DE took root at ORNL Federal Credit Union and sparked something bigger

For years, Jessica Emert, vp of brand & corporate relations at ORNL Federal Credit Union, tried to attend the Foundation’s Credit Union Development Education (DE) program.

“I can’t even tell you when I started to apply, probably 10 years ago,” she shared. It wasn’t for a lack of interest. It was timing, budget, and competing priorities. At the time, no one else at ORNL FCU had gone through the program. DE simply hadn’t yet become part of the credit union’s leadership development strategy. That changed in 2023.

Before ORNL FCU’s new President & CEO, Jenny Vipperman, even officially stepped into her role, she made one thing clear: Jessica would attend DE, and she would help champion it across the organization.

That single decision sparked a ripple effect that continues to grow today.

What is DE and why does it matter?

The Credit Union Development Education (DE) program is an immersive, experiential learning program from the National Credit Union Foundation designed to build awareness of the development issues that prevent people from achieving financial freedom, and how credit unions are uniquely positioned to address them.

Over the course of an intensive week, participants explore real-world challenges, collaborate with peers from across the country, and leverage the cooperative principles to understand how to improve the financial well-being of the communities and members they serve.

But as Jessica puts it, it’s more than a training, it’s a shift in perspective. “If you want your people to buy into what you’re selling, you have to give them a reason,” she said. “The DE program solidifies what our industry is about and why we’re here and the mission around who we serve. It gave me a better understanding. It’ll give anybody a better understanding about why we do what we do.”

From zero to a leadership pipeline

Jessica attended DE in June 2024. What she brought back wasn’t just knowledge, it was momentum.

Since then, ORNL Federal Credit Union has sent nine employees through the program. Before that? Zero.

Today, DE is no longer a one-time opportunity at ORNL. It’s becoming part of how they build leaders, strengthen culture, and connect more deeply to their mission.

Building leaders for the future

At its core, DE is about developing leaders who carry the credit union mission forward, not just individually, but collectively.

“As DE graduates, we are entrusted with carrying forward the spirit of the credit union movement; one built on cooperation, inclusion, community uplift, and the belief that people working together can create meaningful, lasting change,” Jessica shared. “CUDE challenges us to not only understand these principles but to actively live them out.”

At ORNL, that responsibility is taking shape in a powerful way. ORNL is in the process of forming an internal DE Committee made up of their DE graduates to keep the momentum going. This group will help encourage and identify future participants in the Foundation’s DE program, guide community engagement efforts, and create opportunities for DEs to stay connected and active long after the program ends.

It’s an intentional shift from sending individuals to DE to building a sustained culture of DE within the organization.

By bringing together employees from different roles, from across their 30 branches, and leaning into their different perspectives, ORNL is creating a network of leaders who translate the DE experience into real-world impact. And perhaps most importantly, they’re doing it together.

Why investment matters

When leaders invest in DE, they’re not just investing in one employee. They’re investing in a ripple effect that can shape their entire organization and the communities they serve.

What started as one employee attending one program has become something much bigger at ORNL Federal Credit Union. It became a pipeline of leaders. A culture rooted in purpose.
A growing commitment to community impact.

And it all traces back to a single opportunity and a leader willing to say yes.

“Stories like ORNL’s show what’s possible when DE takes root inside an organization,” Christopher Morris, DE program director, reflects. “It starts with one person, but it doesn’t stay there. It grows into a network of leaders, a shared sense of purpose, and a deeper commitment to community impact. That’s the kind of ripple effect that defines the DE experience.”

From learning to doing

For ORNL, DE isn’t just about what happens during the program—it’s about what happens when you return.

At the 2026 Governmental Affairs Conference, ORNL’s DE graduates brought that mindset to life through a service project at DC Central Kitchen, supporting efforts to address food insecurity and homelessness in the Washington, D.C. area.

“All of the ORNL DE graduates showed up for a three-hour shift. It was a lot of fun and a small price to pay to give back,” Jessica said. This experience reflected a core lesson of DE: understanding community needs and showing up to meet them. “Whether it’s food insecurity or other challenges, it’s everywhere. We can’t solve everything, but for this day, every volunteer hour helps,” she added.

That mindset is now shaping how ORNL approaches both community engagement and member service grounded in listening, local insight, and action. But it’s not just happening at ORNL.

On June 10 across the country, DE alumni and credit union professionals nationwide will come together to turn purpose into action at the 2026 DE Day of Service. Whether you organize a team or join an effort already underway, it’s an opportunity to take what DE represents and make it real.

Be part of what comes next

The future of the credit union movement will be shaped by leaders who understand not just what we do, but why we do it. DE is where that understanding deepens.

Whether you’re an emerging leader, a seasoned executive, or someone looking to reconnect with the purpose behind this movement, there is a place for you in DE.

• Grab one of the remaining 2026 Virtual DE spots this year and begin building a deeper connection to the credit union mission.

• DE Alumni can get ready to transform their training into impact on June 10 for the annual DE Day of Service.
• Plan ahead for 2027 DE sessions and invest in the leaders who will carry your organization, and this movement, forward. Session dates will be released in Fall 2026.

This work doesn’t happen on its own. It happens when we invest in people. When we create space for learning and connection, and when we choose to lead with purpose. And all of that starts with DE.

 

ORNL Federal Credit Union’s President/CEO, Jenny Vipperman, is a Board Member for the National Credit Union Foundation.