Council Day is back!

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

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

    
Member expectations are shifting fast, and competition from banks and fintechs isn't slowing down. Credit unions that can't or won't innovate will struggle to keep pace. The good news: your best source of innovation is already on your payroll.

Amy Climer, Ph.D., CSP
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Accounting & Finance

  
As credit unions prepare for 2027, uncertainty surrounding rates, liquidity, loan growth, and credit conditions continue to complicate planning efforts. This session will examine how ALM forecasting can be used to project balance sheet growth, evaluate alternative rate scenarios, model changing loan and deposit mix, and assess the potential impacts on earnings, liquidity, and capital.

Aaron Martini
Board Volunteers

   
Participants will leave with practical frameworks to define an AI strategy, evaluate build-versus-buy decisions, prioritize investment opportunities, and develop a stablecoin position aligned to their organization's strategic objectives.

Mitchell Fong
Compliance & Audit

   
This session focuses on three critical AI issues every credit union should understand right now: establishing appropriate AI policies and controls, protecting confidential member and credit union information, and recognizing the risks created by inaccurate or unreliable AI-generated results.

David Reed
Marketing & Business Development

    
Designed for credit union marketing leaders, this 90-minute breakout will demystify GEO, explain how AI search differs from traditional SEO, and show how organizations can translate their existing strengths, member-focused stories, community impact and subject matter expertise into content that resonates with human audiences while also earning recognition from AI-powered search platforms. 

Liesel Olson Dan Martin
Technology

   
Luke Ratlif will talk about how, whether you're running a dashboard, launching a marketing automation campaign, or experimenting with AI, the output is only as good as the data underneath it. Eric Hilaire’s session will explore practical strategies to strengthen branch operations, reduce operational risk, improve accountability, and increase visibility into day-to-day activities. 

Luke Ratliff Eric Hilaire
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
 
 
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Keynote

   
Attendees will learn the Climer-Tarallo Buy-In Formula, a practical model for building decisions people genuinely commit to. Plus, get a first look at a new facilitation tool designed to put that formula into practice in real meetings.  

Amy Climer, Ph.D., CSP
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Financial Wellness


Attendees will leave with a more compassionate, effective approach to helping people create meaningful and sustainable financial change. 

Andy Manthei
Fraud

   
Fraud is at an all-time high. According to the FTC, reported fraud losses have increased more than 40% over the last two years, and nearly half of fraud attempts on financial institutions are now AI-driven. New scams emerge every day, triggering fresh waves of loss. 

Greg Lenihan
Human Resources/Diversity & Belonging

   
This session explores how organizations can bridge the gap between strategic planning and real-world results by focusing on effective execution and resource alignment.

Robyn Dietrich Lorene Meyer
Lending & Collections

  
Kevin will walk through CULS's approach to repossession, remarketing, and recovery. He'll cover their strategic use of multiple nationwide agents, the real costs of repossession, and how to hold agents accountable. 

Kevin Usiatynski
Payments & Operations


In this session, BankSocial leadership will guide Council members through the key shifts impacting credit union payment strategies.

John Wingate Eric Kugle

Keynote Speaker

Amy Climer, Ph.D., CSP
Amy Climer, Ph.D., CSP
Climer Consulting
Dr. Amy Climer is a best-selling author and expert on innovation in teams. She facilitates innovation with forward-thinking organizations such as the Mayo Clinic, America’s Credit Unions, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Fox Sports. With a PhD in Leadership and Change from Antioch University and over 25 years of experience working with leaders and teams, she is widely regarded by executives as an asset in helping lead for innovation. She is the author of the award-winning book Deliberate Creative Teams: How to Lead for Innovative Results, a book for leaders who want their teams to be more creative but don’t know where to start. Dr. Climer’s TEDx talk, The Power of Deliberate Creative Teams, explains her research and philosophies on innovation. She is the designer of Climer Cards, a creativity and teambuilding tool used by thousands to deepen conversations and generate ideas. In 2016, she won the Karl Rhonke Creativity Award from the Association for Experiential Education. In 2024 and 2025, CEO Monthly recognized Dr. Climer as the Most Influential CEO of Team Development in the Southeast. As an innovation consultant, she can help any leader whose team is stuck to experience innovative success by utilizing her Deliberate Creative Team system. 

Breakout Session Speakers