CU*Answers, a 100% credit union-owned CUSO, held their annual 2016 “CEO Strategies Week” conference last week in Grand Rapids, Michigan. CEOs from 45 credit unions from across the country gathered for three days of collaboration, learning, and direct peer interactions aimed specifically at credit union CEOs.

The week includes a half-day CEO Collaboration Workshop, where this year CEOs brainstormed on giving CUs more of a voice in prioritizing projects and allocating CUSO resources, and moving from data awareness to data engagement within the network. Next, the one-day CEO School gave CEOs a chance to learn about CU*BASE tools from the perspective of the CU*Answers CEO, Randy Karnes. The central point of the week’s events is the CEO Roundtable, at which CEOs spend a day interacting with their peers, discussing in a roundtable format topics ranging from business plans to technology trends.

Although CU*Answers holds many different learning and collaboration events all year long, CEO Strategies is unique in that it is designed only for credit union CEOs, a forum that encourages more open and frank interactions with other professionals who share the same day-to-day challenges. “We do offer a special mid-year CEO School that’s open to up-and-comers who one day might sit in the CEO’s chair, but this week is truly for CEOs who want to learn from each other in a unique way,” says Karnes about the CEO-only restriction that has been a part of the event since its inception nearly a decade ago.

For more information, including all materials and presentations shared at the event, visit CU*Answers at their website.