Roundtable Discussion on the State of the Financial Services Industry
Bill Handel
Vice President of Research, Raddon Financial Group

2011 was a year of economic challenge. Overall growth of GDP was very low and unemployment remained at elevated levels. What does 2012 and beyond hold in store? How will the economic environment impact consumers, small businesses, and financial institutions? What are the actions that credit unions should be undertaking to ensure their continued success in 2012 and beyond? Join us in this roundtable discussion as we review the economic tea leaves and suggest a course of action that will help financial institutions navigate in very uncertain times.

Saving the American Dream
(9:10 to 10:30 am)

Louis Hernandez, Jr.
Chairman of the Board and CEO of Open Solutions Inc.

The American Dream isn't a quaint idea from a bygone era. It has been the driving force behind American policymaking for nearly 250 years, and it made us the most powerful and influential nation on earth, both economically and culturally. Yet today, our policy makers are slowly killing the American Dream by burying it under the cumulative weight of regulations that make it harder than ever for individuals to start and run the small businesses that provide jobs and impeding the ability of community financial institutions to support these businesses.

Louis Hernandez, Jr., the author of Saving the American Dream - Main Street's Last Stand examines the current policy environment and how these polices are putting America's leadership in the global sphere at risk. He argues persuasively that the key to saving the American Dream rests on reestablishing the connection between our policies and the needs of Main Street America. This means restoring the basic values of equal opportunity and individual initiative, while actively supporting the small businesses that create 65% of the net new jobs in this country and the community-based financial institutions that supply almost 60% of loans to these small businesses.

Louis' presentation will provide a clear path for credit unions to save the American Dream by recapturing their role as trusted financial intermediaries.

Credit Union Environmentalism: America's Credit Unions in 2012 and Beyond
(10:45 am to 12:00 pm)

Dennis Dollar
Principal Partner, Dollar Associates LLC & former NCUA Chairman

Former NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar takes on the big issues credit unions are facing today in this unique environment. With a candid assessment of where the environment is storming, raining and cloudy, Mr. Dollar also looks at the areas where there may be the dawning of new opportunities for credit unions. Using the analogy of the changing weather that reflects how the environment is constantly fluctuating for credit union, Mr. Dollar applies his unique background in credit union leadership, regulation and as a leading credit union consultant to the most challenging issues facing credit unions today. This provocative presentation will get the juices flowing for credit union leaders to look at the future through the eyes of today's regulatory, legislative and marketplace challenges.

CREDIT UNION ENVIRONMENTALISM will examine such key strategic issues such as:

• How Crucial is Credit Union Growth Today?

• Is the Current Regulatory Environment Here for Good?

• What's the Future of Mergers?

• Can Credit Unions Survive the Taxation Fight?

• What's up with the CFPB and What can we Expect Going Forward?

• What's the Future of the Bank Conversion Activity?

• Is there any Good News on Capital Reform?

Don't miss out on the discussion and insights that this challenging and enlightening presentation will provide. CREDIT UNION ENVIRONMENTALISM will give any strategic minded credit union leader a "no holds barred" look at the storms and the sunshine on the credit union industry horizon.

Entrepreneurs Needed Once Again
(1:00 to 2:15 pm)
Neil Stanley
President of Bank Performance Strategies

As the value of regulated local franchises erodes, community financial institutions need to revive the entrepreneurial approach that characterized the industry before regulations. Essentially, financial institutions must again embrace the entrepreneurial spirit that characterized pre-FDIC/NCUA times if they are to deal with the intensity of non-local competition. We are talking about culture and strategy here, not regulations.

Harvard Business School professor Howard Stevenson defined entrepreneurship as the pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources currently controlled. The keys to your success are in the hands of many. This session is designed to reveal your opportunities to collaborate with others who possess resources you don't, in order to create dramatically greater results.

We will identify several specific areas where financial institutions can reduce exposure to weakness and seize competitive advantage including: using data analytic tools for strategic assessment, enhancing deposit sales processes, authorizing NSF at point of sale, improving the impact and effectiveness of our pricing models and customer relationship profitability models, and using innovative processes and products to enhance the overall customer experience.

Many financial institutions today appear to be cautious, afraid and hunkered down as they seek to withdraw from risk and save their way back to prosperity. No industry or business ever saves its way to prosperity. We must produce to prosper. We must deliver service that restores pride and passion. Join us as we explore this essential element of financial services today.

Technology-Enabled Innovation: Creating and Sustaining Competitive Advantage
(2:30 to 3:45 pm)
Daniel Burrus
Founder and CEO of Burrus Research

Technology is continually changing the rules of competition, rendering many traditional business strategies and processes obsolete. Emerging technologies provide opportunities for creating new, high margin products and services, as well as enable companies to gain new levels of speed, agility and cost savings. In addition, they allow us to de-commoditize current products and services. Identifying and understanding the challenges and opportunities that new technologies create has become a key business imperative.

In this eye-opening presentation, New York Times best selling author Daniel Burrus identifies specific technologies that will directly impact the financial services industry. He will share how dematerialization, virtualization, advanced mobility, product intelligence, advanced networking, interactivity, globalization and convergence can be used to drive innovation and advantage as you develop new products, services and member experiences.

The Crystal Performance Award recognizes credit unions for achieving a top 10 ranking in 2011 based on the RFG Performance Index, a balanced scorecard measurement of growth, income, efficiency and margin management. 

RFG recognizes two asset groups for this award:  credit unions with assets greater than $500 million and credit unions with assets less than $500 million.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Less than a mile down the beach from Bacara sits the stunning Sandpiper Golf Club, home to one of the top courses in all of California. Sandpiper is the highlight of any golf lover's trip to Bacara, with mountain and ocean views framing the challenging course.

Tee Times begin at 7:00 am and will extend through the late morning based on availability. Please indicate on your registration if you will be joining us for a round of golf.

Forum Links

Register
$495 per person

Special Early Bird Registration Fee: $295 per person when you register by 5/31/2012

Who Should Attend?

President/CEO
Board Chairman
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Financial Officer

Chief Technology Officer

Chief Marketing Officer

The CEO Forum is exclusively
for senior-level executives managing credit unions with assets of $500 Million or more.

Hotel Details

Location:
Bacara Resort and Spa
8301 Hollister Avenue
Santa Barbara, CA 93117

Agenda

Wednesday, August 15
Roundtable Discussion on the State of the Financial Services Industry
3:30 pm to 5:30 pm

Welcome Reception and Dinner
6:30 pm

Thursday, August 16
Forum Keynote Presentations
9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Reception
6:30 pm

Crystal Performance
Awards Dinner
7:15 pm

Friday, August 17
Optional Round of Golf
 

Previous Forums

To view previous agendas click the links below

2011 Agenda

2010 Agenda
2009 Agenda

2008 Agenda
2007 Agenda

Past Attendees

"This was a great event for the executive team at Addison Avenue Federal Credit Union.  The CEO Forum touched on many of the strategic opportunities and challenges faced by the industry.  It was nice to gain the perspective of industry experts and leaders from other credit unions."

Benson Porter
President and CEO

Addison Avenue Federal Credit Union

Palo Alto, CA

Assets:  $2 Billion

"Excellent content, great location and great networking.  Thank you for the invitation!"

David Bard
President and CEO

New England Federal Credit Union

Williston, VT

Assets:  $532 Million

"RFG's CEO Forum offered an exceptional line-up of industry speakers at a first-class facility.  The presentations were both informative and timely.  I look forward to participating next year; thanks for the invitation!"

Greg Smith
President

PSECU

Harrisburg, PA

Assets:  $2.8 Billion

"This was a top-notch conference.  It was an excellent opportunity for large credit unions to discuss and get exposed to common problems and solutions, thanks."

Jack McElravey
First Vice Chairman

Star One Credit Union

Sunnyvale, CA

Assets:  $3.4 Billion