What if industry leaders could gather somewhere without suffering through another three-hour PowerPoint presentation?
40 Groups, Inc. is betting that credit union executives are desperate for exactly that.
The invitation-only network just wrapped up a landmark week in Denver, hosting its first-ever CFO 40 Group and Chair 40 Group retreat-style meetings, plus the fourth gathering of its CEO 40 Group. And before you roll your eyes at yet another “exclusive” industry event, here’s what makes this different.
Small Groups, Big Conversations
Think less conference center cattle call, more think-tank intimacy. 40 Groups deliberately keeps things small—a limited number of CEOs, CFOs, and Board Chairs who’ve been peer-referred get two-day retreats designed to cut through the noise. No vendor pitches disguised as sessions. No keynotes that are basically sales demos. Just actual strategic dialogue, real benchmarking, and the kind of candid conversations that never happen when 500 people are watching.
“Credit union leaders are navigating one of the fastest-changing environments in decades,” said Dennis Sullivan, Founder and CEO of 40 Groups, Inc. “Bringing together leading executives and board chairs ensures 40 Group members get the practical insights, strategic foresight, and candid conversations they can’t find anywhere else. These meetings are designed to challenge thinking, expand perspectives, and strengthen the kind of peer relationships that truly move organizations forward.”
What Actually Happens at These Things
The Denver gatherings kicked off with keynotes from Marcus Collins, Ph.D. (best-selling author who knows a thing or two about culture and branding) and Yelena Shulyatyeva, a Senior US Economist for The Conference Board Economy, Strategy & Finance Center. They tackled everything from current economic headwinds to why culture isn’t just HR’s problem.
But here’s the key: most of each meeting is peer-driven. Members identify the topics that actually keep them up at night, then dig into them together. You know, like adults solving problems instead of passively absorbing someone else’s agenda.
Building Networks That Last Beyond the Name Tags
Each group meets regularly over 12 months, and members are encouraged to keep the conversation going between sessions. The goal is creating a trusted network of credit union leaders genuinely committed to innovation and performance—not just collecting business cards and forgetting names by Tuesday.
The model keeps sponsors deliberately limited (currently ECG, Nymbus, OptimaFI, and SRM), which helps maintain that focus on substance over selling.
Credit union leaders curious about joining can learn more or request an invitation at 40groups.com/contact. Just remember: this one’s peer-referred and invitation-only, so you’ll need more than a registration fee to get in the door.