Times Have Changed. Can ACUMA Change with them?

HINT: We Already Have

By Barry Stricklin

Like it or not, most of us tend to describe life with the help of familiar sayings, observations that contain at least a kernel of truth. Now more than ever, the saying of the moment seems to be the old chestnut, “Nothing is Constant Except Change.”

In our line of work we have seen nothing but change over the past few years. And it’s been pretty constant, too. Going forward into 2023 we’ll only see more change, and the pace of that change will continue to escalate, especially for those involved in the mortgage lending industry.

Now at the ripe old age of 27 years, ACUMA as an organization has faced change at a rapid pace, especially in 2022 when we took several major steps forward. Can we keep up with the demands of the industry and our members’ increasing needs for information, education and networking? We can, we have, and we will continue to do so. That’s my pledge to you on behalf of the ACUMA Board of Directors.

Don’t believe me? Let’s take a closer look at 2022 and examine what has happened.

Last year we had a full-on change of ACUMA administration with the hiring of Peter Benjamin, CMB, as our President. Peter is one of us, a seasoned mortgage lending industry veteran and leader who stepped into the swirling seas of change and grabbed the wheel of our ship of service. Peter’s determination to take ACUMA to the next level as a trade association reflects the goals of our Board, and in less than a year he has gained the Board’s full faith and confidence in his efforts to chart a new course for our association.

As part of his efforts, Peter hired two new staff members, also from our industry, to help ACUMA progress.

Justin Hawkins, our Director of Marketing and Communications, and Camryn Hinton, our Associate Director of Member Relations, have brought a new energy to our organization. Many of you got to meet them at our Annual Conference in Las Vegas this past September, and many more of you will meet them in our upcoming slate of events this year and in years to come.

Speaking of events, our Annual Conference sold out with more attendees than we have ever welcomed before, forcing us to make arrangements for a second hotel to help house the crowd. This came in the wake of sold-out workshops in Nashville and Portland, Oregon, and significant attendance upticks in our online meetings and educational events. Apparently, the word is getting out and ACUMA’s stellar record of educating mortgage industry professionals is attracting more interest from our industry. And that’s just how we like it. Last year we also said goodbye to former Board Chair Tim Mislansky, whose new credit union responsibilities made it impossible for him to continue serving as a Board member. We greatly appreciate the contributions Tim made and wish him the best of luck.

In Tim’s place we brought on not one but two new Board members. Vince Salinas, VP at Patelco Credit Union in Dublin, California, and Julie Bowering, SVP of Mortgage Lending at Elements Financial Federal Credit Union in Indianapolis, have joined our existing talented and dedicated Board, and we look forward to their contributions to ACUMA and its Board of Directors.

The mere thought of all last year’s activity almost tires me out, but I quickly become re-energized when I look ahead to the rest of 2023 and what we have in store for our members and affiliate members.

Please consider the following as you make your professional educational plans for the year;

We’ve rebranded all of our events to emphasize the concept that ACUMA and its members are on-point and at the front end of any wave destined to come crashing down on our industry. Truth be told, we are all “point-persons,” if you will, in navigating our industry through the often rough seas of change. The good news is that if we all work together, there are no challenges we can’t overcome.

We expect a strong turnout for this year’s Annual Conference, scheduled for Oct. 1-4 at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland, just down the Potomac from Washington, D.C. That’s the place where it all happens and, given all the political turmoil in our Nation’s Capital, that’s an event you can’t afford to miss.

We’re adding to our inperson events. In addition to holding in-person FOCALpoint Workshops in Dallas and Louisville, we will also hold new VIEWpoint Regional Summits in Arlington, Virginia, and Aurora, Colorado. The Summits are designed for credit unions and CUSOs only and focus on roundtable discussions. These are free to credit unions so save the dates. I look forward to seeing you there.

We also will be delivering an incredible schedule of ACUMA’s Points of Impact virtual programming. New this year are ACUMA’s ONpoint Podcasts, which will focus on credit union executives and what makes them tick. We will also continue the popular Fast Track webinars (formerly known as Lightning Rounds) and Inside Track webinars (formerly known as Power Hours). Once again, there is no charge to attend. Join us in person and online all year long to stay informed, involved and in touch.

What ACUMA’s new agenda of service should tell you is just how much we value your input and contributions as members. We live in an e-world where just about everything can and does happen online, which we experience vicariously through the screen of our choice. ACUMA recognizes the value of such instantaneous communication, and we have indeed increased our online programming for your convenience.

But there also is incredible importance in face-to-face interaction when it comes to completing tasks and accomplishing goals. We couldn’t do that without all of you.

I also want to thank our affiliate vendor partners for their intellectual and monetary contributions to ACUMA and the credit union industry. We could not do what we do without your support, and we thank you for playing such an important role in our organization and in our industry.

An organization like ACUMA is built on the foundation of serving its members’ needs and wants. We couldn’t do it without the participation of all of you, and we greatly appreciate your support. In 2023 let’s work together to navigate the continuous winds of change to help each other, our credit unions, and the members they serve. The mortgage lending industry is counting on us all.

Barry Stricklin serves as the Chairman of the ACUMA Board of Directors, which governs the organization. He is the Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer for Tower Federal Credit Union, headquartered in Laurel, Maryland.