Dakota CU News & Notes

Brad Curtis joins Highmark team; free webinar on data innovation; CEO opportunity in Fargo; and scholarships available for leadership development training. 

Brad Curtis

Highmark Welcomes New Commercial Loan Officer
Highmark Credit Union is pleased to welcome Brad Curtis as its newest Commercial Loan Officer. Originally from Central South Dakota, Brad attended college, and played baseball and football in Nebraska and at BHSU. Brad has several years of experience in the banking industry, serving as both a consultant and a banker in North and South Dakota. Brad enjoys active community engagement and leadership, and serves on numerous volunteer and charitable boards, including the YMCA, United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Youth Athletics, Economic Development, SD State Legislative panels, the BH Road Trip of Hope Breast Cancer board and Elevate Rapid City. In his free time, he enjoys all things sports related inside or outside, or just jumping on his Harley and cruising through the Hills. Brad can be contacted at [email protected].
 
Data Innovation: Preparing for What's Next Free Webinar
Join Arkatechture, a CUNA Strategic Services provider, for a free upcoming webinar on August 20 at 1:00 p.m. (CT) where we will help prepare your credit union for success with core conversion projects, fostering a data-driven culture, collaborating effectively with fintech partners, securing executive buy-in, and more through data. Learn to achieve small wins at every stage of your data journey, moving from reactive reporting to proactive, forward-looking analysis that drives meaningful insights and results.

Abigail McGraw, Data Analytics Manager at Abound Credit Union ($2.3B assets), will share her experiences and best practices relevant to credit unions. Gain insights and equip your team with tools and knowledge to continually progress towards excellence through data. Additionally, Melissa Pomeroy, COO at the Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA), will provide personal insights from her experience leading data transformation and core conversion projects at St. Mary’s Bank. She emphasizes the importance of leveraging data effectively, establishing strong foundational basics, and continually evolving data strategies in a dynamic credit union industry. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from these experts and prepare for what's next. Secure your spot to gain actionable insights and drive your credit union forward. Register now.
 
Last Call for 2025 Wegner Awards
Do you know a visionary leader, program, or organization making waves in the credit union movement? There’s still time to nominate them for the prestigious Wegner Awards! Named after Herb Wegner, these awards celebrate those who see beyond the present to shape the future. Presented by the National Credit Union Foundation during the GAC in Washington, DC, these accolades are the highest honors in the credit union world. Nominations are due by July 26, 2024. Access the 2025 Nomination Packet and visit ncuf.coop to learn more.
 
President/CEO Opportunity in Fargo
Fargo Public Schools Federal Credit Union is now seeking their next President/CEO. The credit union has $56 million in assets and serves over 2,300 members; supported by the Fargo Public School system, it has a healthy foundation to build upon. Duties include developing a strategic plan to lead a team forward in growth. This individual will maintain the strong financial structure of the credit union and have a strong foundation in analyzing and interpreting financial data. Application deadline is August 15, 2024.  Click here for additional information; email resumes to: Karla Volrath at [email protected] with CEO Position in the subject line.
 
TruStage Discovery 2024 Conference
Registration is open for the Discovery2024 Conference with TruStage. This annual virtual conference is your gateway to strategic industry insights you need to help navigate the evolving financial landscape and the diverse needs of members. The free event takes place on Thursday, August 8, 9:00 a.m. (CT) – 4:00 p.m. (CT). Join this valuable virtual conference to uncover actionable data and trends designed to empower your credit union to engage with members in digital, yet profoundly human-centered, ways. Click here to register and review the full agenda.
 
FREE Holiday Signs
DakCU has an assortment of messages for upcoming 2024-2025 federal holidays FREE for your use on your credit union branch doors, websites, and social media. The signs can be downloaded here. If you need a different size and/or format, don’t hesitate to contact Lindsey Hefta at 701.250.3968.
 
SWAP Contributors – FREE Job Postings on Try a Credit Union!
Contributing SWAP members have access to FREE job postings on the Try A Credit Union website! To have a job posted, contact Lindsey Hefta with your job description and she will be happy to assist you. The successful results we are seeing with our state-wide awareness program (SWAP) means we are increasing credit union awareness and consideration of credit unions as a better financial services option for consumers all across the Dakotas! It’s not too late to get on board for 2024. Contact Lindsey to find out how SWAP can reach more consumers in your area.
 
SalesCU Training
SalesCU training offers practical and proven sales techniques and strategies that actually work in a credit union setting to bring affordable and convenient sales training to our Dakota credit unions. If you want to develop employees who know how to sell in a way that adds value to the member, and sales leaders who are empowered to drive results through developmental coaching and meaningful accountability, we have an award-winning solution for you! Additional information on upcoming sessions available here or contact George McDonald, Chief Officer of Strategic Services at 701.250.3942.
 
Leadership Development
Our iLead@11 DakCU Emerging Leader Program is designed specifically for credit union professionals in the credit union industry interested in enhancing their careers for advancement. Based on the popular Leadership@11 program designed by Eleven Performance Group, it is an ongoing program that allows participants to start whenever they want and determine their own pace. For a limited time, reduced pricing of just $1,999 per person and scholarships are also available! Learn more here.
 
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Please help us to make sure that your employees are receiving the Memo and are in our database for other important information. We strive to bring you the latest important information related to advocacy, compliance, networking and educational opportunities, and more. Is everyone at your credit union receiving this information? Be sure we have the names, title, and email address of any new employees. The more information your staff has, the better for all of us!  Email Shawn Brummer to be added to our distribution list or sign up directly here on our website.
 
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Submit your news to Shawn Brummer. Employee promotions, awards, new products or services, community involvement/recognition, job openings, all are welcome! 

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