The Credit Union Leadership Podcast
We serve hope to current and aspiring credit union leaders by providing solutions to your leadership challenges. If you’re a credit union leader seeking to grow your business, tune in to this podcast. ServiStar Consulting’s Mike Neill, Taylor Murray, and Scott Albrecht draw on their extensive experience of working with countless credit unions to provide valuable insights and lessons.
Episodes
2 days ago
2 days ago
There is a myth is all about the chemistry of the people in the team. Today we bust that myth with Jim Collison by talking about how the intentional decisions of the leader can build a high performing team. Collison is the CliftonStrengths Community Manager for Gallup and produce Gallup's Called to Coach and the ClifonStrengths Webcasts
In this episode we cover:
What are CliftonStrengths
Why the benefits of using CliftonStrengths can be life changing to yourself and your team.
How to use CliftonStrengths to better understand how to best utilize your team.
Which strengths are best utilized in a sales role and how to use your strengths to maximize your position.
Creating rules based on self-awareness to best serve our team and members.
Links from show:
Live your best life by taking the CliftonStrengths Assessment today!
Listen to Jim Collison's CliftonStrengths Finders podcast here
Learn more about our Leaders Worth Following Course!
Sign up for our leadership development course, Vertex Live Nationwide
Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service
Tuesday Apr 09, 2024
How to Avoid Feeling Like You Are Working At The DUMP
Tuesday Apr 09, 2024
Tuesday Apr 09, 2024
Are you getting a case of the Mondays? Albrecht and Anderle dive into four key areas to look into when work feels like a dumpster fire and how to turn that around.
In this episode we cover:
What DUMP stands for
Exploring what it means to find work that meshes with your brand
How the Umbrella Man symbol should be lived out in our department.
Working smarter not harder
The mission of the credit union is to focus on the people
How Vertex can improve this DUMP situation your team is in.
Links from show:
Sign up for our leadership development course, Vertex Live Nationwide
Learn more about our Leaders Worth Following Course!
Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service
Tuesday Apr 02, 2024
Dr. Elliott Jardin Office Hours
Tuesday Apr 02, 2024
Tuesday Apr 02, 2024
This is a bonus episode that was given to us from our time with Dr. Elliott Jardin.
Monday Mar 25, 2024
Ken Coleman: Finding Work That You Are Wired For
Monday Mar 25, 2024
Monday Mar 25, 2024
Our movement is fueled by a desire to serve others. We may find ourselves or our employees passionate about the mission of the credit union, but not loving there work. America's Career Coach, Ken Coleman is a 2 time best selling author and the nationally syndicated radio host of The Ken Coleman Show. We bring him on to share how to make it and what to do once you've made it to the job you love.
In this episode we cover:
How to use the Get Clear Assessment to find the job at your credit union that you were wired for
Why the Proximity Principle is key in finding the job you were wired for
What to do when you have a case of the Mondays
What's next once you have "made it" to the job you were made for
Links from show:
Click here to take Ken Coleman's Get Clear Assesment!
Follow Ken Coleman on your favorite social media platform!
Learn more about our Leaders Worth Following Course!
Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service
Monday Mar 18, 2024
Dr. Elliot Jardin: How to use your Brain to Train
Monday Mar 18, 2024
Monday Mar 18, 2024
Our mission with this podcast is to serve hope clearly, providing access to industry perspectives in the credit union movement. We want to raise leaders who focus on creating a culture around sales and service. We believe this will improve the financial well-being of our members and change the world.
We aim to reach 65,000 new learners within the credit union movement by the end of 2026. Our podcast plays a massive role in that number, with well over 25,000 podcast downloads.
Today we bring on friend of the podcast, co-author with Albrecht, and Associate professor at Miami University in the neuroscience and human behavior department, Dr. Elliott Jardin.
Dr. Elliott Jardin, an Assistant Professor in Miami University's Social and Behavioral Science department, researches individual differences in cognition. His specific focus is on learning, neuroscience, and cognitive aging. He is an award-winning teacher who credits his research on learning to his success in the classroom. One of his main initiatives is to make science more accessible to people outside of academia.
Company Website: https://miamioh.edu/regionals/profiles/elliott-jardin.html
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliott-jardin-ph-d-66734277/
Brain Health Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brain-health-with-dr-jardin/id1536539944
Podcast Appearance with Albrecht: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-struggling-teams-are-missing/id1688109033?i=1000646786092.
Dr. Jardin's mission aligns with our mission, and that is why we brought him on to discuss the following:
Neural Science of learning and development
Post learner experience – How can I best exploit the resources given to me in a training.
How should credit unions prepare employees for learning and development engagements?
How can we develop our communication skills to articulate ideas and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders within and outside the credit union?
Motivation, Emotion, and Learning: A Conversation With Elliott
Scott Albrecht and Dr. Elliott discussed the role of motivation and emotions in learning. Elliott highlighted the importance of tailoring learning activities to align with motivation and the role of dopamine in motivation and enjoyment. He emphasized the significance of emotional content in memories and the role of challenge level in learning and development. Elliott suggested the existence of a 'Goldilocks Zone' where the challenge level is adequate and depends on individual factors. They also touched on the role of phased learning spaced over time, with repetition key to long-term memory retention.
Neuroplasticity, Emotion, and Attention Networks
Elliott explained the concept of neuroplasticity and its role in memory retention, stating that repeated use of resources helps strengthen the connections between neurons. The group discussed its application to learning and development, with Scott Anderle inquiring how repetition could influence long-term retention. Elliott elaborated on how emotional connections, such as those tied to music, can regulate emotions and affect memory retention. The group also discussed the function of the dorsal and ventral attention networks in the brain, with Elliott explaining the focus of each and Scott Anderle proposing that individuals can train themselves to improve their ventral attention network. Elliott suggested that mindfulness meditation could help strengthen the dorsal attention network.
Tuesday Mar 12, 2024
Service Excellence: What Can We Learn from The Food Service Industry?
Tuesday Mar 12, 2024
Tuesday Mar 12, 2024
We want to be giving the best service possible for our members. This will build confidence with them trusting us with their finances. In this episode our co-host, Anderle talks about how the skills from the food service industry translates to the financial service industry.
In this episode we cover:
Why competence is the key element in service excellence, regardless of industry
How we use empathy in relation to competence
The relationship between the credit union and its members
Links from show:
Learn more about our Leaders Worth Following Course!
Sign up for our leadership development course, Vertex Live Nationwide
Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service
Saturday Mar 02, 2024
Emily Leite: How Women Have Shaped Credit Union History
Saturday Mar 02, 2024
Saturday Mar 02, 2024
The credit union movement is one that champions women leadership. One of the founders of the CUNEB as Louise McCarren Herring, from Ohio. Our guest, Emily Leite is the Chief Advocacy Officer at the Ohio Credit Union League, with nearly a decade of state and federal credit union advocacy experience.
In this episode we cover:
How the Ohio Credit Union League keeps the legacy of Louise McCarren Herring alive.
Progress made with women in leadership in the credit union movement.
Why credit unions should care about advocacy, because we are severely under represented
4 elements to advocacy for the credit union movement
What you can do to better represent credit unions for advocacy
Links from show:
Click here to learn more about ServiStar's Emerging Leaders Workshop!
Get involved and find your credit union league chapter here!
Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service
Saturday Mar 02, 2024
Patrick Kelley: Reduce Friction when Using Zoom in Learning and Development
Saturday Mar 02, 2024
Saturday Mar 02, 2024
The tattooed nerd teaches us tips and tricks to make the most of our virtual trainings and meetings, which seem to becoming the norm. Patrick Kelley is currently the Distinguished Architect at Zoom and has previously worked for Microsoft.
In this episode we cover:
What does it mean to Never Leave Good Enough Alone
How to use zoom to enhance your role as an educator and presenter.
Zoom AI features to make your life more convenient.
What tools Zoom has to use its platform as your call center
The power of Zoom in the Microsoft ecosystem
Links from show:
Click here to learn more about our New Employee Bundle!
Follow Patrick Kelley to learn more about Zoom.
Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service
Saturday Mar 02, 2024
How to Win with Digital Assets: A Case for Crypto in Credit Unions
Saturday Mar 02, 2024
Saturday Mar 02, 2024
Financial literacy and autonomy in the 21st century will require our movement to understand, embrace and educate the paradigm shift of digital assets and decentralized/distributed technologies. What will we do when our member wants to use digital assets and protect their wealth? Executive Vice President at St. Cloud Financial Credit Union, Chase is a pioneering leader in the credit union sector and an active board member of the MN Crypto Council and a recognized speaker on digital assets and blockchain. Jon Ungerland, the Chief Innovation Officer at DaLand believes local financial institutions can contribute to the flourishing of democracy and quality of community life by ensuring fair and affordable access to capital and modern banking services; I know they can, but I’m concerned they won’t by default
In this episode we cover:
How we foresee the government embracing crypto in the near future
What is CBDC
Risks that cryptocurrency poses to the credit union movement if we do not embrace it.
Links from show:
Click Here to earn your Credit Union PhD!
Click Here to stay up to date on crypto currency at cryptcouncil.
Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service
Wednesday Feb 28, 2024
Referral Sales: Use Systems To Improve Member's Lives
Wednesday Feb 28, 2024
Wednesday Feb 28, 2024
Get down with the system. While systems are good, over-reliance on the process could lead to poor behaviors in referral sales. In this episode we give practical tips to help you and your team focus on the behaviors of a referral sales champion rather checking off the boxes of the systems in place.
In this episode we cover:
How to catch your team doing referral sales right
Redirecting behaviors that reflect poor referral sales.
What to do to get a real pulse on how your effective your referral systems are.
2 Effective and practical incentives for referral systems that you can start today.
Links from show:
Register for Referral Sales Champion here!
Save money by bundling Referral Sales Champion. Sign up for our new employee bundle here!
Sign up for Vertex Live Nationwide. Click here to develop your team's leadership skills.
Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service
Tuesday Feb 20, 2024
Tuesday Feb 20, 2024
As a movement we want to improve the financial lives of our members but we may be unwilling to sell products because it makes us uncomfortable. In this episode we connect selling with meaning and relevance to inspire front-line employees and leaders to improve the financial lives of our members.
In this episode we cover:
How to respond to common excuses of why team members do not want to sell.
How selling affects the 1. External 2. Internal 3. Personal Character
Why lack of selling leads us to operate with a scarcity mindset rather than an abundance mindset.
3 Truths we need to sell
Links from show:
Interested in becoming a sales champion? Sign up for our new employee bundle here!
Are you ready to become the leader you know you can be? Sign up for Vertex Live Nationwide here.
Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Service Excellence: Hacks to Combat Fatigue
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
We say we are about people helping people, but most of us are killing the industry softly with our teller stare. We discuss how service excellence is how we embody the value of helping people as Scott & Scott delve into a wealth of actionable advice to combat the dreaded, "Friday fatigue."
In this episode we cover:
Challenges leaders face with excellent service.
The Teller-Stare
Hierarchy of Bad Service
4 service excellence hacks
Links from show:
Interested in service excellence? Sign up for our new employee bundle here!
Are you ready to become the leader you know you can be? Sign up for Vertex Live Nationwide here.
Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service
Wednesday Feb 07, 2024
Coaching For Performance: Why Great Leaders Exploit Potential
Wednesday Feb 07, 2024
Wednesday Feb 07, 2024
Leaders should be focused on how to transform good into great. The challenge we face is that we get overwhelmed with the urgent tasks that distract us from the important coaching tasks we have as a leader. Our class, Coaching For Performance, is focused on the science of coaching and how to practically do this. In this episode we focus on the art of coaching while sharing some secrets from the class.
In this episode we cover:
What are your employees skills and attributes and how to exploit these talents.
How to coach an employee to be ready for opportunity without diminishing your team's performance.
Good Loss vs. Regrettable Loss
Inspiring stories of how to maximize the potential in your team members.
Links from show:
Learn how to coach your team to be high performers. Click here to register for Vertex live nationwide.
Don't have the time or budget to take Vertex live nationwide. We offer Coaching For Performance live online, as a standalone class. Click here for more info.
Subscribe to The Credit Union Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service.
We want to hear from you! Talk with us so your podcast can best serve you.
Monday Jan 29, 2024
Be a Leader That Leaders Want To Follow
Monday Jan 29, 2024
Monday Jan 29, 2024
Studies show that over half of the current credit union CEO's will retire within the decade. The alarming fact is that 56% of new CEO's typically fail within the first 18 months. Don't be the average CEO. Listen to this episode and learn how to be a leader worth following.
In this episode we cover:
Significant elements that are vital for the prosperity of new CEOs.
The challenge for CEO's to be self-aware.
Learn which of the five leadership voices you have and how to use it to inspire a winning team.
An opportunity to excel as a leader in our new class Creating Leaders Worth Following.
$100 OFF NEW COURSE! USE DISCOUNT CODE: giant
Links from show:
Click here to sign up for Leaders Worth Following - USE DISCOUNT CODE: giant FOR $100 OFF
Take the free 5 Voices Assesment to help you identify your foundational voice
Subscribe to Credit Union Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service
Thursday Jan 25, 2024
Referral Sales: How To Be a Salesperson That People Like
Thursday Jan 25, 2024
Thursday Jan 25, 2024
Do I want to be an order taker or a pushy salesperson? In this episode we talk about the two extremes in sales and using the credit union mission to find the balanced middle.
In this episode we cover:
Identify if you lean towards being a passive order taker or pushy salesman and how to be in the well balanced middle.
Examples of how to and how not to do referral sales as a balanced salesperson.
Why we should be passionate about referral selling in the credit union movement.
Links from show:
Leaders, get your team to buy into referral selling for the credit union movement. Click here to register for our Credit Union PHD class!
Subscribe to The Credit Union Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service.
We want to hear from you! Talk with us so your podcast can best serve you.
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
Vertex: How To Be a Great Leader
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
What separates the good from the great? We all know a great leader when we see one. But can we define a great leader? In this episode we discuss how our Vertex course defines and trains great leaders.
In this episode we cover:
Using your attributes to the maximize potential.
Over and under emphasizing outcomes and behaviors
The importance of clear communication regarding mission
Setting clear expectations
Links from show:
Are you ready to become the leader you know you can be? Sign up for one of our leadership classes here.
Subscribe to The Credit Union Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service.
We want to hear from you! Talk with us so your podcast can best serve you.
Tuesday Jan 16, 2024
Becoming A Sales Champion: Why Selling Sucks
Tuesday Jan 16, 2024
Tuesday Jan 16, 2024
Most people have apprehension when asked to do a sales based role in their job. We look at the top three reasons why sales can be challenging and give you a solution to rise above these hurdles.
In this episode we cover:
Top three reasons people are reluctant to do sales.
Member-Centric vs Profit-Focused sales models
The significance of The Umbrella Man in our movement.
How credit unions are counter-cultural
Links from show:
Click Here to see the Umbrella Man
Interested in becoming a sales champion? Sign up for our course here.
Subscribe to The Credit Union Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service.
We want to hear from you! Talk with us so your podcast can best serve you.
Thursday Jan 11, 2024
Service Excellence: Why Freaky Fast Is Not Enough
Thursday Jan 11, 2024
Thursday Jan 11, 2024
Service Excellence is what defines the credit union movement, but the recent ASCI survey on customer satisfaction begs to differ. In this episode we emphasize the need for maintaining attention to detail and customer satisfaction.
In this episode we cover:
Where Chick-fil-A and credit unions are similar.
Speed between credit unions and other financial institutions.
The evolution of service excellence in the last 10 years
What does the future of service excellence look like?
How can you be a part of the movement to improve service excellence.
Links from show:
Click here to see American Customer Satisfaction Index to see how credit unions and banks compare today.
Free Resources - watch our leadership minute videos and get our free books to inspire you to give excellent service.
Interested in service excellence? Sign up for our course here.
Subscribe to The Credit Union Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service.
Friday Dec 29, 2023
Jump On In, the Water is Warm on The BandWagon
Friday Dec 29, 2023
Friday Dec 29, 2023
A cap off of a great run- Season 5 ends with leaders @Chris Bryan our COO and @Taylor Murray our CEO as we discuss our past year and what's to come at ServiStar Consulting.
Friday Dec 15, 2023
Why Mission Gives You Purpose
Friday Dec 15, 2023
Friday Dec 15, 2023
According to Gallup research, most workers in the world are disengaged with their work. For the past 5 years, ServiStar new hire, Scott Anderle, has worked at Chick-fil-A, where his team built a culture around being the most caring company and how to apply this sense of mission to your credit union.
In this episode we cover:
Find your purpose.
Find a company whose mission aligns with your purpose.
How to live out your mission in the little things.
What is your story that gives you purpose?
Links from show:
Scott AnderleEmail to set up time to talk through some ideas and see how we can develop you
Scott.Anderle@ServiStarConsulting.com
Click Here to look at Becoming A Sales Champion course and other trainings ServiStar has to help your team connect to your mission.
Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service
Saturday Dec 02, 2023
Mergers of Equals with Mike Bell
Saturday Dec 02, 2023
Saturday Dec 02, 2023
With mergers becoming more common within the movement, we decided to discuss the process. For the past 20 years, our guest, Mike Bell, has completed the majority of credit union purchases of banks and other businesses, including insurance, investment, and trust companies and real estate brokerages and mortgage originators.
In this episode we cover:
Strengths of both a progressive, high-risk taking credit union and non-progressive, traditional credit union.
What credit unions can bring to a merger is more than just assets.
The role of board members in a merger or acquisition.
How avoiding the discussion of a merger early on is a mistake.
What can credit unions use as leverage in a merger.
3 key components in a successful merger
The importance of doing pre-work in the decision-making processes and respecting the time of the team and the organization.
Links from show:
Mike Bell 269.337.7877
mbell@honigman.com
Click Here to look at all the trainings ServiStar has to offer
Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service
Monday Nov 20, 2023
How To Get Your Dream Job: Don’t Sleep On These Recruiting Tips
Monday Nov 20, 2023
Monday Nov 20, 2023
As leaders in the credit union, we have either been involved in or intrigued by the hiring process for executive level members.
Our guest, JT is the president of Angott Search Group. JT is committed to search and recruit for a wide range of position levels in the credit union sector, including everything from CEOs, CFOs and CIOs to loan officers, business bankers and branch managers.
He shares with us the rookie mistakes and ways to be a memorable candidate when applying for a management or executive role.
In This Episode We Cover:
The interview process is a two way street
Mistakes we make during the recruiting process
What makes a good resume
How to prepare for an interview
Using the CLAMPS model to learn why people are looking for a new job
Tips to stand out in the CEO interview process
Links from the Show:
Contact JT Westendorf
Email JT at jtw@asgteam.com
Click here to connect with JT over Linkedin
Phone: 248-453-0107
Learn more about Angott Search Group here asgteam.com
Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service
Click Here to look at all the trainings ServiStar has to offer
Monday Oct 30, 2023
A Warm Welcome to our COO, Chris Bryan
Monday Oct 30, 2023
Monday Oct 30, 2023
ServiStar is growing and scaling to be able to offer new solutions to help credit unions grow while maintaining the same level of consistency credit unions have come to us for. Our mission is to inspire transformational change in credit unions and to help us do that, we recently onboarded a new COO, @Chris Bryan
On this podcast, Chris shared his story of why working in this great industry got him hooked early on, who he trained in new hire orientation, and what he has in common with our CEO and producer.
Here is a sneaky peak at his recent accomplishments:
A new an improved learning library- did someone say "Masterclass"
Also these Bundle packages- new for 2024
2024 Program Bundles
Get Yours Now!
Contact us to secure your bundles and receive more information.
Contact Us
Ultimate Member Service Bundle
Credit Union PhD Service Excellence Becoming a Sales Champion or Referral Sales Champion
$247 $179
Launch your employees unparalleled growth through Our Credit Union PhD, Service Excellence, and Becoming a Sales Champion or Referral Sales Champion workshops.
Your employees first dive into the rich history of financial cooperatives, where "people helping people" sets the cornerstone, in our popular Credit Union PhD workshop. Then, we’ll equip them with the skills and mindset to elevate your members’ experience to new heights through our Service Excellence workshop. In Becoming a Sales Champion, they’ll develop skills to improve your members' financial wellbeing by seamlessly presenting relevant products and solutions. Alternatively, for those in roles focused on referrals, our Referral Sales Champion workshop opens doors to unmatched expertise.
Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity! Contact us now; this bundle is in high demand and workshop seats fill up quickly.
Bulk Pricing Options:
Quantity
Price
Discount
1–9
$179
28%
10–25
$149
40%
26–50
$129
48%
51–99
$109
56%
100+
$99
60%
Premier New Leaders Bundle
Emerging Leaders Coaching for Performance
$1,898 $1,620
Unleash the potential of your new leaders with the Spring 2024 Emerging Leaders and Coaching for Performance development programs.
Credit unions typically provide about two weeks of training to a new teller. But how much training is provided to a new manager? This is the best investment you can make in your new leaders!
Our Emerging Leaders program equips your rising star with the foundations of leadership such as building trust, establishing themselves as leaders and managing their former peers. In Coaching for Performance, we arm leaders with tools to propel their team to new heights. We cover the difference between coaching and managing, how to effectively redirect undesired behavior, and ways to coach their team during a busy workday.
This is a game changing bundle that empowers your new leader to craft a legacy of success. Contact us today!
Bulk Pricing Options:
Quantity
Price
Discount
1–4
$1,620
15%
5–9
$1,465
23%
10+
$1,299
32%
Peak Performance Leadership Bundle
Vertex Live Nationwide Coaching for Performance Emotional Intelligence
$2,647 $2,249
Elevate your Top Talent's success with the Spring 2024 Vertex Live Nationwide development program, Summer 2024 Emotional Intelligence workshop and Fall 2024 Coaching for Performance program.
Vertex Live Nationwide is our flagship program where leaders learn to deploy skills that will supercharge leadership performance, employee engagement, member service and profitability. Our Emotional Intelligence workshop is a dynamic and interactive program that dives deep into the core aspects of Emotional Intelligence, teaching essential skills for leaders to navigate both work and life with poise and mastery. In Coaching for Performance, we arm leaders with tools to propel their team to new heights. We cover the difference between coaching and managing, how to effectively redirect undesired behavior, and ways to coach their team during a busy workday.
This is our most popular program for credit union leaders. Contact us today to unlock the gateway to stronger leaders!
Bulk Pricing Options:
Quantity
Price
Discount
1–4
$2,249
15%
5–9
$2,025
23%
10+
$1,799
32%
Standout Branch Manager Bundle
Becoming a Business Development Champion Vertex Live Nationwide
$3,298 $2,799
Watch your Branch Manager soar to new heights with our Spring 2024 Becoming a Business Development Champion and Fall 2024 Vertex Live Nationwide development programs.
Becoming a Business Development Champion equips branch managers with the knowledge and skills to thrive in today’s competitive financial landscape by leveraging market trends, growth opportunities, marketing strategies and strategic partnerships. Vertex Live Nationwide is our flagship program where leaders learn to deploy skills that will supercharge leadership performance, employee engagement, member service and profitability. Through cohort-based learning, your leaders will transcend boundaries, networking with other credit union professionals to gain fresh perspectives on credit union leadership.
Don't let the competition outpace you. Contact us today to ensure a spot for your high-performing branch manager!
Bulk Pricing Options:
Quantity
Price
Discount
1–4
$2,799
15%
5–9
$2,515
24%
10+
$2,250
32%
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This certification verifies that ServiStar Consulting has the equipment, environment, and skills to deliver a professional remote presentation to your credit union.
Monday Oct 16, 2023
Managing Emotions and Maintaining Professional Relationships
Monday Oct 16, 2023
Monday Oct 16, 2023
Grab a pen and some paper. The latest vertex live nationwide class got a new topic - Emotional intelligence. They did a fantastic job giving the ServiStar team questions to answer in between sessions on the topic covered. Mike recorded his response to the questions posed and we used the audio for this podcast. Enjoy this episode of the credit union leadership podcast!!! Here is the transcript:
Mike Neal, Chief Learning Officer at Service Star Consulting, discusses how to respond to emotional cues in professional settings. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the context behind emotional reactions and suggests asking open-ended questions to gain insight. Mike also shares strategies for balancing empathy and emotional response while maintaining professionalism. He highlights the significance of delivering the truth in a gracious way and taking bold action when necessary. The podcast provides valuable insights for managing emotions and maintaining professional relationships.
Chapters
Responding to Emotional Cues
Balancing Empathy and Professionalism
Telling the Truth in a Gracious Way
Separating Personal and Professional
Developing Leadership Core Values
Navigating Difficult Situations
Focusing on Performance
To learn more on the topic, come to our 4-hour workshop https://events.servistarconsulting.com/event/emotional-intelligence/
Discover the Path to Success with ServiStar’s Exclusive Emotional Intelligence Course!
Are you ready to unlock the secrets to personal and professional success? Look no further! ServiStar proudly presents a specialized 4-hour course on Emotional Intelligence, custom-tailored for credit union employees like you.
Embrace a transformative experience in our dynamic and interactive program, where we dive deep into the core aspects of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and unveil its profound influence on your workplace performance, member relations, and overall well-being. Gain the essential skills to navigate both work and life with ease and grace.
Through engaging discussions, real-life scenarios, and practical exercises, we’ll equip you with powerful tools to enhance your emotional intelligence and drive positive outcomes in every aspect of your career and beyond.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to join us on a journey toward emotional intelligence excellence. Elevate your credit union career and make a lasting positive impact on your workplace and beyond. Enroll today and pave the way for a brighter and more fulfilling future.
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Friday Sep 29, 2023
Celebrating ServiStar with George A. Hofheimer
Friday Sep 29, 2023
Friday Sep 29, 2023
From 1998 to 2023, ServiStar has inspired transformational change in our great movement. To help us celebrate, George A. Hofheimer of Hofheimer Strategy Advisors joins Mike Neill to reminisce on their time together building what we now know as ServiStarConsulting.
George Hofheimer has 25 years of experience advising the consumer finance industry.
George was the head of research and development at Filene Research Institute, the credit union industry's think tank, for 15 years. Previously he was the chief learning officer at CUES, the credit union industry’s leading executive education association for 8 years.
He has conducted hundreds of advisory engagements with consumer finance organizations across the globe and authored dozens of research reports, including a book entitled Banking on a Human Scale.
George began his career in international business development, including as a member of the first group of Peace Corps Volunteers in the former Soviet Republic of Uzbekistan. George obtained his MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Enrich your credit union’s culture today.
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
It's been a while since we did a BONUS episode.
We have never done an episode this impactful that wasn't a part of our regular cadence.
It was too impactful to hold for a regular release date.
Do I have your interest yet!!???!!!- You need to listen to this podcast.
@Walter Scioli- you have the floor, my man.
Here is the solution Walter raved about in the podcast: https://www.servistarconsulting.com/our-solutions/member-experience-builder
Credit Union Member Experience Program
Today's consumers have more options than ever for financial services. That means attrition potential is high for organizations that only invest in transactional assistance. To remain competitive, improving the credit union member experience is essential.ServiStar Consulting can help. Our credit union member experience program provides your team with the skills, resources and processes to transform their cultures and develop exceptional teams.
Member Experience Builder Features
As part of our full-featured member services training for credit unions, our teams provide comprehensive tools to:
Develop service standards. Better experiences start with robust processes for defining and delivering them. We'll show you how.
Grow leadership, coaching and training skills. Modern workforces are more diverse than ever. ServiStar Consulting provides the people management knowledge your supervisors need for effective leadership.
Create engaged teams with superior sales and service skills. An engaged workforce is more productive, which can lead to a healthier bottom line. We provide sales and services training for internal and external stakeholders, plus internal surveys to gauge sentiment and spur engagement.
When you partner with ServiStar Consulting for credit union member services training, you'll also have access to our on-demand learning library and ongoing support.
Our Process
ServiStar Consulting uses a proven four-phase approach to improve credit union member experiences:
Phase One — planning. Our scalable and customizable services begin with in-depth strategy planning with our executive and implementation teams.
Phase Two — leadership training. During this phase, we provide supervisory staff with the foundations for becoming sales stars and coaching others for higher performance.
Phase Three — employee training. Our skill-building workshops help grow your staff's confidence in identifying members' needs and recommending the best solutions to meet them.
Phase Four — leadership and coaching development. This final phase builds on the skills introduced in phase two to further develop effective and successful people-management expertise.
Why Your Credit Union Needs the Member Experience Builder
ServiStar Consulting is a complete solution for better member experiences, founded and owned by credit union professionals and designed specifically for these organizations' unique needs. Our services help:
Increase credit union income. Needs-based selling and high-performing teams position credit unions to thrive. Members who use more of your products and services naturally create higher revenues.
Improve credit union culture. Positive organizational cultures and internal service nurture pride, accountability and efficiency. Better workplace values also help your credit union attract better talent.
Increase credit union member engagement. Providing exceptional member experiences builds trust and loyalty. These feelings translate to less member attrition potential.
Improve employee retention. Boosted workforce engagement and compelling rewards programs help credit unions keep their most qualified and highest-performing team members. Reduced turnover translates directly into savings on recruiting and hiring costs.
Contact ServiStar Consulting for Your Custom Solution
Our customized solutions deliver lasting change for improved credit union member experiences, higher revenue and more engaged and skilled teams. We draw on decades of firsthand credit union experience to tailor programs for your organization's unique challenges and opportunities.Take the next step and schedule a call with an expert or submit our digital contact form.
Enrich your credit union’s culture today.
Enter your email address for access to actionable advice that will revolutionize your organization’s sales and service culture!
Friday Sep 15, 2023
Anniversary Podcast with Tansley Stearns
Friday Sep 15, 2023
Friday Sep 15, 2023
ServiStar's Mike Neill and Community Financial's Tansley Stearns share on today's podcast the journey they both took to get ServiStar where it is today. They also deep dive into what it looks like to lead with purpose inside and outside of our great movement. It is our great pleasure to bring to you, the Tansley Stearns Anniversary podcast!
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Google Analytics 4 Your Credit Union
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
How do you compete in the marketing space as a credit union? On today's episode, we sit down with marketing guru, Adam Mark, of 2060 Digital who discusses how to show up on a search without running out of your budget. To keep this conversation going, connect with him on LinkedIn Here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-mark-8052864/
Wednesday Aug 16, 2023
Earn your Credit Union PHD with Taylor Murray and Eric Gubka
Wednesday Aug 16, 2023
Wednesday Aug 16, 2023
Eric Gubka, Credit Union Enthusiast joins fellow nerd, Taylor Murray and take us on a journey through history, our history, in this podcast and give you a teaser for our new grassroots movement program we run for FREE call PHD.
Here is more about the new program:
Limited to the first 50 participants!Let’s not forget why we do what we do. The credit union movement is growing, but is our commitment to People Helping People keeping pace? As credit unions continue to grow and expand, many credit union employees and leaders forget or never learned how and why we started.
Enroll today and begin earning your credit union PhD – the Philosophy, History and Development of our movement. In this fun and interactive 90-minute workshop, we’ll talk about the motivation and passion our early leaders had when transforming cooperative financial institutions.
Who Should Attend?From tenured employees to new hires, from the C-suite to the teller line. If you care about the Credit Union Movement, please join!
Topics Include:Who was Hermann Schulze-Delitzsch, and why you should care?Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen, what made him tick?Alphonse Desjardins, the Canadian who brought credit unions to North America.Ed Filene, the visionary and advocate for financial fairness for everyone.Roy Bergengren, the relentless lawyer who broke through hundreds of obstacles on his way to chartering over 1,000 credit unions.Louise McCarren Herring, the original credit union millennial and mother of credit unions.
The link to join us is here: https://events.servistarconsulting.com/event/credit-union-phd/
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Engagement in America
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Monday Jul 31, 2023
On this episode of the Credit Union Leadership Podcast, our founding father, Mike Neill shares some eye-opening data from the latest Gallup survey on the state of employee engagement. Brace yourself, because the results show that only 33% of employees in North America are actually engaged in their work. That means a whopping 67% of employees don't really care about their jobs. 😮 Now, before you listen to this podcast, I want you to understand the importance of this issue. Building a strong work culture and delivering a great member experience becomes challenging when a significant portion of our workforce lacks motivation and connection to their work. So, let's dive into the survey findings and explore the key drivers of engagement. Plus Mike will share some insights on how we can create a more meaningful and relevant work environment. Get ready to be inspired and let's take action together! 💪
Friday Jul 14, 2023
Financial Health Tools
Friday Jul 14, 2023
Friday Jul 14, 2023
Today we regroup with our friends over at Life Money You to discuss what they have been up to since we last spoke. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this episode of the Credit Union Leadership podcast!
Life. Money. You.®
BCU's chosen Financial Well-Being Program to help you take control of your money.
A holistic financial well-being Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO), owned by BCU, providing prescriptive solutions through digital tools, one-on-one financial coaches, live events, and access to financial health products and services to encourage behavior change and improve people's financial health.
Website
https://www.bcu.org/Financial-Well-Being/Life-Money-You
Industry
Financial Services
Company size
2-10 employees
3 on LinkedIn Includes members with current employer listed as Life. Money. You., LLC, including part-time roles.
Headquarters
Vernon Hills, IL
Founded
2022
Locations (1)
Primary
Headquarters
340 N Milwaukee Ave , Vernon Hills, IL 60061, US
Friday Jun 30, 2023
New Employee Development Offerings from ServiStar
Friday Jun 30, 2023
Friday Jun 30, 2023
Megan James our newest trainer and now learning and development instructional designer has created two new trainings you should know about. More about her is below:
Hometown: Rolla, MO
Pets: Two Goldendoodles, Ruby and Piper
Hobbies: Going to the beach, exploring new restaurants, spending time with friends and family, but mostly working on my yard and house
Strengths: Learner – Achiever – Intellection – Relator – Discipline
Favorite Life Hack: Putting saran wrap on a paint brush, cup or tray while painting so it doesn’t dry out.
Here are the show notes from the podcast;
Q1: Your first idea was to beef up what we call Train the Trainer here at ServiStar. Can you describe to the listeners your vision for such a quest?
My vision was to create a robust and impactful training that was comprehensive. In my experience over the years there are many train the trainer programs, but there are always pieces missing that I feel are valuable. I wanted to ensure with our train the trainer program that all of our learners walked away with everything they needed to be successful.
Q2: After delivering this onsite last week, I can say with certainty this is not one you will want to miss out on folks….Seeing that this can be a competency for ServiStar in and of itself, what types of credit unions could you see bringing us on to just do Train the Trainer
Well, Scott, honestly it really depends – could be a smaller shop with a one person training team who never gets developed on their own but whose job it is to develop others- or a huge credit union with a 20 person training shop who could use this training to align expectations of effective training practices.
Q3: If a credit union were to be interested in learning more about this training where can they go to get help-
I highly encourage anyone interested to go to our website at www.servistarconsulting.com and click on the yellow button at the top to schedule a call with me. I would be happy to discuss the program in more detail.
Megan also added to our competency list an Emotional Intelligence training most recently
Q1: Where did the demand come from for this custom piece of training-
I think that often times as leaders we get wrapped up in the operational aspect of our job and don’t lean on our emotional intelligence as much as we should. Using this awareness in our interactions is so impactful. We are kicking this off very soon with the credit union leagues in the Southeast and have other credit unions ready to sign up as soon as it’s available.
Q2: Give us a sneak peek of the material, what is one of your favorite aspects of this new training.
Oh gosh, I love all of it and truly enjoyed developing it, but I think my favorite part is the role play I created at the end to truly give leaders the opportunity to walk through a situation that could be emotionally difficult utilizing all of the different strategies discussed throughout the course.
Q3: Any last thoughts for the listeners?
Ya know, I just have to say how much I love working on our team, Scott. I am truly excited about coming to work every day. I love these two new courses we’ve created and I think they will be valuable to our clients, but I’m even more jazzed about the material we have in the pipeline, so stay tuned!
Q1: And the most important question we could ask on this podcast….Megan…how are your dogs?
Aw, thank you so much for asking! My little unemployed freeloaders are doing really well.
To learn more about these trainings and others we use to serve the credit union industry check us out at : https://www.servistarconsulting.com/team/megan?_gl=1*9r3ybx*_ga*MTc1NzQzOTk2My4xNjcwMTkwMzQ2*_ga_QL3RMP89SM*MTY4MzYzODM5Ny4xMzkuMS4xNjgzNjM5OTA4LjU0LjAuMA..
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
Delegation w/ Mike Neill
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
There are many misconceptions about delegation. In this episode, listeners will learn how to avoid the pitfalls and challenges in order to use this leadership skill for the development of their employees.
To register for our Fall Vertex Live Nationwide course- click this link here: https://events.servistarconsulting.com/event/vertex-live-nationwide/
Thursday Jun 01, 2023
Hey Mike, Can you Coach Up?
Thursday Jun 01, 2023
Thursday Jun 01, 2023
We get this question all the time at ServiStar...how do I coach up? Teaser..you can't coach up. But today we discuss what you can do. Listen in as we speak with Mike Neill, Founder of ServiStar Consulting on this topic. "it's hopeless and everyone dies at the end of this movie" - Mike Neill.
Monday May 15, 2023
Where There is a Will There is a Mike
Monday May 15, 2023
Monday May 15, 2023
Willingness to vs Caring or Wanting to. On today's podcast, Mike Neill continues our chase of adequate semantics and answers the question: To what degree is it a leader's job to influence someone's want to? Caring does not transfer - listen to this podcast for more about what you can do.
Monday May 01, 2023
Semantics of Leading Change
Monday May 01, 2023
Monday May 01, 2023
Buy In, Boxing, and Bankruptcy....what do they all have in common?
se·man·tics
the branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning. There are a number of branches and subbranches of semantics, including formal semantics, which studies the logical aspects of meaning, such as sense, reference, implication, and logical form, lexical semantics, which studies word meanings and word relations, and conceptual semantics, which studies the cognitive structure of meaning.
the meaning of a word, phrase, sentence, or text.
plural noun: semantics
Such quibbling over semantics may seem petty stuff...some may say. But culture change and language go hand in hand in leadership.
Today we discuss with Mike Neill the difference between buy in and engagement and why it's important to search for the right one and not accept the other as sufficient in leading change.
Saturday Apr 15, 2023
Leadership Development in Alaska w/ Mark Burgess CEO, CU1 Credit Union
Saturday Apr 15, 2023
Saturday Apr 15, 2023
CU1 is known by the rest of the industry for top talent, cold temps, and colorful shoes. ServiStar has had the privilege of working along side their management team as 50 of their leaders participate in our highly coveted, research based leadership development program. To celebrate our 25th year of helping credit unions with topics such as leadership development, their CEO and President, Mark Burgess joined the podcast to give his take on leadership development at CU1 in Alaska.
Mark Burgess
President/CEO
Mark started his career in IT for both small and large organizations, and his passion is finding elegant technical solutions to drive organizational efficiencies. Before serving as CEO of Credit Union 1, Mark moved to Alaska from New Hampshire in 2018 to serve as CU1’s Chief Technology Officer. He was responsible for day-to-day IT operations, project management, information security, and facilities. In his newest role, Mark brings immense knowledge, innovative thinking, and a commitment to lead with empathy, compassion, and service to others.
Mark finds ways to give back whenever he can and serves on the Alaska SeaLife Center Board, the Alaska State Council on the Arts Commission, and the Alaska Public Broadcast Commission. He and his wife, Hannah, are also avid birders who are always searching high and low for new birds - and trying to see more birds in a year than his dad
Saturday Apr 01, 2023
Saturday Apr 01, 2023
Bryanna is an independent contractor and coach working as President and CEO of BrightPeak Consulting and previously worked extensively with ServiStar as a client onboarding our 3-part series on leadership development, Vertex as the Director of Employee and Organizational Development for Heritage Financial Credit Union, headquartered in Middletown, New York. She volunteered to take the time to help ServiStar celebrate our Golden Anniversary on today's podcast. We will have an Anniversary podcast air on our anniversary day of April 15th with others, like Bryanna, who have helped ServiStar get to where it is today. #Teaser
More about Bryanna: "I am a self-aware, engaged, high-performing People Operations Leader, with a passion for human and organizational growth. I have 15 years of experience impacting positive organizational outcomes through leadership coaching, product development, and dedication to employee engagement. I enjoy continuously learning about myself and others, and I believe that we are all capable of personal growth. I love partnering with people and teams to create an engaged and productive workforce! Some of my favorite topics to talk about are:
Employee Voice, Employee Engagement, Self Discovery, Teamwork & Team Growth, Career Dreams, Strategy Sessions, and Finding your Magic. I enjoy networking with people who are also passionate about their growth." You can connect with her and her company here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanna-mehling-56b2994b/
Wednesday Mar 15, 2023
Wednesday Mar 15, 2023
The Credit Union Leadership Podcast is proud and honored to interview Meggan Schwirtz, a Vertex Live Nationwide Graduate from 2021, and new Chief Experience Officer at St. Cloud Financial Credit Union.
Meggan comes from a host of talents ranging from executive leadership, business development, and branch experience/community strategy and is a true rising star in the industry.
#RisingLeader #StCloudFinancialCreditUnion @Meggan Schwirtz
Saturday Mar 04, 2023
Women in Leadership w/ Lauren Culp
Saturday Mar 04, 2023
Saturday Mar 04, 2023
Today, we interview a credit union leader and inspiration to other women looking to achieve great things in this industry. A CUDE friend and fellow podcast host joins the Credit Union Leadership podcast, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.
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Lauren Culp
Publisher & CEOCUInsight.com
It’s high time to shine a brighter light on the spectacular women in the credit union industry – on today's episode we discuss what women in our industry can look up to in the current leadership position women hold and the obstacles still in our way to make the industry better for women in the future. Taylor Murray asks our honored guest the below questions to tune in to see how Lauren repsonds. :)
What do you enjoy most about your work at CUInsight?
How has your work with CUDE informed your leadership in the movement?
Where do you see this industry heading and how is CUInsight positioned to help it?
Wednesday Feb 15, 2023
What’s in a Name? W/ Doug Clinton of Koin CU
Wednesday Feb 15, 2023
Wednesday Feb 15, 2023
In today's podcast, we discuss credit union name changes with the President and CEO of Koin Credit Union, Doug Clinton. His credit union recently changed its name from Lifeway Credit Union to Koin CU- listen in as he highlights the reasons why, how they did it, and what you should do if you are thinking of a name change.
Douglas P Clinton
https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglaspclinton/
Koin Credit Union was founded on one ideal – to leverage Christ-Centered Stewardship to improve the financial lives of our members through ethics, responsibility, and prudent leadership. They’re all integral components we believe help us achieve that lofty goal. It’s that simple.
We Are Koin
We are a small group of people who care about other people. We are a safe place for people who seek faith-based financial guidance and support. We are a community of like-minded individuals who want to make a difference. We are servants of Christ, who strive to grow his kingdom through generosity and stewardship.
We Are Fresh.
We do digital tools with a fresh approach: With human warmth and connection.
We Are Welcoming.
Just as Christ turns no one away, we welcome people at any stage in their financial and faith journey.
We Are Empathetic.
We do everything with a spirit of grace and humility, knowing we all fall short of the glory of God.
We Are Honest.
We understand the trust you put in us as stewards of your finances. We honor that trust with transparency and integrity.
We are Stewards of Christ.
Our unwavering goal is to grow the kingdom through the generosity and Christ-centered stewardship.
Wednesday Feb 01, 2023
Wednesday Feb 01, 2023
Brad is an up-and-coming CEO out of Flint Michigan who you may remember used to work with Taylor Murray and Producer, Scott Albrecht at BCU. He also went to college with Scott where their paths certainly would have crossed at fraternity circle during their time at Western Michigan University college. But you will hear in this podcast, that young Brad was eager to succeed, continuing his education journey to get his Law degree from the University of Toledo and as the CLO at BCU attended school at Notre Dame and graduated with an MBA. He has been the CEO of Financial Plus Credit Union in Michigan since December 2019 and is a good friend of both Taylor and Scott. I can’t wait to have you listen in as a fly on the wall as two CEOs talk shop!! We cover various topics, from mentors and mistakes to fintech and the race to scale.
President/CEO at Financial Plus Credit Union - Michigan
To contact Brad- reach out to him here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradbergmooser/
Enjoy this episode of the Credit Union Leadership podcast!!
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
The Impact of Emerging Leaders
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Credit unions typically provide about two weeks of training to a new teller. But how much training is provided to a new manager?
ServiStar’s Emerging Leaders program takes new and emerging managers and turns them into confident, competent, high-performance leaders who will be able to develop their own personal leadership style, deploy core coaching skills and maximize employee engagement and performance.
Sessions covering topics such as:
How to Manage Former Peers
Building Trust & Influence
Change Management
Emotional Intelligence
What's included:
Leadership assessment
One-on-one access to ServiStar's facilitators
Access to the ServiStar Network
Register Here
Monday Jan 02, 2023
Producing a Live Training
Monday Jan 02, 2023
Monday Jan 02, 2023
Listen in to hear who CRASHs the podcast to open season 5 in our 25th year of helping credit union clients.
Also, Taylor Murray, CEO, and President of the podcast discusses tweaks we made to give you more access to our training at less cost!!
Sunday Jan 01, 2023
Making More Money with Your Money
Sunday Jan 01, 2023
Sunday Jan 01, 2023
Making More Money with Your Money
Please welcome Al Riddick, the President of Game Time Budgeting, an award-winning, Cincinnati-based, financial wellness firm that helps people learn to make their money behave.
Questions
What does budgeting mean to you?
What questions should people be asking themselves which might make them feel better about the process of budgeting?
Why is budgeting in January so important?
Financial New Year’s resolutions are very popular right now, but I understand you have a new way of looking at them. Can you tell me more?
How can 2022 help us create better financial plans in 2023?
I hear you love the rule of 12 when it comes to managing money, what does that mean?
What advice do you have for the person who makes a New Year’s resolution, but then finds it difficult to follow through?
What one or two things do most people forget to do at the beginning of the year which can hurt them in the long run?
Al, if you don’t mind me putting you on the spot, what types of topics do you and your wife discuss during your year-end annual review?
What’s one of the best pieces of advice you can leave with our listeners?
I hear you had a very special anniversary on Dec. 15. What was it?
What made you decide to become an entrepreneur?
Al, tell me a little about some of the services and products offered by Game Time Budgeting.
AL RIDDICK
PRESIDENT
O: 513-813-3275 | M: 513-706-0450
al@gametimebudgeting.com | www.gametimebudgeting.com
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
American Credit Union Mortgage Association
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
Peter J. Benjamin joins us today on the Credit Union Leadership podcast to discuss leadership in mortgages today and in the future and what ServiStar and ACUMA are doing to help.
Peter J. Benjamin, CMB
Peter J. Benjamin, CMB is the President of the American Credit Union Mortgage Association (ACUMA).
A mortgage professional with 20 years of experience, Benjamin has held various positions throughout the mortgage industry including Senior Vice President of Mortgage Lending for Lafayette Federal Credit Union in Rockville, MD. During his time at Lafayette Federal, Benjamin led a high-performing mortgage team that exceeded production and budget goals each year, reduced the Credit Union’s cycle times to the industry required timeframes; and improved the credit union’s application pull-through rate.
As an association, Benjamin wants to see ACUMA members continue to foster the collaborative spirit that has made the association so great and work together to support the American Dream of homeownership. He sees ACUMA as a vital education arm that helps Member Credit Unions gain market share in the mortgage industry.
Benjamin plans to grow membership in ACUMA to bring its unique and strong value proposition to more and more credit unions, so they become stronger mortgage lenders and credit unions capture more market share across the country. He plans to engage with the organization’s affiliate members and sponsors to strengthen the partnerships. And finally, he will seek to continue delivering the highest quality education and networking events.
Benjamin holds a Certified Mortgage Banker designation, sits on the Advisory Counsel for a George Washington University School of Business leadership certificate program and is a Six Sigma Black Belt. He spends his personal time with his wife, Danielle, and their three kids. A DC-area native; he enjoys hiking through our National Parks system, brewing in his basement home brewery, and spending quality time with his family.
Peter J. Benjamin, CMB
Organization President
Join ACUMA today for energizing experiences! JOIN ACUMA TODAY!
Thursday Dec 01, 2022
CU Broadcast w/ Mike Lawson (part 2)
Thursday Dec 01, 2022
Thursday Dec 01, 2022
Taylor Murray recently interviewed CU Broadcast- this is the B Roll that didn't make it on the first podcast, enjoy Mike Larson- the rest of the story.
About
NBC TODAY Show's Jean Chatzky
InterviewsCUbroadcast is a credit union talkshow. It is a collection of informative, online video interviews discussing today’s credit union issues and trends with some of the industry’s finest innovators, ambassadors, and game changers.We interview industry leaders and experts nationwide from credit unions, CUSOs, vendors, regulators, league officials, media, and more. We get their take on the latest industry trends, what we can learn from the past, and how to keep this industry moving forward and better serving its millions of members now and well into the future.Video ServicesWe have also added a number of Video Services that will allow you to tell your story in a unique and refreshing way -- in an objective, non-scripted interview format that lends a ton of credibility to your message and organization. Let your audience see your story told through video. Nothing is more powerful or shareable than this medium in today's marketplace. Take advantage of this cost-effective, time-saving process to enhance your trusted leadership position for increased business and branding.We're always looking for ways to make this industry better. If you have any input and expertise in this area, we want to interview you! Let's connect today at mike@cubroadcast.com.
Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
Introducing Megan James
Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
Meet Megan James
Megan James
Megan is the Manager of Learning and Development here at ServiStar Consulting. Megan began her career in Education and prior to her time here was the Group Leader of Compliance Training for a Pharmaceutical Solutions Company. Megan brings a lot of learning and development knowledge to our team and we are excited to take our existing programs to the next level with her guidance and expertise. Megan resides in Clearwater, Florida with her two Goldendoodles. In her free time she likes to go to the beach, try new restaurants and spend time with friends and family, but most of the time you can find her working on her house.
On today's episode, we meet the newest member of our training team and explore what she brings to the industry with the help of our President and CEO, Taylor Murray who kicks off this episode.
We recently played 20 questions: Get to know our new hire Megan better with her answers below:
What’s one album that you could listen to without ever getting bored?
Megan: That is not possible! I love mostly anything music, lots of different genres and artists.
Do you have any pets?
Megan: Yes, 2 Goldendoodles: Ruby is 10 and Piper is 1.
Do you have any family?
Megan: Yes, my Mom and Dad (live in MO), younger brother and his wife (live in CO), and lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins that mostly live in Missouri.
What’s a hobby you’ve learned since the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Megan: Honestly, I got better at being alone.
Which movie or show have you seen recently or what are you watching on Netflix?
Megan: I will watch ANYTHING documentary and quite a bit of reality TV, too. I recently finished The Watcher, which was really good!
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done or seen before?
Megan: Moving to Florida by myself with no place lined up until I got here would probably be close to the top.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever had?
Megan: I'm a foodie and I will eat and enjoy just about anything. I cannot answer that because I've had too many good meals!
What are your pet peeves?
Megan: Dishonesty, disrespect, being unreliable, laziness, and being messy/dirty
Do you have traditions in your family?
Megan: We always make a point to be together for at least one holiday during the year--last year everyone was here for Christmas.
What is your favorite snack?
Megan: Anything crunchy and salty--chips, crackers, nuts, etc...
Is there something that has made you smile recently?
Megan: The ServiStar Team
What’s the best advice you can give to someone who just started their career?
Megan: Do not ever let your job rule your personal life, put yourself, health and family first.
What are your favorite video/board games and why?
Megan: Scrabble, Words with Friends, and Wordle!
Which fictional family would you want to be part of?
Megan: Ok, might be controversial now, but The Cosby's!
How would you spend a million dollars (on yourself) in 24 hours? (no donating, investing, or giving to family)
Megan: I'd book a sabbatical for my family and close friends to travel all through Europe
What’s the coolest thing you’re working on right now?
Megan: I’ve been ordering all the materials and am getting ready to remodel my bathroom!
How do you like to get feedback?
Megan: Gently, but very direct.
What was the first job that you got a paycheck for?
Megan: Pizza Inn (pizza buffet place) when I was 16!
What are the toughest challenges you’ve had at work?
Megan: Taking on too much at a time and not asking for help
If you could get a new skill in 10 minutes, what would it be?
Megan: I'm terrible at anything athletic, so I would like to learn how to play all sports.
What is your favorite Life Hack?
Megan: Organization! I should have been a professional organizer
Where would be your favorite place to retire?
Megan: 100% Italy!
Reining from Clearwater, Florida, Megan James is here to take your credit union to a better place where People help People in a more efficient and effective way to make the movement stronger.
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Financial Wellness Training
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Community Choice Credit Union is a 1.68 Billion dollar community influencer in Michigan. Their partnership with the University of Maryland, Filene, and ServiStar has allowed them to come to the market with a complete program to educate it's employees using CUNA's FICEP training and teach them the soft skills needed to take that training and implement it with every member, every time, where they are at.
Simply said, Choice Map helps members achieve the life they desire.
Stacey Ferris, is the training manager over the program and is willing to help your credit union out as well. She can be reached at sferris@communitychoicecu.com.
You can also contact our producer, Scott Albrecht who developed this two-and-a-half-day training to learn more about how it can be delivered at your credit union. Contact Scott on Linked In using the link below:Scott Albrecht
Interested in participating in our 25 year anniversary podcast? Email: Scott@ServiStarConsulting.com to be on air and share your favorite memories of Mike and the team and how they were able to influence your credit union and you.
Friday Oct 28, 2022
Ghost Writing
Friday Oct 28, 2022
Friday Oct 28, 2022
Trick or Treat!!! It's ServiStar Consulting, here to offer you tricks you can use with your credit union...see what we did there? :)
In this episode, we have a treat for you: a chat with Vicky Franchino, Industry Ghost Writer.
Vicky fills listeners in on what ghostwriting is, why your credit union might need a ghostwriter, and how you can track down a ghostwriter of your very own. Plus, she weighs in on the question every enquiring mind wants answered, “Is candy corn awesome?”
Stay tuned to this incredibly spooky episode of the Credit Union Leadership Podcast!
To contact Vicky and have her ghost write for your credit union- email her or visit here website: vickyfranchino.comvicky@vickyfranchino.comAlso, if you want to get a free copy of the article I wrote on Business Development that Vicky helps us with, check that out by emailing me at Scott@ServiStarConsulting.com.
And yes, Vicky also proofed these show notes for me because she is a nice human being :)
Saturday Oct 15, 2022
Discomfort is a function of growth.
Saturday Oct 15, 2022
Saturday Oct 15, 2022
It's our podcast founder and ServiStar Cheif Learning Officer's birthday and as a gift to the listener, we give you a behind-the-curtains look into what goes on at Vertex Live Nationwide. In this part two of two podcasts, we listen to the 2021 version of Mike Neill on his birthday leading our first-ever Fall Vertex Live Nationwide course through the topic of Employee Motivation. We spend a lot of time in Vertex covering the topic of employee motivation, so this podcast is meant to be more of a taste of the content. Enjoy.
If you are more of a full plate learner- sign up for an upcoming Vertex Live Nationwide class here: ServiStar Consulting | Events
Friday Oct 14, 2022
What you are willing to accept will become your standard.
Friday Oct 14, 2022
Friday Oct 14, 2022
It's our podcast founder and ServiStar Cheif Learning Officer's birthday and as a gift to the listener, we give you a behind-the-curtains look into what goes on at Vertex Live Nationwide. In this part one of two podcasts, we listen to the 2021 version of Mike Neill on his birthday leading our first-ever Fall Vertex Live Nationwide course through the topic of Coaching for Performance. We spend a lot of time in Vertex covering the topic of coaching, so this podcast is meant to be more of a taste of the content. Enjoy.
If you are more of a full plate learner- sign up for an upcoming Vertex Live Nationwide class here: ServiStar Consulting | Events
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Crypto in Credit Unions
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Chase Larson is a friend of the podcast and is the Chief Lending Officer at St. Cloud Financial Credit Union in Minnesota. In today's episode, Chase shares his expertise in crypto, how he is looking to use it at his credit union, how others have utilized it at their credit unions/banks, and what the future holds for this technology in your credit union's future.
To connect with Chase to find out more, email him at: chasel@scfcu.org
Chase Larson has almost 15 years of banking and finance experience. He has expertise in mortgage lending, business banking and SBA lending, and crypto utilization at credit unions.
Thursday Sep 01, 2022
Brand Marketing w/Jill Sammons
Thursday Sep 01, 2022
Thursday Sep 01, 2022
Jill Sammons, Senior Vice-President, Marketing & Strategic Communications
Jill Sammons
Vice President, Marketing & Brand Strategy
BCU
Jill has more than 30 years of credit union marketing and business development experience, beginning in 1991 when she joined BCU. Her work currently includes putting Purpose Into Practice to drive brand value, member acquisition & product engagement, B2B2C relationship management, and improving the financial well-being of everyone BCU serves. She is recognized for her ability to manage strong cross-functional teams, communicate effectively, and positively influence others, and her commitment to empowering people to discover financial freedom is reflected in everything she does. Jill received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, and is a graduate of the CUES Strategic Innovation Institute through Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
On today's credit union leadership podcast, Jill shared the important power of finding your why and building an architect framework around your brand narrative to allow for the purpose to speak through the organization through how it is seen internally and externally. The promises we make, the tagline, and the mission statement all must come after we identify our authentic selves. Then we can begin the narrative of how it sounds through purpose statements, tag lines, and service promises. Everyone is a branch ambassador in this model and serves the purpose of the credit union every day.
Some other podcasts she has been spotlighted on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0fTByj2NEs
https://filene.org/blog/thinking-outside-the-box-on-healthcare-and-financial-well-being
https://businesschief.com/company-reports/bcu-leveraging-todays-tech-tomorrows-well-being
https://www.cuinsight.com/press-release/bcu-is-giving-away-up-to-20-scholarships-to-college-bound-high-school-seniors/
https://www.savvymoney.com/news-and-stories/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BCU-Partner-Story-FINAL.pdf
Monday Aug 15, 2022
Credit Union Journalism w/ Mike Lawson
Monday Aug 15, 2022
Monday Aug 15, 2022
Mike Lawson is the face you have seen across the industry for over 20 years with over 5,000 videos with CUbroadcast, a credit union talk show. In this episode of the Credit Union Leadership podcast, Taylor Murray interviews the interviewer. Mike Lawson is putting all his marketing, journalism, humor, and video innovation to work and as a result since 2008, there has been a collection of informative, online video interviews discussing today’s credit union issues and trends with some of the industry’s finest innovators, ambassadors, and game-changers.
To learn about Mike and CU Broadcast visit his website here: https://www.cubroadcast.com/about.html
He also gave a shout-out to the podcast our founder did with our good friends over at Canvas credit union- check that podcast episode 72 of "In the Room, w/ Todd Marksberry",
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/e72-mike-neill-executive-director-servistar-llc/id1481513677?i=1000524451068
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Employee Accountability
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Email me for my employee discount Scott@ServiStarConsulting.com for this upcoming Vertex Live Nationwide Fall Program in this nationwide series you will also get access to :
On-Going LearningTwelve-month access to the following Computer-Based Management Training Courses from the VertexLibrary. Delegation Team BuildingCoaching for Performance Employee MotivationStrategic Thinking LeadershipAccountability Interviewing
All participants will have unlimited access to the trainer, for twelve months from the date of they attendthe management workshop for questions, troubleshooting, consultation, etc. Investment Summary $1350 per participant when 20 or more trained.
Register your team now. ServiStar (servistarconsulting.com)
Monday Jul 25, 2022
Employee Motivation/Time Management
Monday Jul 25, 2022
Monday Jul 25, 2022
We don't have a million dollars to incentivize activity- Carlynne Pouliot joins us again for our mini-series on Vertex Live Nationwide coming up later this month on September 12th running through December. Register NOW to level up your leadership on the topics below:
Module Key Learning Points:
The Key Attributes and Skills of Highly Effective Credit Union Managers• Attributes vs. Skills• Attributes and Skills Common Among High Performing Credit Union Managers• How to Develop Attributes of High Performing Credit Union Managers
Effective Delegation• What Delegation Is and Is Not• Warning Signs One Is Not Delegating• Why Managers Don’t Delegate• The Process of Effective DelegationTeam Building• Why Mission Matters in Team Building• Using the G-R-O-W Team Building Model to Create a Great Team• Resolving the Five Dysfunctions of a Team
Performance Through Coaching• The Key Behaviors of an Effective Coach• Defining Coaching• The Differences in Management and Coaching• Why and How Coaching is an Important Sub-Set of Leadership• Four Critical Coaching Behaviors• Understanding Why Employees Under-Perform• How to Identify the Cause of Under-Performance• How to Coach to the Four Respective Performance Types• Using The Effective Confrontation Model to Redirect an Unwilling/Able Performance Type
Employee Motivation• What is Motivation?• What is Engagement?• How is Engagement Different Than “Buy-In?”• The Impact of Engaged and Dis-Engaged Employees• The Seven Keys to Creating an Engaging Work Environment7
Strategic Thinking• Why Strategic Thinking is Critical to Leadership Success• The Strategic Thinking Gap That Exists in Credit Unions and Why It Exists• The Types of Strategic Thinkers• The Differences in Strategic Thinking and Strategic Planning• How Strategic Masters Differ From Strategic Thinkers• The Three Disciplines of Strategic Masters• Strategic Thinking Challenges• How to Become a Strategic Master
Leadership• The Challenge in Leading From The Middle• Management Vs. Leadership• Why Credit Union Managers Tend to “Over-Manage” and Under- Lead.• The Three Leadership Roles of Middle Managers• The Keys to Implementing Skills Used In the Three Leadership Roles
Employee Accountability• What is Accountability?• The Keys to Effective Accountability• How to Conduct an Effective Performance Meeting• The Keys to Setting Effective Performance Goals
Time Management• The Causes of Many of Our Time Management Issues• How to Organize and Prioritize Using the Urgent/Important Quadrant Model• Time Management Hacks From the Best Time Managers
Conflict Resolution and Effectively Handling Difficult Conversations• The Primary Causes of Conflict• The Impact of Fear of Conflict and Why It Is So Prevalent in Credit Union Culture• What to Avoid in Conflict Resolution• What to Do in Conflict Resolution• How to Handle Peer Conflict• How to Have Difficult Conversations in an Effective Manner
Monday Jul 18, 2022
Leadership Training
Monday Jul 18, 2022
Monday Jul 18, 2022
There are three topics that carry more weight as it relates to what makes up a high-performing leader in the credit union industry, coaching, strategic thinking, and leadership. On today's Vertex Live Nationwide Countdown to our upcoming Fall Session, Carlynne Pouliot discusses using skills in Strategic Thinking and Leadership to take a credit union to the next level. To get your pass for our upcoming Vertex Live Nationwide Fall Session, register HERE.
Why Vertex Live Nationwide?
The Need for Effective Management
The need for effective management, particularly in the middle management ranks is more important thanever before. With changes more rapid, staffing more lean, economic and regulatory pressure making itmore difficult to achieve success, there is a limit to what cost-cutting and technology implementationscan do to create success. A Gallup Survey reveals:• 55% of employees admit that they are disengaged in the mission of the organization, while 16%admit to being actively disengaged.• 71% of employees are not just working below their potential, but working at a minimum level!• The percentage of engaged managers is only somewhat higher than the percentage of engagedemployees - 35% of managers are engaged, while 65% are not engaged in their work!• One in two employees have left their job to get away from their manager at some point in theircareer.• Employees who are supervised by highly engaged managers are 59% more likely to be engaged than those supervised by actively disengaged managers.
The Gallup Organization Surveys reveal that 70% of an employee’s engagement is directly attributable to their manager! The most often provided reason for this disengagement is ineffective management.Vertex Live Develops Outstanding Managers
The Vertex Management Development Program will develop managers who have the ability to improveemployee performance thus creating greater profitability. Improved sales and service levels, reduced mistakes, and increased employee accountability for performance will provide a rapid and significant payback on the investment. Vertex Management Training is based on our ground-breaking researchpublished by the Filene Research Institute, “Attributes and Skills Common Among High PerformingManagers.” Your managers will receive the designation, “Certified Credit Union Manager” from theFilene Research Institute
Register now - Vertex Live Nationwide begins Tuesday, Sept. 13
Wednesday Jul 13, 2022
Attributes and Skills Common Among High Performing Credit Union Managers
Wednesday Jul 13, 2022
Wednesday Jul 13, 2022
Vertex Live Nationwide UPDATE
We previously recorded these countdown episodes before the last class graduated. That class suggested we do more classes with less of a time commitment. As a result, our VLN Fall 2022 session is 10 sessions 2 hours each vs 8 sessions 3 hours each. This pushes the start date to August 2
Registration
August 2–December 6
Sessions are Tuesday’s from 2 – 4 PM ET
August
2, 16, 30
September
13, 27
October
11, 25
November
8, 29
December
6
Register Here_ https://events.servistarconsulting.com/event/vertex-live-nationwide/
Monday Jul 11, 2022
Coaching for Performance
Monday Jul 11, 2022
Monday Jul 11, 2022
Vertex Live Nationwide is a 10-topic series that credit union leaders nationwide join in on to learn common traits of high-performing leaders.
Each session is from 2-5 PM ET/11-2 PM PT
Sessions:
Key Attributes and Skills of Highly Effective Managers and Delegation (Tuesday, Sept. 13)
Team Building and Coaching Part 1 (Tuesday, Sept. 27)
Coaching Part 2 and Employee Motivation (Tuesday, Oct. 11)
Strategic Thinking and Leadership (Tuesday, Oct. 25)
Employee Accountability and Time Management (Tuesday, Nov. 8)
Conflict Resolution (Tuesday, Nov. 15)
Group Project Q&A (optional) (Tuesday, Nov. 29)
Group Project Presentation & Graduation (Tuesday, Dec. 13)
Register HERE
Monday Jul 04, 2022
Effective Delegation
Monday Jul 04, 2022
Monday Jul 04, 2022
Another daily mini-series leading up to our most coveted Vertex Live Nationwide
a special thanks to Carlynne Pouliot - Director of Branch Administration at HRCU who was a participant and is now sharing this Vertex training with the rest of her organization where they focus on offering their members, Better, Not Bigger Banking!
On this first of five mini-episodes we mentioned another guest of the podcast Lisa Chitty- to hear her podcast on hiring for attributes and skills- listen here.
https://servistarconsulting.podbean.com/e/season-3-ep-10-hiring-assessments-with-lisa-chitty/
Vertex Live Nationwide
Begins Tuesday, Sep. 13. Every session is from 2–5 pm ET (11 am–2 pm PT)
Learn how to deploy skills that will improve management performance, employee engagement, member service and profitabilitySee immediate improvements in management performance!
Whether you are an individual manager looking to grow or you are an emerging manager looking to prepare for success, you'll find that Vertex Live Nationwide will set you up for success as a strong coach.
Presented over an interactive studio-quality live stream from our studio (which means no travel is needed!)
Eight 3-hour online sessions spread out over four months
Interactive group work and individual networking allows participants to connect with and pose questions to peers and instructors
Assessments to validate learning and promote engagement
Access to our Vertex Learning Library computer-based training courses for one year for refresher training.
Investment: Only $1,500 per person
Discounts are available when registering 5 or more employees (email Whitney@servistarconsulting.com for more information).
Each session is from 2-5 PM ET/11-2 PM PT
Sessions:
Key Attributes and Skills of Highly Effective Managers and Delegation (Tuesday, Sept. 13)
Team Building and Coaching Part 1 (Tuesday, Sept. 27)
Coaching Part 2 and Employee Motivation (Tuesday, Oct. 11)
Strategic Thinking and Leadership (Tuesday, Oct. 25)
Employee Accountability and Time Management (Tuesday, Nov. 8)
Conflict Resolution (Tuesday, Nov. 15)
Group Project Q&A (optional) (Tuesday, Nov. 29)
Group Project Presentation & Graduation (Tuesday, Dec. 13)
REGISTER NOW
Back to All Events
Wednesday Jun 15, 2022
50. Member Interview Training
Wednesday Jun 15, 2022
Wednesday Jun 15, 2022
Stacey Ferris has a heart for the member, the community, and the mission at Community Choice Credit Union. As a training manager, she worked closely with ServiStar Consulting to develop a financial wellness training program that launched in May of 2022. This Credit Union Leadership podcast episode was recorded live onsite with Stacey in the room before the first pilot group arrived. Listen in to the creative ways in which Community Choice Credit Union is changing the game and leveling up their delivery with their new program - Choice Map.
Monday May 30, 2022
49. Centralized Lending
Monday May 30, 2022
Monday May 30, 2022
From the local school system to Wisconsin as a member of CUNA mutual to several regions in Africa as an international CUDE leader, Brent Rempe has been molded to by nature think outside of the box. Brent Rempe worked regularly with ACCOSCA...the continental confederation of national associations, learning about what financials and credit union cooperatives were doing outside of the United States, and as the CLO at Allegiance Credit Union, Brent shares with us how he has used that knowledge to move the meter on outside of the box thinking in Oklahoma.
We learn about his new centralized lending model as well as his newfound success with this model. An advocate for CDFI, Brent is not satisfied with just one progressive step like centralized lending but has his eye on the future of helping communities in Oklahoma by being a CDFI organization.