CUES Symposium

Symposium Welcome Reception

4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Breakfast Buffet

7:00 – 8:00 a.m.

Welcome to Symposium

8:00 – 8:15 a.m.

General Session

8:15 – 9:45 a.m. 

Stop and Shift: The Mindset Reset that Changes Everything
Karen Allen, Keynote Speaker, Author & Coach

We all know that life is full of ups and downs. And not only is it hard to stay positive when the pressures of work and life are so demanding, it's easy to get caught up in negative thoughts and emotions that swirl around in our minds. This can lead to poor decision-making and a general feeling of being out of control. What if you could train your brain to respond thoughtfully with care? Spoiler alert: you can. Stress and setbacks make it tough to keep your head in the game. When the pressure is on, you need a go-to tool that can help you rise to all of life’s challenges. Stop & Shift is that tool. This mental training technique provides a new map for your mind so that you can make decisions from a place of strength instead of stress. Participants will learn how to:

• Build resilience and use hardships as launching pads for growth. 
• Create space from negative thoughts and emotions so they can approach challenges with confidence and make productive decisions from a place of composure and clarity. 
• Cultivate joy, inner peace, grit, and other mindful behaviors to prevent burnout.
   

Networking Break

9:45 – 10:00 a.m.

General Session

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

How to Lead Yourself and Your Credit Union Teams Through Crisis, Challenge, and Change
Mary Kelly, Economist, Speaker & Author

In today's dynamic and rapidly evolving financial landscape, credit union leaders face various challenges, crises, and constant change. Navigating through such tumultuous times requires strong leadership skills, adaptability, and the ability to inspire and guide teams. This session is designed specifically for credit union leaders who want to enhance their leadership effectiveness and thrive in adversity. Key Objectives: 

• Understanding the 6 stages of a crisis: Explore the nature of crises in the financial industry and their impact on credit unions. Learn how to identify early warning signs and develop strategies to mitigate potential risks.
• Effective leadership in challenging times: Discover the essential leadership qualities and skills necessary to inspire and motivate your teams during times of crisis and challenge. Gain insights into decision-making under pressure, fostering a culture of resilience, and maintaining employee morale.
• Embracing change and Innovation: Explore the importance of adaptability and agility in navigating change. Foster a culture of innovation within your credit union and embrace new technologies and trends in the industry.
• Communicating with impact: Effective communication is crucial in times of crisis and change. Discover specific strategies using Mary’s 5-Minute Solutions, to deliver clear, transparent, and empathetic messages to your teams, other stakeholders, and members. Learn how to manage internal and external communication channels even more effectively.
• Developing resilience and empathy: Leading through crises can affect leaders' well-being. Learn strategies to enhance personal resilience, manage stress, and understand those around you. 
   

Lunch                
On your own

Optional Events

Funky Nassau 4-hour sightseeing tour 
12:45 – 5:00 p.m. 
$275/person

Take a deep dive into Nassau's culture and culinary scene on this half-day tour in custom-built jeep. The tour starts with lunch at a local restaurant to taste some local delicacies and learn about the islands' cuisine. Listen to insightful commentary as you travel between some of the island's top highlights, including the Junkanoo experience, Fort Charlotte, the Queen's Staircase, the Nassau Caves, and more. Guide provides engaging narration as you travel! All aboard the Funky Nassau Tour! 
 

Catamaran Sail & Snorkel 
12:45 – 5:00 p.m. 
$295/person

Experience the ocean from above, and below! 

The only sounds you’ll hear as you glide swiftly over the ocean on this sailing catamaran ship are the splash of waves against the twin hulls and the thrum of the wind filling the sails. Set sail from Nassau’s historic harbor then relax as the experienced crew pilots you across turquoise seas.  

Your destination? One of the most beautiful coral reefs in The Bahamas. Here, you’ll spend a mesmerizing time exploring this enchanting underwater world. Then it’s back to the boat for a final, relaxing sail back to Nassau. 

Breakfast Buffet

7:00 – 8:00 a.m.

Breakout Sessions

8:00 – 9:30 a.m. 

The Chronicles of Credit Union Transformation
Steve Williams, President & Partner, Cornerstone Advisors

Credit unions have achieved remarkable growth in the past decade and progressive credit unions are deep into transformation efforts to drive in a world where digital intelligence is progressing to rival human intelligence. In this session, Cornerstone’s Steve Williams will bring leaders a first-hand report from the trenches of credit union transformation. Williams will share real-world case studies and key insights of organizations innovating with digital experience, payments, lending, business services, AI, financial wellness, and next-generation talent management. Williams will also share how credit unions are evolving to achieve speed, scale, integrated risk management, and real-time stakeholder engagement in their organizations. There are amazing stories of change and growth occurring in the credit union industry. Join us to share in these chronicles. 

Leading Strategic Change: Optimizing Board/Mgt Performance
Jim Austin, President, JH Austin Associates, Inc., Faculty Consultant, Wharton and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Brown

Traditional strategic planning too often results in incremental change focused more on next year’s budget than on creative growth and sustainable development. Leadership teams struggle to “paint with two brushes”: building flexibility to respond to changing environments, while maintaining current operations. 

To transcend existing systems and achieve their organization’s unique vision, Credit Union leaders must embrace uncertainty and incorporate agility into their long-term planning. They must prepare for a range of potential futures—while maintaining current operations—because agility and adaptability are what will define future success. Developed through client engagements at leading Credit Unions as well as major companies such as Boston Scientific, HP, Pfizer and JP Morgan Chase, this session explores identifying profitable segments for growth (where to play) and ways to compete in those segments (how to win).  These are the critical questions to answer in developing a robust, flexible strategy.  The problem is, as Richard Rumelt explains (Good Strategy, Bad Strategy), most strategic plans stop at the broad goal level and never yield sufficient granularity to drive “sustainable competitive advantage” (Michael Porter).

In this session, attendees will be challenged to develop an “options” approach to strategy, especially for longer-term, more speculative efforts, thereby identifying winning strategies no matter how the future evolves.  

Step Up and Disrupt: Trust Your Gut, Take a Risk, and Change the World
Patrick Leddin, Keynote Speaker, Author, Consultant & Associate Professor, Vanderbilt University

Innovation is often met with resistance. The ‘that won’t work here’, 
‘I’m not the right person to do it’, and ‘that’s how we have always done it’ mindsets are alive and well in many individuals and organizations. Disruption means moving from doing it the way you’ve always done it, taking advantage of the opportunities available, and moving closer to the cutting edge. Messing up the status quo might feel uncomfortable and risky, but as Helen Keller said, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." In his session, Dr. Patrick Leddin will challenge you to think and act in new ways. He will share real life examples of disruptive leaders who trust their gut, blaze a new path, walk to the beat of their own drum, and bring out the best in others. These are people who have found what they love to do in their work and life and choose every day to make a difference. Leaders will learn how to: 

• Assess gaps in their mindset, actions, and results through the lens of disruption. 
• See opportunities for disruption in their world, within their team, and with their members for greater success. 
• Commit to carving out their own disruptive path and be better prepared to help others to do the same. 
• Use a new disruptive framework including 4 disruptive areas (Self, Others, Opportunities, Execution), 8 disruptive mindsets and 16 disruptive actions driving innovation in their organization.
   

Networking Break

9:30 – 9:45 a.m.

Breakout Sessions Continue

9:45 – 11:00 a.m.

Travel Time 

11:00 – 11:05 a.m.  

Bonus Sessions

11:05 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

CEO Roundtable
Kenneth Beck, CEO, CEO Connection

CEOs—what’s keeping you up at night? Join your colleagues and facilitator Kenneth Beck for a free-flowing interactive discussion about enlightened self-interest and connections, two key drivers of success for every CEO. More importantly, we’ll delve into your most pressing issues, and work though them together.

Board Chair Roundtable
Steve Williams, President & Partner, Cornerstone Advisors

Board chairs—gather with your fellow directors for open dialogue covering your top concerns and challenges with facilitator Steve Williams. This interactive session will address key issues facing board chairs, and best approaches moving forward.

How to Empower Your Credit Union in Today’s Dynamic World of FinTech
Brian Bodell, VP/FinTech Solutions, TruStage

As the number of fintechs continue to rise, credit unions are tasked with offering exceptional digital experiences that offer speed, mobility, and ease of use for their members. To achieve this, credit unions must develop product roadmaps that integrate the appropriate financial technology solutions. In this session, you will learn how TruStage shapes its technology strategy and governs its fintechs to better serve credit unions and their members by applying the appropriate level of data, due diligence, and architecture.
 

Lunch

On your own

Optional Events

Graycliff Luncheon 
12:30 – 4:30 p.m. 
$245 per person

Graycliff makes wine lovers' dream come true...Graycliff Restaurant, one of the Caribbean’s first Five-Star restaurants is putting on a show for you that is indeed a wine lover’s dream! 

The elegant Graycliff Restaurant, located in the heart of Nassau in a beautiful, historic, colonial mansion with lush tropical gardens, has held its place with the top dining establishments in the region, serving delicious Continental cuisine with touches of Bahamian flavors for nearly three decades. Graycliff’s Wine Luncheon guests are welcomed with a glass of champagne and led by Graycliff’s Master Sommeliers for a tasting and a tour of the restaurant’s acclaimed cigar factory and wine collection, which has very few rivals in the region.  The cellar houses some fine and rare wines, with over 250,000 bottles from over 400 vintners in 15 countries, acquired over decades by Enrico Garzaroli, the establishment’s Chairman and CEO.  He is passionate about the quality of the wines he seeks out and carefully adds to his collection, which is among the largest private collections in the world, receiving the prestigious Wine Spectator Grand Award since 1988. 
 

CUES Symposium Golf Tournament 
Royal Blue Golf Course 
1:00 p.m. Shotgun start 
$425 per person

Join us for a one-day golf tournament on the Royal Blue Golf Course. Balancing classic golf style with advanced golf course design, Royal Blue at Baha Mar is a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course with rolling fairways, moonscapes, native landscapes, and striking views from every green and fairway. The par-72, 18-hole golf course features dramatic vistas of the turquoise ocean on the front nine and forested panoramas on the second half. Registration fee of $425 includes golf, transportation, cart rental, lunch, prizes, and refreshments. Club rentals are available for $85.

Breakfast Buffet

7:00 – 8:00 a.m.

Breakout Sessions

8:00 – 9:30 a.m.

The Chronicles of Credit Union Transformation
Steve Williams, President & Partner, Cornerstone Advisors

Leading Strategic Change: Optimizing Board/Mgt Performance
Jim Austin, President, JH Austin Associates, Inc., Faculty Consultant, Wharton and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Brown

Step Up and Disrupt: Trust Your Gut, Take a Risk, and Change the World
Patrick Leddin, Keynote Speaker, Author, Consultant & Associate Professor, Vanderbilt University
 

Networking Break

9:30 – 9:45 a.m.

Breakout Sessions Continue

9:45 – 11:00 a.m.

Travel Time 

11:00 – 11:05 a.m.  

Bonus Sessions

11:05 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

CEO Roundtable
Kenneth Beck, CEO, CEO Connection

CEOs—what’s keeping you up at night? Join your colleagues and facilitator Kenneth Beck for a free-flowing interactive discussion about enlightened self-interest and connections, two key drivers of success for every CEO. More importantly, we’ll delve into your most pressing issues, and work though them together.

Board Chair Roundtable
Steve Williams, President & Partner, Cornerstone Advisors

Board chairs—gather with your fellow directors for open dialogue covering your top concerns and challenges with facilitator Steve Williams. This interactive session will address key issues facing board chairs, and best approaches moving forward.

The Future of Banking for Generation Z: What They Want and What They Really Need
Virginia Heyburn, Director of Research, Insights and Advocacy, Engage fi 

Constantly connected and experience-obsessed, Generation Z represents the largest pool of members that credit unions will serve over the next decade. There is no time to waste: credit unions must take strong and rapid action to know and serve younger members–or someone else will. A sizable percentage of Gen Z cohorts are already choosing alternative financial services offerings that align with their non-negotiable preferences for frictionless, fast service. But giving Gen Z members what they WANT will not be enough to attract, retain and grow relationships over time. Whoever gets it right with Gen Z will give them what they NEED. Goal-oriented and financially concerned, Generation Z will depend on credit unions to help them navigate the treacherous financial waters of student loan debt and the rising cost of home ownership amid wage stagnation and inflation. This session will discuss ways Credit Unions can shape authentic and educational experiences that predict need and pave the way to financial well-being–something traditional credit unions are ideally suited for.

Lunch

On your own

Optional Events

Funky Nassau 4-hour sightseeing tour 
12:45 – 5:00 p.m. 
$275/person

Take a deep dive into Nassau's culture and culinary scene on this half-day tour in custom-built jeep. The tour starts with lunch at a local restaurant to taste some local delicacies and learn about the islands' cuisine. Listen to insightful commentary as you travel between some of the island's top highlights, including the Junkanoo experience, Fort Charlotte, the Queen's Staircase, the Nassau Caves, and more. Guide provides engaging narration as you travel! All aboard the Funky Nassau Tour! 

Closing Reception

5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Breakfast Buffet

7:00 – 8:00 a.m.

Breakout Sessions

8:00 – 9:30 a.m.

The Chronicles of Credit Union Transformation
Steve Williams, President & Partner, Cornerstone Advisors

Leading Strategic Change: Optimizing Board/Mgt Performance
Jim Austin, President, JH Austin Associates, Inc., Faculty Consultant, Wharton and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Brown

Step Up and Disrupt: Trust Your Gut, Take a Risk, and Change the World
Patrick Leddin, Keynote Speaker, Author, Consultant & Associate Professor, Vanderbilt University
 

Networking Break

9:30 – 9:45 a.m.

Breakout Sessions Continue

9:45 – 11:00 a.m.

CUES Symposium Concludes

11:00 a.m.

The closest airport to the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is Lynden Pindling International airport (NAS), located approximately 10 minutes from the hotel.

CUES has negotiated a discount when you book with Enterprise and National for this meeting. You can take advantage of our discounted rates by booking online using the below links. Be sure to reference account number OSMB44A when making all reservations.
 
Enterprise Reservations | National Reservations

We also invite you to enroll in the Emerald Club loyalty program. As an Emerald Club member, you can bypass the counter and choose your own vehicle, earn free rental days, receive arrival & return alerts, receive e-receipts, and maximize benefits while still enjoying our CUES corporate discount. Click here to enroll in Emerald Club (Emerald Club benefits applicable to both Enterprise & National reservations).  

The Companion Meal Plan Only is available for guests at $425. This includes breakfast Monday through Thursday. All guests are welcome to join your registrant for the opening reception.  

Monday, January 29 & Wednesday, January 31 

The Monday tour is currently sold out. If you wish to be added to the waitlist, please email events@cues.org.

Funky Nassau 4-hour sightseeing tour 
12:45 – 5:00 p.m. 
$275/person

Take a deep dive into Nassau's culture and culinary scene on this half-day tour in custom-built jeep. The tour starts with lunch at a local restaurant to taste some local delicacies and learn about the islands' cuisine. Listen to insightful commentary as you travel between some of the island's top highlights, including the Junkanoo experience, Fort Charlotte, the Queen's Staircase, the Nassau Caves, and more. Guide provides engaging narration as you travel! All aboard the Funky Nassau Tour! 
 

Monday, January 29  

Catamaran Sail & Snorkel 
12:45 – 5:00 p.m. 
$295/person

**Please note: The dock at the event is not accessible by wheelchairs.  

Experience the ocean from above, and below! 

The only sounds you’ll hear as you glide swiftly over the ocean on this sailing catamaran ship are the splash of waves against the twin hulls and the thrum of the wind filling the sails. Set sail from Nassau’s historic harbor then relax as the experienced crew pilots you across turquoise seas.  

Your destination? One of the most beautiful coral reefs in The Bahamas. Here, you’ll spend a mesmerizing time exploring this enchanting underwater world. Then it’s back to the boat for a final, relaxing sail back to Nassau. 
 

Tuesday, January 30 

Graycliff Luncheon 
12:30 – 4:30 p.m. 
$245 per person

**Please note: This location has many stairs to and throughout the building and is not accessible by wheelchair. 

Graycliff makes wine lovers' dream come true...Graycliff Restaurant, one of the Caribbean’s first Five-Star restaurants is putting on a show for you that is indeed a wine lover’s dream! 

The elegant Graycliff Restaurant, located in the heart of Nassau in a beautiful, historic, colonial mansion with lush tropical gardens, has held its place with the top dining establishments in the region, serving delicious Continental cuisine with touches of Bahamian flavors for nearly three decades. Graycliff’s Wine Luncheon guests are welcomed with a glass of champagne and led by Graycliff’s Master Sommeliers for a tasting and a tour of the restaurant’s acclaimed cigar factory and wine collection, which has very few rivals in the region.  The cellar houses some fine and rare wines, with over 250,000 bottles from over 400 vintners in 15 countries, acquired over decades by Enrico Garzaroli, the establishment’s Chairman and CEO.  He is passionate about the quality of the wines he seeks out and carefully adds to his collection, which is among the largest private collections in the world, receiving the prestigious Wine Spectator Grand Award since 1988. 

The following is featured in the Graycliff Wine Pairing Luncheon: 

• A complimentary glass of champagne upon arrival to the tour 
• Tours of Graycliff’s world-renowned wine cellar and cigar factory.  
• A 3-course lunch along with complementary wine selected by the chef
  
   

Tuesday, January 30 

CUES Symposium Golf Tournament 

Royal Blue Golf Course
1:00 p.m. Shotgun start 
$425 per person

Join us for a one-day golf tournament on the Royal Blue Golf Course. Balancing classic golf style with advanced golf course design, Royal Blue at Baha Mar is a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course with rolling fairways, moonscapes, native landscapes, and striking views from every green and fairway. The par-72, 18-hole golf course features dramatic vistas of the turquoise ocean on the front nine and forested panoramas on the second half. Registration fee of $425 includes golf, transportation, cart rental, lunch, prizes, and refreshments. Club rentals are available for $85.

Your registration includes:

• All educational sessions and all their materials
• A welcome reception on Sunday for attendees and their guest
• Breakfast and refreshment breaks on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

You can find your information sheet here soon! It will contain everything you need to know about attend this event, including:

• Where to stay
• What airport to fly into, and other transportation information
• When to arrive
• What to pack
• Spouse/guest information, if applicable

ALL CANCELLATIONS MUST BE IN WRITING. (cues@cues.org)

• Prior to 60 days – full refund
• 31-60 days before start of event – 50% refund
• 0-30 days before start of event – no refunds or credits for future events given 

Due to financial obligations incurred by CUES, no refunds or credits will be issued on cancellation requests less than 30 days prior to the start of the event. Substitute attendees are welcome, subject to eligibility. 
 
CUES reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the event due to unforeseen circumstances, and will refund fees if the event is rescheduled or location is changed and you are unable to attend.

Yes! This conference meets the following standards:

• CPE credits earned: up to 16
• Program Level: Overview
• Delivery Method: Group-Live
• Advanced Preparation: No advance preparation is required
• Prerequisites: Not required for this program

CUES is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, through its website linked above.

CUES Symposium is for CEO and board chair pairs; your team must attend this event together, so be sure to register them at the same time.

Your vice chair may attend CUES Symposium with the CEO and board chair for succession planning purposes, or if the board chair is unable to attend.

The comfort and well-being of our attendees is of utmost importance to us; we will make every effort to make sure you are comfortable at our events!

Please email events@cues.org as soon as you know you’re attending a CUES event. Be sure to include your name, credit union, the CUES event you are registered for, and everything we need to know to accommodate your request.

We’ll be in touch with any questions we have, and let you know how we can help.

Plan on resort casual attire. We suggest you bring a sweater or jacket along in case you find the meeting room temperature chilly.

Your companion is welcome to join you at the Welcome Reception, as well as register for any of our optional activities. A companion meal program is also available, which includes breakfast Monday through Thursday for $425. See our Travel/Lodging tab for full details.