The Cornerstone League Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with three inspiring founders of the Credit Union Women's Leadership Alliance (CUWLA) to explore the origins of this game-changing organization. CUWLA was created to support and uplift female CEOs of small credit unions, providing them with the resources, community, and advocacy they need to thrive.Our guests, Tammy Passafiume, Lily Newfarmer, and Maria Martinez share the challenges they faced as leaders in the industry, how CUWLA is shaping the future of credit unions, and the advice they wish they could have given their younger selves. Whether you're a credit union professional, an aspiring leader, or someone passionate about empowering women in credit unions, this conversation is full of insights and inspiration.Tune in for a powerful discussion on leadership, resilience, and the impact of a strong support network.

In this episode of The Cornerstone League Podcast, Energy Capital Credit Union CFO and 2024 Cornerstone Young Professional of the Year Award Winner Corey Cunningham shares the story of his career trajectory. He underscores the importance of community involvement, continuous learning, and cultivating relationships. 

Cornerstone's 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award Winner and Wellby Financial Board Chair Deborah Conder discusses what it means to be a credit union champion; shares about her long career with Johnson Space Center and Wellby; and shares advice for those seeking to serve on a board. 

In this episode of The Cornerstone League Podcast, Sean Cahill, president/CEO of TrueSky Federal Credit Union, and Laura Eblen, VP of member engagement and government affairs at Mazuma Credit Union, discuss the importance of developing relationships with credit unions across the world, and how credit unions can celebrate International Credit Union Day. Key topics covered: - Differences and similarities in how credit unions across the world operate compared to American credit unions- Advice for credit unions seeking to engage with international credit unions - Credit union trends - How credit unions differ from banks

Hear from Michelle Wood of Mazuma Credit Union, Colisha Lewis of Tinker Federal Credit Union, and Vicki Plank of Meritrust Credit Union, who share their insights on the impact and influence of women in the workplace. Hosted by Tanya Dittberner and Ericka Calvillo, the credit union industry leaders reflect on women who have influenced their lives and careers, and more. 

Michigan State University Federal Credit Union and Reseda Group President/CEO April Clobes shares Reseda Group's origin story and insights on the importance of garnering board support when launching a new CUSO.  She also discusses how MSUFCU and Reseda Group leverage data to gauge members' interest in emerging technologies, and advice to credit union leaders interested in launching a CUSO. As credit unions are seeking alternative revenue streams, Clobes' insights lay the groundwork for best practices when launching a new endeavor.  

Cornerstone League advocacy staff April Krause and Morgan Householder discuss UNITE, a new Cornerstone League advocacy initiative. 

Cornerstone Foundation Executive Director Courtney Moran provides an overview of the Foundation's newest program, Friends of the Foundation. 

Neighborhood Credit Union SVP of Marketing and Community Impact Jessie Swendig discusses interchange, the 2023 Credit Card Competition Act, and the importance of engaging in advocacy efforts.

Mike McGinnis, SVP and chief investment officer of Catalyst Corporate Credit Union, shares his insights on the recent banking failures, the economic cycle, interest-rate risk, and what credit unions can do to manage liquidity. 

Lone Star Credit Union CEO Becky Reed and Bank Social CEO John Wingate tell the story of how their partnership enabled the Dallas-based small credit union to offer cryptocurrency services to members. Learn how credit unions can lean into distributed ledger technology (DLT), how members have reacted to Lone Star's crypto offering, and why credit union leaders shouldn't ignore digital assets and DLT. 

Cornerstone League and Heartland Credit Union Association members have voted in favor of a merger, paving the way for the organizations' consolidation by Dec. 31. Cornerstone League President/CEO Caroline Willard shares background information on how the merger process was started, the benefits of the consolidation, members' frequently asked questions, and her vision for 2023. 

Author and podcaster Ryan Hawk discusses the components of a "learning leader," the power of books, and how he went from a corporate sales executive to published author, top podcaster, and sought-after speaker. 

In honor of Financial Literacy Month, The Cornerstone League Podcast features Snigglezoo Founder and "Chief Mammal" John Lanza, and GreenPath Business Development Specialist Andrew Manthei who share their definitions of financial literacy and what credit unions can do to help promote financial well-being for all. 

Cornerstone League President and CEO Caroline Willard and Allegiance Credit Union SVP and Chief Marketing Officer Christin Vaughn share their thoughts on central issues women face in the workplace today, women who have inspired them, and advice they would give themselves at the beginning of their careers. 

Credit union leaders Cynthia Campbell and Maria Martinez share their perspectives on central issues women face in the workplace today, women who have inspired them, and what others can do to be allies to women in the workplace. This is the first part of a two-part, special Women's History Month series. 

Cornerstone Resources Executive Search and Professional Recruiting Vice President Marcus Cotton speaks with host Tanya Dittberner about what credit union leaders can do to attract top talent to their credit unions, what candidates are looking for in a role, and the benefits of hiring raw talent. 

In this episode of The Cornerstone League Podcast, we cover talent acquisition, retention, and overall workplace culture at credit unions. Cornerstone League Director of Culture and Talent Management Brooke Stone talks with host Tanya Dittberner about best practices in today's war for talent, specifically when it comes to enhancing your credit union's culture, employing strategies such as succession planning and creating universal roles, and eliminating single points of failure. 

Credit Union Awareness LLC Executive Director Chris Lorence discusses the evolution of the credit union awareness campaign since its inception and what to expect in 2022.  

In Episode 3 of The Cornerstone League Podcast, Cornerstone League Associate Regulatory and Compliance Counsel Nathan Behncke outlines the basics of cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance. He also describes credit union use cases for cryptocurrency and what credit unions can do to prepare for the mainstreaming of cryptocurrency.  

In the second episode of The Cornerstone League Podcast, we honor Cybersecurity Awareness Month by speaking with Cornerstone Resources VP of Information Security and Risk Management Consulting Idrees Rafiq, Jr. about ways credit unions can #BeCyberSmart not just this month, but year round. We also talk with Cornerstone Foundation Executive Director Courtney Moran, who tells us the ways in which the Foundation supports this year's International Credit Union Day theme: building financial health for a brighter tomorrow. 

In this inaugural episode of The Cornerstone League Podcast, President/CEO Caroline Willard and Executive Vice President/Chief Advocacy Officer Jim Phelps share stories of Cornerstone League members' resilience during the pandemic and Cornerstone's 2021 advocacy wins.