Tuesday, September 22 9:30 am Event Check In / Registration 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Powerful Practices to Cultivate Mission Driven Leadership & Secure Your Talent Pipeline Nell Callen, Partner, Curtis Strategy Credit unions face increasing leadership challenges, including talent shortages, turnover, and evolving strategic demands. This session explores how to embed talent development into organizational design to build a strong leadership bench, strengthen retention, and create a mission-driven culture. This high-impact session moves beyond conventional training to focus on strategic talent stewardship. Learn practical strategies for identifying and developing high-potential employees, preparing leaders to navigate growth, regulatory change, and technology disruption. Key Takeaways: Identify and develop high-potential future leaders Strengthen employee engagement and retention through mission alignment Create a leadership pipeline that supports long-term organizational stability Apply the Job P.A.K. framework to connect roles, performance, and strategic goals Build a culture of accountability, growth, and leadership readiness 12:00 - 1:15 pm Networking Lunch 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm Moving from Order Takers to Strategic Partners Linda Lafortune, Director of Learning & Client Support, CUInsight; Leadership Training Consultant Training teams have the opportunity to drive organizational performance, yet many are viewed as reactive service providers rather than strategic partners. This session explores how learning professionals can shift from responding to training requests to consulting with leaders on business needs and performance outcomes. Participants will learn practical approaches for conducting effective intake conversations, setting clear expectations and accountability, and aligning learning solutions with measurable organizational goals. Key Takeaways: Shift from a transactional training model to a strategic partnership approach Conduct consultative conversations that clarify needs, expectations, and accountability Define success metrics before training begins to improve outcomes Strengthen alignment between learning initiatives and business goals Increase training’s impact by connecting learning to measurable performance results 2:15 - 3:15 pm AI & Talent Management Development: Shaping the Future of Talent Management Strategies Garrick Throckmorton, TalentTelligent AI isn't a future conversation as it is already reshaping organizations and the expectations of current and future teammates. For credit unions, where culture is built upon the people helping people philosophy, leveraging AI effectively requires a thoughtful balance between tech and human connection. During this interactive session, we will move beyond a focus on individual tools and explore the opportunities facing our profession, mindset shifts we need to consider to redesign work, unlock work capacity, and architect a new future state. 3:30 - 4:30 pm Open Discussion 4:30 - 5:30 pm Sip, Share & Connect: Networking Reception Join us for a complimentary networking reception designed to encourage meaningful conversations and relationship-building among HR and OD professionals.

Wednesday, September 23 8:30 am Event Check In / Registration 9:00 - 10:00 am The ROI of Hiring for the Heart: How Values-Based Recruitment Drives Performance Taylor Eblen, VP Talent Solutions, Carrick Professionals In today’s hiring environment, organizations cannot afford to make great-on-paper hires that ultimately weaken engagement, team trust, and retention. This session reframes “hiring for heart” as a performance strategy, showing how values-based recruitment reduces mis-hires, protects culture, and improves long-term results. Using real-world examples and research on the cost of misaligned hiring, participants will explore a practical framework for assessing values alignment, leadership behavior fit, and environment-readiness alongside technical capability. Attendees will leave with concrete behavioral interview questions, alignment checkpoints, and process tweaks they can plug into executive and high-impact hiring immediately. 10:00 am - 11:00 am Open Discussion 11:15 am - 12:15 pm Employment Law Update: Something Old, Something New, Tips to Borrow, Don't Be Blue! Alex Maultsby & Patti Ramseur, Ramseur Maultsby LLP With Congress at a standstill, 2026 brought only a few new wrinkles in employment law. Agencies like the EEOC have shifted focus on the margins and there are "new" reasons for HR to adjust and to revisit internal policies. In addition to discussing those areas, this session will also return to the "old" topic of accommodations, where employee expectations around flexibility, remote work, and leaves of absence can make even the most experienced HR professional quite "blue" in the face. We will address ways to keep control over situations before they turn into a legal mess. Prepare for a lively conversation! 12:15 - 1:15 pm Networking Lunch 1:15 - 3:15 pm Courageous Conversations: What Avoidance Costs Organizations Nikki Pounds, Owner, HR Unequivocally Many workplace challenges stem from conversations that never happen. Whether addressing performance issues, conflict, accountability, or change, avoidance can lead to decreased trust, lower engagement, unresolved issues, and reduced performance. This interactive session explores the costs of avoiding difficult conversations and provides practical strategies for leading honest, respectful discussions that strengthen relationships, accountability, and workplace culture. Key Takeaways: Understand the impact of avoiding difficult conversations Identify common barriers that prevent leaders from addressing issues directly Recognize when coaching, feedback, conflict resolution, or accountability conversations are needed Apply a practical framework for navigating high-stakes conversations with confidence Use communication techniques that build trust while maintaining accountability Foster a culture where issues are addressed proactively and effectively