INDIANAPOLIS -
The meeting, themed “Fuel for Innovation,” is part of the Indina leagues’ “ignite” program. Twenty credit union professionals from 17 credit unions across the state will meet for the first time when the working group comes together later this month. Denise Gabel, chief innovation officer with the Filene Research Institute, will be the featured speaker.
The ignite initiative is a joint venture between the Indiana league and three Indiana CU representatives associated with the Filene Research Institute’s i3 program: Doug True, SVP-technovation at FORUM CU and president of FORUM Solutions; Bob Falk, president at Purdue EFCU; and Nan Morrow, VP-corporate development at Central CU.
“The success of the Filene Research Insitute’s i3 program has inspired the creation of an extended program that can operate at the state level, which fits perfectly into the league’s emphasis on offering more for emerging leaders at Indiana’s credit unions, helping them to share ideas and become better concerned,” said John McKenzie, president of the league. “The presence of three talented members associated with Filene’s i3 group in Indiana, along with their interest in establishing and overseeing ignite was the key to moving forward with the ignite initiative. The initial concept that lead to ignite being established was developed by Doug True.”
“It has been well documented that the financial services industry is highly commoditized and one with intense competition,” True added. “Credit unions across the country and in Indiana are recognizing that the status quo is not good enough to serve their existing members let alone attract new ones. It will take new ideas, unique answers to problems currently faced, new product offerings and even new delivery channels to break out from the commodity-driven competition to make a difference in the lives of our members. The ignite teams will be driven with this desire to make a difference and submit such answers to these questions that can be used by their own credit unions and all credit unions.”
The ignite initiative was introduced at the league’s annual Managers Conference in August by True, Falk and Morrow. That meeting was followed up with a call for applications from among Indiana’s affiliated credit unions. Applications for the working groups were collected during the fourth quarter of 2007. It was decided by the leadership team to limit the number to 20 and to take no more than two individuals from any one credit union.
Participants were selected based on their credit union background, their references, and their answers to essay questions. Applicants were asked why they wanted to be part of ignite.
“We had a desire for ignite to be balanced and to represent as many as Indiana credit unions as possible, and I think we have achieved that,” True said. “Having 20 igniters representing 17 Indiana credit unions allows us to keep the initial group to a manageable number and to have four teams of five participants, which should be ideal for innovation and implementation.”
Members of the ignite working groups are: Kevin Sparks, VP/CFO, Crane FCU; Jan Chronic, SVP marketing, Eli Lilly CCU; Joe Hasto, CFO, Eli Lilly FCU; Tony Meier, AVP-business development officer, Evansville Teachers FCU; Michael Hostetler, marketing coordinator, Finance Center FCU; Blake Dearing, mortgage sales manager, Forum CU; Debby Blake, manager-contact center; Forum CU; Tim Lukomski, CFP/VP support services, Heritage FCU; Charles King, corporate attorney, Hoosier Hills CU; Marie Shanks, EVP, Indiana State University FCU; Brian Wilkerson, VP/COO, Kemba CU; Michelle Peterson, marketing manager, Marion School ECU; Carolyn Probasco, CEO Members United FCU; Lora Davison, CFO, Northern Indiana FCU; Gary Icenogle, VP marketing and business development, NorthPark Community CU; Evelyn Royer, VP risk management/support services; Purdue EFCU; Kevin Kosek, director-business development, Regional FCU; Becky Summers, vice president, Teachers CU; Chad Gramling, product manager, Three Rivers FCU; and Jim Johnson, VP member services, Three Rivers FCU.
“It is great to see that this inaugural group represents credit unions of varying charter type and membership scope, as well as geographic make-up–these individuals come from all across Indiana,” said McKenzie.
The working groups will develop new ideas and will be responsible for their implementation and/or the implementation of existing ideas presented by Filene’s i3 group.
“Working groups will be free to develop any idea they believe has merit to bring an innovation solution to credit union members,” Morrow said. “Some of these ideas may be original, and some may be ideas that have already been discussed by i3 or by other resources, but have not been fully implemented or brought to their full potential.”
In all, three meetings are planned for the ignite group: Jan. 30, May 16 and Sept. 26. In addition to these meetings, each working group is free to gather as necessary, or to work virtually, to accomplish tasks specific to their projects. As part of the ignite initiative during 2008, the league will host education sessions, where attendance will be open to all affiliated, on topics including innovation and creative thinking.
“Our goal through ignite is to develop emerging credit union leaders into more innovative thinkers and doers,” said Marrow. “We hope to be able to provide them with some of the tools needed to bring the evolution of innovation to their organizations, as well as to provide a forum to think strategically, creatively and imaginatively outside of their credit union for the benefit of all credit unions.”
