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Ripple and Smile

Foundation Executive Director Gigi Hyland headshot

I came across an interesting article recently. It talked about researchers studying gratitude who found that being thankful and expressing it to others is good for our health and happiness. Not surprising, right? Gigi Hyland headshot with gray background

What was interesting, though, is that those benefits “have mostly been observed in a two-person exchange—someone saying thanks and someone receiving thanks. Now, [this] study suggests that expressing gratitude not only improves one-on-one relationships, but could bring entire groups together—inspiring a desire to help and connect in people who simply witness an act of gratitude.”  

The ripple effect of expressing gratitude is clear. Here it goes: I am so thankful for my time in the credit union movement. The friends and colleagues I’ve made, the good work we’ve done over the years together. I’m thankful for the support of so many to help foster the Foundation’s work – contributors of money and in-kind support. 

You know about our Development Education program, that we offer 4 times per year in person and one time per year virtually? This training that helps you retain and energize your talent? The in-person program happens with huge amounts of in-kind support from TruStage – which lets us use the Class A space of the Lighthouse in Madison – for the training three times a year. In 2024, the Foundation was able to expand the program offerings to Florida with the in-kind support of Velera. And a special shout out to our co-facilitators and mentors who volunteer their time, wisdom, and expertise to keep the program vibrant and relevant for the credit union professionals who participate.  

Thank you to TruStage, Velera, our co-facilitators and mentors, who make this program the vibrant, impactful training that it is! 

DE Co-Facilitators 2024 

  • John Cassidy, Director, Credit Union System Relations, TruStage 
  • Chris Court, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer, Service 1st FCU 
  • Dave Hinchey, VP of Community and Social Impact, The CU League of Connecticut  

DE Mentors 2024 

  • Debby Avery, Accounting Manager, Coastal CU 
  • Charlene Bauer, Chief Development Officer, SVP Outreach & Advocacy, Metro CU 
  • Zach Christensen, Director, Digital Marketing & Communications, Mitchell Stankovic & Associates 
  • Stephanie Decker, Loan Operations Manager, Coastal CU 
  • Ning Doung, Chief Operation Officer, Credit Union West 
  • Laura Eblen, VP Member Engagement and Government Affairs, Mazuma CU 
  • Jill Edsall, Director of Learning and Talent Development, Chartway FCU 
  • Dawn Grohskopf, Director of Operations, UnitedOne CU 
  • Erin Hancock, Program Manager, International Centre for Co-operative Management 
  • James Hunter, Chief DEI, New Orlean’s Firemen’s FCU 
  • Meghan Jamison, Client Optimization Leader, Trellance 
  • Shasta Leininger, Regional Sales Director, Quality Data Systems 
  • Kay Neidlinger, VP Communications, Indiana CU League 
  • Kristen Pepper, VP, Retail Operations, Suncoast CU 
  • Carolyn Reeves, Workplace Strategist, Carolyn Reeves Consulting 
  • Justin Rezkalla, AVP – Digital Product Manager, Corporate One FCU 
  • Annie Snead, Director of Community Advocacy, Ent CU 
  • Linda White, Executive Director, CUWLA 
  • Robbie Young, VP of Strategic Growth, CUInsight 

Feel the ripple? Hope you are smiling because the way this whole cooperative thing works is that we do it together. 

 

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