CHICAGO - A group of 30 credit union leaders, all under the age of 30, joined here recently to discuss marketing campaigns, credit union products, and recruiting strategies.
Dubbed the “30 under 30” group, Filene Research Institute has developed a team of these young CU professions to develop products and services designed to attract the younger generation to credit unions. The group falls under the umbrella of a broader Filene program called “CU Tomorrow,” which works with state leagues, universities and others to make CUs more appealing to a younger generation.
Members of the group were named at the end of 2007, and a recent three-day meeting was the first time the members were all together in person.
They discussed the challenges and opportunities with Gen Y and reviewed research on what Gen Y really wants from a financial institution. The group also participated in a roundtable discussion with the goal of developing ideas on how CUs can recruit this younger generation, according to Ben Rogers, driver of the CU Tomorrow program and director of the 30 Under 30 program. Another roundtable discussion focused on how credit unions can get young adults to start saving. A start-up specialist was a guest speaker, and lectured on how to get an idea from plan to pitch to market success.
Speakers included Anya Kamentz, author of “Generation Debt;” Trey Reeme, director of channel integration at TEDCU; Susan Follick, segment marketing manager for PSCU Financial Services; Bryan Sims, the 24-year-old CEO of brass/Media Inc., a multimedia company that produces content for young adults about money; Chris Resto, lead author of “Recruit or Die’” and Jonah Bloom, editor of “Advertising Age.”
“Anya was very enlightening about what it takes for Gen Y to get ahead,” Rogers said. “It’s increasingly difficult due to college debt and credit card debt. She was a great speaker.”
Suggestions offered during that session included to tie spending and savings closely together, engage customers to make it easier to invest, and to offer basic financial education to members of Gen Y. “Chris Resto gave some great advice, too,” Rogers said. “He said credit unions have a great opportunity to recruit right out of college, and offer management or operations’ positions.”
The participants traveled from all over the country to participate in the sessions, Rogers said. In addition to the 30 members, interested observers from CUNA Mutual, CUNA. Fisserv, US Central, Filene and PSCU-FS attended.
The inaugural group of 30 Under 30 members includes: Alex Alexander, Municipal Employees CU of Baltimore; Dustin Allen, Weber State CU; Megan Armstrong, Sunmark CU; Avery Cashman, Service 1st FCU; Julie Cosgrove, Affinity Plus CU; Christopher Danvers, Delta Community CU; Matt Davis, Members CU; Mike Escudero, Seattle Metropolitan CU; Christina Gaglione, Affinity CU; Erin Hamilton, Nasa CU; Kia Herd, Alliant CU; Robin Hickey, Mon-oc CU; Melissa Troiano, DOT FCU; Brandon Kelly, E CU; Dustin Limburg, Wright-Patt CU; Tanya Magnus, First South CU; Brie McCarthy, Coors CU; Brandi Melo, Rocky Mountain CU; Brandon Michaels, San Francisco Fire CU; Katherine Miller, Navy FCU; Toni Montgomery, Americhoice CU; Rachael Parrent, Vantage CU; Carma Parrish, Perfect Circle CU; Jansen Perdue, Hoosier Hills CU; Jeremy Presta, Park Side FCU; Megan Primeau, US FCU; Matthew Prosneski, Travis CU; Matthew Schewe, UW CU; Amy Stanton, BestSource CU; and Chad Warneke, Oregonians CU.
