You run a credit union. You have a stack of questions about executive compensation, emerging tech, and where your growth strategy goes next, and nobody in your usual orbit has quite the right answers.
Now suppose you spend two days in New York with peers and industry experts who do. That was the idea behind the Defense Credit Union Councils Credit Union Financial Forum, held October 19–20.
The invitation-only event was presented with Advisors Equity Group (AEG) as part of DCUC’s CU Collaborations initiative. Its goal is to turn DCUC membership into something practical: stronger institutions and better service for members.
Day one: the closing bell and a former regulator
The October 19 program started with a VIP tour of the New York Stock Exchange floor and the closing bell, so attendees saw a major market at work up close. The Hon. Rodney Hood, former Chairman of the National Credit Union Administration and former Acting Comptroller of the Currency, then led a presentation and discussion. The day ended with a fireside chat with Hood and a dinner hosted by AEG.
Day two: inside Morgan Stanley
On October 20, the group moved to Morgan Stanley’s worldwide headquarters. Anthony Hernandez, DCUC President/CEO and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, opened with remarks alongside Michael T. Rossi, AEG President and Co-Founder. The sessions covered:
- Annexus experts: their views on innovation, strategic growth, capital markets, and index solutions.
- Michael Rossi: alternative approaches to executive compensation and charitable donation accounts.
- Farouk Jivani, CEO of Zeroe: how ready organizations are for emerging technology.
- Luncheon hosted by Morgan Stanley: more time for attendees to keep talking.
Why small and focused works
Hernandez said the CU Collaborations series is meant to make membership more useful by pairing leaders with peers and experts. “These focused conversations help leaders work through challenges, explore new opportunities, and return home with an idea worth pursuing and a relationship they can call on,” he said.
Smaller gatherings leave room for detailed questions and honest comparisons of experience. Leaders can test whether a product or approach would fit their own institution. Industry partners, meanwhile, get a clearer picture of what credit unions need to serve members well.
Jim Hayes, President/CEO of State Department Federal Credit Union, said DCUC pushes for “new ideas and candid discussions, rather than rehashing old ideas.” He added, “DCUC understands the value of those conversations and takes the initiative to make them happen. That is a meaningful benefit of membership and an important investment in the strength of our movement.”
Peter Rice, President/CEO of Hanscom Federal Credit Union, called the NYSE visit a memorable highlight but said the connections gave the event its lasting value. “DCUC is showing leadership by creating settings where we can challenge our thinking, share ideas, and consider how new approaches could improve the member experience,” he said. In his view, those relationships strengthen individual credit unions and keep the whole movement moving forward.
What comes next
The New York forum is part of DCUC’s wider push for peer learning and partnerships. Through CU Collaborations, member institutions get access to the expertise of industry system partners, and the conversations are meant to continue long after an event ends.
“Credit unions have always been strongest when we help one another succeed,” Hernandez said. “When a conversation leads to a better service, a new partnership, or a different way to solve a problem, it strengthens both the institution and the people it serves.”
If you lead a DCUC member credit union, that’s the practical payoff: a seat at small-room conversations, a few new contacts to call, and maybe one idea you can take back and put to work for your members.