ICYMI: 2023 CUNA MBD Council Conference

Credit union marketing and business development professionals spent the last week of March in Orlando for the 2023 CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council Conference. While there, attendees discussed everything going on in the industry, including new-age collegiate marketing, fintech partnerships, and technological advancements.

Every article and video can be found on news.cuna.org and on CUNA News’ YouTube page. For a quick summary, here are the highlights of our coverage from March 26-29 in Orlando:

Articles

• Former marketers who have become CEOs shared how they rose to their current role, and gave current credit union professionals tips on following a similar path, including being “brave and confident.”
• Community Financial Credit Union President/CEO Tansley Stearns and SavvyMoney Senior Vice President of Sales & Partnerships Chris Fraenza discussed how credit unions can choose the right fintech partner.
• A panel of college sponsorship professionals dove deep into the new collegiate athletics marketing landscape, and how credit unions can utilize the power of NIL, athletes, and fans.
• On Tap Credit Union’s Janelle Herrera and Infusion Marketing Group’s Rick Claypoole discussed the importance of turning clicks into tangible results.
• A panel of credit union leaders examined the need for credit unions to highlight financial well-being for all and the people side of the movement.
• BECU’s Kristin Llewelyn said business development is about the leads, suggesting credit unions focus their energy “on partners that want this to be mutually beneficial.”
• EmpowerFi’s Hilary Reed and Kelly Hellickson teamed up with Faraday’s Andy Rossmeissl to give credit unions eight steps for putting their personas into action.
• Diamond Award winners shared the secrets to their successful campaigns.
• Public Service Credit Union Marketing Manager Nadine Hohnke went over how credit unions can combine human and artificial intelligence to put a face on their AI.
• Push Button Creative Audio Founder/Partner Yeosh Bendayan, The Sampson House CEO/Creative Director Valerie Simpson, and Voyage Federal Credit Union Marketing Manager Tiffany Mutchler gave a step-by-step outline on how to start a podcast.
• Meow Wolf co-founder Vince Kadlubek discussed “creativity, art, and the imagination” while welcoming the audience to the transformation economy.
• Fishers Island Lemonade Chief Operating Officer Dave Mevoli relayed the importance of storytelling and creating a brand—no matter the industry.

Video interviews

• Meow Wolf co-founder Vince Kadlubek on harnessing your imagination.
• Financial Partners Credit Union’s Nader Moghaddam and Royce Ngiam on their takeaways from the conference and what they’ve learned from their involvement with CUNA Councils.
• A panel of credit union CEOs on the leadership lessons they learned while rising up through the industry.
• Credit union leaders on why credit unions must showcase their ability to solve consumers’ problems and improve members’ financial well-being.
• On Tap Credit Union’s Janelle Herrera on digital marketing that drives tangible results and account openings.
• BECU’s Kristin Llewelyn on how business development has evolved, and how it will continue evolving.
• Collegiate athletics professionals on marketing opportunities and what makes credit unions and colleges natural partners.
• Public Service Credit Union Marketing Manager Nadine Hohnke on how the Romulus, Mich., credit union uses artificial intelligence.
• EmpowerFi’s Hilary Reed on the role of machine learning and artificial intelligence in marketing personalization.
• Push Button Creative Audio Founder/Partner Yeosh Bendayan, The Sampson House CEO/Creative Director Valerie Simpson, and Voyage Federal Credit Union Marketing Manager Tiffany Mutchler on starting a credit union podcast.