Today's guest has more than 30 years of experience in the Credit Union movement and has been recognized as a Credit Union Rock Star. Tena Lozano is the Executive Director of the Richard Myles Johnson (RMJ) Foundation, which is the credit union foundation for the states of California and Nevada. The RMJ Foundation's signature program is called Bite of Reality, which is a simulation app that helps teens understand the financial decisions and budgeting pressures that adulthood will bring. This eye-...
Dec 08, 2022•27 min•Season 2022Ep. 22
The WCMS Alumni Conference was held in-person this July for the first time since 2019 in conjunction with WCMS students returning to Pomona College for the first time since the pandemic as well. To commemorate this exciting reunion, this month's Frogcast episode isn't limited to one guest in particular. Instead, you'll hear from the many WCMS students and alumni we interviewed while walking around campus. The nervous energy is audible in the voices of the new students attending Welcome Walk for ...
Nov 04, 2022•17 min•Season 2022Ep. 21
Today we have a very special guest on the Frogcast, Bob Toohey. The name might not sound familiar to many of us more recent graduates of WCMS, but we can assure you that Bob has been instrumental in creating the WCMS experience we know and love today. Bob was a graduate of WCMS in 1975 and a founding member of the WCMS Alumni Association shortly thereafter. Unlike most of our guests, Bob wasn't an employee with his credit but instead a volunteer. This year's recipient of the James D. Likens Alum...
Oct 03, 2022•18 min•Season 2022Ep. 20
This month our guest on the Frogcast is the unique and energizing Eric Bruen, CEO of Desert Valleys Federal Credit Union. Eric has led the credit union for over 20 years, but that time period has been a challenging and exciting ride for Eric and his team. "PCA Guy", as he is known as to many, joined Desert Valleys at the age of 27 while the credit union was under Prompt Corrective Action regulation. It took an astounding 19 years for Eric to pull the CU out of PCA, but he did just that and has t...
Sep 19, 2022•21 min•Season 2022Ep. 19
This month the Frogcast is joined by Helen Mickel. Helen serves as President/CEO of Tongass Federal Credit Union in Ketchikan Alaska. Her CU's field of membership covers multiple islands and small communities only reachable by boat or floatplane, and because of that Tongass FCU has a very disntinctive and purpose-driven business model. Listen in to hear how Helen and her team uniquely serve these southeastern Alaskan communities, develop and expand the credit union, and ultimately make a differe...
Jul 31, 2022•22 min•Season 2022Ep. 18
Today we are joined by Steve Schmidle, CFO of Westerra CU in Denver and member of the WCMS Alumni Association Board of Directors. Steve has served credit unions for nearly 20 years in various finance and strategic roles, and is currently helping lead a progressive digital transformation at Westerra. He shares with us the story of that transformation to date, and provides some insights into how it has gone so far and why now was the time for change at Westerra. While the idea of a digital transfo...
Jun 16, 2022•24 min•Season 2022Ep. 17
In today's Frogcast we are joined by Lindsay Reyes, CFO at Valley Strong Credit Union in Bakersfield, CA. Valley Strong CU has implemented a progressive and bold strategy, and has seen great success throughout the transformation that ensued. Lindsay shares this transformation story, what she believes has led to their success, and some of the bold actions the credit union has taken. For example, Valley Strong has forged innovative partnerships with FinTech's to access new members and grow their l...
May 25, 2022•20 min•Season 2022Ep. 16
Did you know that there is a museum in Manchester, NH dedicated to the credit union industry? Neither did we. But there is! This month Stephanie Smith, Executive Director of America's Credit Union Museum, joins the Frogcast to share the amazing story of how the museum was started, what exhibits you will find inside the museum, and how the museum's outreach actually blossomed during Covid. The museum is housed in the birthplace of America's credit unions, and it exists to document and spread the ...
Apr 12, 2022•25 min•Season 2022Ep. 15
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 the Defense Credit Union Council. In our episode Bill shares his thoughts on the responsibilities of a credit u...
Mar 23, 2022•23 min•Season 2022Ep. 14
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 risk management and compliance strategies while vying for relevance in this increasingly competitive and digital marketpl...
Feb 01, 2022•20 min•Season 2022Ep. 2
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 leaders in our industry, and how to use this experience to make a difference going forward. She shares her thoughts on...
Jan 03, 2022•22 min•Season 2022Ep. 1
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 position of Chief Lending Officer for South Bay Credit Union (and was a 1989 WCMS graduate) and in his free time ...
Dec 01, 2021•30 min•Season 2021Ep. 11
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 of understanding and a network of deep relationships that has served him well these past twenty plus years. Fil...
Nov 01, 2021•25 min•Season 2021Ep. 10
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 amazing story of the credit union's response to the massive flooding that recently hit the Hawaiian islands. Credit U...
Oct 06, 2021•22 min•Season 2021Ep. 9
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 the RMJ Foundation. A busy man, but somehow Jon found time to share his story and insights about our industry a...
Sep 01, 2021•20 min•Season 2021Ep. 8
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 have traditionally been a natural area of focus for many credit unions, the social unrest that we have witnessed this p...
Aug 12, 2021•19 min•Season 2021Ep. 7
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 working in credit unions, the importance of mentors in her career, and the challenges she sees on the horizon for t...
Jul 28, 2021•21 min•Season 2021Ep. 6
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 shares with us with the 'why' behind this career change, how he uses journaling to capture and reflect upon his dai...
Jun 14, 2021•15 min•Season 2021Ep. 5
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 goes on to provide insights on the future of our cooperative industry, the role tomorrow's leaders will play in its succe...
May 20, 2021•17 min•Season 2021Ep. 4
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 and leading the financial simulation for the third year students, which he discusses in this episode. He also go...
Apr 19, 2021•13 min•Season 2021Ep. 3
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 and beyond. Beyond that we discuss what the school can do for our industry, our communities, and our nation coming out...
Apr 19, 2021•26 min•Season 2021Ep. 2
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 credit union industry, and covers the credit union's impressive response to the pandemic. Interviewers: Shonna S...
Apr 17, 2021•18 min•Season 2021Ep. 1
