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ACUMA ONpoint
ACUMA ONpoint
Conference Highlights: Content, Peer Collaboration, and Market Trends
Ever wondered what industry leaders are saying about the future of mortgages and economic challenges? Join Peter Benjamin in this lively episode of the ONpoint Podcast as we broadcast live from the 2024 Make Your Mark annual conference in Las Vegas. We sit down with Margaret Greczek, SVP, Head of Mortgage with Polish and Slavic Federal Credit Union, and Matt Baker, Regional Manager with Navy Federal Credit Union. Margaret brings her infectious enthusiasm, sharing thought-provoking insights and the benefits of peer collaboration. At the same time, Matt, a first-time attendee, delves into the collective mission and the strategic preparations for economic hurdles. Their stories highlight the positive vibes and engaging sessions that make this conference a must-attend.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Acuma, its board of directors, its management staff or its members. The podcast discussion presented is conversational in nature and for general information only.
Speaker 2:Hello, welcome back to the Zonpoint Podcast, a series focused on sharing the stories of people who are making a positive impact in the credit union mortgage industry. I'm your host, Peter Benjamin, Live from our 2024 MakerMark annual conference. This is our on-site podcast conference. This is our on-site podcast. Joining me is Margaret Gretczak, SVP, Head of Mortgage with Polish and Slovak Federal Credit Union, and Matt Baker, Regional Manager with Navy Federal Credit Union. Guys, how are you doing?
Speaker 3:We're good, thank you.
Speaker 2:Doing great. Awesome. Thank you for having us. Awesome. I'm so glad. Now, just like all of our in-person on-site podcasts, you know this is meant to get really a pulse check from our attendees. You know their experience. You know favorite parts of the event so far, what they're looking forward to. We're not going away from that. You know, margaret, we're going to start with you. You know we're going to start with you. We're going to go down the line of our normal questions. We're not going to go away from that script, but let's go with the experience so far in Vegas. What do you think so far?
Speaker 3:So far it's great. The topics are wonderful. The speakers are great. They're thought-provoking. I'm really enjoying the conference. As always, this is my fourth the conference. As always. This is my fourth time here and I this is my favorite conference. I always say, if I'm gonna go to one conference a year, this is the conference I'm gonna come to I love it.
Speaker 2:I love it. You know you tell me that every year, um you, you've come to a few. I mean, I've seen you at some Kurens, which I'm happy about. I first met you at a Potomac Kuren and I think you came to our DC. You came to our Gaylord annual conference, right.
Speaker 3:Yes, that was my first one four years ago.
Speaker 2:Right, and did you come to our summit in Arlington?
Speaker 3:No, I did not, but I did come to the workshop in Nashville twice. That's right, that's right.
Speaker 2:Cause you, you're um, you're just you're, you're, you're not in Jersey. Yes, I am in New.
Speaker 3:Jersey, northern New Jersey. We're headquartered out of New York, but our back office is in New Jersey, okay.
Speaker 2:So it's always. It's major focus is always on the East coast, right, okay, okay, I love it, I love it. So I'm glad you're here, I'm glad you're having a good time. All right, matt, to you Now, correct me if I'm wrong. This is your first annual conference. It is?
Speaker 4:my first annual conference. I had my first experience with you guys in Denver for a workshop and I'm really glad to be here and experience Acuma and seeing what you guys deliver Top-notch organization. I was telling Justin, you guys punch well above your weight class and deliver an exceptional experience.
Speaker 2:Okay, good, good, all right. So let's focus on annual. You know, and I appreciate everything you just said, but let's focus on annual. You know what has when you look at the, the, the big picture of annual, and you know the, the sessions, the speakers, even again, when you know we focus on. You know, I hate to say it because you know we are education-focused, we are an education-focused association. And when you look at other associations, larger associations are advocacy-first or education-first first, but our main focus whenever we look at an event, it's always what's the experience our members are going to have. That's our number one priority. What are they going to walk away with? What are they going to feel? So I understand experience. So I understand education is key. But what has been that wow factor for you? What has been that one moment for you?
Speaker 4:I think it's everyone's collective mission of serving their members and right now, with the way the economy is and taking a listen to our speakers with the economic outlook, the presidential impact on the housing market and the economy, everyone is interested in what is next. How can we prepare our organizations to best serve our members?
Speaker 2:okay, I love it, I love it. I. I will say I. I want to echo everything that you just said. You know I I've. Yesterday I walked the exhibit hall and you know we have what, justin, we have what 46 amount exhibit or something right under 50, right under 50, yeah, and one. They're all optimistic and every single one of them was like the vibe in this room is electrifying and every single one of our, our attendees, is walking around with a smile on their face.
Speaker 5:Didn't have anything to do with the electric guitar going.
Speaker 2:Just saying I mean, it was pretty awesome, it was um, but you wouldn't think that it's a tough market out there. I mean it is everyone, everyone's, walking around with good attitudes, willing to talk, willing to collaborate, um, I have yet to see that at other conferences, at other industry events, but it's been good, it's been real good and I really want to echo everything you just said because it's been awesome. So, margaret, same question to you, that one thing, that favorite part of the annual conference so far, what has that really been for you?
Speaker 3:I would say not only this conference, but every conference. It's collaboration with my peers from other credit unions, sharing ideas and information, what works for them, what doesn't work for them, just bouncing off ideas and speakers, speakers and topics about economy. That session was very valuable, I think, to all credit unions so far. Another session that stuck out for me was back to basics prospecting. That was really, really good. So I'm really looking forward to today to see what other sessions I'm going to enjoy.
Speaker 2:Okay, good, good, good, good. So back to basics. What was your favorite session so far? The.
Speaker 4:Economic Outlook. I found really fascinating and also enjoyed connecting with Tony Thompson yesterday, the CEO and founder of Namba. I thought that was really insightful, gave some great insights with data and opportunity to best serve our members in underserved areas. That's an area that we're trying to focus in on and trying to help first-generation homebuyers, first-time homebuyers that's a big part of our market and we want to serve those members. And I think the exposure to different data and the way to look at stuff and the way to partner with industry leaders on how to really get at the heart of the problem with the first-time homebuyers, first-generation homebuyers I think that's been the theme for me the past couple of days is how do we help serve this underserved market?
Speaker 2:Right. So I mean obviously Tony's here, he's speaking on, he's moderating a panel today and I'm assuming that Katrina Jones' session yesterday when she talked about affordable housing and what Fannie is doing, kind of resonated with you a bit, because they're doing fantastic stuff and the data that she showed for me it's a little eye-opening One, I think. Obviously she called it out Credit unions are doing very well, but at but at the same time, you know we can do better. You know, and I know the point of this podcast isn't this episode of the podcast isn't to dive into what. What can credit unions do better to improve home ownership? It's really what's your experience at our annual conference. But I loved her session and I'm looking forward to Tony's, and Tony's is really we'll call it the Tony's session.
Speaker 2:If Katrina Jones's session was, let's dive into the data of affordable housing and what we can do as the industry, what we're doing as an industry as a whole. The session Tony is moderating is actually more strategy because it has two credit unions, two credit union execs in it, um, and then it also has other representatives from our industry uh, someone from mi, someone actually, another representative from fannie mae in there, um, where we were actually going to discuss that. That panel is actually going to discuss true strategy. So I love that you had a great conversation with that, because he, he, he's, he's one of those good eggs in our, our industry and he's a friend of Acuma and you know he's.
Speaker 2:I'm happy that he's here, I'm happy he came early and I'm happy he's he's. He's contributing not just as part of that panel, but also just making his time here more valuable. Cause again, it's about he and I talked yesterday and I was he's like. He asked me he's like why he's like this is an amazing conference, why is this so special? I was like walk around, it's community collaboration. That's all it's about. Everyone shares. It's like that big group hug man. That's all it is Right.
Speaker 3:Absolutely yes, I agree.
Speaker 2:All right, so next question, thing you're looking forward to today. What is that, margaret? We'll go through first.
Speaker 3:More speakers, more content, collaboration. Maybe I'm going to meet some more new people. That's what it's about, you know meeting new faces and collaborating together have you been meeting new people along the way?
Speaker 3:I have. I have met a few more friends, so it's, it's a, it's a really nice circle is growing and it's so nice to come to a conference fourth time and know a lot of people walking down the hallway and you know, saying hi and and just seeing familiar faces and talking to them. It's, it's really great and, like I said, no other conference does that. Akuma does it perfectly. I don't know how it, how it does it, but it does.
Speaker 2:I that was my first experience at Akuma was you go the first time Right and you're kind of like this I don't see you go the first time right and you're kind of like this.
Speaker 2:I don't say you're an outsider, but like you're new right and you know. They kind of you know, they ask you know who are you and how are you doing, and they want to know everything about you. But then the second time you go back, they, they wave, and then the third time it's like then you get the hug, yeah, and it's like they know everything about you. And it's like hey, how are the kids? And it's like whoa, this is different. Yes, right, that's it's awesome.
Speaker 5:I agree 100. We definitely lean in on that community, that family vibe, like people come out to these events and that's that's the one thing they all say is like you know, I was a little nervous at first and then it was just everybody knows everybody. I even shared the same experience that I had with Peter. I was like it's so awesome to come to an event and people know who I am now Because I've been with Acumen now for two years, so I'm not a stranger.
Speaker 2:Finally not a stranger, finally not a stranger. Finally not a stranger, finally not a stranger.
Speaker 4:Peter, I'd like to say one of the one of the best parts of the in-person experience here and we have the breakout sessions and after we've hit the main themes, typically the speakers reserve 10 to 15 minutes at the end for just open dialogue and questions. And people are very forthcoming with sharing best practices and I think the collaboration in the room is exceptional when people can share their challenges and the moderator will say who's got a best practice and there's a couple of hands that go up and they're able to offer their insights and how they've attacked a certain opportunity or an issue. So I love that portion of the events.
Speaker 2:I mean it's I. I love that too. I love that too. It's and it's. It's addicting because it bleeds over, it, bleeds over to it, bleeds over to other sessions right, it will start with. It will start in one session and then, for some strange reason, it just goes into other sessions. Right, it starts in that afternoon. I think that one, you know, for me personally, this afternoon is actually my favorite afternoon of the conference because it's the volume-based roundtables.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm you know, next year, hindsight's, 2020. It always is Um, but next year, I think, you know, we'll probably make those sessions, those times, a little bit longer. That way, you know, we can, we can throw you guys in a room and have you guys talk a little bit longer, like hash it out a little bit longer, because there's nothing better than giving you a round table discussion for an hour and a half or you know two hours, and that's that's a good round table discussion. You know an hour and a half or you know two hours, that's a good round table discussion. You know, an hour is not really long enough. Maybe it is, maybe it is, but I think that's when the energy, and that's when what you're talking about, is really going to hit that 11 on that scale, right. So that's why we come here, that's why people come. It's really for that, that scale Right. So it's that's why we come here.
Speaker 2:That's why, that's why people come. It's really for that session this afternoon which, looking forward to it, and, you know, a little plug for Acuma in the future. You know we're going to start that volume based virtual network next year. So we are going to have, you know, these volumebased networks that we have at annual. We're going to do it virtually on a quarterly basis. So, more and more discussions, we'll just continue whatever we discuss here. We'll just continue that dialogue, which will be fantastic. So, anyways, all right. Last question, guys. Actually, matt, I'm sorry, but the thing that you're really looking forward to today, let's kind of come back to that.
Speaker 4:I think you nailed it. It's the volume-based roundtable. It's that opportunity to hear where we're going in 2025, how we're all attacking lower rates, how we're posturing ourselves to best serve our members and we are seeing the return of refi right now and we're still in a challenging purchase market, as we talked about yesterday with our economist, but really excited about what 2025 has and as the data had said, we're expecting a 28% return in volume and that almost mirrors exactly what we're expecting in my organization.
Speaker 2:Okay, I love it. I love it All right. Well, last question, and it's really I don't want to call it a plug for Acuma, but it's really that plug for Acuma. But if there was one reason, or if you could say, if there was one reason why, if you could tell someone who's not here why they really should be here, what would that reason be? Why should that one person really be here? That's not here. Margaret, we'll start with you.
Speaker 3:I will do two reasons. If that's okay, Please do Okay. Content the content is absolutely amazing the way the speakers are picked and even positioned from one day to another. And collaboration, Collaboration, collaboration, collaboration, collaboration, again collaboration. That is huge at Acuma and people that do not attend this event don't realize what kind of collaboration goes on here and the benefits you get from them. So, like I said, content and collaboration two reasons.
Speaker 2:I love it, absolutely. Love that answer, matt.
Speaker 4:I agree with the collaboration, but I'll take it another step. It's the people. There are exceptional people here that want to make genuine connections. They want to help each other have a successful organization. They want to help each other have a successful career. The partnerships I feel are real and we have a common goal in serving our members. So this has been an exceptional opportunity to bring together credit union industry leaders and partners as we collaborate and tackle tough challenges together.
Speaker 2:Okay, I truly do appreciate that. Well, guys, I know your time is valuable and here we are kind of pushing you upon breakfast and I know your time is is valuable and you know we're here, we are kind of pushing you upon breakfast and I know you, I know you guys want to eat, so I will release you to go eat breakfast. Guys, Thanks for being here. Thanks for joining us on the podcast. Yes, Thank you, but really enjoyed our conversation and so we'll just close out Again. I'll just close out the podcast. Thank you for tuning into the latest episode of the Acuma On Point podcast. We know your time is valuable. We hope you'd enjoyed it. Until next time, be well, my friends.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening. We'll see you next time at the Acuma On Point podcast. If not already, be sure to subscribe and give us a five-star rating For more great episodes and information. Be sure to visit us online at acumaorg and to get the latest updates. Head over to our LinkedIn page.
