Congratulations to the October '23 DE Class

DE October 2023 Group on stairs 55 credit union leaders from across the United States, were designated as Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs) after completing the National Credit Union Foundation’s signature Development Education (DE) program in October 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 October 2023 DE graduating class included credit union movement representatives from across the United States.

Bruce Adams, Credit Union League of Connecticut
Jake Anfinson, StagePoint FCU
Mohamed Awad, United Community Credit Union
Dorothy Badia, Christian Financial Credit Union
Christine Baker, Community Credit Union
Mike Barbieri, Greylock FCU
Jaymason Bramblee, OAHE FCU
Kathy Brandl, Simplicity Credit Union
Kristen Brechko, CUNA Strategic Services

Amy Brodersen, Family Focus FCU
Nadine Buerger, U.S. Eagle FCU
Angela Cappocia, SchoolsFirst FCU
Jocelyn Cassidy, Hello Credit Union
Michelle Chesteine, Peach State FCU
Darian Cobb, Local Government FCU
Jordyn Cohen, CUCollaborate
Patty Corkery, Michigan Credit Union League
Karyn Davis, UP Arkansas FCU
Ann Davis, 1st Mississippi FCU
Elias Diaz, Houston Police FCU
James Gagliano, First Commonwealth FCU
Miguel Garcia, First Central CU
Sarah Greenley, True Sky CU
Aaron Halvorson, Credit Union National Association
Justin Houle, Heartland CU
Stacy Houston, Coastal CU
Cynthia Johnson, Ent CU
Angela Jones, TwinStar CU
Ashley Kjenaas, NorthRidge Community CU

Brian Knollenberg, BECU
Amy Krasikov, Raiz FCU
Chase Lege, Maple FCU
Alice Lin, TruWest CU
Danijel Ljuna, Suncoast CU
Kimberly McDonald, American Airlines FCU
Joseph Meicher, Royal Credit Union
Ronald Menor, Kaua’i FCU
Heather Minetree, People’s Advantage FCU
David Murphy, Marshfield Medical Center CU
Fatima Overton, Upward CU
Alissa Pfeiffer, TruStage
Melanie Quinton, Loyalty CU
Colin Runion, Illinois Educators Credit Union
Heiwote Tadesse, Associated CU
Kerala Taylor, PixelSpoke
Stephanie Tocher, WSECU
Gene Turner, State Employees’ Credit Union
Aubrey Ward, Veridian Credit Union
Leslie Webb, United Bay Community Credit Union

Lori Williams, Unitus Community CU
Janine Williams, UVA Community Credit Union
Bethani Williams, Spero Financial
Jared Woodworth, Northeast Family FCU
Chantal Zarbaugh, Kaua’i FCU

The program was facilitated by the Foundation’s Chief Program Officer, Tobi Weingart and Jimese Harkley, VP of Membership at CUES and coordinated by Traci O’Neill, Executive Assistant at the Foundation. The class was mentored by Angela Prestil, FI Strategies, Christopher Court, Service 1st FCU, Michael Ray, PAHO/WHO FCU, and Michael Read, First Service CU.

Interested in attending DE?

Registration for 2024 DE is now available! To register for an upcoming 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].