What if “impossible” was just a mindset waiting to be shattered?  Ben’s extraordinary journey, from debilitating depression to achieving 100 seemingly impossible dreams reveals a powerful truth: impossible is merely a starting point. 

Ben weaves the captivating story of how The Buried Life evolved from a simple list of 100 impossible dreams into a global movement, seamlessly connecting these lessons to the fabric of our daily life. His remarkable achievements, from creating a hit MTV show to playing basketball with President Obama, from becoming a #1 New York Times bestselling author to sharing beers with Prince Harry weren’t a matter of luck. They were the direct result of a repeatable system, a proven blueprint for remarkable success that anyone can master. 

This isn’t just another inspirational talk, it’s a practical guide to achieving the extraordinary. Ben shares the exact, field-tested framework that empowered his team to defy impossible odds, demonstrating how these principles can transform your biggest challenges into your greatest triumphs. He reveals how small, consistent actions compound like interest over time, generating unstoppable momentum that turns seemingly impossible goals into inevitable successes. 

Ben establishes an undeniable truth: personal growth fuels professional growth, which drives organizational success. Through his journey of completing seemingly impossible dreams, he demonstrates that purpose is the fuel that ignites the impossible and giving back is the catalyst that multiplies your impact.  
 

Committees play a vital role in shaping the future of the credit union movement—and the work can be both rewarding and complex. In this engaging panel discussion, current and former Cornerstone committee members will share firsthand insights into how committees support the League, strengthen member engagement, and help advance the needs of credit unions across the region.
 

This session brings together the essential pillars of a successful digital presence: building a thoughtful strategy, maximizing visibility, creating meaningful member experiences, and identifying the best moments to engage. You'll learn practical tools and tactics to grow your digital impact steadily, stand out in a crowded marketplace, understand your members' evolving needs, and connect at the right time for maximum receptivity.

How many times have you attended a credit union event (like this one) and heard how we need to tell our story better? Working with media is a unique but necessary tool to have in your arsenal. In this session, we will cover the required steps to equip staff and leadership to help tell (not market) their credit union story.  Stay tuned for part two! 

In this leadership-focused breakout session, Bill Fournet introduces practical frameworks for building organizational agility through Mission-Based Teams, clearly defined charters, and disciplined execution practices. Participants will explore how leaders create the conditions for agility by aligning teams around outcomes, defining decision boundaries, and reinforcing execution rhythms.

Provided in Innovation Solutions Hall

Sister Societies create opportunities for connection, mentorship, leadership development, and collaboration among credit union professionals. Join experienced Sister Society leaders as they share the impacts of these groups and discuss lessons learned along the way.
  

Action for Happiness brings people together by using the scientific principles of happiness built around the 10 keys for happier living.  

Credit unions across the country are deploying AI right now. Some are winning. Some are stumbling. The difference isn't the technology — it's the strategy. In this session, Twinkle pulls back the curtain on how leading credit unions are using AI today across lending, fraud prevention, member engagement, and back-office operations to generate real ROI while deepening — not diminishing — member trust.

How do your employees and managers embrace the Spirit of TA DA? We all must take ownership of our work environment and create a foundation of opportunity and positive support. We can choose to be patient, supportive, and more flexible to change. We can choose to have fun in the workplace and still be productive. Joel teaches us just how easy it is to make these choices.  

In The Spirit of TA DA, Joel shares his experience and insight on creativity, communication, teamwork, passion, and fun. With wit, a sharp observational eye, and playful irreverence, he discusses the choices we all encounter in our careers. We each have the ability to take initiative and make the right choice to live a more creative, passionate, effective, and productive life.  

  
Employee engagement is no longer declining because people don’t want to work—it’s declining because leaders are relying on management behaviors where coaching is required. In this session, participants will explore today’s employee engagement landscape and why traditional management approaches are falling short.

  
Employee engagement is no longer declining because people don’t want to work—it’s declining because leaders are relying on management behaviors where coaching is required. In this session, participants will explore today’s employee engagement landscape and why traditional management approaches are falling short.

This is a ticketed event. 

Credit unions operate in an increasingly connected global marketplace—one that presents powerful opportunities to expand reach, deepen member impact, and advance the cooperative mission. In recognition of International Credit Union Day, this session will explore how credit unions can leverage international partnerships, electronic remittance programs, and cross-border initiatives to better serve members and communities.
   

Lights . . . Camera . . . ACTION! It’s time to put those skills to work! Steps identified in Storytelling for Credit Union Professions part 1 will be put into practice during this highly interactive session. EVERYONE will have an opportunity to learn from each other and local media celebrities on how to improve their storytelling in an informal session.  

Review of the NCUA Deregulation Project and related federal developments affecting credit unions, with a focus on key proposals, compliance implications, and opportunities for credit unions to shape the outcome. We will also discuss our advocacy efforts to date and practical ways credit unions can respond to future proposals.

Join us for an informal, yet impactful conversation over drinks. Grab a seat, connect with peers, and hear the latest on advocacy efforts shaping the credit union movement—what’s happening now, what’s ahead, and how it all affects your credit union. This casual session blends networking with insight, making it the perfect way to stay informed and engaged in the movement’s future. 

Many organizations face rising complacency, disengagement, and inconsistent performance. Meanwhile, successful, innovative organizations thrive because their employees are motivated and eager to contribute to shared goals. 

Too often, leaders unintentionally stifle creativity and innovation—either by placing team members in high-pressure problem-solving situations without adequate support or by repeatedly solving the team’s problems themselves. This fosters a fear of mistakes, leaving ideas untapped and teams underperforming. 

In this keynote, Lisa helps leaders explore how their leadership style impacts team dynamics, ways to “live in the lab” and experiment with engagement activities, and equips them with actionable strategies to build a motivation-centered culture where employees feel empowered to contribute proactively.