Five Cornerstone leaders graduate from Foundation’s DE Program

Graduates now Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs).

Forty-eight credit union leaders were designated as Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs) after completing the National Credit Union Foundation’s (the Foundation) Credit Union Development Education (DE) Training. Five of those certified are from credit unions in the Cornerstone region.

The September DE Training was held Sept. 11-16 at the Lowell Center in Madison, Wis. and was attended by employees and volunteers from credit unions and system partners across the United States and the globe. From the Cornerstone region, the five graduates are:

• Alicia Dudley, First Family Federal Credit Union in Henryetta, Oklahoma;
• Veronica Evans, Resource One Credit Union in Dallas;
• Amy Rayer, Tarrant County’s Credit Union in Fort Worth, Texas;
• Katie Toon, Resource One Credit Union in Dallas; and
• Monica Williams, University Federal Credit Union in Austin, Texas.

DE Training is a unique experiential training program that provides lessons in credit union structure, purpose and the “why” that differentiates credit unions from other financial institutions. During the Foundation’s signature program, participants are involved in group exercises, field visits, and interactive speaker sessions that provide insights into how credit unions can leverage their unique business model to help their members and communities overcome the financial and developmental issues they face.

“DE was life changing for me, and I have found myself looking differently at the world since graduating,” said Amy Rayer, CUDE, member services manager, Tarrant County’s Credit Union. “I will never forget the amazing people I met through my journey and how they each touched my life. I am reignited and excited to change the world and continue to be a part of the credit union movement.”

Graduates of the September 2019 DE Training stand with training staff inside the World Credit Union Center Campus in Madison.

“DE for me was a life and perspective changing experience.” said Veronica Evans, CCUFC, CUDE, operations trainer, Resource One Credit Union. “It gave me a new love for what I do in the credit union, and I will never do my job the same again. I’ve made new friendships that I know will last a lifetime and a constant network of resources. I’m excited to put to use the great things that I have learned and relearned!”

“DE was a great experience that everyone in the credit union world would benefit from attending,” said Alicia Dudley, branch manager, First Family Federal Credit Union. “It helped me put into perspective why we do what we do and how I can make a bigger impact.”

Training Staff
The program was facilitated by the Chad Helminak, the director of DE and cooperative culture at the Foundation and cofacilitated by Heather McKissick from University Federal Credit Union in Texas. On-site event coordination was done by Maggie Wolff from the Foundation. The class was mentored by a group of six credit union professionals and CUDE alumni: Baboucarr Joof, GTU Co-operative Credit Union LTD in Kenya; Dave Hinchey, Credit Union League of Connecticut in Connecticut; Joanne Todd, Northeast Family Federal Credit Union in Connecticut; Mark Volz, Corporate Central Credit Union in Wisconsin; Mary Beth Spuck, Resource One Credit Union in Texas; and Tobi Weingart, Credit Union National Association in Wisconsin.

Interested in attending DE Training?
Four trainings are scheduled for 2020 all taking place in Madison. Email cude@ncuf.coop to be put on a notification list to stay up to date on upcoming 2020 registration information, or click here for additional information.

More about the DE Program
Since 1982, more than 1,900 credit union advocates from over 35 countries have graduated from DE Training to become Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs). Once they earn their CUDE designation, people return to their jobs with a sense of personal enrichment and renewed energy to share what they have learned. This growing corps of credit union advocates devotes professional and volunteer time to spreading the credit union message to audiences throughout the country. For more information on the DE program, visit www.ncuf.coop.

About the National Credit Union Foundation (ncuf.coop)
The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) is the charitable arm of the U.S credit union movement, serving as a catalyst for change in people’s financial lives. The Foundation works to ignite understanding and focus on member financial health, inspire and create opportunities for credit unions to leverage their cooperative values, and respond quickly when disaster strikes. Through cooperative support and action, the Foundation helps people achieve financial freedom.