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PODCAST

WCMS Alumni Frogcast

Western CUNA Management School (WCMS) is a 3 year educational/training program created to give credit union leaders a deep dive into the purpose and mission of operating a cooperative business model. The Frogcast was created to continue our unique WCMS education, to deepen our connection to the school, each other, and the credit union industry, and maybe spark a memory or two from our time on campus at Pomona College. In this podcast we interview the faculty and alumni of the school on the

business management

All Episodes

00:22:24

Episode 55 - Ben Greiving (January 2026)

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2026/01/26

We are kicking off 2026 with a distinguished WCMS alumni, one of only a few to have graduated from the program with Highest Honors. Ben Greiving serves as General Counsel & Chief of Staff at Canvas Credit Union in Colorado where he not only leads the CU's legal, compliance, and policy functions but also strategic planning and advocacy. Ben shares his views regarding the strategic importance legal professionals can play within credit unions, preparing the organization for the challenges and

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00:24:39

Episode 54 - Scott Simpson (December 2025)

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2025/12/12

The Frogcast is finishing 2025 strong with someone who's name has been in credit union news a lot lately. Scott Simpson, recently appointed President/CEO of America's Credit Unions, joins us to speak about how he plans to lead the CU movement in the future. Scott's experience within the industry is vast, within a number of states and associations. However, his new responsibilities will require him to cover credit unions nationwide. The messaging is the same, and our antagonists are the

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00:21:55

Episode 53 - Justin Martin (November 2025)

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2025/11/24

Our November guest is Justin Martin, CEO of TAPCO Credit Union in Tacoma, Washington. Justin has served in this role for four years, but had previously served the industry in various executive roles including CHRO, Chief Marketing Officer, and COO. In his current role, Justin has led the credit union using four strategic pillars - culture, digital, community impact, and data centricity. During this competitive and challenging environment TAPCO believes it all starts with a culture of belonging.

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00:23:32

Episode 52 - Michael Nagl (October 2025)

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2025/10/27

This month we are joined by Michael Nagl, President and CEO for Centennial Lending, LLC. As a CUSO, which is a company owned by credit unions and for credit unions and its members, Centennial Lending provides an important strategic partnership to the industry. Michael's career journey to credit unions was a "long, strange trip", going from bar/restaurant management, to golf pro, to the industry we all love. WCMS, of course, was an experience that became a turning point in his journey

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00:17:39

Episode 51 - Gene Pelham (September 2025)

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2025/09/26

This month's guest is an icon of the credit union movement. With a career spanning four decades, Gene Pelham has proven himself an impactful leader across the movement and within the halls of WCMS. His 2022 retirement as CEO of Rogue Credit Union has not ended his impact at all. Gene continues to serve credit unions with a special focus on helping smaller CU's thrive in this difficult environment. His impact at WCMS, since graduating in 1995, is also notable. Upon graduating he was chosen

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00:20:19

Episode 50 - Erin Estelle

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2025/09/02

We are fortunate to have Erin Estelle, Chief Marketing Officer at Valley Strong Credit Union, join us on the Frogcast this month. As a former collegiate and professional athlete, and with a previous career in Retail, Erin has some interesting viewpoints and valuable insights about the credit union movement. Among many things, she shares with us today her leadership of Valley Strong's impressive financial literacy initiative. Covering all aspects of financial wellness, for all stages of members,

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00:22:31

Episode 49 - Darin Woinarowicz & Stefanie Villalobos...

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2025/07/25

Today we have a double-hitter as both Darin Woinarowicz and Stefanie Villalobos joining the Frogcast. Darin serves as the President & CEO at Arrowhead CU, and Stefanie as the AVP of Philanthropy & Community Impact with the CU. The Alumni Association has asked them to join us because of their leadership of the ArrowHeart Foundation. Stefanie simultaneously serves as the Foundation's Executive Director and Darin its founder. The ArrowHeart Foundation is an organization intent on helping

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00:19:35

Episode 48 - Marlene Nielsen & Elise Schexnayder...

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2025/06/13

Our June episode is a two-for-one, as we have two credit union leaders and recent graduates of WCMS for you. Marlene Nielsen is the Payments Manager at Granite CU and Elise Schexnayder is the Director of Professional Development for the California Credit Union League. Both graduated from WCMS last year as part of the Phi Class. They join the Frogcast today to talk about public speaking skills. Third year students are required to present a topic to a panel before graduating, and Marlene and Elise

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00:26:19

Business Partner Frogcast (Thom Back - Performance...

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2025/05/15

Thom Back, Director of Education and Client Insights and Analytics at Performance Trust, joins the Frogcast to discuss the current economic landscape and its impact on credit union margins and ROA. He goes on to discuss strategic opportunities and challenges many of his clients are facing, including membership growth and demographics, and today's credit risk profile.Interviewer: Robert YorkProducers: Ryan Kane and Steve SchmidleSupporting Cast: Nate Burns, Shonna Shearson, Jeff Morris, Ryan

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00:24:39

Episode 47 - Melia Heimbuck (April 2025)

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2025/04/18

Melia Heimbuck, President & CEO of the Credit Union Association of New Mexico, joins the Frogcast this month. Melia has served multiple leagues in her career, and as Principal of Risk Management Solutions for CU Solutions Group. Today, she speaks about the important advocacy work the leagues are delivering today for credit unions. Education, both to elected officials and credit union staff and boards, is critical to the work of the leagues. Speaking of education, Melia goes on to discuss the

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00:23:59

Episode 46 - Ronaldo Hardy (March 2025)

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2025/03/28

This month we have the amazing Ronaldo Hardy on the Frogcast! Ronaldo has served in multiple prominent positions within the CU industry including CEO of multiple credit unions, owner of CU Strategic Planning, CEO of NACUSO, and host of an award-winning reality show. Just recently, Ronaldo accepted the CEO position at Balance, a 50-year-old financial wellness nonprofit dedicated to increasing the financial health of all consumers. Financial wellness is becoming increasingly difficult to manage and

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00:27:38

Business Partner Frogcast - Jim Stickley (Feb 2025)

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2025/02/07

One of the WCMS’s long-time supporters, Jim Stickley, joins the Frogcast today to talk all things cyber security. Jim is the CEO of Stickley on Security, where he served as an identity thief (but he is no criminal) for thousands of financial institutions, Fortune 100 corporations, healthcare facilities, legal firms, and insurance companies. Jim is also the CEO of Mahalo, a provider of online and mobile banking solutions for credit unions. Today’s topic of cyber security, and some interesting

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00:24:52

Episode 45 - Madeline Stewart (January 2025)

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2025/01/17

Today we have Madeline Stewart, the President and CEO of Vida Credit Union, joining us on the Frogcast. She has served her credit union for nearly 25 years in multiple roles and with a passionate focus on operational performance. On the tail end of a rapid rebranding initiative, Madeline shares the background story on the decision and name selection. Vida Credit Union is a CDFI institution who has used this designation, and the CDFI grants, to make a meaningful difference in their community. Due to

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00:14:38

Episode 44 - Fidel Gonzalez (December 2024)

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2024/12/20

December’s guest is Fidel Gonzalez, the President and CEO of First Imperial Credit Union and a proud member of the 1999 Phi Class of WCMS. Among many accomplishments, Fidel has led his low-income designated credit union to also become a CDFI certified credit union. With the CDFI designation, the credit union has applied for, and received, grants totaling over $7 million. With these dollars they have funded their loan loss reserve and served their members and community by lending into lower credit

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00:19:33

Episode 43 - Danielle Bridges (November 2024)

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2024/12/04

This month’s guest is none other than Danielle Bridges, SVP of Capital Markets and Mortgage Lending at Vantage West CU in Tucson, Arizona. Her impressive and unique set of responsibilities spans lending, finance and treasury management, and allows Vantage West to open up new and innovative lending opportunities and revenue streams. She discusses with us the opportunities and risks that alternative capital market partnerships produce, and the planning required to deliver value successfully through

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00:21:16

Episode 42 - Chad Bollinger (October 2024)

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2024/09/20

We are fast-tracking the publishing of today's episode given the timeliness of the topic. On the Frogcast today we have Chad Bollinger, CFO of Credit Union of Colorado, to talk about yesterday's 50 basis point rate cut by the Fed. A WCMS graduate with the Theta class of 2010, Chad provides a great overview of the economic drivers impacting the Fed's decision and what credit unions might do in response and preparation for the next cut. Earlier in his career Chad was a Credit Union

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00:23:33

Episode 41 - Bebe Souvannavong (September 2024)

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2024/09/11

A first for the Frogcast, today's guest is a very recent graduate of WCMS. Bebe Souvannavong only graduated from WCMS in July, along with her Phi class of 2024. In the real world, Bebe is the VP of Learning & Development at Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union. Still riding high from her life-changing time and experience on campus, Bebe shares the stories and challenges from the school. A lifelong learner, she has helped lead L&D to new innovative and purpose-driven heights at Santa

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00:19:32

Episode 40 - Ken Senus (August 2024)

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2024/08/14

Today we are joined by Ken Senus, currently serving as the 9th President and CEO of St. Mary's Bank - the oldest credit union in the country. In his career he has led core conversions, M&A transactions, and many other progressive responsibilities. Ken explains to us the background story of St. Mary's Bank, the history of its unique name (for a CU) and the amazing work it has done over its 116 years. You might expect the oldest credit union in the U.S. to focus on its past, but Ken

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00:18:58

Business Partner Frogcast - Paul Bean (July 2024)

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2024/07/22

In support of those organizations that support WCMS and its alumni, the Frogcast will occasionally introduce our audience to the organizations that provide us with both financial and operational resources.Our second such episode is with Paul Bean, CEO of AGP Digital Marketing. Paul formed his company 18 years ago to help give credit unions more robust digital marketing. Growing your credit union's membership likely requires use of a digital marketing channel, which requires enhanced data and

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00:24:19

Episode 39 - Jeremy Calva (July 2024)

WCMS Alumni Frogcast ·

2024/07/08

July's guest on the Frogcast is Jeremy Calva, EVP and Chief Financial Officer of Rivermark Community Credit Union. With a diverse background across multiple industries, and a long history in credit unions, his viewpoint is unique and well-founded with a strong financial viewpoint. Always on the lookout to help his CU improve earnings and capital, Jeremy shares his views on a few of the opportunities we have today. He covers complex topics such as the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC),

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