The President's Perspective

Latest updates on the Credit Union Roundtable in Vegas, strategic planning insights, disaster relief efforts, exciting new hires, upcoming events, and more.

It’s Credit Union Leadership Time in Vegas as the 8th Annual Roundtable Kicks Off Today.
It’s hard to believe that our 8th annual collaborative roundtable meetings are upon us this week. Today, over 100 credit union leaders from the Dakotas, Montana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are joining us. Since 2017, credit union leaders from across our Midwest region have gathered in the Las Vegas desert for The Roundtable (formerly known as the MonDak Roundtable) – a high-level educational and networking event for credit union executives and volunteers. This annual conference includes C-suite professionals from North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, and this year, we welcome attendees from Wisconsin.

Once again, this year’s event will offer an exciting, fast-paced educational schedule of unique sessions for both CEOs and volunteer board members. We have a terrific lineup of top industry thought leaders who will guide discussions and dialogue over the next two days.

New this year is the Fintech Connect, sponsored by TruStage, which will highlight industry leaders in the fintech and digital space including Starlight, Zest AI, WithClutch, Conductiv, Maxwell, and Salus.

The DakCU Board of Directors met this week and took advantage of this opportunity to review and discuss the association’s rolling strategic plan and member value proposition. We were pleased to have Scott Simpson, President-CEO of the California, Nevada, and Utah Credit Union Leagues, lead our discussion and strategic review of industry and association trends.

​Dakota Credit Union Foundation and the Dakota Credit Union Association Pledge Aid to California Credit Union Employees Impacted by Wildfires.
The Dakota Credit Union Foundation Board of Directors met last month and pledged a grant to the National Credit Union Foundation’s CUAid program, which provides direct assistance to credit union employees affected by the devasting wildfires in Los Angeles. Scott Simpson, President/CEO of the California, Nevada, and Utah leagues shared that “we have around 16 credit unions that have been operationally impacted in some way.” 
 
Yesterday the Dakota Credit Union Association Board matched the Foundation’s gift bringing the total Dakota contribution to $5,000 to the CUAid program benefiting credit union employees impacted.
 
Scott also shared that several credit union employees, as well as at least one volunteer lost their homes. “We’ve sent out a notice to our membership, connecting our family to CUAid, which has been a great help throughout our credit union history. Please pass along our gratitude for the care, concern, and offers of support. Our credit unions have felt it,” added Simpson.
 
Welcome Angelica (Annie) Elhard to the DakCU Team!
We are pleased to announce that Annie Elhard has been hired as our new Communications & Content Specialist. She previously worked in marketing and communications at Hometown Credit Union in Kulm, North Dakota. Annie will also serve as our Executive Director of the Dakota Credit Union Foundation. We’re pleased and very excited to have her on our team to help us with our member communications, manage our content platforms, and guide our Foundation’s efforts in achieving its annual initiatives.

First CEO Town Hall Tuesday for 2025 Scheduled for Tuesday, February 11
We are looking forward to our first quarterly CEO Town Hall Tuesday next week, February 11 at 3 pm ct. Email invites should be in your inbox - Please let me know if you need the meeting link resent.

Chair Fetch Appoints Nominating Committee
We are just 100 days away from our Annual Meeting which will take place May 14 at the Delta Hotel and Convention Center in Fargo, ND. Yesterday, DakCU Board Chair Lacey Fetch appointed the following individuals to serve on this year’s nominating committee: Jarrod Reisner, Black Hills FCU, Rapid City; Jim Schaefbauer, United Savings Credit Union, Fargo; and April Tompkins, Explorers FCU, Yankton.

Board seats open this year are:

• SD Division A
• ND Division B
• SD Division C

 
The Annual Summit Registration is Set to Open Soon!
We will be finalizing and sharing details for our Annual Summit which will take place May 12-14 in Fargo, ND at the Delta Hotel and Convention Center. Look for registration details and exhibit space reservations on our website next week. Be sure to save the date.

It is Super Bowl Week – make it a great one! May your favorite team score early and often.

Have a wonderful week! 

​DakCU President/CEO