Council Day is back!

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Council Day is a virtual showcase of Cornerstone Councils. Attendees will hear from industry leaders and forward-thinking professionals including keynote speakers, interactive panels, and breakout sessions featuring subject matter experts within each of the councils’ designated functional areas.

Cost

This is a free event for all Cornerstone League members. You do not need to be a council member to attend (but we’d love for you to join!)

Agenda

Session recordings and presentations will be available in the Connect platform a few weeks after the event. Not a Council member? Join for free

9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
 
 
9:15 AM - 9:30 AM
 
 
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Keynote


Discover why culture is the invisible force that can powerfully drive—or derail—your credit union’s success. Neil Goldman, Ed.D., examines how deeply ingrained beliefs shape behaviors and determine the success of every strategic initiative. Learn how to recognize, assess, and harness your culture to fuel performance, engagement, and member impact. 
 

Neil Goldman
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Accounting & Finance


Explore real-life audit disasters and internal control breakdowns with Kevin Ives with Forvis Mazars. Kevin will discuss critical problem areas and common findings over the past few years. A live Q&A session will follow, so bring your questions! 
 

Kevin Ives Cameron Baghvardani
Board Volunteers


This session will break down the key economic indicators the Federal Reserve is monitoring and what they mean for monetary policy. We’ll explore how future interest rate shifts will impact credit union members and balance sheet profiles. You'll leave with practical takeaways and a sharper lens for the questions to better support your management team through today's evolving financial environment. 
 

Chris Folse
Diversity & Belonging
 
 
Fraud


Staying on top of the fraud environment can be a daunting task as fraudsters are quick to change tactics. It’s important for credit unions to understand these tactics – including the smallest of details – to craft effective risk mitigation strategies. This session will cover today’s hottest fraud trends, including account takeovers, interactive teller machine (ITM) fraud, ATM jackpotting, and check fraud. 
 

Ken Otsuka
Payments & Operations


As economic conditions continue to evolve, credit unions must stay ahead of the curve to make informed strategic decisions. This session offers a timely and insightful economic update, with a special emphasis on trends and developments that directly impact the payments space. There will be time during this session for questions.  
 

Curt Long
Technology


This session defines and examines the emergence of deepfake technology and its impact on credit unions. We’ll explore and highlight current events, trends, and use cases, and discuss exactly who might be at risk. 

A live demonstration using a popular AI text-to-speech engine will show how easy it is to create a deepfake voice impersonation, giving attendees the tools to develop their own educational deepfake voice for organizational training and awareness. Participants will leave with practical and effective strategies to identify, prevent, and combat AI threats to protect your members and strengthen your organizational resilience. 
 

Brian Hinze
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
 
 
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Keynote


Culture change in most credit unions today isn’t just possible—it’s essential. Dr. Neil Goldman offers practical tools and real-world examples to help leaders intentionally design and evolve their credit union’s culture. Move beyond theory to action as you learn how to align beliefs, behaviors, and systems to create a thriving, purpose-driven organization.
 

Neil Goldman
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Compliance & Audit


As credit union members age, financial institutions are increasingly facing challenges related to elder financial abuse. According to the National Council on Aging, older adults in the United States lose an estimated $2.6 to $36.5 billion each year due to financial abuse – yet only one in 44 cases of financial abuse are reported. This crisis is compounded by a growing reliance on technology, which can leave older individuals especially vulnerable to online scams and fraud schemes. Many also depend on family members for assistance with daily tasks and financial matters, placing them at risk of exploitation from those closest to them. Add social isolation and loneliness to the mix, and seniors may engage with unfamiliar individuals who may not have their best interests at heart. Under laws such as the federal Elder Justice Act and various state-level financial exploitation statutes, credit unions have both a legal and ethical obligation to detect, report, and help prevent financial abuse of vulnerable adults.   
 

Frank Drake
Financial Wellness


While working at a credit union can carry expectations of being financially healthy, life doesn’t always align with that being a reality. Financial Health Network shares that only about 30% of people are considered financially healthy. This means statistically, employees will be navigating a host of financial decisions and to support them, it’s important to view them in a 3-dimensional way.

Andy Manthei
Human Resources & Training


Learn to read fraudsters like a book with renowned body language expert Traci Brown. Discover how to win the game “Two Truths and a Lie” that you play daily with clients, boss, your team and prospects. Protect your company’s hard-earned profits and catch would-be fraudsters before they strike.  
 
In this session, you’ll learn to trust your instincts and immediately separate fact from fiction. You’ll walk away knowing the nine telltale signs someone is lying, how to quickly uncover the truth, and how to protect you and your organization from deception.  
 

Traci Brown
Lending & Collections
 
 
Marketing & Business Development


Is "sales culture" a dirty word at your credit union? For many mission-driven organizations, the push for growth can feel at odds with the foundational philosophy of "people helping people." But what if a sales-focused mindset, when rooted in purpose, was the most powerful tool you had to advance your mission? 

Dismantle the myth that a sales culture is inherently bad and join us to explore how to lean into your not-for-profit status. You’ll learn how to harness a culture that doesn’t just sell products, but actively seeks to improve the financial lives of your members. Billy Cano will guide you through a paradigm shift—moving from reluctant selling to proactive service—that empowers your team, deepens member relationships, and turns your mission into a measurable growth strategy. 
 

Billy Cano

Keynote Speaker

Neil Goldman
Neil Goldman
Goldman Consulting & Strategy (GCS), Inc.
Dr. Neil Goldman is the author of The Escalator Effect and president of Goldman Consulting & Strategy (GCS), a firm specializing in organizational development and perceptual research. Since founding GCS in 2002, Neil has worked with over 500 organizations across 49 states, helping leaders turn insights into action through strategic planning, research, and workshops. A frequent speaker and long-time industry columnist, Neil is known for facilitating positive change through data-driven leadership.

Breakout Session Speakers