PALM DESERT, CA – The Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) continued its 2025 Annual Conference at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort, with a full day of programming, including: award presentations, key insights, and critical conversations shaping the future of credit unions and the greater financial industry.
Today’s agenda opened with one of DCUC’s founding conference traditions, the Patriotic Welcome Ceremony, led by Jack Fallis, DCUC Board Chair, President, PNW & International Markets, Global CU (AK).
Attendees were then energized by an inspiring keynote from Sage Steele—host of The Sage Steele Show and former ESPN SportsCenter anchor. Later, DCUC President/CEO Anthony Hernandez joined Steele on stage after she offered deeper insight into the passions and perspectives shaped by her personal journey and professional experiences.
Hernandez continued the general session by officially presenting Andrews Federal Credit Union (USAG Benelux) with the 2024 Army Credit Union of the Year Service Award. During the afternoon session, Navy Federal Credit Union (Souda Bay) and Topside Federal Credit Union (Potomac, Dahlgren) were also recognized for being selected by the Department of the Navy as the 2024 Navy Distinguished Credit Union of the Year.
Attendees enjoyed hearing from additional guest speakers, Becky Reed, COO of BankSocial, and Alec Crawford, Founder & CEO, Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. Reed discussed the GENIUS Act and stablecoin adoption, urging credit unions to act or risk losing competitive ground, while Crawford addressed the pressing need for compliance and governance in the era of generative AI.
The afternoon also featured an engaging on-stage discussion from Heather McKissick, CEO of CUES, and a special announcement of a new strategic partnership between DCUC and CUES — aimed at expanding leadership development and innovation resources across the credit union industry.
Both McKissick and Hernandez referred to a keyword, collaboration, that centered around the reason for this new partnership.
“The difference between collaboration and cooperation…when you cooperate, you each have separate goals and you work together to achieve those separate goals,” McKissick said to DCUC conference attendees. “But we’re looking forward to collaborating with one another to bring the strength of CUES, in terms of our leadership development events and otherwise, to DCUC, to its members, and also to benefit from the wisdom and the advocacy efforts, and the master class in change that DCUC is going to bring and already brings, to us and our membership.”
A final discussion led by DCUC’s Chief Advocacy Officer, Jason Stverak, provided a prompt update to attendees on recent advocacy efforts and important issues moving across Capitol Hill.
Stverak then moderated a panel discussion with leaders from across the broader financial and payment systems industry, including John Broda, President & CEO, AFFN; Patrick Dwyer, VP, U.S. State Government Affairs, Mastercard; and Soumya Johar, Senior Director, Visa. The panel provided their individual and shared insights on how credit unions can plan, adapt, and excel in the payments revolution.
In addition to the general session presentations, attendees were offered five educational breakouts:
- The Crises of Strategic Thinking in Management, led by Deedee Myers, CEO, and Peter Myers, SVP, of DDJ Myers;
- Charitable Donation Accounts: A Strategic Tool for Community Impact and Brand Differentiation, presented by Andy Roquet, Senior Partner at ECG;
- Maximizing Collateral Recovery: A Blueprint for Credit Unions, provided by Anne Holtzman, SVP of Client Experience and Risk Management at Allied Solutions;
- The 5 Technologies Driving the Credit Union of the Future, presented by James Gukeisen, Leagues & Advocacy Director at Trellance; and
- Using Your Balance Sheet as a Weapon – Maximizing Member Value and Growth, led by Joey Vandergrift, Managing Director – Head of Credit Union Strategy at Piper Sandler.
“Today’s sessions reflected the strength, expertise, and commitment to forward-thinking leadership that makes credit unions so vital to America’s financial services industry,” said Hernandez. “We’re proud to host an event that not only honors our shared mission as financial cooperatives but also delivers timely, actionable insights credit unions can take home to put into practice.
Hernandez continued, adding, “Our goal is for both the general sessions and breakout discussions to spark fresh ideas, close knowledge gaps, and deepen understanding of emerging trends and challenges…and we saw that happening today. We’re excited to continue growing, together, and help our members chart a clearer course toward new opportunities and stronger futures.”
DCUC’s Annual Conference will continue tomorrow with additional speakers, a final set of breakout sessions, and more exciting networking opportunities — check out the full agenda by visiting dcucannual.org. Follow along and join the conversation with the hashtag #DCUC2025, on DCUC’s LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages!