Program introduces unique approach to problem solving
MADISON, Wis. – The Cooperative Trust, a project from the Filene Research Institute, has selected an elite group of nineteen young credit union leaders to attend CUNA’s Governmental Affairs Conference set for Feb. 24-28 in Washington, D.C.
In addition to attending the conference, the leaders, known as the Crashers, will attend a pre-conference design thinking workshop, which will be led by Brent Dixon, founder of Crash the GAC and The Cooperative Trust. The new workshop will focus on how to innovate around small-business lending. Design thinking is a process that uses human-centered research, pattern recognition, and rapid prototyping to solve problems. “I'm always searching for ways to continue learning and growing. I believe Crash the GAC is a great way for me to expand my knowledge and come away with a lot of great ideas to take this industry by storm,” said Elizabeth Weger, marketing specialist at Pathways Financial CU.
As part of the workshop, Crashers will research the needs of young small business owners through first-hand interviews, an observation of Washington, D.C. metroplex entrepreneurs. “We’re living in a disruptive time for small business and finance. Access to capital has dried up, and many businesses are using non-traditional tools like crowdfunding, which can be effective, or loading down a credit card, which can be dangerous, to fund their business,” said Dixon. “If we’re going to fight on the Hill on their behalf, we have to understand how to serve them in the current environment.”
The team of Crashers will initially focus on learning the concepts of design thinking and their application to solving real-world problems. Over the course of the week, they will apply design thinking methods and theory to spark lending innovation. The result will be a viable business concept for credit unions. In the end, the group will create something wholly new and tailored for credit unions.
The 2013 Crash the GAC celebrates its fourth year at the conference. CUNA’s Center for Professional Development has again provided full scholarships for Crashers to attend the conference. Crash the GAC is a project of The Cooperative Trust, a training and development community for young credit union professionals.
The Cooperative Trust began as a Filene project and is supported by multiple industry partners. CUNA Mutual Group serves as the Trust’s title sponsor and PSCU has again provided generous financial support for additional events while in Washington, D.C. “We're incredibly grateful for the mentorship and support of our partners. Development and activism opportunities like the GAC are vital to training future leaders of the industry,” said Dixon.
The 2013 Crashers are:
Danielle Frawley, vice president, Marketing & Communications, Fort Community CU, Fort Atkinson, Wis.
Jennifer Tebbe, eServices branch manager, Greater Iowa CU, Ames, Iowa
Chris Friederich, senior analyst, CUNA Mutual Group, Madison, Wis.
Brittany Hilton, marketing specialist, Mid-Atlantic FCU, Germantown, Md.
Justin Mouzoukos, assistant vice president, Finance, Mazuma CU, Kansas City, Mo.
Amanda Brenneman, business development officer, Maps CU, Salem, Ore.
Chad Holz, manager, Product Portfolio Strategy, University FCU, Austin, Texas
Ashley Dietz, marketing coordinator, City County CU, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Joshua Smith, advocacy officer, SchoolsFirst FCU, Santa Ana, Ca.
Blake Woods, PR and new media manager, Lake Trust CU, Lansing, Mich.
Mitchell Michiels, financial architect, Best Advantage CU, Brillion, Wis.
Erin Ballard, communications coordinator, AmeriCU Credit Union, Rome, N.Y.
Sean Flynn, assistance vice president Consumer Lending, GTE Financial, Tampa, Fla.
Elizabeth Weger, marketing specialist, Pathways Financial CU, Columbus, Ohio
Lindsay Estok, branch manager, Seasons FCU, Middletontown, Conn.
Olivia Rockers, marketing specialist, Iowa CU League, Des Moines, Iowa
Ashley Pierce, accounting assistant, A+ FCU, Austin, Texas
Meghan Storck, business development specialist, First Florida CU, Jacksonville, Fla.
James Marshall, marketing manager, Plane Saver CU, London, U.K.
About Filene: The non-profit Filene Research Institute is a consumer finance think tank serving the North American credit union system of $1.3 trillion in assets and more than 100 million members. Filene publishes objective research and fosters consumer-focused financial innovation. The Institute collaborates with leading researchers and academic institutions worldwide.
About Cooperative Trust: The Cooperative Trust is a grassroots organization hosted by the Filene Research Institute and generously supported by CUNA Mutual Group. The Cooperative Trust connects and enables young people fighting for the future of socially-responsible finance through meet-ups, mentorships, and collective action. Learn more at www.trust.coop.