To wrap up 2023 we have the amazing Jennifer Victor, VP of Branch Sales and Service at Travis Credit Union in Vacaville California. A 2022 graduate of WCMS, a long-term financial professional, and a proud mother, Jennifer joins us today to talk about a taboo term in credit unions... sales. She makes the case that there is no difference between sales and service, and discusses how to instill that idea into a credit union's retail culture. Jennifer goes on to discuss volunteerism in credit unions and where her passion for serving comes from. Her personal purpose is helping other people, and her passion for her job comes from an alignment between her purpose and that of credit unions. Listen in to receive a career inspiring boost! Interviewers: Nate Burns and Shonna Shearson Producers: Ryan Kane and Steve Schmidle Supporting Committee: Robert York, Ryan Olsen, and James Wileman

This month we are joined by WCMS's brand new Provost and Chief Operating Officer, Brandi Gleason. Much has changed behind the scenes of WCMS this year with the well-earned retirement of Nancy Woods and the unfortunate loss of David Ellings, but the school remains in great hands with Brandi's leadership. Not new to WCMS or credit unions, Brandi has an interesting and fun story about her journey to this position. She shares this story, and a peek behind the curtains of what it takes to run WCMS every July, during today's episode. Despite this succession in school leadership, Dr. Mike and the school remain focused upon looking towards the future and finding new and improved ways to prepare future credit union leaders with the skills needed to be successful for their credit unions and members. Interviewers: Nate Burns and Shonna Shearson Producers: Ryan Kane and Steve Schmidle Frogcast Support Committee: Robert York, Ryan Olsen and James Wileman

Please welcome Randy Stolp to this month's Frogcast. Randy has a long and varied career in credit unions, currently serving as CIO for My Community Credit Union in Texas. Randy talks about the subject of 'thinking differently' and the intersection of people and technology, and introduces the idea that people are our best technology. He goes on to discuss his career growth, and how industry learning programs like WCMS have helped him shape his path. Tune in and learn how to find a few new solutions to old problems in your credit union. Interviewers: Nate Burns and Shonna Shearson Producers: Ryan Kane and Steve Schmidle Innocent bystanders: Robert York and Original Ryan Olsen

This month the Frogcast is joined by Janet Gaspard, SVP and Chief People Officer of First Entertainment Credit Union in Hollywood, CA. As her title suggests, Janet has her focused on building culture and people in her career. She joins us today to talk about what has changed more recently in employment trends, especially since the initial shock of the pandemic. As we know, our people have more options than they have ever had before. No longer are we only competing with the employers down the street, but also those across the country due to the preponderance of remote work options. This means that we need to all focus on our employment brand and the culture that supports it. Interviewers: Shonna Shearson and Nate Burns Producers: Ryan Kane and Steve Schmidle Brand ambassadors: O'Ryan Olsen and Robert York

This month's guest is Hector Martinez, who was recently named President & CEO of County Schools Federal Credit Union in Ventura, CA. He joins us to share the viewpoint, challenges, and surprises he has faced as a first time CEO. Hector also serves as the Founder & Chairman of the Emerging Credit Union Leaders Council, which he created during the pandemic to provide advice and networking opportunities for credit union employees hungry to grow and fill the leadership succession gap forming in our industry. A graduate and huge proponent of WCMS, he goes on to share how the school cemented his career in credit unions and expedited his rise into the CEO position. His positive can-do attitude is a refreshing and inspiring approach, and it has obviously worked well for him. Listen in and hear it for yourself! Interviewers: Shonna Shearson and Nate Burns Producers: Ryan Kane and Steve Schmidle Traffic Reporters: Original Ryan Olsen and Robert York

Caroline Willard, President & CEO of the Cornerstone Credit Union League, is our distinguished guest this month. The Cornerstone League primarily serves credit unions in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas but has now expanded certain services to 48 states under her leadership. Caroline also serves as the Vice Chair of the CUNA Board and provides us with an update on the advocacy work CUNA is focusing on today. From there she goes on to introduce us to an early and largely unknown pioneer of the credit union industry via an inspiring quote and backstory. If you are looking for some inspiration, some learning, and a nudge to make a difference in credit union advocacy, this is the episode for you! Hosts: Shonna Shearson and Ryan Kane Producers: Ryan Kane and Steve Schmidle Secretaries: Nate Burns, Robert York, and Ryan Olsen

This month we are diving into one credit union's DEI journey through the eyes of their SVP/Chief Retail Officer, Corlinda Wooden. Unitus Community Credit Union, located in Portland Oregon, made the strategic and purpose-driven decision to focus on improving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within its culture. This thriving internal environment led the credit union to also focus externally, eventually producing partnerships with Juntos Avanzamos, inclusiv, Coopera, and the Portland Urban League to serve their Hispanic members and communities better. The credit union went on to develop new products and applications that have proven meaningful and impactful to these members and the credit union. Corlinda ties together this story, and the why behind it, with inspiration and purpose - so listen in! Interviewers: Shonna Shearson and Nate Burns Producers: 'New' Ryan Kane and Steve Schmidle Casting Agents: Robert York and 'Original' Ryan Olsen

This month we are flipping the script on our very own Shonna Shearson, and she doesn't see it coming. If you've listened before, you know that Shonna usually interviews our Frogcast guests alongside Nate. But in light of her exciting new career news we decided this was the month Shonna should be the guest, and we aren't going to tell her that until after we start recording. Shonna has served in leadership roles with Valley Strong Credit Union for the last 23 years, most recently as SVP of Operations, but in a few short weeks Shonna will begin serving as CEO for U.S. Community Credit Union in Sacramento. Since graduating from WCMS with High Honors Shonna has been a huge supporter of the school by being a project reader, serving on the Alumni Association Board, and becoming a podcast personality. In today's episode, after recovering from the surprise, Shonna discusses her journey to this point in her career, how she prepared for the opportunity to become CEO, and the impact WCMS had in her professional growth. If you are looking for an honest and enlightening story about one new CEO's path, and an unconventionally unrehearsed and unedited interview, this is your episode! Interviewers: Nate Burns and Steve Schmidle Producers: Ryan Kane and Steve Schmidle Guilty Bystanders: Original Ryan Olsen and Robert York

This month's guest on the Frogcast is Troy Stang, President and CEO of GoWest Credit Union Association serving Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Beyond his work within these states and state houses, Troy also works at the federal level to further credit union issues in public policy. A passionate advocate of the credit union movement and a strong supporter of WCMS, Troy shares with us his journey to credit unions and his beliefs about the power of cooperation that energizes our industry. He also spends some time updating us on the political landscape as it pertains to the issues important to credit unions, and the opportunities we have to take important steps forward for our members and communities. Listen in and gain a new view of the positive impact we can all make advocating for our industry with our elected officials. Interviewers: Shonna Shearson and Steve Schmidle Producer: Ryan Kane Social Media Influencers: Robert York, Original Ryan Olsen, and Nate Burns

Artificial Intelligence in credit unions?  Are we ready for that?  The answer is a solid "maybe?".  On the Frogcast today we have Ryan Kane, the VP of IT at Ontario Montclair School Employees FCU, to share an update of where AI technology stands currently.  Are the robots ready to take over yet?  Chatbots have been around for years, and ChatGPT is all the rage in the news today, but what are they and what's the difference?  Ryan has all the answers.  In today's episode he defines and discusses the maturity level of AI technology and where opportunities to leverage it might be for credit unions.  But he also covers the potential flaws, biases, and moral dilemmas that may trouble its progress.  If you are looking for a realistic and insightful answer to a very complex question, this is your starting point. Interviewers:  Nate Burns and Shonna Shearson Producers: Ryan Kane and Steve Schmidle Booking agents: Original Ryan Olsen and Robert York