DakCU Summit Welcomes New CEO, Focuses on Future

Credit union professionals gathered in Box Elder for the 2026 DakCU Annual Summit - education, networking, celebration, and the official welcome of new CEO Joe Keller.

Dakota credit union professionals gathered in Box Elder, South Dakota, May 12–14 for the 2026 Dakota Credit Union Association (DakCU) Annual Summit, an event filled with education, networking, celebration, and a strong sense of momentum for the future of the movement, resonating with this year’s theme, “Our Roots. Our Rise.” This year’s Summit was especially meaningful as attendees officially welcomed new DakCU President & CEO Joe Keller during his first Annual Summit with the Association!

Joe initially addressed attendees on stage for the first time alongside Interim CEO George McDonald, now serving in his continuing role as Chief Operations Officer, in a fireside-style conversation that offered attendees a closer look at Keller’s background, family, leadership journey, and more. Throughout the event, DakCU partners, volunteers, crashers, and credit union professionals had the opportunity to continue to meet Joe, hear his vision for the future, and begin building relationships that will help shape the next chapter of DakCU and the Dakota credit union movement.
 
The three-day Summit featured a strong lineup of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, advocacy updates, and networking opportunities focused on leadership, member engagement, fraud prevention, economic trends, cybersecurity, compliance, and the future of financial services. Sessions from nationally recognized speakers and industry experts provided practical insights attendees could bring back to their credit unions immediately.
 
Beyond the educational sessions, Summit once again delivered opportunities for attendees to connect and recharge through a variety of memorable activities and experiences. Thursday’s annual Summit Golf Scramble brought golfers together for a fun and competitive morning on the course, while non-golfers enjoyed a Black Hills adventure with a guided Rushmore Cave tour and scenic drive past Mount Rushmore. The unique excursion gave attendees an opportunity to experience one of the region’s iconic attractions while networking in a more relaxed setting.
 
The event continued with DakCU’s Annual Awards Banquet where Joe returned to the stage to thank the DakCU team for their work in delivering the event and for creating a meaningful experience for attendees from across the Dakotas.

The night concluded with a new Summit addition, “Not Your Granny’s Bingo,” a high-energy entertainment experience that transformed traditional bingo into an interactive celebration complete with music, lights, laughter, and plenty of excitement. Keller and McDonald even joined as the first contestants of the evening, helping kick off the festivities Family Feud style. The night provided the perfect ending to a Summit centered around connection, collaboration, and celebrating the credit union difference.

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