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Michael Hinshaw
Michael Hinshaw is the founder and president of customer experience consultancy McorpCX, and recognized on over a dozen "Top Global CX Influencers" lists.
He's also co-author of the best-selling books Experience Rules! The Experience Operating System (XOS) and 8 Keys to Enable It, and Smart Customers, Stupid Companies: Why Only Intelligent Companies Will Thrive, and How to Be One of Them. Michael has been published and quoted in dozens of publications ranging from Harvard Business Review and Fast Company to American Executive, Forbes and Time.
A Teaching Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at The Haas School of Business, he has consulted for and advised executives at companies such as Best Buy, Microsoft, Merck, and lululemon, as well as for credit union and related institutions such as TruStage, CO-OP Financial Services, CEFCU, First Tech, SECU, Ent, and others.
James Sackett
James Sackett joined the board of directors at Firefly Credit Union in 2015 at age 28. Over that time, James has served on several board committees and task forces, including Firefly's CEO search task force and chair of the Technology and Nominating Committees. Currently, James serves as the board vice chair and chair of the Governance Committee.
In recognition of his contributions to Firefly and the credit union movement, James was named the 2018 CUES Distinguished Director.
Outside of Firefly, James is senior director of marketing operations at UnitedHealth Group, focused on member experience and digital transformation.
When not working, James loves spending time with his wife and two young children, fishing, golfing, and traveling.
Raymond Evans
Raymond Evans is a seasoned security researcher with over a decade of experience in cybersecurity. He has collaborated with organizations like Cybrary to deliver hands-on training environments for students, equipping them with practical skills. Raymond also organizes Capture The Flag (CTF) events for prominent conferences such as Mortgage Bankers Association National, Nolacon, BSides STL, and various National Cyber Security Awareness Month activities. His expertise includes crafting vulnerable environments to train analysts on both emerging CVEs and foundational security practices. He has extensive experience developing and executing tactics that simulate real-world Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) techniques. Currently, Raymond serves as the Director of Offensive Security at ConvergentDS. In this role, he leads and mentors a team of penetration testers, enhancing their skill sets to ensure high-quality assessments. He also spearheads Research and Development efforts, creating innovative tools, tactics, and techniques for current and future penetration testing engagements.
JT Gaietto
With over twenty-seven plus years of progressive technology and cybersecurity career, JT brought his passion of helping clients understand cybersecurity to help support ConvergentDS and their clients. Over his career of building and operating successful cybersecurity programs across industries including financial services organizations such as Credit Unions, Community Banks, and Mortgage Banks, as well as industrial and healthcare firms. JT holds both a Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (ISFCE) as well as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) since 2003. He also sits on the Board of Directors for Westerra Credit Union since 2017, as well as acts as board advisor to a number of technology companies and start-ups.
Carolyn Stern
Carolyn Stern is the President and CEO of EI Experience—an executive leadership development and emotional intelligence training firm.
She is a certified Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Development Expert, Certified Speaking Professional®, corporate trainer, award-winning author, and university professor.
Since launching her book, The Emotionally Strong Leader: An Inside-Out Journey to Transformational Leadership, Carolyn has quickly gained acclaim following her appearances on The Social, CTV Your Morning, Daytime Chicago, Global TV, Slice TV, OWN, Lifetime TV, MovieTime, Prime, and Tubi.
Her book was awarded the Axiom Book Award for the Best Business Book in 2023 in the leadership category and the 2022 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award in the career category.
She has also been featured in various media outlets across the globe, including Forbes, Fast Company, The European Business Review, The Globe and Mail, and Inc.com.
Carolynʼs emotional intelligence courses and modules have been adopted by top universities, and she has trained over 50,000 business leaders across the continent in highly regarded corporations.
Miranda Flury, MPH, MBA, CoopDirector.D
As the President of Hawkeye Strategies, Miranda lives out her purpose: Helping to turn light bulbs on. She works with cooperative boards and executives all over the world to support their governance and strategy needs and in turn, she helps their people and communities.
Her vast experience as a professional facilitator, international speaker, and expert educator for cooperatives enables her to provide a seamless and engaging experience that is tailored to each audience. Miranda has supported boards, executives, regulators, credit union peer groups, credit union centrals, credit union service organizations (CUSOs), and credit union advocacy groups. She has spoken at conferences including the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), National Credit Union Management Association (NCUMA) in the USA, Swoboda Research Centre in the United Kingdom, the British Columbia Financial Services Authority Director’s Forum, and the Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA). She offers her clients the knowledge gleaned from specialized expertise, tempered with the wisdom of wide-ranging experience from diverse industries.
Miranda completed her undergraduate degree from the University of Guelph, a Master’s level degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and an Executive MBA from the University of Fredericton. She has also earned a designation in Advanced Cooperative Governance. Miranda has held board director roles on cooperative, regulatory, and private boards and has been a director on one of the largest and most complicated cooperatives in North America, Federated Cooperatives Limited. In her spare time, Miranda is a mentor with Futurpreneur where she helps new entrepreneurs successfully start their businesses. She is also a CrossFit enthusiast… but don’t get her started on this topic, she’ll have a hard time stopping!
Richard Leblanc, Ph.D.
Dr. Richard Leblanc is a professor, attorney, and president of www.boardexpert.com.
Richard is one of Canada’s leading experts on board governance and accountability. He is an award-winning teacher, researcher, lawyer, public speaker, consultant and specialist on boards of directors. He has taught at leading universities including Harvard University. He received a teaching award as one of the top five university teachers in Ontario; was named to Canadian Who’s Who, and is a past recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40™ award.
Richard brings to business and professional audiences a depth of information from his extensive research and work with over 200 organizations, and from his interviewing, assessment and development of over 1,000 directors and managers. Because of his work with leading companies and current research, Richard is always on the cutting edge of emerging global developments.
Richard is the author of the recently released, The Handbook of Board Governance: A Comprehensive Guide for Public, Private, and Not-for-Profit Board Members and Inside The Boardroom.

Origence
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Solutions that drive credit union growth.
Origence provides lending technology solutions credit unions need to advance their total origination experience. Established in 1994 as a credit union service organization (CUSO), Origence has helped thousands of credit unions process more than 97 million applications, including 8.6 million applications in 2024. Our solutions include indirect lending, loan and account origination, auto shopping, marketing automation, lending operations, and more. Learn more at www.origence.com and follow us on X and LinkedIn.
Other Products & Services You May Be Interested In From Origence
CUES Advanced Management Program from Cornell Returns—Get Future Leaders Ready
Meet the NCUA Succession Planning Deadline with C-Suite Candidates
MADISON, Wis.— CUES Advanced Management Program from Cornell University returns July 1, 2025—just in time to help credit unions comply with the new NCUA succession planning deadline.
CUES Advanced Management Program from Cornell University equips future credit union leaders with the expertise to navigate C-suite challenges. This in-depth professional development experience combines eCornell’s award-winning certificate programs with live, online instruction led by Cornell University faculty.
Over nine months, students gain an Ivy League-level education without travel costs or time away from the office. The research-driven, credit union-specific curriculum also brings fresh perspectives from outside the industry. Through eight courses and five live online sessions, participants will explore:
- A deep dive into the leadership perspectives of CEO, CFO, COO, CMO, CIO, CCO, CRO, and CHRO roles
- Key competencies and decision-making skills required at the executive level
- Strategies for aligning leadership mindsets into a cohesive, high-performing team
“The upcoming CUES Advanced Management Program from Cornell University not only prepares future credit union leaders for the C-suite,” said Dawn Abely, SVP/Chief Sales & Member Relations Officer, “it’s ideally timed to facilitate compliance with the upcoming January 1, 2026, NCUA deadline for succession planning.”
“Students will leave the program with a thorough understanding of the challenges faced by those in chief executive-level positions, making them particularly well-qualified to assume these mission-critical credit union roles. Equally important, they will learn to connect their current roles with their credit union’s overarching purpose, making their contributions immediately more effective.”
All students who complete CUES Advanced Management Program and required casework earn the Certified Credit Union Executive Manager (CEM) designation and an Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership from Cornell University and CUES.
Learn more about CUES Advanced Management Program from Cornell University, or about CUES at cues.org.
About CUES
For over 60 years, CUES has advanced the credit union movement by developing exceptional purpose-driven leaders who meet the unique needs of their organizations and the communities they serve. CUES partners with credit unions to elevate the leaders of today and tomorrow through exclusive networking and event opportunities, programs that facilitate personal and professional development, and unmatched digital and in-person learning experiences. Visit CUES.org to learn how CUES plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of credit unions.
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