MAXX Mainstage Comes Alive Celebrating Credit Unions’ Next 250 Miles

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on October 7, 2026

GoWest President and CEO Troy Stang on the MAXX 2026 Mainstage

Credit union professionals from across the GoWest region and beyond have gathered this week in Denver for MAXX 2026.

This year’s MAXX theme, “Our Next 250 Miles: Celebrating Where We’ve Been. Building What’s Ahead,” gives a nod to America’s 250th anniversary and features a road-trip theme to explore the people, milestones, and moments that have shaped the Credit Union Movement and while looking ahead to what’s coming down the road.

“Opening MAXX here in Colorado following America’s 250th anniversary feels like coming back to a story that started here,” GoWest President and CEO Troy Stang said during the opening mainstage event this morning. “Colorado played such an important role in the early history of the Credit Union Movement, and we’re still building on the same simple but impactful idea: people can do more when they come together. It’s a powerful reminder of just how far a people-powered movement can go.”

In his opening address, Stang challenged credit union leaders to embrace technology and change without losing sight of what has made credit unions different for generations: trust, relationships, and human connection.

“We have to modernize. Evolve technology. Rethink how we operate. Move faster,” Stang said. “But we cannot innovate away the very thing that makes us different: the human connection. It’s the human-centered approach that is our enduring advantage.”

Stang emphasized that technology, products, and services can be replicated across financial institutions, but the trust credit unions have built with members and communities must remain at the center of the Movement’s future.

“Technology was never the destination. People were always the purpose,” Stang said as he challenged attendees to think beyond protecting the Movement they inherited and focus on building the Movement future generations will need.

“Fintechs can solve for the transaction, but we have to solve for the person,” said Stang. “We have the opportunity to be excellent at both,” he said, referring to technology and human connection. “Our organizations will evolve. But our purpose must not.”

NCUA Chairman John Crews sat down with Mike Lawson for a CUbroadcast interview at MAXX

The morning mainstage session also featured a fireside chat with Dr. Jeremy Graves and Miranda Flury, two presenters at afternoon MAXX breakout sessions. They shared insights on the components of leadership and how every person in your organization can lead — it is not limited to the C-suite or board room.

Rounding out the morning session, NCUA Chairman John Crews both addressed the audience and sat down with Stang and GoWest EVP and Chief Advocacy Officer Jennifer Wagner to talk about NCUA priorities and what credit unions can do to help set those priorities.

“I am committed to stakeholder engagement,” said Crews, “and I feel strongly that I need to come to you where you live and where you work if I am going to get the full story.” He welcomed credit union professionals at MAXX — and after MAXX — to reach out to him and the NCUA with feedback as he wants to see the credit union system thrive and direct communication is part of that success.

As MAXX continues throughout the week, attendees will hear stories highlighting how credit unions are responding to the needs of their members and communities; from housing and small-business challenges to advocacy, disaster recovery and the rapidly changing financial technology landscape.

Stay tuned for more from MAXX 2026 in Denver.

Posted in Leadership, MAXX, MAXX Keynote Speakers, Top Headlines.