Agenda Rundown
GoWest Credit Union Association is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.
Event Registration
Optional Pre-Conference Workshop: The Four Pillars of Credit Union Governance Success
After years of researching, consulting, and publishing numerous studies on governance and strategy, Quantum Governance, L3C, has identified four components, or pillars, that are vital to determining whether a credit union achieves mission success.
This optional preconference workshop will provide a clear understanding of the foundational pillars of successful governing necessary for capitalizing on change management, developing power metrics, setting strategy, building the board of the future, and a number of other topics you will learn about throughout the course of the conference.
Jennie will lead a discussion of the four pillars, explain why they are statistically the most powerful indicators of governance effectiveness, and engage participants in a live exercise to further illustrate the interplay of these elements.
Key takeaways:
An understanding of the importance of the four elements of governance excellence.
Best practices for ensuring that your organization’s board and leadership are keyed into the four pillars when planning for the future.
An understanding of the need to analyze each of the four elements to truly understand your credit union’s governance effectiveness.
CPE CREDIT INFORMATION
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization – Non-technical
CPE Credit Hours: 2
Program Level: Basic
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Prep: None
SPEAKER
Jennie Boden, CEO, Quantum Governance
Welcome Reception
Dinner On Your Own
Event Registration
Breakfast
Welcome Message
Troy Stang, President & CEO, GoWest Credit Union Association
Networking Break
Breakout Discussion — Strategic Finance: Aligning Strategy and Financials
Built for credit union boards, this interactive workshop connects financial performance to strategic governance. Through guided discussion and real-world credit union examples, participants will uncover how key financial metrics highlight strategic opportunities, signal emerging risks, and ensure long-term sustainability. Attendees will leave with practical insights to elevate board–management dialogue and to evaluate more confidently how financial performance aligns with the credit union’s strategic vision.
Key takeaways:
Strengthen strategic judgment by interpreting financial metrics through a governance lens; identifying when performance signals require deeper inquiry, recalibration, or strategic action.
Ask sharper, forward-looking questions that elevate board dialogue beyond operational detail and drive long-term growth, resilience, and member value.
CPE CREDIT INFORMATION
Field of Study: Finance – Technical
CPE Credit Hours: 1
Program Level: Basic
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Prep: Yes
SPEAKERS
Jay Curtis, President and CEO, First Credit Union
Scott Sager, CFO, Colorado Credit Union
Networking Lunch
Breakout Discussion — Evaluating What Matters: Strengthening CEO Performance for Strategic Success
This session helps board members strengthen their role in supporting CEO success through clear expectations, establishing measurable goals, and conducting effective performance reviews.
The discussion will cover the board’s role in providing constructive feedback, aligning CEO objectives with organizational strategy, and ensuring accountability through transparent evaluation processes.
Key takeaways:
Partner more effectively with your CEO by aligning performance expectations with strategic priorities, risk appetite, and long-term member impact.
Create shared clarity around what success looks like for the credit union and its leadership.
Foster a culture of trust, growth, and accountability through structured, forward-looking evaluation conversations that support your CEO’s development while strengthening organizational performance.
CPE CREDIT INFORMATION
Field of Study: Management Services – Technical
CPE Credit Hours: 1
Program Level: Basic
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Prep: None
SPEAKER
Deedee Myers, CEO, DDJ Myers
Lunch
Breakout Discussion — Change Management: Building Forward-Looking Leadership
In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, the ability to manage significant change isn’t just an advantage — it’s a requirement for survival and growth. This dynamic panel discussion, moderated by Nell Callen, an expert in organizational transformation, features seasoned credit union leaders who have led their institutions through major strategic shifts.
This session is designed for board members and senior executives seeking actionable strategies to cultivate a truly resilient and adaptive organization.
Moving beyond theory, panelists will share real-world challenges and lessons learned from leading through change. Participants will explore the human side of leadership transformation, including soft skills, emotional intelligence (EQ), and resilience. Attendees will leave with practical approaches to lead through transformative change, foster a growth mindset, and support effective governance during transitions.
Key takeaways:
Communication strategy frameworks for transparent and consistent communication to mitigate uncertainty and resistance among staff and members.
Techniques for leveraging, assessing, and intentionally shaping organizational culture to become an engine for change rather than an obstacle.
Guidance on how the board can best govern, support, and challenge the executive team during periods of intensive transformation.
Approaches to identify, develop, and empower internal leaders and change agents to support sustainable change.
CPE CREDIT INFORMATION
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization – Non-technical
CPE Credit Hours: 1
Program Level: Basic
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Prep: None
SPEAKERS
Nell Callen, Partner, Curtis Strategy
Kim Bickford, Board Member, Rivermark Credit Union
Tarun Gudz, Board Chair, Rivermark Credit Union
Jennifer Oliver, President and CEO, Rize Credit Union
Networking Break
Breakout Discussion — Prepare to Lead: Strengthening Board Succession for Long-Term Stability
This session equips board members with the tools and confidence to prepare for effective board succession planning in today’s evolving regulatory environment. Through practical, scenario-based use cases and open forum discussions, attendees will find clarity in the succession planning process and understand how strong board pipelines position credit unions for long-term stability.
Attendees will leave with actionable tools to prepare your board for transitions, strengthen organizational continuity, and meet NCUA’s new expectations with clarity and confidence.
Key takeaways:
Tools to assess board readiness, including skills matrices, development plans, and term limit insights for evaluating leadership capacity.
Hands-on practice through real-world scenarios to build confidence in navigating board succession.
CPE CREDIT INFORMATION
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization – Non-technical
CPE Credit Hours: 1
Program Level: Basic
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Prep: None
SPEAKERS
Dr. Amy Hillman, Professor & Governance Expert, Arizona State University
Wrap-Up and Evening Activity Options
Enjoy self-organized local dining and optional activities, including golf, resort amenities, and nearby outdoor experiences.
Resort options at The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa:
Breakfast
Breakout Discussion — Credit Union Policy and Regulation: What Board Members Need to Understand
This session provides strategies for navigating regulatory change and strengthening governance. Panelists will explore how boards can stay prepared for regulatory shifts, the basics of effective governance, and how to build collaborative relationships with state and federal regulators. The discussion will also address emerging compliance challenges in cybersecurity and digital assets, including expectations around fintech partnerships, stablecoins, and AI adoption.
Attendees will leave with actionable insights to align compliance with innovation and long-term success.
Key takeaways:
Shift from reactive compliance to anticipatory governance by learning how to spot regulatory inflection points early and guide management with foresight instead of fear.
Strengthen your board’s confidence in high-stakes decisions by understanding how to balance innovation, risk tolerance, and regulatory expectations without slowing strategic momentum.
CPE CREDIT INFORMATION
Field of Study: Regulatory Ethics – Technical
CPE Credit Hours: 1
Program Level: Basic
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Prep: None
SPEAKERS
Brian Knight, President and CEO, NASCUS
Julie Cayse, Western Region Director, NCUA
Hal Scoggins, Shareholder and Legal Expert, Farleigh Wada Witt
Jennifer Wagner, EVP and Chief Advocacy Officer, GoWest
Networking Break
Breakout Discussion — The Powerful Intersection of Advocacy, Impact, and Storytelling
This session explores the powerful intersection of advocacy, community impact, and storytelling, and why all three are essential to stewarding the credit union cooperative model. Participants will engage in a practical discussion on how credit unions can move beyond compliance and activity tracking to clearly articulate their value, impact, and purpose.
Attendees will learn how strong structures and measurement create the foundation for authentic storytelling that strengthens advocacy efforts, elevates public trust, and reinforces the credit union’s commitment to members and communities.
SPEAKERS
Sharee Adkins, EVP and Chief Impact Officer, GoWest
Jennifer Wagner, EVP and Chief Advocacy Officer, GoWest
Roundtables
Attendees will participate in focused, small-group discussions on key topics, sharing best practices and challenges to strengthen strategic initiatives and ensure roles and responsibilities are aligned. Each table will report out, allowing ideas to be shared across groups and turning discussions into actionable takeaways.
Evolving Strategy: Keynote Closing Remarks
Troy Stang, President & CEO, GoWest Credit Union Association
