CLAREMONT, Calif.–Western Credit Union Management School (WCMS) hosted its annual WCMS Innovators Challenge as part of the school’s 65th annual session during which it also held its Innovation Challenge.
The immersive, full-day event has served as a “pivotal capstone” of the school’s “rigorous” two-week credit union leadership curriculum, according to WCMS.
“The Innovators Challenge is where our students synthesize everything they’ve learned, transforming it into tangible solutions for real-world credit union needs,” Dr. Michael Steinberger, dean and chief academic officer for WCMS, said in a statement. “It is the ultimate proving ground, and incubator, bridging the gap between classroom insights and practical application. We’re seeing credit union leaders refine their capabilities to implement innovation and confront pressing issues head-on. Given the advances in AI and cyber threats, this year we specifically tasked students to focus on mitigating fraud within their credit unions.”
Below, the winning team in Western Credit Union Management School’s (WCMS) Innovators Challenge.
(L-R) Larry Palochik, EVP of Fuel Solutions; Brad Bendeck, SVP of Partner Management and Corporate Development for Velera; Tiffany Doty, SVP of Sales and Growth for Velera; Bella Scott, Senior Manager of Incubation Research for Filene Research Institute; Maddie Gunderson, Incubator Associate for Filene Research Institute; Megan Freshour, Incubation Director for Filene Research Institute; Christie Kimbell, EVP of Filene Research Institute; Darren Lorrentz, SVP of Product Management for Origence; and Aleks Bogoeski, SVP of Product and Partnerships for Origence.
‘Riveting Experience’
This year’s Innovators Challenge was a “riveting experience” shared across three distinct class cohorts that is aimed at helping students develop new innovative endeavors and translate their education into tangible results for their credit unions, the school said.
Innovators Challenge Day began with morning classes and then moved into afternoon group work around developing innovative solutions to the year’s pressing challenge problem. In Round 1, all student groups presented their solutions to a panel of expert innovation coaches and their peers, who then voted on the top proposals.
That culminated in a Frog Tank Finale, where the top teams pitched their refined ideas to the entire three-year WCMS student body of more than 420 people, as well as the nine innovation coaches.
Top Prize Renamed for Diana Dystra
As part of this year’s program, WCMS renamed the top prize in the Innovators Challenge as the Diana Dykstra Prize for Credit Union Innovation in honor of the former president of the California and Nevada leagues, as well as former president of WCMS.
The innovation coaches for the 2025 challenge were senior leaders from the Filene Research Institute, Origence, and Velera, who offered mentorship and constructive feedback aimed at refining the groups’ ideas, according to WCMS.
What Experience Included
WCMS said the day’s experience included:
- Exposure to innovation strategy frameworks taught by Filene Research Institute/WCMS faculty members
- Engaging networking and ideation sessions with year-one, two, and three classmates
- Dedicated class team-time for intensive Innovators Challenge collaboration and pitch development
- A collaborative dinner and reception with year-one, two, and three classmates, fostering further networking and brainstorming
- Three rigorous Innovators Challenge rounds, designed to decide the Frog Tank Champions and provide students feedback on more effectively pitching and implementing innovative ideas within their respective credit unions.
- Innovation Round 1 (Pitch Presentation and Coach’s Feedback); Innovation Round 2 (Coaches’ Knockout Round); and the WCMS Innovators Challenge Final Round (The Frog Tank Finale).
The ‘Head and Heart’ Journey
WCMS said that to ensure the Innovators Challenge consistently embodies the school’s legacy of educational excellence, it maintained a “robust administrative structure: while providing direct assistance to year-one, year-two, and year-three credit union leaders/students “throughout their transformative “head and heart” journey.”
“More than just a competition, the WCMS Innovators Challenge reminds every WCMS student of their potential and responsibility to help solve the most pressing issues facing credit unions today,” Steinberger said in a statement. “By fostering critical thinking, strategy, collaboration, and a willingness to embrace calculated risks, WCMS consistently strengthens the skills of our students to be transformative leaders for their credit unions. Ultimately, we define the school’s success by every student feeling more confident and ready to drive innovation within their own credit union upon their return.”
