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49 Credit Union Leaders Were Designated As Credit Union Development Educators

Sept 2024 DE grads

MADISON, WI (September 25, 2024)The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) today announced 49 credit union leaders were designated as Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs) after completing the National Credit Union Foundation’s signature Development Education (DE) program September 2024.  

Delivered as an immersive week-long in-person event, the DE program is a unique, transformative training experience. It provides lessons in credit union structure, purpose and the “why” that differentiates credit unions from other financial institutions. Participants engage in small and large group exercises and interactive speaker sessions focused on the credit union difference, empathy, and financial well-being for all.  

This graduating class joins more than 3,000 credit union advocates from 35 countries who have previously received their CUDETM designation.  

The opportunity for credit unions to harness the cooperative principles to address consumer needs—by leading with empathy, understanding their communities, and creating solutions that drive meaningful, measurable impact—endures,” said Foundation’s Chief Program Officer and DE Director, Tobi Weingart. 

“The DE program is the heartbeat of the credit union movement. Its longevity exemplifies our unwavering commitment to helping members and communities achieve financial freedom,” added Weingart. 

The September 2024 DE graduating class included credit union movement representatives from across the United States: 

  • Abiy Selassie, SchoolsFirst FCU 
  • Amanda Garcia Merz, CCUL Political Admin Fund 
  • Amber Chastain, Peach State FCU 
  • Andy Kempf, 4Front Credit Union 
  • Anna Lucas, Rivermark Community CU 
  • April Chilcote, Vermont FCU 
  • Beth Cowles, Black Hills Federal Credit Union 
  • Breanna Landin, South Bay Credit Union 
  • Brian Scavone, Achieve Financial CU 
  • Christie Smith, Acclaim FCU 
  • Cindy Hatch, Unitus Community CU 
  • Christina Gebo, Vermont FCU 
  • Christine Kemnitz, America’s Credit Unions 
  • Dani Blakeman, Trona Valley Community CU 
  • Debbie Hart, TruStage 
  • Elly Arnold, America’s First FCU 
  • Erik Romero, Revity Credit Union 
  • Esperanza Poblano, African-American CU Coalition 
  • Fe Johnson, UW Credit Union 
  • Greta Kidd, Call FCU 
  • Heather Landstrom, Guardians CU 
  • Holly Hebert, Gulf CU 
  • Jackie Taqué, Edwards FCU 
  • Jeff Bailey, CuCollaborate 
  • Jeffrey Staw, Stealth Startup
  • Jen Skellenger, TwinStar CU 
  • Jeremy Dunbar, La Capitol Federal Credit Union 
  • Katie Stone, PixelSpoke 
  • Linda Nunez, GECU Federal Credit Union 
  • Lindsey Coe, Indiana Members CU 
  • Mikala Tomkins, Ent CU 
  • Ming H. Poon, NorthCountry FCU 
  • Mycah Gaylord, State Employees’ Credit Union 
  • Pam Garrett, Diamond Lakes FCU 
  • Rachel Caballero, TruWest Credit Union 
  • Reagan Pugh, Cornerstone Resources 
  • Reza Ghani, Golden 1 Credit Union 
  • Samantha Marie Lethbridge, Visions FCU 
  • Sara Coats, Cooperative Council of North Carolina 
  • Sean Nance, Credit Union of America 
  • ShanDee Welling, Trona Valley Community FCU 
  • Shawn Glinis, Michigan Credit Union League 
  • Silas Ratemo, Kenya National Police SACCO 
  • Sonya Watkins, Humanidei 
  • Stacy Lieb, TruStage 
  • Stephen Hewins, Raiz FCU 
  • Taylor Martin, ORNL FCU 
  • Tim Sullivan, Alaska Credit Union League 
  • Viviana Rivera, America’s First Network CU 

The program was facilitated by the Foundation’s Chief Program Officer, Tobi Weingart and Danielle Harris, Senior Programs Manager at the Foundation and coordinated by Alicia Crotteau, Programs Coordinator, the Foundation. The class was mentored by Zach Christensen, Mitchell Stankovic & Associates, Justin Rezkalla, Corporate One FCU, Linda White, Credit Union Women’s Leadership Alliance, and Annie Snead, Ent CU.  

Interested in attending DE? 

To register for an available program or for more information on DE, please visit ncuf.coop/development-education/program. To be added to the notification list to receive DE updates directly to your inbox, please contact [email protected]

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About the National Credit Union Foundation (ncuf.coop)

The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) is the charitable arm of the U.S. credit union movement and works as a catalyst to improve people’s financial lives through credit unions. Through grants and programs, the Foundation is strengthening financial well-being, igniting passion and instilling knowledge about the credit union difference, and uniting resources to help credit union people during disaster. Donations to the Foundation ultimately enable credit unions to help their members reach life-changing goals and achieve financial freedom.

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