WICHITA, Kan. — With an eye toward growing talent, building leadership skills and helping credit unions, the Kansas Credit Union Association has created CUlead: Leadership Excellence and Development.
The one-year, hands-on program is based on feedback from credit unions throughout the state and is intended to help develop the next generation of credit union leaders in the Sunflower State by enhancing leadership skills among credit unions' staffs. Class size was limited to 15 participants in order to provide a more intimate class setting.
The 15 credit union professionals selected for the inaugural CUlead are:
- Corey Winter, Branch Manager, Meritrust Credit Union, Wichita
- Sharon Thornhill, VP/Assistant Manager, Bell Credit Union, Hutchinson
- Mary Wehner, CFO, Central Star Credit Union, Wichita
- Chris Correll, Branch Manager, Emporia State Federal Credit Union, Emporia
- Christy Bales, Member Service Supervisor, Cessna Employees Credit Union, Wichita
- Kimberly Beltran, Branch Manager, Mid American Credit Union, Wichita
- Erik Breckenridge, Business Systems Manager, Meritrust Credit Union, Wichita
- Preston Ford, Indirect Lending Manager, Educational Credit Union, Topeka
- Rob Detrick, VP Branch Operations, Credit Union of America, Wichita
- David Linderman, Accounting Manager, Quest Credit Union, Topeka
- Michael Griffin, Branch Manager, Educational Credit Union, Topeka
- Geoff Strole, Mortgage Development Officer, Truity Credit Union, Lawrence
- Donna Miller, Branch Manager, Heartland Credit Union, Hutchinson
- Kelly Martin, AVP Operations, TECU Credit Union, Wichita
- Jeremy Stauffacher, AVP of Retail Branch Operations, Heartland Credit Union, Hutchinson
"Top-notch employees are hard to find, and sometimes they are even harder to keep," said Gina Evans, AVP of education and CUlead Coordinator. "With statistics showing that many credit union executives are nearing retirement age, it's more important than ever for credit unions to prepare for the future and develop staff to fill these top roles."
The CUlead curriculum was developed for future credit union leaders and covers everything form communication skills to working with regulators. The sessions are also meant to strengthen professional skills, and field trips will help participants make networking connections to aid in their careers.
CUlead will kick off on Feb. 9 during KCUA's annual Day at the Capitol in Topeka. Sessions are also planned for April, June, October and December.
