Feb 3-4, 2026
|
|
Sponsorship registration is currently limited while we confirm placements with our returning sponsors. Additional opportunities may open soon.
Since 2017, credit union leaders from across our Midwest region have gathered in sunny Las Vegas, Nevada, for The Roundtable (formerly MonDak Roundtable) – a high-level educational and networking opportunity. This annual conference has included c-suite professionals from North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota!
Exclusively for senior management, CEOs, and volunteer board members, our 2026 event will once again offer an exciting, fast-paced two-day schedule of unique sessions for both CEOs and volunteer board members. The Roundtable is an amazing educational opportunity for regional credit union leaders to collaborate and share ideas as they are guided by a professional lineup of top industry thought leaders.
Eager to find out what’s new, what remains the same, and what our distinct region brings to the table in our great industry? You do not want to miss this exclusive meeting packed with information that is invaluable for large and small credit unions alike!
Exclusively for senior management, CEOs, and volunteer board members, our 2026 event will once again offer an exciting, fast-paced two-day schedule of unique sessions for both CEOs and volunteer board members. The Roundtable is an amazing educational opportunity for regional credit union leaders to collaborate and share ideas as they are guided by a professional lineup of top industry thought leaders.
Eager to find out what’s new, what remains the same, and what our distinct region brings to the table in our great industry? You do not want to miss this exclusive meeting packed with information that is invaluable for large and small credit unions alike!
February 3, 2026 | Paris/Horseshoe
|
1:30 - Registration
|
|
2:00 Pre-Conference Executive Session
Rory Rowland - 37 Leadership Masters Leadership isn't about trial and error. It's about tapping into the minds of the masters. The "37 Leadership Masters" program gives you a decided advantage by distilling the essential wisdom from the most influential leadership books and their battle-tested practices of America's most celebrated leadership gurus. This is your fast track to becoming an exceptional leader. |
|
2:00 Pre-Conference Volunteer Session
Jeff Rendel - Beyond Governance: The New Standard for Strategic, Future-Focused Boards Boards that lead don’t just oversee — they drive. The most effective boards are shifting from fiduciary oversight to strategic partnership, shaping growth, and preparing for what’s next. In this session, discover how modern boards increase their impact: spending more time on strategy, engaging deeply with leadership, and aligning agendas with long-term value. Learn how to rethink board composition, add future-focused voices, and lead with relevance. The boardroom should be your most underutilized growth asset — and this is how to unlock it. |
|
3:15 Pre-Conference Volunteer & Executive Session
Rory Rowland - How to Speak so Politicians Will Listen The "How to Speak so Politicians Will Listen" program is a comprehensive training experience that empowers credit union and community bank leadership with proven lobbying strategies, effective communication techniques, and insider knowledge of the political process to successfully advocate for their institutions and members before legislators at all levels of government. |
|
5:00 Reception and Welcome at The Bend Lounge, Horseshoe Casino
|
February 4, 2026 | Paris/Horseshoe
|
9:00 Opening Remarks
|
|
9:15 General Session
Scott Simpson - America's Credit Unions Update |
|
9:45 General Session and Roundtable Discussion
Jeff Rendel - Smarter Growth: How AI Enhances the Member Experience and Expands Your Impact AI isn’t just a technology upgrade — it’s a growth strategy. For credit unions that want to scale member relationships, increase efficiency, and deliver personalized value at every touchpoint, AI is a must-have advantage. This session explores how future-focused credit unions are using AI to elevate the member experience — with faster service, smarter insights, and more tailored solutions — while also freeing staff to focus on what they do best: building trust and connection. You’ll learn how to lead AI adoption with intention, align it with your mission, and create a human-centered approach to digital transformation. Because when you pair powerful technology with credit union values, you don’t just grow — you grow better. |
|
11:00 Mini Industry Sessions
|
|
12:00 Lunch
|
|
12:45 Breakout Sessions
Executives: Your Competitive Edge: A Process, Not a Plan Strategy is no longer a one-time exercise or a plan to put on the shelf and forget. In today's fast-moving world, sustainable success requires treating strategy as a continuous, evolving process. This program moves beyond static planning and instead helps build a flexible system that keeps your organization focused, adaptable, and ahead of the competition. You'll learn how to develop a strategic mindset across the whole team, empowering everyone to contribute to your goals and respond quickly to changes. This is a complete guide for building long-term success and maintaining your competitive edge. Volunteers: Future Forces: The Trends Reshaping Growth, Relevance, and Results The trends that matter most aren’t the loudest — they’re the ones reshaping how credit unions compete, grow, and deliver value. From redefined loyalty and AIpowered economics to hyper-personalized experiences and disruption from adjacent industries, this session spotlights what’s coming — and what to do now. We’ll explore how the most agile credit unions are investing ahead of the curve to turn change into competitive advantage. More than a forecast, it’s a strategic field guide for the next five years. For leaders ready to move first, move fast, and move with intention — this is your edge. |
|
2:00 Mini Industry Sessions
|
|
2:45 Roundtable Hot Topic Discussions
Get ready to dive into the conversations that matter most. Our Roundtable Hot Topic Discussions offer an energetic, open-forum environment where credit union leaders can exchange insights, explore emerging trends, and tackle real-world challenges together. Guided by industry experts Jeff Rendel (Executive session) and Rory Rowland (Volunteer session), these breakout sessions are intentionally designed to spark candid dialogue among executives and volunteer board members. Whether you're navigating strategic priorities, regulatory shifts, member expectations, or leadership challenges unique to Midwest credit unions, this session provides dedicated space to share perspectives and learn from one another. Bring your questions, your experiences, and your ideas. The conversation is shaped by you and your peers. |
|
4:15 General Session
Brandi Stankovic - Underground Playbook for Growth What’s actually working across the movement. How credit unions are leveraging partnerships, fintech, and CUSOs to scale member value without losing their cooperative identity. |
|
5:15 Event Summary and Wrap-Up
|
|
6:00 Post Conference Social Event
Sponsored by Alloya - TBA |
Speaker Biographies
Scott Simpson
Scott Simpson is the president/CEO of America’s Credit Unions, a national trade organization representing the unified voice of the credit union movement and the 144 million members it serves. Scott has served for more than 22 years in the credit union movement, including leading Utah’s Credit Unions, California’s Credit Unions, and Nevada’s Credit Unions. He is inspired by the power of credit unions to change people’s financial lives and holds a lifelong belief in the power of not-for-profit financial cooperatives. His mission at America’s Credit Unions is to energize and amplify the life-changing impact credit unions create every day, while also enhancing credit unions’ bipartisan appeal among elected officials and policymakers in Washington, D.C. Scott has served on the boards of America’s Credit Unions (and legacy organization CUNA) and the American Association of Credit Union Leagues. He also chaired the Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC), and the National Advocacy Fund. Prior to joining the credit union movement, Scott worked on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch, and led the Utah Republican Party. A Utah native, Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations and Japanese from Weber State University and is an instrument-rated private pilot. |
Jeff Rendel
Jeff Rendel, Certified Speaking Professional, knows financial services. With experience as a federal banking regulator, financial services executive, and Congressional lobbyist; he understands the balancing act of safety, soundness, sales, and strategy. As President of Rising Above Enterprises, Jeff works with financial services providers that want entrepreneurial results in sales, service, and strategy. Each year, he addresses, advises, and facilitates for nearly 100 financial institutions and their business partners. As a federal banking regulator with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Jeff examined a wide array of the nation’s banks and partnered with all levels of executive management. As a financial services executive, he oversaw the strategic operations of a community bank, directing corporate initiatives and helping guide the bank to record growth, market share, and financial results. As a chief lobbyist to Congress, he represented financial institutions, serving as a first and main resource to Members of Congress as they sought to understand the implications of legislation for financial services. A highly sought after and accomplished speaker; he is a professional member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) and has earned the NSA’s Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation. Fewer than two percent of the world’s speakers hold this achievement. |
Rory Rowland
Rory Rowland is a business consultant, seminar leader, and author specializing in programs that help credit unions improve their leadership, and communications skills. After serving as president of two credit unions and earning his CCUE, Rory began using his communications skills and specialized background to help others become more effective. He has presented high-energy, fun, and humorous programs in all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico for the last 25 years and is continually one of the most highly rated speakers at associations throughout the country. Over the last 35 years, he has served as a CEO of two CU's, one was a successful turnaround, and a Credit Union Board Member as the start of his credit union career. Currently, he serves as Mayor of the fourth largest city in Missouri, and was in the Missouri House of Representatives for seven years. |
Brandi Stankovic
Dr. Brandi Stankovic is an organizational change expert, motivational speaker, artist and mom who inspires firms globally with her models of leadership and award-winning education. Dr. Stankovic is a trusted advisor and strategic planning facilitator who guides CEOs and Boards on risk appetite, organizational health, profitability and growth. Dr. Stankovic is the coauthor of The Strategic MVP, a book of 52 growth and a director and cofounder of CU Pride, industry organization serving LGBTQ+ community and allies. She also serves on the CMN Hospitals Credit Unions for Kids advisory group, HRD Network Board, and is a Development Educator CUDE and I-CUDE. In 2023, Dr. Stankovic was inducted into the Credit Union Museum Herstory for her inspirational leadership and profound impact on the movement. Dr. Stankovic received her Bachelors in Finance and Economics at University of Nevada, TESOL and Teaching Practice Certificate from the College of Teachers in the United Kingdom, Masters of Business Administration from the University of San Diego and Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University. |
