Q3 Town Hall - Scott Simpson, president/CEO of America’s Credit Unions Tuesday, October 7 3:00 PM CT / 2:00 PM MT We are thrilled to announce that Scott Simpson, the new president and CEO of America’s Credit Unions, will be our featured guest at the upcoming Virtual CEO Town Hall on Tuesday, October 7. This will be Scott’s first appearance with our Dakota Credit Union Association (DakCU) leadership network—and a unique opportunity to hear directly from the person now guiding the national credit union movement. Scott brings a powerful message: credit unions are not just financial institutions; they are vehicles for life-changing impact. In a recent CU Daily interview, he shared that while credit unions deliver on the promise of cooperative finance in ways our founders could scarcely imagine, it’s vital that we ensure their human stories remain front and center. “It’s not just about telling good stories—it’s about being really good at humanizing why we exist,” Scott explained. “Our success has been so strong that sometimes it can feel transactional. But every day, miracles walk out of our branches—life-changing milestones made possible by the credit union model. We need to capture and amplify those stories, so the human element keeps pace with our growth.” Scott also believes that as credit unions evolve, our leagues and associations must evolve alongside them—intentionally and boldly. During a conversation with Jim Nussle at the ACU Congressional Caucus in Washington, D.C. last week, Scott shared that ‘we owe it to our credit unions to evolve with intention, not by accident,” he said. “Leagues were born to deliver shared services, and we’ve grown into powerful advocacy organizations. Our future success depends on aligning that work nationally and across every state. When we get that all moving in the same direction, we’re absolutely unstoppable.” This is a conversation you—and your leadership teams—won’t want to miss. Email invitations with the meeting link have been sent. If you’d like additional senior team members or volunteer leaders to join, please forward them the invite link so they can tune in as well. Dakota Advocates Work the Hill DakCU delegation once again made its presence felt in our nation’s capital last week during the 14th annual Legislative and Regulatory Hike the Hill, where Dakota credit union leaders engaged directly with federal lawmakers and regulators on the issues shaping our industry’s future. This year’s advocacy trip was especially memorable as it also marked the very first day on the job for our newest team member, Kenley Lamberty, DakCU’s new director of political strategy & engagement. Hitting the Ground Running: Welcome, Kenley Lamberty There’s no better way to understand the credit union difference than by seeing advocacy in action—and Kenley wasted no time doing exactly that. His first official day with DakCU began not behind a desk, but on Capitol Hill, joining our Dakota advocates in meetings with members of Congress and key regulatory agencies. Kenley brings experience in economic development and municipal affairs through his collaborations with city officials, along with a foundation in federal advocacy from his internship with U.S. Senator John Thune. He earned his B.A. in Political Science from the University of South Dakota. We are thrilled to welcome Kenley to our DakCU team and look forward to the energy and strategic insight he brings as we continue advancing the credit union cause. A Fresh Push to Elevate Credit Union Awareness Alongside our work on Capitol Hill, DakCU is also driving a major new initiative closer to home with the launch of our refreshed state-wide awareness program (SWAP) a bold new campaign designed to raise awareness and boost consumer consideration of credit unions across North and South Dakota. I hope you have noticed our campaign’s powerful new theme, “Your Money. Your Values. Your Credit Union,” speaks to what sets credit unions apart: local service, member-first values, and community commitment. Developed in partnership with a local production firm, the campaign features authentic, locally produced creative assets that reflect the real people and places of the Dakotas. Read more about the new campaign here. New Ideas Conference – New Crasher Opportunity The 2025 New Ideas Conference in historic Deadwood is designed to help you reset, recharge, and refocus.
Special Crasher Offer: If you’ve participated in DakCU’s Summit Crasher program within the past three years, you’re eligible for an exclusive offer—50% off registration for the 2025 New Ideas Conference! This special opportunity is designed to keep Crashers connected, engaged, and growing as leaders while experiencing the same high-impact professional development, networking, and inspiration that make DakCU events so valuable. Use the promo code Crasher Special when registering to claim your discount. Register here before October 3. *This promotion is available exclusively to Summit Crashers from the past three years. If a non-Crasher registers using the coupon code, the invoice will be adjusted to reflect the full registration value.* International Credit Union (ICU) Day October 16, 2025, | Celebrating 77 Years For more than 75 years, International Credit Union (ICU) Day® has been a moment to reflect on our movement’s history, honor our achievements, and celebrate the impact we’ve made in communities worldwide. On Thursday, October 16, 2025, credit unions will mark the 77th anniversary of ICU Day under the theme “Cooperation for a Prosperous World,” joining more than 82,000 cooperatives serving 403 million members globally. Find out more here. DakCU Compliance Conclave October 20–21 | Bismarck, ND We’re thrilled to introduce the all-new DakCU Compliance Conclave—a dedicated professional development experience built specifically for credit union compliance professionals.
This 1.5-day event will deliver actionable takeaways and real-world solutions you can immediately implement back at your credit union. Choose one day or both! Register here by October 10. North Dakota DFI Credit Union Summit October 22 | Bismarck, ND While you’re in Bismarck, plan to stay an extra day for the first-ever North Dakota DFI Credit Union Summit (formerly Day with the Commissioner). Hosted by the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions in collaboration with National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS), this in-person summit brings together regulators, executives, and industry thought leaders for focused, high-level discussions on the future of North Dakota’s credit union system. Member Spotlight Kahler Named to “20 Under 40” Join us in celebrating Austin Kahler, Vice President of Credit at Capital Credit Union, on being named one of the Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC’s 20 Under 40 honorees! This prestigious recognition highlights Austin’s exceptional leadership, commitment to the credit union philosophy, and positive impact on both our industry and the community. Congratulations, Austin — we are proud to see your contributions recognized among the region’s top emerging leaders. Read the full issue and meet Austin here. Have a wonderful week! DakCU President/CEO
Comments are closed.
|
The MemoThe Memo is DakCU's newsletter that keeps Want the Memo delivered straight to your inbox?
Archives
November 2025
Categories
All
|
