Credit Union Conversations

Danielle Gallagher is the CEO of Eagle One FCU in Claymont, DE. She has been involved with credit unions since college and worked her way up to be named CEO in 2020. Danielle and Mark take a deep dive into her journey, what's new at the credit union, and look at a crystal ball for the future of small credit unions. IN THIS EPISODE: (00:00) Introduction (02:02) Danielle Gallagher’s professional bac...

Welcome to Credit Union Conversations . I’m Mark, and today’s episode will be a little different. I don’t usually record podcasts like this, but sometimes you just need to talk through what’s been on your mind. There’s been a lot happening in the business lending world, and I’ve been reflecting on where things stand—what’s working, what’s shifting, and what credit unions need to be paying attentio...

I’m Mark Ritter, and this is Credit Union Conversations. Today, I’m joined by Austin Wentzlaff from Nook to discuss how credit unions can evolve beyond competitive rates and traditional relationships by using digital tools to deepen member engagement. We’ll explore how Nook takes a fresh approach—focusing on lifestyle topics like travel, health, and relationships—to build trust and naturally drive...

You'll quickly find out Mark and Rodney go way back and talk about the old days. What is a corporate credit union these days, and how can it help credit unions in today's marketplace? Rodney takes a deep dive into this topic today. IN THIS EPISODE: (01:40) Rodney shares his professional journey both in landscaping and the credit union space (05:08) Rodney defines a corporate credit union (09:47) D...

Mark and Kyle catch up on Mark's flaws and frustrations of trying to do everything himself. Kyle talks about his career journey and life as an entrepreneur and how they assist business owners.  IN THIS EPISODE: (02:38) Kyle Walburn’s entrepreneurial journey and the creation of Efficient Aide (10:44) Efficient Aide offers services in various skills of fractional support for remote work (19:10)...

Welcome to Credit Union Conversations! In today’s episode, host Mark Ritter is joined by the industry’s leading expert, Mark Treichel, to uncover the mysteries of the NCUA exam and guide you through its complexities. With insights on risk management, cybersecurity, and evolving regulations, Mark Treichel offers invaluable advice on navigating credit union challenges, especially with a new administ...

Welcome to Credit Union Conversations! In this episode, we wrap up our series on the powerful partnerships between credit unions and small business owners with an inspiring entrepreneurship and financial collaboration journey. Host Mark Ritter is joined by George Florence from American Heritage Credit Union and Ross Hammer from Cape May, New Jersey, to explore how credit unions play a vital role i...

Welcome to Credit Union Conversations! This week, we continue our series exploring the impactful partnerships between credit unions and small business owners. Host Mark Ritter is joined by Josh Green from American Heritage Credit Union and Ted Van Beuren, the visionary behind United Sports in Pennsylvania. This episode delves into the successful collaboration between these two entities, showcasing...

Welcome to Credit Union Conversations! This week, we kick off an exciting new series focused on the relationship between credit unions and small business owners. Host Mark Ritter is joined by Nathan Crouch from Erie Federal Credit Union and one of their standout business members, Joseph Markiewicz. Together, they’ll explore the ins and outs of the lending process, from the challenges business owne...

This week, Mark welcomes Nicol Matthews, the principal behind Harvest Coaching & Consulting, to discuss how credit unions can drive sustainable growth in a competitive financial landscape. Credit unions can strengthen their market position by building a strong sales culture, developing effective leadership, and expanding business services. Nicol shares insights on how establishing a sales cult...

This week, Mark welcomes Scott Jordan from the Alternative Finance Network to explore the unique landscape of alternative lending in the cannabis industry. Scott shares insights from his career journey, breaking down who the key lenders are and what makes alternative financing work for this fast-growing sector. From discussing the legal challenges at state and federal levels to predicting the indu...

This week, Mark Brennan joins Mark to discuss his incredible journey in the credit union industry, from the highs and lows to his experiences in leadership and the transition into retirement. Mark’s had a remarkable career, spending nearly 27 years with Clearview Federal Credit Union, including 17 years as CEO, where he brought his unique HR and strategic planning background to the role.  IN...

This week, Mark is joined by Greg Schatzke of Servion to discuss the new real estate agency rules and how they impact credit unions. Greg also gives us a state of the world and discusses untapped options for credit unions. IN THIS EPISODE: [2:33]Mark and Ashley introduce themselves [4:02] Servion Group has five businesses under its umbrella [7:00] Rules have changed for real estate contracts [11:1...

Mark goes 1-on-1 with Erie FCU CEO Brian Waugaman on various topics in and out of the credit union space. What's it like to live in Erie? How did he navigate becoming CEO after a long tenure at the credit union? What's working and what needs work today? What is Brian's crystal ball on the future? All this and more as Mark Ritter and Brian chat it up.  IN THIS EPISODE: [1:32] Brian shares his...

Welcome to this episode of Credit Union Conversations with Mark Ritter, where we delve into the strategies that set credit unions apart in a competitive financial landscape. Today, Mark is joined by Bill McKenna from McKenna Marketing, who brings a wealth of experience from the advertising industry to the credit union space. Together, they explore the critical importance of building strong, core r...

How does Julie get one of the most laid-back CEOs to organize the company and get the team focused? Find out when Julie and one of her most difficult engagements discuss the EOS process and benefits.  IN THIS EPISODE: [0:26] Mark describes how Julie has been a catalyst for MBFS [3:22] Julie shares her background that has brought her to the position she holds today [5:36] Julie defines EOS (En...

What type of impact does credit union advocacy make? How important is it to the success of credit unions? Mark and Samantha Beeler of LSCU talk about everything that goes on at our trade associations outside of the conferences we attend. Also, what is the future of trade associations for credit unions? IN THIS EPISODE: [0:25] Mark provides information about the services of MBFS and how he began hi...

Bryan and Mark go round-robin on the state of the lending world and working with partners to build your lending program. What's the state of the world like in 2024? Bryan looks into his crystal ball to discuss what volumes will be like in 2024 and 2025. What's it like to get pitched by every potential lending partner in America every week? How do you separate the good partners from the pretenders?...

Today, Mark Ritter shares his insights on the state of credit unions and strategies for running a successful credit union. He discusses the challenges and benefits of working remotely and emphasizes building strong community relationships. Mark also offers his perspective on whether attending all available conferences is wise. His comprehensive analysis aims to guide credit union leaders toward su...

Bill Beardsley of Michigan Business Connection joins our host, Mark Ritter today to hit a wide range of topics from the credit union and non-credit union worlds. Since Bill's office is in Ann Arbor and he's a Michigan State fan there will bound to be some Big Ten talk sprinkled in the conversation. IN THIS EPISODE: [2:26] Bill shares his professional background [7:47]  Discussion of the creat...

Today, Mark is joined by Seth Brickman, President of Ranqx, to discuss small business digital lending. Seth shares insights from his time working with Microsoft and Amazon and how he uses what he’s learned to help small businesses. IN THIS EPISODE: [2:22] Seth shares his background story leading him to Ranqx [4:08] Discussion of how  lending to small businesses has been transformed by digitiz...

Lance Teinert and Mark Ritter get together to talk about the current state of education and student lending.  Today's marketplace is interwoven with the political landscape, so Lance weighs in on how today's news headlines impact his business, CURevl.  IN THIS EPISODE: [3:02] Lance describes how he became involved in working with credit unions and weathering the storm we faced in 2018 an...

Alan Ropes and Mark Ritter discuss information security, an essential topic for our listeners. Mark admits he is not a detail guy by nature, but fortunately, VyFi is a Credit Union Service Organization, and they do a great job keeping members’ information private. Tune in for valuable information on keeping your data secure. IN THIS EPISODE: [2:06] Alan shares the history of VyFi and how they part...

MBFS and Miri have had an amazing journey together, and I’m thrilled to chat with her today. Tune in as she shares her extensive expertise in marketing and brand development. Miri also offers a unique take on AI and social media platforms. I hope you enjoy this episode of Credit Union Conversations. IN THIS EPISODE: [2:22] Miri describes how Cowe Communications has evolved over the past nine years...

What are your borrowers thinking? What do they want to make you their preferred lender? Brandon Cobb joins Mark today to talk about what it is like to be a borrower and what credit unions can do to make real estate investors long-term and happy members.  IN THIS EPISODE: [2:26] Brandon shares his professional background, taking him to HBG Capital [7:27] Brandon gives his impression of what he...