WCMS Alumni Frogcast

Today's guest is Bill Birnie, President and CEO of Frontwave Credit Union in Oceanside, California.  Bill has served the credit union industry since the late 80's, when he retired from the Marine Corp and began volunteering for his local credit union.  Since then he has held multiple leadership roles for a number of credit unions and industry organizations, including WCMS and as Chair of...

This month we are joined by Rachel Pross, Chief Operations Officer at Maps Credit Union in Salem Oregon.  If you aren't aware, Maps Credit Union has been a groundbreaking institution within the cannabis banking space.  Rachel shares with us her unique story, which includes twice testifying in front of Congress on the subject.  We also discuss how credit unions should think about ris...

We begin our second season of Frogcast episodes with none other than Brandi Stankovic, COO and Chief Strategy Officer of CU Solutions Group and the Host/Producer of the Strategic Hotbox podcast.  Brandi has become a fixture of the credit union industry and a trusted strategic partner for many of us.  Today she joins us to reflect on these past few years, what it has meant for many leader...

WCMS students and alumni might know them as "Mom and Dad", but David Ellings and Nancy Wood are responsible for much more than getting us students to class in the morning and tucked in at night.  Nancy serves as WCMS's Director of School Administration on a full time basis, but began serving the credit union industry in the 70's and graduated from WCMS in 2000.  David Ellings holds the p...

This month we are thrilled to speak with Mark Meyer, CEO at Filene Research Institute and one of the cooperative finance industry's top thinkers.  Mark is both a graduate of WCMS (Class of '99) and a frequent contributor to the program as part of WCMS's faculty.  He considers his time on campus one of those unexpected but amazing inflection points in his career, where he built a platform...

This month's guest provides us with a unique view of WCMS, and the credit union industry.  Sean Kaley, Chief Operations Officer at Kauai Government Employees FCU, joins us to discuss the rich and vibrant culture that exists within Hawaii's credit unions and how it bonds them together to serve the members of their islands.  One notable example of this service, shared by Sean, is the amazi...

Our guest on today's Frogcast is Jon Hernandez, CEO of CalCom, Mattel, Nikkei and Mabuhay Credit Unions.  Yes, you heard that right - Jon independently and concurrently serves as the CEO of multiple credit unions!  He is also the Founder & Chairman of the Southern California Credit Union Alliance, a Board Member of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, and a Board Member of...

Today we are joined by Renee Sattiewhite, President & CEO of the African American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC).  A long-term leader in the credit union movement, Renee shares with us the inspiring story of the AACUC's beginnings, the support it has received along the way, and the difference the coalition is making today.  While Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts ha...

This month we are joined on the Frogcast by Shruti Miyashiro, President and CEO of Orange County's Credit Union in Southern California.  Shruti shares with us her story of how an "accidental" job as a teller turned into a lifelong commitment to serving the credit union industry, and the important role that WCMS played in this journey.  She goes on to provide her take on the beauty of wor...

In today's episode we speak with John Janclaes, President of NYMBUS CUSO.  After 17 years serving as the President & CEO of Partners Federal Credit Union (the CU serving employees of the Walt Disney Company) John recently decided to join NYMBUS and serve the credit union industry in a new and strategic way.  A 1995 graduate of WCMS and a current member of the school's faculty, he sha...

This month we speak with Brandon Michaels, who has held multiple Executive and CEO positions within the credit union industry in his short career.  Brandon graduated from WCMS with High Honors and was named CEO of his first credit union while in his early 30's.  He shares with us his family's unique multigenerational history within the credit union industry and at WCMS.  Brandon goe...

Today we spoke with Matt Stephenson, who serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Rogue Credit Union (and was named the new CEO of Rogue CU soon after this recording).  Matt is one of the few WCMS students who graduated with Highest Honors during his time on campus, and has stayed involved with the school in many ways.  Most notably, Matt is known for developing...

Today we spoke with Dr. Michael Steinberger, Associate Professor at Pomona College and Dean of Western CUNA Management School.  He holds three degrees from UC Berkeley and a PhD in Economics from MIT.  If you have been to WCMS in the last 12+ years Dr. Mike needs no introduction.  In this episode we discuss the impact of the pandemic on WCMS in 2020, and the school's plans for 2021...

Diana Dykstra currently serves as the President and CEO of the California/Nevada Credit Union League and as President of Western CUNA Management School (WCMS).  Diana, who has been a constant and driving force at WCMS for decades, was an obvious choice as our first guest of the podcast.  She shares with us her WCMS story, discusses the principles of Diversity/Equity/Inclusion within the...