Congratulations to the September ’23 DE Class
59 credit union leaders from across the United States, Uganda, and Barbados were designated as Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs) after completing the National Credit Union Foundation’s signature Development Education (DE) program in September 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 September2023 DE graduating class included credit union movement representatives from across the United States, Uganda, and Barbados.
- Jessica Acosta, Unitus Community CU
- Chuck Adler, Lakehurst Naval FCU
- Mercy Tumukunde, Steadfin Credit Union
- Linda Albrecht, TruStage
- Cortney Arnold, Filene
- Samantha Beeler, League of Southeastern Credit Unions
- Faith Belcher, State Employees’ Credit Union
- Arnessa Belin, BECU
- Sonia Cardona, Alhambra Credit Union
- Miranda Connelly, Vizo Financial Corporate CU
- Jamie Fatheree, American Airlines FCU
- Kaeshier Fernandez, Redstone Federal Credit Union
- Mallory Fischbach, Foothills Credit Union
- Antonio Flores, GECU
- Bobbie Ford, First Capital FCU
- Jennifer Franck, Mutual Security CU
- Bryan Geenen, TruStage
- Belinda George, Gulf CU
- Bridget Ginn, Peach State FCU
- Sharon Grieger, Vantage West CU
- Lisa Griffin, Christian Financial Credit Union
- Brandy Gurbal, NextMark FCU
- Spencer Hayes, Skyline Financial FCU
- Angela Heiden, Simplicity Credit Union
- Carla Hunt, Canvas Credit Union
- Bob Hyde, Suncoast CU
- Kelsey Jackson, Greater New Orleans FCU
- Brianna Jensen, Hiway Credit Union
- Elizabeth Krigbaum, Copper State CU
- Kyle Lauderdale, Peninsula Community FCU
- Sven Leander, Afena FCU
- Andrew Lunn, Community Credit Union
- Brian Maurizio, SIU Credit Union
- Emily Merk, Summit CU
- Melissa Miller, Ventura County Credit Union
- Jason Needham, TwinStar CU
- Royce Ngiam, Financial Partners CU
- Kelly Nix, REV FCU
- Elizabeth Oakes, Loyalty CU
- Alisa Peck, Rivermark Community CU
- Katelyn Persh, One Detroit Credit Union
- Krysi Pierce, Allegiance Credit Union
- Tamika Piper, Heritage Family FCU
- Lauren Polen, Topside FCU
- Christina Quintero, SchoolsFirst FCU
- Karita Robins, Coastal CU
- Carlos Rochester, United Enterprise Credit Union
- Dustin Rohde, SnoCope CU
- Shelley Sanders, GNO FCU
- Emily Schlumpf, Ent CU
- Allyson Shove-Chard, Azura Credit Union
- Melanie Strileckis, Police Credit Union of CT
- Alyssa Swanson, Limestone FCU
- Brittni Terry, OUCU Financial Credit Union
- Brooke Thurlow, Colorado CU
- Amie Wheeler, Greensboro Municipal FCU
- Stephen Whitmore, WSECU
- John Wilson, Raiz FCU
- Michele Wilson, CHROME FCU
The program was facilitated by the Foundation’s Program Director, Tobi Weingart and the Louisiana Credit Union League’s VP of Member Solutions, Nanci Wilson and coordinated by Traci O’Neill, Executive Assistant at the Foundation. The class was mentored by April Ales, Credit Union National Association, Roberto Delgado, Northeast Family FCU, Julie Hill, Police FCU, Jennifer McHugh, Royal Credit Union, and Mark Volz, CU Strategic Planning.
Interested in attending DE?
Registration for 2024 DE programs will open on October 25 at 1 PM CT. For more information on future DE programming, scholarship, or mentor opportunities, 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].