54 Credit Union Leaders Were Designated as Credit Union Development Educators
MADISON, WI (October 22, 2024) – The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) today announced 54 credit union leaders were designated as Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs) after completing the National Credit Union Foundation’s signature Development Education (DE) program in October 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 CUDE™ (Credit Union Development Educator) designation.
“The needs and expectations of consumers may have evolved since DE was established 42 years ago. But the opportunity for credit unions to leverage the cooperative principles to meet those needs—to work with compassion to understand their communities, and develop solutions that have a positive, measurable impact on them—remains” said Foundation’s Chief Program Officer and DE Director, Tobi Weingart.
“The DE program’s longevity exemplifies the credit union movement’s unwavering commitment to improve financial well-being for all,” added Weingart.
The October 2024 DE graduating class included credit union movement representatives from across the United States:
- Adriana Cortez, Northeast Federal Credit Union
- Aldo S. Aguilar, Space City CU
- Alejandra Gomez Morales, Members CU
- Alfredo Martinez, Premier America CU
- Amber DeLaRosa, Suncoast Credit Union
- Amber Morris, Bayer Heritage FCU
- Andrea Kavanaugh, ZIA CU
- Anna Page, Greenville FCU
- Ava Kocher, Connex CU Inc
- BreAnn Orton, TwinStar CU
- Caleb Wolf, Educators Credit Union
- Cathy Statz, International Centre for Co-operative Management
- Chance Buskey, Loyalty Credit Union
- Christi Fanchalsky, Pheple FCU
- Curlene Marcelle-Mars, Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions
- Dalia Velazquez, SchoolsFirst FCU
- David Hernandez, Guadalupe CU
- Dawn Parrish, TruStage
- Debra Fine, Velera
- Denise Romanelli, TruMark Financial CU
- Edgar Hernandez, TruStage
- Erin Goepfert, America’s Credit Unions
- Gena Anderson, First Alliance CU
- Grace Simonelli, Carolina Foothills FCU
- Jaime Marks, Humanidei
- Jason K. Long, ORNL FCU
- Jay Gilling, Peach State FCU
- Jenna Taubel, First Alliance CU
- Jennifer Esser, Wisconsin Credit Union League
- Jeremy Andrew Wascak, Towpath CU
- Jerry Lopez, Colorado CU
- Karen Griffo, Roswell Community FCU
- Kassandra Schroeder, World Council of Credit Unions
- Kelly Ray, Advancial FCU
- Ki-Anya Richey, North Memorial FCU
- Kyle Jaremko, EDIFI CU
- Lisa Person, World Council of Credit Unions
- Lori J. Hays, Merck Sharp & Dohme FCU
- Lynda Hild, Casebine Community CU
- Martin Valadez Torres, Gesa CU
- McKenna Goodson, Thrive FCU
- Renae Sisk, Advia Credit Union
- Ruth Shirley, CUES
- Sacheen Winston, BECU
- Sandra Martinez-Perez, GECU Federal Credit Union
- Sarah Bowman, Cornerstone League
- Shannon Walker-Silvey, Ent CU
- Sue Schroeder, Your Credit Union Partner
- Sydney Hoskins, Monroe Telco FCU
- Teri Hall, League of Southeastern Credit Unions
- Tiarra Gustin, Credit Union 1
- Tim Strong, Visions FCU
- Zach Karolek, Summit CU
- Zach Matheny, Air Academy Credit Union
The program was facilitated by the Foundation’s Senior Programs Manager, Danielle Harris and John Cassidy, Director of Credit Union System Relations at TruStage, and coordinated by Alicia Crotteau, Programs Coordinator, the Foundation. The class was mentored by Erin Hancock, International Centre for Co-operative Management (Saint Mary’s University), Jill Edsall, Chartway, James Hunter, New Orlean’s Firemen’s FCU, and Ning Doung, Credit Union West.
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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