ACUMA ONpoint
ACUMA ONpoint
Networking, Knowledge, and New Perspectives: First-Time Attendees at ACUMA's Make Your Mark Conference
Ever wonder what it's like to step into a room of 600 mortgage professionals who feel more like coworkers than competitors? The unique collaborative spirit of credit unions takes center stage in this episode recorded live from ACUMA's Make Your Mark Conference in Denver.
We sit down with two first-time attendees who offer refreshingly candid perspectives on joining the ACUMA community. Kellie Drew, a 34-year credit union veteran from Massachusetts (who's "wicked excited" to be there), reveals how quickly her networking anxiety dissolved in the welcoming environment. Meanwhile, Katie Wilson, who's spent her entire 16-year career at Greater Iowa Credit Union, explains why MI companies consistently recommend this particular conference above all others.
What emerges is a fascinating look at how credit union professionals approach growth differently. Rather than guarding knowledge as a competitive advantage, they actively seek forums to share expertise on everything from ITIN lending practices to navigating regulatory challenges. The conversation highlights ACUMA's deliberate approach to connecting newcomers through first-timer sessions, roundtable discussions, and ongoing virtual networks that extend relationships far beyond the conference itself.
Whether you're considering attending an industry event, looking to expand your professional network, or simply curious about the collaborative culture that sets credit unions apart, this episode offers valuable insights into how collective wisdom strengthens the entire movement. Listen now to discover why, as Kellie puts it, "credit union people are fun" and how these connections translate to better service for members nationwide.
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:This is ACUMA's On Point Podcast. On today's episode, we sit down with two newcomers for our Make your Mark annual conference. And yes, that is right, we are here, live in Denver, for the annual conference. This is going to be awesome, so let's get started. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, hello and welcome to Ackman's On Point 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, joining me today. I have two amazing guests and, of course, justin. First up, I have Kelly Drew, director of Consumer Lending with Central One Federal Credit Union. Kelly, how are you doing?
Speaker 3:I'm good, thank you, how are you?
Speaker 2:Good. Also joining her is Katie Wilson, Mortgage Operations Manager with Greater Iowa Credit Union. Katie, how are you doing?
Speaker 4:Doing good.
Speaker 2:Okay, love it, love it All right. So before we get started, I really want to sit down and figure out, you know, get your thoughts on, you know the next few days, you know what kind of drove you to register for the event. You also attended the first time session, first timer session. So I want to kind of talk to you about that kind of get your feedback on it. But before we get to it, as always got to bring justin in, give it the latest, greatest happening over at akuma justin, wow sorry, no, no, it's sorry the hawk.
Speaker 2:The hawk, that was different. All right, sorry, man, I'm all. I'm all shoveled and running around, man, I'm all I'm all disheveled running around.
Speaker 5:Well, the hawk has now left the building. No, they flew the nest. Flew the nest, there we go. So things that we have going on over here at Acumen I mean we're at annual, so like this is amazing Coming up. In the very near term. We have the servicing network Q4 meeting and then we'll have the marketing network Q4 meeting, and those are happening next month month, so be on the lookout for some updates coming out from those. Uh, ypn, I think, is happening in november, so be on the lookout for that as well. And then underwriting and volume based are happening very shortly, soon. Uh, just rounding out the year with our virtual events, we have some more webinars happening, so you know that's. That's always going on. And then, as always, our favorite on point podcast, okay, you know it just goes to show.
Speaker 2:Even though we are finally at that point with annual, it's the last in-person event of the year. The show doesn't stop.
Speaker 5:No, I mean, like this is the in-person education, but we also have the virtual education and, you know, the network meetings, which I think those are educational as well for people who attend them, because I mean, I think you get a lot of that really intimate collaboration hands down so hands down.
Speaker 2:All right, kelly, katie, let's turn our sights on you. All right, so you know for the, you guys are not just first time attendees, you're somewhat relatively new members as well. Yes, so for those that don't know you well, tell us a little bit about yourself. So we're Kelly. We're gonna start with you, please. Who is Kelly Drew?
Speaker 3:I am the Director of Consumer Lending at Central One Federal Credit Union. I've been in the credit union space for 34 years. This is my first time at the Acuma Make your Mark Conference. I'm very excited or should I say I'm wicked excited to be here.
Speaker 5:Yes, yes, good. That's the second time I've got to hear that. That's awesome. That's what happens when someone's from.
Speaker 2:Massachusetts. That's right time. I've got to hear that. That's awesome.
Speaker 3:That's what happens when someone's from Massachusetts. That's right. Yes, now I'm just really excited to grow my network, meet some great colleagues, because credit union people we love to bounce stuff off of each other and we share our information, share our knowledge. And super exciting to meet people from across the country.
Speaker 2:Love it, love it, katie. Who is Katie Wilson?
Speaker 4:I'm Katie Wilson. I have been with Greater Iowa Credit Union for 16 years, straight out of college. Haven't left yet.
Speaker 2:It's a good culture.
Speaker 4:I've been the mortgage operations manager for going on five years now, so not really new to the mortgage world, but this position newer. What we're really looking to get out of the conference is to get some insight with other credit unions that are more our size. Iowa has a fair amount of credit unions, but they were all different sizes and not everyone kind of specializes in mortgage or anything like that. So we're just kind of looking to get some insight from other credit unions our size and you know how everyone is kind of treating different types of lending, especially the economy we're in.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, oh yeah, I mean it's you know. And to that point, if you don't mind, I'm going to go with my questions out of order, because I think you provided an excellent segue to one of the questions. You know, both of you, as we mentioned, are first-time attendees. You both attended the first-time attendee session. That actually just happened. Yes, in my introduction I pretty much hinted at hey, we share, we collaborate, that's what credit unions do, and when I say my introduction, my introduction at that session, when I pass it over to the panel, so yeah, katie, I'm going to start with you. Did you feel that energy? Did you feel that sense that, hey, I'm going to walk away from this conference with exactly what I want?
Speaker 4:I did forums that we can find on through Acuma, whether it's you know new and upcoming guidelines and regulations for credit unions specifically. I think those can get lost a lot in translation, especially for credit unions, so I think that was a really big takeaway for me. Is you know? We have those forums to be able to discuss everything going on, no matter where you're located.
Speaker 2:I mean, that was our goal, you know, when we obviously we purposely designed that session to kind of have you step off with the right foot right, have you step off with the right foot right. And I'm happy that they brought the idea of our networks into play, because just because you're here, you know when I say here annual and you're going to have a lot of great interactions with people and hopefully you already have we want you to be able to continue that tomorrow, the next day, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. And the only way we can do that is by connecting you virtually. Yeah, you know, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. And the only way we can do that is by connecting you virtually. Yeah, you know there's we can go old school and hand out business cards and all that stuff, right. But sometimes it's just easier to ask a question to the network and cast a wider net and you never know who's going to respond.
Speaker 2:So, anyways, kelly, same with you. So again, you attended the first time session. You know what was it about the session that you felt was like, hey, this is really impactful. I'm really going to walk away with from this event for the next few days with great stuff.
Speaker 3:I'm typically an introvert and I have to admit I was a bit anxious this morning walking into a room with a bunch of people that I've never met before. But I felt so welcomed and it was just such a warm environment that my anxiety instantly went away and I'm really, really happy that I was given this opportunity to come here and meet all these wonderful people. I think that our credit union with Acuma, I think we're going to accomplish great things together.
Speaker 2:I love it. I mean, funny thing is obviously this is this is not a visual podcast, all audio. But just from the smile on your face, you, I actually wouldn't have considered you an introvert because you, you have a big smile. I would have said, okay, well, she's an extra hands down, but the complete opposite.
Speaker 3:Yes, complete opposite. I'm typically very shy until I get to know someone.
Speaker 5:I mean, I think that was part of when we created this session, also the first-time attendee session. That was something that we discussed pretty thoroughly, based on some feedback that we received from other members was that, though we are a very welcoming community, we're so big that if you're new, you just don't know anybody and you don't know where to start, and so like. One of the things that we really wanted to do is not only provide all the tips and tricks of how you could be successful as a member, but you can walk out of a room with 30 other people now that you know right right, that's exactly, and you know, tonight, when we have our evening reception and then our our after party at lucky strike, you already know 30 people, 30, 40 people, and so you already have good friends.
Speaker 2:Yes, um, did they talk about? You know the, the requirement to buy the black robes and drink, uh, the baby tiger blood?
Speaker 3:no, we didn't get to that, yet I'm excited to hear about that. Maybe next session.
Speaker 2:Next session. It's the next session. I think it's all right. Well, you came back. Now we're really going to bring you in. Okay, good, good, good, good, all right. So I'm going to go back to the beginning, where I originally was going to ask this question. One of the toughest things that you can do, especially and I was there trying to sell your C-suite, your CEO, your boss on the idea of, hey, going to this type of event is going to be beneficial. What drove you to register for this event? What was the tipping point for you to want to say hey, I want to get back to ACMA annual shot. See what it's all about. What was it? And, kelly, we'll start with you.
Speaker 3:I've been in consumer lending for a long time, about 20 years or so. I was in the first mortgage industry for probably about eight years of that. However, I've been out of it for the past nine years and, due to succession planning at my credit union, I need to expand my first mortgage knowledge. So I thought that what would be a better way than come and see 600, basically 600 coworkers you know we all work at different credit unions, but we're all all basically one and I thought this would be a great opportunity to to expand on my knowledge and my network.
Speaker 4:Love it, Love it, Katie. To you I would say, for me personally, we have a lot of really close connections with a lot of our MI companies and we've kind of gone out and said, hey, do you, besides, you know our local or state conferences that we offer?
Speaker 1:are there any?
Speaker 4:others that you would recommend tenfold. Everyone said come to this conference, you know you'll get the best out of it and we've already seen that so far with. You know our intro call um with my uh clo and I the rep that's good, good, good, good.
Speaker 2:Um, I have to pay. Uh, all the mi companies are five dollars now for their plugs. Um, thank you my companies for keep pushing Acumo Really appreciate it. All right, so really. Last question the idea behind these in-person podcasts is we'll keep them short, sweet, really good opportunities to get to know you. But the big question is what are you looking forward to the most over the next few days, kelly, we'll start with you.
Speaker 3:Oh goodness, I'm looking forward to so much. There's so many breakout sessions and I really like that you can pick and choose ones that really would benefit me the most for my credit union, so I'm really excited about that. I'm excited about the networking events, the after parties. It's fun, credit union people are fun, and so I'm really looking forward to hanging out with everyone.
Speaker 2:Good, good, good, good, katie.
Speaker 4:I would say honestly for me, the roundtable discussions we don't really get a lot of those one-on-one interactions with other credit unions, especially our sizes, and just being able to bounce ideas off and get some insight is a big thing for us in Iowa's ITIN. So you know, see what other credit unions are doing when it comes to ITIN, or you know how are they servicing minorities or low income. So just kind of getting more insight on that and what we can do to better our service for our members.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm gonna give you a name find a gentleman. It's almost like a scavenger, but find a gentleman by the name of todd potter. He's unfortunately no longer with his this credit union, but the credit union he was with in Indiana. They were pretty much the go-to I-10 lender in all of Indiana and he pretty much built that program from the ground up. So he's here. I saw him at registration, hunt him down, todd Potter, and it's an easy name to remember that, but which also helps. But he I know for a fact that he provides some great guidance because of the program that he that he developed at his old ready.
Speaker 2:Thank you, you're very welcome. Do you already walked away with something? All right, there you go. Well, ladies, you know, kelly Katie, thank you very much, truly. Well, ladies, kelly Katie, thank you very much, truly do appreciate this, you sitting down with us. One, that's first, thank you for sitting down with us. But two, thank you very much for attending annual and for being members of Acuma. Really do appreciate it. I look forward to getting to know you guys more and seeing you around this massive building that we're in. But thank you very much.
Speaker 3:Thank you. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2:Of course, and Justin, thank you for being here. Of course, it was my pleasure, all right, and to all of you, we know your time is valuable. Thank you for tuning in to the latest episode of Acuma's On Point Podcast. We hope you enjoyed it. Until next time, you 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.
