Congratulations to the June ’23 DE class
49 credit union leaders from across the United States, and Malawi were designated as Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs) after completing the National Credit Union Foundation’s signature Development Education (DE) program in June 2023.
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 2,000 credit union advocates from 35 countries who have previously received their CUDETM (Credit Union Development Educator) designation.
The Foundation’s Director of Programs, Tobi Weingart, added, “The needs and expectations of consumers have radically changed since DE was established in 1982. But the opportunity for credit unions to leverage the cooperative principles to meet those needs—to work with empathy to understand their communities, and develop products and services that have a positive, measurable impact on them—remains.
“The DE program’s longevity is testimony to the credit union movement’s unerring commitment to improve financial well-being for all.”
The June 2023 DE graduating class included credit union movement representatives from across the United States and Malawi.
- Diane Abbonizio, United Bay Community Credit Union
- Nicole Bradford, GECU
- Suzanne Campbell, Simplicity Credit Union
- Liz Campbell-Brown, Community Credit Union
- Boyd Carroll, Unitus community CU
- Amber Crisp, Spero Financial FCU
- Bethzaida Dejesus, Northeast Family FCU
- Alane Dent, TruStage
- Jaron Dixon, CUProdigy
- Lyla Elliott, TwinStar CU
- Edward Gibson IV, Credit Union National Association
- Tonya Henley, Family Focus FCU
- Staci Hering, Illinois Credit Union League
- Kelli Holloway, State Employees’ Credit Union
- Daniel Holmes, America’s First FCU
- Delana Huling, Baylor Health Care System Credit Union
- Josh Jackson, Central CU of Florida
- Leah Jenkins, Neighbors FCU
- Sadaf Kazemian, NextMark FCU
- Jeanette Kennedy, Christian Financial Credit Union
- Chanelle Kizzire, Trona Valley Community CU
- Malana LaCombe, Southwest Louisiana CU
- Mark Lakatos, Financial Partners CU
- LeeAnna Lott, Local Government FCU
- Shakara Lucero, Nusenda CU
- Christine Messer, Heritage Family FCU
- Sara Molina, Members CU
- Michael Morales, Raiz FCU
- Bizwayo Moyo, United Civil Servants Sacco
- Callie Murray, Canvas Credit Union
- Kristen Olson, DDJ Myers Ltd
- John Pettit, CUInsight
- Tarkisha Poole, Coastal CU
- Emma Protsik, Ent CU
- Bereniz Ramirez, SchoolsFirst FCU
- Justin Rezkalla, Corporate One FCU
- Deborah Riding Tschann, American United FCU
- Tim Sass, Royal Credit Union
- Tammy Schultz, TruStage
- Jason Scott, PSCU
- Tiffany Segady, Local Government FCU
- Bodhi Severns, BECU
- Autumn Solomon, Carolinas Telco FCU
- Jazmine Stevenson, State Employees’ Credit Union
- Amber Synesael, Advancial FCU
- Tracy Thompson, Colorado CU
- Erika Thrubis, Michigan Schools and Government CU
- Jeannie Weeks, First Family FCU
- Nick Windhorst, Indiana Members CU
The program was facilitated by the Foundation’s Program Director, Tobi Weingart and TruStage’s Director, Credit Union System Relations, John Cassidy and coordinated by Maggie Wolff, Senior Manager, Products at the Foundation. The class was mentored by Amanda Stevens, TwinStar CU, Brent Rempe, Allegiance CU, Chris Court, Service 1st FCU, Diana Kot, SchoolsFirst FCU, and Priscilla Awkard, Coastal Credit Union.
Interested in attending DE?
Learn more about the Foundation’s signature education program or email [email protected] to be put on a notification list for registration information.