3rd Annual Meeting and Convention

Ocean City MD

June 11-14, 2008

Speakers / Topics

MDDCCUA continues to develop a full schedule of presenters for both keynote and breakout educational sessions.

Nationally recognized speakers such as financial columnist Michelle Singletary will help credit unions recognize consumer-friendly tactics to attract and retain members, while former NCUA chairman Dennis Dollar, alternative CU programs advocate Martin Eakes, and motivational speaker Willie Jolley will present keynotes.

A dozen educational sessions will focus on the needs of credit unions and provide real-world examples of credit unions in action.

If you have any questions please contact Paul Rosenberger at 443-325-0766.

Keynote Speakers

Michelle Singletary – Common Sense: Credit Unions and Consumers

Thursday Morning, June 12

"One of the best financial planners I've ever known was my grandmother, Big Mama"

-Michelle Singletary

Michelle Singletary, a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, will present her unique perspective on consumers and how credit unions can better relate to them during her keynote address at the MDDCCUA 3^rd Annual Meeting and Convention.

Her column, "The Color of Money" is an award-winning column, which is now carried in more than 140 newspapers across the country including the Miami Herald, Boston Globe, Tampa Tribune and Seattle Post-Intelligencer. She frequently appears on local and national news programs.

Dennis Dollar - CU 2020: The Credit Union Movement in the Year 2020

Thursday Luncheon, June 12

Former NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar extends his unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing America's credit unions over a decade ahead into the Year 2020.  With the 20/20 vision of a former regulator, legislator and credit union CEO, Dollar offers a dynamic and exciting vision of where credit unions could be in the 2020 marketplace, but he also challenges the audience with the difficult choices and decisions necessary to achieve that vision. 

Dollar is recognized as a leading consultant to credit unions nationwide. He served on the NCUA Board since 1997, and was appointed chairman in 2001.  Previously, he was President and CEO of what is now the Gulf Coast Community FCU. His awards include the Dora Maxwell Award, as well as the 2004 Ambassador Award from the World Council of Credit Unions for his leadership in the international CU movement and the 2005 Anchor Award from the National Credit Union Foundation.

Martin Eakes - Alternatives to Building Wealth Among Members

Friday Morning, June 13

Keynote speaker Martin Eakes, co-founder Self-Help FCU in North Carolina, will discuss alternatives for credit unions in building member wealth through ownership of a home or business and strengthening underserved communities.

Self-Help has provided over $4.5 billion in financing to 50,769 homebuyers, small businesses and nonprofits. Self-Help reaches people who are underserved by conventional lenders—particularly persons of color, women, rural residents, and low-wealth families—through the support of socially-responsible citizens and institutions across the U.S.

Eakes sits on a number of boards including the North Carolina Community Development Initiative, the Institute for Minority Economic Development and The Stewards Fund. He helped formulate the Coalition for Responsible Lending, a coalition of 120 financial institution CEOs and 86 organizations representing 3 million North Carolina citizens to stop predatory lending practices in NC and nationally. The work of the Coalition resulted in the nation’s first anti-predatory mortgage lending law.  He holds a law degree from Yale, a Master's from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs at Princeton, and a BA from Davidson College.

Willie Jolley - Growing People, Performance and Profits

Friday Luncheon, June 13

John Roycroft Series speaker, sponsored by the Credit Union Foundation of Maryland and DC

Willie Jolley is an award winning speaker, world-class singer, and best selling author, all in one person.  Specializing in Accelerating Success and Growing Businesses by Growing People, Performance and Profits, Jolley will give lunch-time listeners tips on translating your own growth to that of your organization.

Jolley is the author of two international best selling books, “It Only Takes A Minute To Change Your Life!” and “A Setback Is A Setup For A Comeback,” co-author of “Go M.A.D. (Go Make A Difference),” a best selling book for youth - teaching life skills and encouraging academic excellence.

Breakout Sessions

Craig Beach – Share the Wealth with Shared Branching

For credit unions serious about member convenience, brick and mortar branches may seem logical. However, the high cost of facilities and branch management can limit a credit union’s resources and affect its ability to offer competitive products and services.  If your CU is challenged by these issues, shared branching could be the answer you’ve been looking for. This session will walk you through the real world experience of shared branching.

Craig Beach is Executive Vice President of Shared Branching for Co-Op Financial Services and

Credit Union Service Corporation (CUSC), the credit union movement's largest shared branching network.

Michael Dilworth - Cooperative CU Marketing: What’s In It for You?   

(Single session only)

In 2007, the foundation was laid for a long-term cooperative program using the WhatsInItForMe.org website to increase awareness and drive potential members to credit unions. The 2008 program will focus on activities that will have a measurable impact on the communities credit unions serve. 

Discover how you and your CU can gain a direct benefit in memberships through regional events such as Money Power Day and DC Saves, and using viral marketing and other opportunities and other media to get the word out about credit unions.

Mike Dilworth is chairman of the MDDCCUA Cooperative Marketing Committee and Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Freedom FCU.  Mike has over 20 years experience in area credit unions, including positions at Mid-Atlantic FCU, Comstar FCU, and others.

Jennifer Porter Gore - Consumer Poll Results in the Mid-Atlantic Region

(Single session only)

MDDCCUA’s Chief Advocacy Officer Jennifer Porter Gore provides insight and context for credit unions using data from MDDCCUA's annually-commissioned consumer poll. Consumer views on financial services, credit union membership, credit union service and the constant struggle in Congress between banks and credit unions are addressed in this poll.

Jennifer has extensive experience in advocacy as Director of Communications and Governmental Affairs for the Project On Government Oversight, Communications Director for the Congressional Committee on Homeland Security, Press Secretary for the Financial Services Committee, Manager of Public and Congressional Affairs for CUNA, various political campaigns, and elsewhere.  She holds an M.A. in Communications: from American University and a B.A. in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University. 

Murray Halperin – Expand Member Growth and Loyalty through Business Services

Offering business products and services is becoming increasing important as credit unions fight to maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace. But the operational aspects of offering business lending and deposits are a challenge for most credit unions.

In this session, you’ll learn about business deposits, cash management, merchant services and business lending. Find out how offering these new products and services can help you broaden your relationships with SEGs and businesses by enabling them to offer commercial services. The result is membership growth and enhanced member loyalty.

Murray Halperin is Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for CU Business Capital LLC (CUBC). Following years of experience as a commodities broker, Murray used his relationships in the credit union world to Biz Lending Center, Inc. and aligned with CUBC to provide business service programs to credit unions all over America.

Bill Jolicoeur - Turn Indirect Borrowers into Active Members

With roughly 40 percent of all existing loans coming from indirect borrowers, the need to turn these single services users into active members has never been greater. CUNA Mutual’s Bill Jolicoeur, vice president and product leader, will share ideas and best practices on how your CU can engage these members to get multiple relationships.

Bill Jolicoeur is a vice president for CUNA Mutual Group.

Matt Naylor - Due Diligence for Third Party Vendors

Matt Naylor, an examiner of r the National Credit Union Administration, will specify NCUA’s expectations and standards for best practices in third party relationships.

Outsourcing is an increasingly common way for credit unions to offer more products and services. But how do you choose the right vendor to ensure that the work is done to your standards? The credit union must make sure that adequate due diligence is taking place. In this session you’ll learn how to develop effective internal controls, keep track of the necessary details while ensuring there is adequate transparency and ongoing communication, and minimize risk by performing due diligence on existing contracts.

Matt Naylor is a graduate of Utah Valley University and has been employed with NCUA for just over 9 years. He has served as a field examiner, principal examiner, and currently focuses on Information Security reviews for the Baltimore examination group.

Martha Ninichuk – Emerging Markets to Grow Income

Martha Ninichuk will lead a discussion of three products designed to extend your credit union’s reach to emerging markets, including Stretch Pay, a payday loan alternative administered by the Ohio Credit Union League; Thin Files, a credit reporting alternative for identify likely loan candidates with sparse credit history (presented by Corey Stone); and Member Connect Services offering marketing materials, database tools, program support, and other assistance that can complement your mailings or help you improve your own promotion efforts.

Martha Ninichuk is MDDCCUA’s Vice President of Consulting Services. She has over 20 years experience in credit union development as CEO of St. Cletus FCU and a project manager for the World Council of Credit Unions.  She served on the CUNA Board of Directors.

Corey Stone is Vice President for Business Development for PRBC (Payment Reporting Builds Credit).

Steven Rick – How Global and National Trends Impact Your CU’s Performance

Steven Rick, the senior economist for CUNA’s Economics & Statistics Department, will discuss how global and U.S. financial events effect the U.S. economy, U.S. interest rates and ultimately credit union balance sheet and earnings performance.  Steve will analyze recent credit union balance sheet and earnings performance; establishing standards against which your credit union’s performance can be measured.  He will also identify factors affecting loan and savings activity, and weigh the influence of future economic events on growth patterns into 2009.

Steve has been with CUNA since January 1992.  He conducts economic research, teaches and lectures at various credit union schools and conferences across the country and internationally and writes articles for CUNA publications.  He has authored a textbook on asset-liability management for credit union executives.  Steve serves on the Board of Directors of the University of Wisconsin Credit Union. Steve has a B.A. in Economics from Moorhead State University; a B.S. in Finance from Moorhead University; and a M.S. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  He is also ABD Ph.D. in Economics at the UW, Madison.

Ben Rogers – CUTomorrow and Building the Youth Market

CUTomorrow is a national project sponsored by Filene Research Institute (FRI) to encourage credit unions to offer products and programs designed to attract young members, and Ben Rogers leads this new initiative.

This project is designed to test new models and ideas for credit unions to become more relevant not only to young consumers, but also as an employment option for talented, young professionals and perhaps the introduction of young professionals onto credit union boards.

Ben is the former editor of CEO Report and has a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. In his new role, Ben will lead an 18-24 month program which will encourage credit unions to become more relevant to young adults.

Jayni Sech - Changing With the Times to Stay Alive!

Times change. Members change. The way we do business changes. Jayni Sech looks at modern day companies and how they’ve changed their business model to stay alive. Is your credit union changing with the times to stay alive? Are you adding new products and services and changing the way you service your members? Learn how other well-known well-branded companies are changing with the times to stay alive. And you’ll gain a different perspective on what your credit union can do to ensure success in the future.

Jayni Sech has nearly 20 years of sales, marketing, and public relations experience, and the past 12 years have been in the credit union industry. She started a marketing consulting firm in 2001 to offer creative solutions to marketing issues in the credit union industry.  Her departure from the typical “one size fits all” approach to credit union marketing has allowed her to do business with credit unions nationwide ranging in asset size from $300,000 to $150 million. She earned her CUDE certification in 2003.

Denis Stoddard - The Speed of Trust

Can Credit Unions Leverage Member Loyalty? Determining just how much we deserve the trust given to us by others is a starting point in any relationship. In serving the current and potential population of credit union members, boards and management should know just where they stand. The Speed of Trust, presented by Denis Stoddard, a Stephen R. Covey speaker, encourages credit unions to gauge themselves as they serve growing communities. Attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the book.

Denis W. Stoddard PhD., SPHR. is an executive coach, public speaker, facilitator and organizational effectiveness consultant with over 40 years of successful leadership experience in business, industry, special education, non-profits, and public service.  He has presented his program to credit union leagues and organizations.

Herb Yolles - NCUA Region II Results and Outlook

Herb Yolles, Associate Regional Director of Operations of NCUA’s Region II, will review and interpret the regulatory results and outlook as it affects the coming year for credit unions. He will discuss governmental directives and guidelines in making your CU compliant from a regulatory standpoint.

In his NCUA position, Herb is responsible for managing the Divisions of Insurance, Supervision, Special Actions, and Management Services. He has also served the agency as a program analyst, Director of Financial Operations, Chief Financial Officer, Director of Risk Management and President of the Central Liquidity Facility (CLF), Deputy Director of the Office of Examination and Insurance, and Inspector General. Yolles has an accounting degree from the University of Delaware, an MBA from George Mason University and is a CPA.