIMAS, Calif. -- Financial Service Centers Cooperative, the shared branching network headquartered on the West Coast, took its annual retail delivery convention to Chicago this year to good success.

FSCC CEO Sarah Canepa Bang reported that more than 160 executives from more than 60 credit unions from 26 states and Puerto Rico attended the convention, which FSCC held June 9 -- 11.

Ann Rhoades, former executive vice president for people for JetBlue Airways and current director of that firm, reminded the credit union executives of how important it is to create a member-centric culture in the workplace.

Rhoades highlighted her involvement with Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Double Tree Hotels, noting the importance of management buy-in and the value of hiring and retaining 'A' players.

She continued, "Your people are key to creating a culture that promotes integrity, career development and accountability."

Canepa Bang agreed with Rhoades. "Credit unions have always placed a strong emphasis on member service and employee satisfaction. Ms. Rhoades presented creative solutions on how we can do a better job in retaining employees and recruiting the right person for a position."

Inspirational speaker and Paralympic Ski Racer Josh Sundquist captivated the audience with his inspirational life story.

Despite his encounter with cancer and the amputation of his leg at the age of nine, Josh talked of the courage, ambition and motivation to continue to live a healthy and normal life as well as compete as a full-time ski racer. Sundquist also noted his appreciation of the support he and his family received from the Children's Miracle Network, for which he is an ambassador. He thanked the crowd for their participation in the Credit Unions for Kids program.

Other speakers offered presentations that featured retail delivery trends and emerging issues affecting the credit union industry. The speakers presented tools to grow membership and compete in various areas of the credit union industry such as expansion of financial services, self-service solutions, marketing strategies and technology.

"FSCC embraces the evolution of retail delivery channels. We wanted to provide a new outlook on the strategies credit unions need in order to plan for the future," adds Canepa Bang.

--dmorrison@cutimes.com