PALM DESERT, Calif.–The Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) has kicked off its annual conference at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort here.
“Our Annual Conference is more than just a gathering — it’s a powerful reminder of who we are and why we serve,” DCUC President/CEO Anthony Hernandez said in a statement. “We’re proud to continue this one-of-a-kind tradition with our member credit unions, united in our shared mission to support the financial well-being of our nation’s military, veterans, and their families. From the golf tournament to the sessions ahead, this week reflects the strength, camaraderie, and purpose that define the defense credit union community.”
Prior to the meeting, DCUC hosted the 2025 VADM Vincent Lascara Golf Tournament. DCUC’s annual golf tournament, sponsored by TruStage and Aries Fraud Solutions, raised $1,255 for Fisher House.
The day began with a “Mingle with Mocktails” networking event, sponsored by Vizo Financial, as well as a Welcome Lunch, hosted by The Sheeter Group.
The Breakout Sessions
Breakout sessions on day one included:
- “Mergers & Acquisitions – Navigating a New Era,” led by David Ritter, Managing Director, M&A Advisory at ALM First, who addressed the growing pace of industry consolidation and shared real-world case studies to help credit unions plan for strategic success, DCUC said.
- “Post-Quantum Cryptography: Preparing Credit Unions for the Next Security Challenge,” led by PenFed Senior Vice President, Chief Information Security Officer Anthony LaManna, and Eleanor Westbrook, Applied Cryptography Engineer, who outlined the impending risks of quantum computing and the need for post-quantum readiness.
- “Democratizing Advocacy,” presented by DCUC’s Chief Advocacy Officer Jason Stverak, explored how “every voice in the credit union movement can—and must—contribute to preserving the mission and relevance of credit unions in the face of legislative and market pressures.”
General Sessions
An afternoon general session began with a welcome address from DCUC’s Hernandez, who then moved to recognize both Travis Credit Union and Otero Federal Credit Union with the presentation of the 2024 Air Force Credit Unions of the Year Service Awards.
The session continued with an introduction to this year’s “Conference with a Purpose” charity recipient, Fisher House Foundation, including a special video message from Tish Stropes, VP of strategic initiatives, Fisher House Foundation.
Tansley Stearns, president & CEO of Community Financial Credit Union, then provided a “Backbone Update” with an overview of the organization’s vision for raising the profile of credit unions.
‘Purpose, Leadership, Resilience’
“Following Stearns’ discussion, Mark Nutsch, Green Beret commander Portrayed in the Movie ’12 Strong’ and New York Times bestseller with’ Horse Soldiersl’ and co-founder of Horse Soldier Bourbon, shared a powerful message of purpose, leadership, and resilience,” DCUC said.
Hernandez then joined Nutsch on stage for an informal fireside chat discussion and offered direct questions from the audience.
Afternoon Sessions
Afternoon sessions included:
- Navigating CEO Retirements, presented by Kirk Kordeleski and Tim Strandquist, executive benefits consultants with PARC Street Group, who addressed the pressing need for succession planning as 25% of CU CEOs approach retirement by 2027.
- The Ripple Effect of Interest Rate Volatility, presented by Jeremy DeBruin and Matt Jakubowski, area vice presidents with Gallagher, who examined how changing rates are impacting executive compensation and retirement plans.
- Accelerating Fintech Adoption, presented by Service Credit Union President & CEO David Araujo, and Curql Collective President & CEO Nick Evens, who shared a real-world framework for innovation that stays true to credit union values.
- Faster Payments, Faster Fraud, led by Aries Fraud Solutions President Lon Varns, who highlighted the evolving risks in digital payments and offers practical fraud mitigation strategies.
