(June 19, 2013) Champion Credit Union's Karen Knowlton, Executive Vice President of Business Development, and Megan Carpenter, Trainer, became Credit Union Development Educators. Forty credit union professionals became Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs) after being guided by eight dedicated program facilitators and mentors through the intensive Credit Union Development Education (DE) Training from the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF). The May training was held at the Lowell Center on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, Wisconsin.
Team Projects
DE Training provides critical lessons in cooperative principles and credit union philosophy while incorporating challenges credit unions face today. During the recent week-long program, participants were involved in group exercises, field trips, issue discussions with speakers from around the credit union system, and are required to complete team projects proposing solutions for credit unions to help alleviate or eliminate challenging situations in any given area. “During DE training, we work to ensure the lessons in credit union philosophy are applicable and relevant to current events,” said Lois Kitsch, DE Facilitator and NCUF National Program Director.
"Everyone tells you that DE will change your life, but it is my belief that CUDEs can change the world," says Megan Carpenter. “The cooperation among the array of credit union professionals at the conference, as well as the call for cooperation among credit unions, has given the 2013 CUDE class a rally cry for collaboration across the nation and the globe. This experience has really ignited my passion for the credit union movement, and I look forward to working with our staff to strengthen our credit union and our community.”
More about the DE Program:
The mission of the Credit Union Development Education (DE) program is to promote credit unions’ social responsibility and domestic and international development through interactive adult education and professional networking.
About Champion Credit Union:
Local since 1932, Champion Credit Union is a community-chartered financial cooperative that serves anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Haywood, Buncombe, Henderson, Graham, Swain, Jackson, and Madison Counties.
Champion Credit Union, with more than 23,000 members and over $185 million in assets, operates three branches in Haywood and Buncombe Counties in Western North Carolina. For more information on Champion Credit Union, visit www.championcu.com.