Get unparalleled access to the industry’s most coveted audience through CUES. We can connect you with decision-makers at credit unions of all sizes, allowing you to build relationships and develop business opportunities.
Brandi Gregory has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry with an emphasis on relationship management, payments, and contract negotiations.
As managing director in Cornerstone Advisors’ Contract Negotiation and Payments practices, Brandi leads a team of experts with a collective goal of helping banks and credit unions improve their financial performance through optimization of their credit and debit card businesses. With her analytical skills and expertise, Brandi shows clients how to take a holistic view of their payments businesses to ensure their vendor partnerships and contracts for both branding and processing are aligned with their strategic long-term goals.
Prior to joining Cornerstone, Brandi served in a range of leadership roles focused on client relationship and retention at Vantiv, LLC. During her time at Vantiv, Brandi provided direction and oversight for implementation and management of client retention strategy with a focus on contract negotiation and voice of the customer.
Through Cornerstone Payments School and frequent webinars, Brandi works to educate the industry on best practices in the payments space and in contract negotiations. She writes for GonzoBanker, Cornerstone’s blog, and authored Breaking the Conditioned-Response Habit in Your Vendor Relationships, a whitepaper that shows financial institutions how to improve their relationships with card processor vendors.
Brandi has a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.
“CUES School of Business Lending helps attendees understand everything needed to launch or improve their business lending programs,” said Christopher Stevenson, CAE, CIE, CUES SVP/Chief Learning Officer. “The curriculum was created and is taught by two of the best minds in the business, who also train industry examiners—Jim Devine, Founder, Chairman & CEO and Bob Hogan, Founder, President & COO, of Hipereon, Inc.”
Over the course of the 30-week class, attendees will learn from a combination of live Zoom discussions, self-paced lectures, quizzes and case studies, covering:
Accounting basics
Cost/Volume/Profit Analysis
Capital budgeting techniques
Tax return analysis
Balance sheet, income statement and cash flow analysis and projections
Industry sector risks
Growth and management strategies
Attendees will also benefit from a cohort-style program, making it easy for them to network and form connections with classmates during the live sessions and in the Business Lending online community.
The curriculum also covers smart growth strategies to implement, roadblocks to profitability to avoid, and unique risk considerations for differing industries.
“When we ask business owners what they are looking for from their lender, they often note they’d benefit from someone who understands business model structure and can help them learn how to make better business management decisions,” Jim noted in the article, What’s The Best Way To Get More Small-Business Loans Today? “CUES School of Business Lending guides attendees in ways to become business model structure experts who can build relationships with business owners. We want them to be capable and confident so they can talk with a business owner about how to be successful, and become their partners in success and profitability.”
Learn more about CUES School of Business Lending and register now at cues.org/SOBL. Learn more about CUES at cues.org.
CUES is the leading talent development solutions provider for credit unions in North America. We educate, develop and support credit union CEOs, executives, directors, and emerging leaders through partnerships with premier business schools, live and online events, digital learning, networking, and premium content. With over 41,000 members and growing, we measure success one leader at a time.
MADISON, Wis.—CUES is pleased to honor Black History Month 2023 by providing content and updated resources on cues.org and CUmanagement.com that celebrate diversity and honor and educate on the legacy of Black Americans.
Discover the Goals of a New CU Diversity Executive, February’s Diversity Insight column, available February 3 at CUmanagement.com.
CUES podcast episode 127, All Is Not Yet Rosy for Top Black Female Leaders, features leaders Kimberly Wright and Andrea Brown discussing the challenges that women in general, and Black women in particular, face in their rise to leadership and beyond.
CUES Black Professional Network offers easy access to recommended CUES supplier members, service providers, event speakers and more.
CUES DEI Resource Center features tools, content, and partner organizations that support DEI in the industry.
“We’re also pleased CUES’ eCornell DEI Certificate program is heading into its third year. This intensive online course helps credit union leaders guide their institutions to a better tomorrow,” said CUES interim CEO, Jerry Saalsaa. “Registrants of this intensive course learn directly from Michelle M. Duguid, Associate Professor, Associate Dean of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at the Johnson Graduate School of Management, and take a deep dive into the processes that impact the ways people interact with each other.”
Learn more about the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Cornell Certificate Program, which starts March 15, at content.cues.org/ecornell-dei.
CUES is the leading talent development solutions provider for credit unions in North America. We educate, develop and support credit union CEOs, executives, directors, and emerging leaders through partnerships with premier business schools, live and online events, digital learning, networking, and premium content. With over 41,000 members and growing, we measure success one leader at a time.
MADISON, Wis.— Talent development leader CUES is paying tribute to its late president/CEO with the John Pembroke Catalyst for Change Award, formerly the DEI Catalyst for Change Award. The award’s prize package has also been enhanced to include a seat, including travel costs, at the prestigious CEO Institute I: Strategic Planning, at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, valued at nearly $10,000.
“I can’t think of a more fitting tribute to honor John than by supporting talent development and DEI efforts, both things he was passionate about,” said Jerry Saalsaa, CUES interim CEO, speaking at CUES Symposium in Maui, Hawaii on Monday. “We selected CEO Institute I as part of the prize package because John was a Wharton graduate, and CEO Institute helps new and aspiring CEOs become great leaders—which was important to John. Additionally, we’ve started a scholarship fund to sustain this program and support the many future leaders who will benefit from attending CEO Institute I.”
The John Pembroke Catalyst for Change Award will be presented to a credit union that has demonstrated sustained support for advancing DEI in their workplace, raised awareness of workplace diversity and inclusion issues, been a catalyst for change regarding workplace DEI, and/or supported positive change within the industry, their organization, or their community.
Winners will be recognized during the CUES Awards Ceremony, happening October 19. CUES members can register here.
The nomination deadline for all awards is April 21.
To contribute to the John Pembroke Catalyst for Change Award scholarship fund, reach out to Tony Hill, CUES SVP/Chief Marketing Officer, at tony@cues.org.
CUES is the leading talent development solutions provider for credit unions in North America. We educate, develop and support credit union CEOs, executives, directors, and emerging leaders through partnerships with premier business schools, live and online events, digital learning, networking, and premium content. With over 42,000 members and growing, we measure success one leader at a time.
CU Strategic Planning unlocks opportunities for credit unions to change lives and their communities, while increasing loan growth and yield, ROA and net worth. Its 15 years of expert consulting includes securing and managing compliance for $1 billion in US Treasury award funding and CDFI grants. Its strategic planning and community summits create double bottom line impacts without grant funding. Many credit unions with industry leading ROA have certified staff with its HERO Financial Counseling. Working with some of the America’s most successful credit unions, its executive recruiting places candidates that care about and can achieve double bottom line results.
MADISON, Wis.— CUES is pleased to announce that its membership now serves over 21,000 credit union leaders committed to talent development. Representing an increase of 40%, this achievement is attributed to the launch of new benefits and a new membership structure in 2018.
“We’re so excited to have reached such a huge milestone as an organization,” said Jimese Harkley, CUES VP/Membership. “Through our new membership structure, credit unions have given us more than just their executive team and board members. They’ve recognized the value of providing all their top talent and emerging leaders with access to our suite of professional development resources. As a result, we’ve revamped our member onboarding process to include one-on-one interaction with Human Resources staff on how to incorporate CUES benefits into their credit unions’ learning and development plans.”
CUES Membership is made up of three tiers, Individual, Unlimited and Unlimited+. Each offers increased benefits at every level. Credit unions with an Unlimited and Unlimited+ membership can bring talent development to everyone at their credit union, even those who would not have been previously eligible.
“With the CUES Unlimited+ membership, we have access to learning content such as courses, guides, articles and videos that enable development and growth at all levels of our credit union---entry-level, intermediate and experienced”, said Lisa Oliver, SHRM-SCP, HR Benefits/Training Manager, at Guardians Credit Union, “The ability to offer development opportunities to our staff and directors will add tremendous benefit in terms of engagement, motivation and commitment.”
Within the new memberships, there are a host of new and enhanced benefits designed to increase engagement and development at all levels of the credit union. Some of these include the revamped CUESNet™ online community and the new CUES Learning Portal.
“The CUES Learning Portal is our favorite resource. Staff can easily access already-curated content and learning pathways while networking with peers at any level,” said Teresa McKay, Director of Learning and Development, TTCU Federal Credit Union, “Providing customized, credit-union-specific talent development opportunities that deliver meaning and value to staff is a priority at TTCU Federal Credit Union, and CUES helps us do just that.”
Join the over 21,000 credit union leaders who have invested in talent development. Become a CUES member today by visiting, cues.org/Membership.
Human Resource, Training, and Talent Development professionals not already enrolled in a CUES Membership can receive a free 90-day trial membership today. To learn more about this exclusive offer, visit cues.org/HRtrial.
Press Release Download
Please feel free to download your own copy of this press release.
