The CUInsight Network

“We love working with credit unions to become more data-driven, so they can better support their members.” - Andrea Brown

Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, President & CEO of CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Andrea Brown, SVP of Growth at Lodestar. Andrea is a return guest to the podcast and shares what has changed since last year and what remains a common focus for leaders. Lodestar is a data warehouse and analytics partner for credit unions. They provide a full-service analytics platform of data connectors, visuals, workflows, and strategic guidance to help credit unions move forward in their analytics journey. 

During our conversation, Andrea discusses which data strategies credit unions should be focusing on to benefit business goals. She explains how leveraging data analytics and choosing the right data warehouse is crucial for a successful core conversion. Listen as Andrea talks about growth plans for the future and continuing to support credit unions with the complex technology systems needed to embrace efficiency and sustainability.

As we wrap up the episode, Andrea talks about spending time with her family, splurging on new experiences, and preferring the audiobook of this recent read. Enjoy my conversation with Andrea Brown!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Andrea:
Andrea Brown, SVP of Growth at Lodestar
[email protected]
lodestartech.ca
Andrea: LinkedIn
Lodestar: LinkedIn

“Strategic planning is not a date on the calendar, it’s a process.” - Shawn Temple

Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, President & CEO of CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Shawn Temple, Strategy Director at On The Mark Strategies. Shawn shares his career journey in credit unions that led him to his current role. On The Mark Strategies empowers credit unions to win, survive, and thrive. The team specializes in strategic planning, branding, training, and marketing services.

During our conversation, Shawn discusses the importance of strategic planning and how it brings clarity and alignment to the organization. He emphasizes the significance of core values and building team cultures to create a healthy work environment. Shawn shares the value of leadership development for today and tomorrow. Listen as Shawn explains how credit union teams can inspire connection from the boardroom to the break room.

As we wrap up the episode, Shawn talks about being inspired by two amazing leaders in his life, enjoying the aloha spirit, and making himself available for a trip to San Diego. Enjoy my conversation with Shawn Temple!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Shawn:
Shawn Temple, Strategy Director at On The Mark Strategies
[email protected]
markarnold.com
Shawn: LinkedIn
On The Mark Strategies: LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram

“Know your members better than you ever have.” - Mark Weber

Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, President & CEO of CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Mark Weber, CEO at Strum and Strum Platform. Mark shares his career journey and how his passion for credit unions began as a child. Strum is a full-service marketing agency helping credit unions build growth strategies through naming, branding, and marketing. Strum Platform is a financial marketing analytics software that helps credit unions better understand their members through data.

During our conversation, Mark and I discuss the importance of data to engage and retain members. He explains the significance of omnichannel tracking in today's environment. Members and prospects have unique journeys as they seek service with multiple touchpoints throughout and he shares how important it is to capture this. Listen as Mark dives into the power of data and the exciting things to come.

As we wrap up the episode, Mark talks about making time for his passion for music, enjoying Honolulu, and going with his team to sing karaoke. Enjoy my conversation with Mark Weber!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Mark:
Mark Weber, CEO at Strum
[email protected]
strumagency.com     
Strumplatform.com
Mark: LinkedIn
Strum: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Strum Platform: LinkedIn

“The more ways you offer a member to make a payment, the more likely they are to use it.” - Stuart Bain

Thank you for tuning in to episode 74 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Stuart Bain, SVP of Product Management at Alacriti. Stuart shares his career journey that led him to his current role. Alacriti is a leading financial technology company dedicated to helping credit unions accelerate their digital payments transformation. The team is dedicated to providing solutions that empower clients to deliver the innovative digital payment experiences today’s members demand. 

During our conversation, Stuart and I chat about payment solutions evolving to provide seamless and efficient experiences. He discusses the benefits of these solutions and the importance of delivering a modern digital payment experience in today’s world. Listen as Stuart talks about embracing digital payment transformation and self-service options along with what is to come in the future.

As we wrap up the episode, Stuart talks about which car he would splurge on, which food chain he enjoys in Tennessee, and which tech hack he uses for balancing work and life. Enjoy my conversation with Stuart Bain!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Stuart:
Stuart Bain, SVP of Product Management at Alacriti
[email protected]
alacriti.com     
Stuart: LinkedIn
Alacriti: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram 

“We need to be more data-driven than we have ever been.” - Joshua Barclay

Thank you for tuning in to episode 73 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Joshua Barclay, Growth Marketing Manager at CRMNEXT. Joshua shares his career journey that led him to his current role. CRMNEXT is a cloud or on-premise CRM solution provider specifically built for credit unions. Their focus is to support credit unions with actionable data to simplify work, drive growth, and deliver on experience. 

During our conversation, Joshua and I chat about the importance of data and technology in this changing financial landscape. Joshua talks about the New World Banking Order and what this means for the future. Listen as Joshua talks about how credit unions can move towards data unification.

As we wrap up the episode, Joshua talks about the leadership legacy of one of his family members, his enjoyment of fine dining experiences, and the city he enjoys traveling to most. Enjoy my conversation with Joshua Barclay!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Joshua:
Joshua Barclay, Growth Marketing Manager at CRMNEXT
[email protected]
crmnext.us     
Joshua: LinkedIn
CRMNEXT: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube

“Members are willing to adopt new technology in a way that is convenient for them.” - Nelson Fisher

Thank you for tuning in to episode 72 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Nelson Fisher, Director of Product Development at Co-op Solutions. Nelson shares his career journey that led him to his current role. Co-op Solutions partners with credit unions to deliver member-centric and digital-first services designed to improve operational efficiencies and the member experience. They continue to focus on serving credit unions to improve efficiencies, drive growth, and make data-informed decisions. 

During our conversation, Nelson and I chat about building more member-centric services. He shares perspectives about growth in the credit union industry and delves into research on the micro and macroeconomic environment. Listen as Nelson talks about insights on the psychology of spending behavior, digital maturity, and member engagement.

As we wrap up the episode, Nelson talks about his interest in music, his admiration for his wife, and his favorite things about the Bay Area. Enjoy my conversation with Nelson Fisher!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Nelson:
Nelson Fisher, Director of Product Development at Co-op Solutions
[email protected]
coop.org/
Nelson: LinkedIn
Co-op: LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube

“Leverage all the research and thought leadership that’s out in the payments space.” - Tom Pierce

Thank you for tuning in to episode 71 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Tom Pierce, Chief Marketing Officer at PSCU. Tom shares his career journey that led him to his current role. PSCU is the nation’s premier payments CUSO offering end-to-end support and integrated fintech solutions to help credit unions deliver personalized, connected experiences. They continue to focus on serving credit unions beyond traditional payment processing and provide new and innovative solutions to drive our movement forward.

During our conversation, Tom and I chat about trends and preferred payment types across generations. He shares the latest research on how consumers prefer to engage in payments. These key findings include mobile wallet usage, emerging payment trends such as buy now pay later, cryptocurrency, and financial aesthetics. Listen as Tom talks about the financial tendencies across generations to better target member needs.

As we wrap up the episode, Tom talks about an inspirational leader he’s worked with throughout his career, spending time with his wife, traveling, and getting ready for two of his daughters’ weddings. Enjoy my conversation with Tom Pierce!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Tom:
Tom Pierce, Chief Marketing Officer at PSCU
[email protected]
pscu.com
Tom: LinkedIn
PSCU: LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook 

“We see the military voice in our industry as an important voice that needs to be heard.” - Tony Hernandez

Thank you for tuning in to episode 70 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Tony Hernandez, President & CEO of the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC). DCUC is the premier resource for credit unions on all military and veteran matters. The team at DCUC provides trusted resources for active duty and veteran members while working on strategic and operational issues, and addressing regulatory and legislative matters. Tony believes in offering relevant financial services as a way to take care of military personnel and thank them for their efforts.

During our conversation, Tony and I chat about protecting veteran benefits and financial well-being within the credit union industry. He offers insight on how credit unions can “speak military” to better assist military personnel. Listen as Tony talks about protecting military members and veterans from predatory lending, keeping up with legislation and advocacy, and providing service to overseas military personnel.

As we wrap up the episode, Tony talks about traveling with his wife, the freedom and creativity of using dot journals for organization, and shares his book recommendations. Enjoy my conversation with Tony!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Tony:
Tony Hernandez, President & CEO of the Defense Credit Union Council
[email protected]
www.dcuc.org
Tony: LinkedIn
DCUC: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter 

“It’s more than credit cards here, it’s about the members and communities.” - Toby Mattson

Thank you for tuning in to episode 69 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Toby Mattson, Director of Community Partnerships at Elan Credit Card. Toby began his career in credit unions 30 years ago and shares how it led him to his role today. Elan Credit Card offers an outsourced credit card program to credit unions across the US. The team at Elan provides innovative solutions while removing costs, reducing risks, and improving the cardmember experience.

During our conversation, Toby and I chat about consumer trends and how credit cards play into financial well-being. He shares the many ways Elan continues to update credit card programs to match current consumer needs. Toby talks about Elan’s Charitable Giving program and the support they’re providing alongside their credit union partners in communities. Listen as Toby talks about the benefits of outsourcing credit card programs, protecting team culture and engagement, and making an impact in communities nationwide.

As we wrap up the episode, Toby talks about a leader who made a positive impact on his life and career, which book he recommends, and the cities he enjoys visiting the most. Enjoy my conversation with Toby Mattson!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Toby:
Toby Mattson, Director of Community Partnerships at Elan Credit Card
[email protected]
www.cupartnership.com
Toby: LinkedIn
Elan: LinkedIn | Twitter 

“Buildings exist for people, so they have to be people centric.” - Mark Alguard

Thank you for tuning in to episode 68 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Mark Alguard, President & Director of Client Strategy at Momentum. Mark shares his career journey that led him to his current role. The team at Momentum takes a people-centric approach to delivering buildings that help credit unions thrive. People-centric spaces build a solid foundation and foster connections for staff and members.

During our conversation, Mark and I chat about creating workspaces that will help drive organizations forward. Mark talks about having work-life balance without sacrificing the collaborative nature of teams. Listen as Mark shares insights about defining productivity, building hybrid work experiences, and protecting team culture and engagement.

As we wrap up the episode, Mark talks about his warm-hearted Grandpa Jack, his admiration for well-made furniture, and his go-to place to take people when visiting Chicago. Enjoy my conversation with Mark Alguard!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Mark:
Mark Alguard, President & Director of Client Strategy at Momentum
[email protected]
momentumbuilds.com
Mark: LinkedIn
Momentum: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter