MADISON, Wis.– Filene Research Institute has announced the 24 credit union professionals selected to join Wave 22 of its highly competitive i3 program, a one-year innovation leadership experience that has produced some of the industry’s most forward-thinking executives.
“Unlike traditional professional development programs, i3 is a proving ground,” Filene said. “Participants work in cross-functional teams to tackle real, unresolved industry challenges, not hypothetical case studies. They return to their organizations not just with new ideas, but with the innovation mindset, tools, and a powerful peer network to execute them.”
Filene noted that since its founding, the i3 program has grown to more than 400 alumni spanning credit unions of all sizes and representing institutions from all areas of the country.
‘Can’t Stand Still’
“The credit union industry doesn’t have the luxury of standing still,” Filene President and CEO Mark Meyer said in a statement. “Wave 22 joins a growing community of i3 leaders who have committed to doing something about that, bringing bold ideas, rigorous thinking, and a genuine passion for the cooperative mission. The future of this movement is in good hands.”
Wave 22 of the Filene i3 Program
Those selected include:
- Charles Adler, Lakehurst Naval Federal Credit Union
- Juanita Alvarez, American Airlines Federal Credit Union
- Colin Boone, Royal Credit Union
- Matthew Cole, Velera
- Briana Cousins, Redstone Federal Credit Union
- Cecily Dawson, Redwood Credit Union
- Michael Fitch, Westerra Credit Union
- Carlos Fonseca, USALLIANCE Financial
- Justin Garcia, Mocse Federal Credit Union
- Alissa Haines, Altra Federal Credit Union
- Jordan Houghtaling, Altra Federal Credit Union
- Kyle Jerrett, Chartway Credit Union
- Thiri Kyaw, OneAZ Credit Union
- Judd Meche, USALLIANCE Financial
- Carly Mullins, Suncoast Credit Union
- Michael Murdoch, University Credit Union
- Channie Price, Velera
- Seth Ross, Visions Federal Credit Union
- Andrea Roussev, UW Credit Union
- Noreen Schafer, Lake Trust Credit Union
- Shirley Senn, New Orleans Firemen’s Federal Credit Union
- Abigail Smith, Visa
- Thomas Was, Municipal Credit Union
- Sarah Zemke, Christian Financial Credit Union
What’s Next for Wave 22
According to Filene, Wave 22 will begin their one-year development journey at EDGE 2026, in Dallas May 11-14. The cohort will present their work and prototypes to the broader credit union industry at Filene’s big.bright.minds. 2026 conference in December.
The organization said credit union leaders interested in seeing innovation in action can get an early look: Wave 21 will share the prototypes they’ve built and tested to address the credit union industry’s biggest member challenges in a special Zoom session on March 10, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM CT.
