Your Leadership Link

​Your DakCU Advocacy team is in D.C. this week at GAC 2026, advancing key credit union priorities on the national stage.

Dorothy Voorhees & Fran Sommerfeld - SD Flag Bearers; Taylor Anderson, & Steve Schmitz - ND Flag Bearers

Your Association Advocacy team is in Washington, D.C. this week at the annual America's Credit Unions Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) alongside a strong delegation of 30+ Dakota credit union professionals from both North and South Dakota.

The GAC continues to grow, celebrating another record year with over 6,200 attendees representing more than 1,000 credit unions nationwide. When you pause to think about it, that means one-fourth of all credit unions in the country are here—a remarkable testament to the power and unity of our movement.

Our Dakota advocates are spending the week engaging with national leaders, sharpening their advocacy skills, gaining insight into emerging market trends, and strengthening their network of peers from across the country. On Wednesday, our team will Hike the Hill to share the priorities that matter most to our Dakota credit unions. You can learn more about the issues we’ll be highlighting here.

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While the GAC is built around our message to policymakers on Capitol Hill, it truly feels like a gathering among colleagues. Leaders from credit unions of every size come together here, working collectively to better serve their members and strengthen the movement.

Looking Ahead: Summit Updates
Registration is officially open for the Dakota Credit Union Association Annual Summit, coming up May 12–14 in Box Elder at The Box, and we are now less than 75 days away!

This year’s event features three dynamic keynote speakers who will bring energy, insight, and real-world strategies to our attendees:

• Todd Cetnar – delivering high-performance leadership strategies that inspire teams and strengthen culture.
• Taylor Murray – sharing people-first leadership approaches that elevate service and team performance.
• Steve Rick – offering forward-looking economic insights to help credit unions plan for the year ahead.

We’re also excited to once again offer the Summit Crasher program for emerging leaders age 35 and under. Applications are already coming in strong, and with limited spots available, we encourage interested young professionals to apply sooner rather than later to ensure consideration. Crashers receive complimentary Summit registration, participate in a dedicated professional development track, gain valuable access to industry experts, networking opportunities, and peer collaboration.

Register to attend Summit here!

Mark Your Calendar
We’ll be hosting our first CEO Town Hall on Tuesday, March 10 at 3:00 p.m. CT. A link will be sent to CEOs later this week.

Thank you for your continued support and leadership across the Dakotas. Have a great week.
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​George McDonald
​DakCU Interim President/CEO