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Three Featured Speakers Added To Think 14 Conference Line Up

THREE FEATURED SPEAKERS ADDED TO THINK 14 CONFERENCE LINE-UP


TO THINK 14 CONFERENCE LINE-UP
4/21/2014
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RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., April 21, 2014 - The roster for THINK 14 general sessions is now complete with three new speakers providing case studies for credit union leaders, drawing from the experience of major companies outside the industry. 

Working under the theme "It Starts With You," THINK 14 speakers will tackle issues that everyone who works at a credit union can take a part in solving. These issues include "Living the Promise," "Consumer Experience", "Examining the Business Model" and "Leadership, Attitude and Talent."

The final additions to THINK 14's line-up of featured speakers are:

  • Welby Altidor, Director of Creation for Cirque du Soleil, the Canada-based dramatic circus and street entertainment company. His first major project was Michael Jackson ONE, currently at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Altidor will speak on "Living the Promise."
     
  • Ivan Askwith, a consultant specializing in strategic planning and experience design for digital platforms and online communities. Askwith's background includes working with the George Lucas companies, Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic. Askwith's case study will focus on "Examining the Business Model."
  • Susan Cantrell, a Research Fellow at Accenture Institute for High Performance Business, and coauthor of "Workforce of One: Revolutionizing Talent Management Through Customization" (2010). She will speak on "Leadership, Attitude and Talent."

"The credit union movement must adapt to a changing consumer and competitive environment, and so the THINK 14 conference will be covering innovations in service, technology and branding," said Stan Hollen, President/CEO, CO-OP Financial Services, the conference sponsor. "The three new speakers will be instrumental in helping us achieve our goal of making sure the audience comes away with practical, actionable initiatives that can be implemented at their credit unions."

THINK Evolution Sessions Planned for Day One

The first afternoon of the conference, May 19, will be devoted to four "THINK Evolution" sessions. These sessions will feature presentations and panel discussions among industry thought leaders on the topics that will be developed by the general session speakers in the three days that follow.

The sessions will be hosted by John Allister, Principal, Dorado Industries; Sarah Snell Cooke, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Credit Union Times; Frank Diekmann, Publisher, Credit Union Journal; and Christopher Kruger, Regional Sales Manager, CO-OP Financial Services. 

Among the speakers at these four sessions are Shazia Manus and Brian Day, The Members Group (TMG); Rachna Ahlawat, Ondot Systems; Brian Bodell, Finivation; Maureen Carlson and Philips McCarthy, Good Scout Group; Andrew Gates and Heidi Young, Rewards Now; GiGi Hyland, National Credit Union Foundation; Ondine Irving; Card Analysis Solutions; Tim Kolk, TRK Advisors; Sue Mitchell and Brandi Stankovic, Mitchell Stankovic and Associates; Brian Porter, Diebold; Ron Record, Saylent Technologies; and Adrea Stritzke, Policy Works.

Immediate Registration Available

The THINK 14 Conference is taking place May 19-22, 2014, at the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans, La. Registration for the event is $799 for credit union employees, who may register immediately at www.co-opthink.org.

More conference information is also available at www.co-opthink.org.

About CO-OP Financial Services

Based in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and founded in 1981, CO-OP Financial Services is the nation's largest credit union service organization in terms of number of credit unions, assets and members. The company helps credit unions thrive by providing products and services that make it more convenient for members to do business with them. With a motto of "Be There. Be More," CO-OP's products fall into three business lines, including "Locations," (ATM, shared branching and call center services); "Card Payments" (debit and credit processing) and "Mobile/Virtual" (mobile, online, check imaging, bill pay services). To learn more visit www.co-opfs.org.