WCMS Alumni Frogcast WCMSAA

In support of those organizations that support WCMS and its alumni, the Frogcast will occasionally introduce our audience to the organizations that provide us with both financial and operational resources.

Our first Business Partner guest is Ken Bator, President/CEO of Bator Training and Consulting Group and the Police Officers Credit Union Association. Ken works with many credit unions and industry organizations, including the WCMS Alumni Association, providing strategic planning leadership and insight. He speaks with us today to share what he calls the "Natural Laws of Business" and how credit unions might align their strategy differently when building their future business model. A career long credit union leader, Ken shares his unique view on what differentiates credit unions and their brands.

Ken offers a free whitepaper that covers his approach to strategic planning. If interested, email him at kbator@btcinc.net.

This month we are joined by Deonne Christensen, President & CEO of Mazuma Credit Union in Kansas City. Deonne has been in credit unions for 20+ years and the financial services industry for 30+ years. Her early career was spent in a large bank, which provided her a limited view into the broader eco-system of the organization. She then found her way to credit unions, and WCMS, where her career (and life) changed forever. Mazuma Credit Union has a different and progressive approach to translating their purpose into action for the membership and communities they serve. It starts with culture and a balanced approach to managing change at a sustainable pace. Check out Deonne's story, and that of Mazuma CU, by listening in!



Interviewers: Nate Burns and Shonna Shearson

Producers: Ryan Kane and Steve Schmidle

Supporting Cast: Robert York, Ryan Olsen, Jeff Morris, and James Wileman

This month we are joined by the passionate and experienced Laura Worzella, Chief Operating Officer at OneAZ Credit Union. Laura joined the credit union movement after a long career with large banks like Wells Fargo, and shares with us how enlightening that transition has been. With that interesting background, she goes on to discuss how product sales can and should work within credit unions in a purpose driven way. Finishing up with a great discussion on the impact leaders and mentors have had on her life and career, the conversation is worth a listen for anyone looking to grow their leadership skills.

Interviewers: Nate Burns and Shonna Shearson

Producers: Ryan Kane and Steve Schmidle

Supporting Committee: Robert York, Ryan Olsen, Jeff Morris, and James Wileman

Today we are joined by Charlie Watts, President & CEO of Aurora Federal Credit Union in Colorado. Charlie joins the Frogcast to share his career story within our industry, starting with a corporate credit union, growing through a credit union CFO position, and all the way to the top seat as CEO. Filling the top seat at a smaller credit union brings its own set of challenges, and he explains to us how he has overcome the resource realities and limitations at a CU his size. WCMS has produced so many great leaders in our industry, and Charlie drank the WCMS kool-aid because of that and it's great reputation. Charlie is certainly considered among those ranks of our alumni - listen in and hear why!

Interviewers: Shonna Shearson and Nate Burns

Producers: Ryan Kane and Steve Schmidle

Supporting Committee members: Robert York, Ryan Olsen, Jeff Morris, and James Wileman

This month's guest is Tracie Kenyon, the retired President of the Montana Credit Union League, Herb Wegner Award winner, and certified professional coach with Humanidei. Tracie's four decades of credit union service at multiple levels have provided her with a unique and humbling view of our industry. Tracie has made a huge impact in the philanthropy and advocacy of credit unions throughout Montana, and beyond. She joins the Frogcast to share her view of what is driving change in credit unions, and also opens up about her emotional decision to retire as the league President. This is your story if you want to recharge your career with the purpose of credit unions!

To wrap up 2023 we have the amazing Jennifer Victor, VP of Branch Sales and Service at Travis Credit Union in Vacaville California. A 2022 graduate of WCMS, a long-term financial professional, and a proud mother, Jennifer joins us today to talk about a taboo term in credit unions... sales. She makes the case that there is no difference between sales and service, and discusses how to instill that idea into a credit union's retail culture. Jennifer goes on to discuss volunteerism in credit unions and where her passion for serving comes from. Her personal purpose is helping other people, and her passion for her job comes from an alignment between her purpose and that of credit unions. Listen in to receive a career inspiring boost!

Interviewers: Nate Burns and Shonna Shearson

Producers: Ryan Kane and Steve Schmidle

Supporting Committee: Robert York, Ryan Olsen, and James Wileman