CUFEN Conference presented by Cashy
The CUFEN Conference is headed to San Antonio, TX July 26–29 — hosted at the beautiful Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk.
Conference Dates: July 26–29, 2026
Hotel Rates: Starting at $219/night
Early Bird Registration: Just $795
Set along the historic River Walk — where generations have built legacies through perseverance — CUFEN 2026 will explore how we, as financial educators, can bridge tradition with innovation to empower our communities.
Don’t miss this chance to connect, collaborate, and cultivate your mission to empower members of all ages.
2026 Annual Conference Agenda – San Antonio, TX
Sunday, July 26, 2026
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Registration Desk Open – 2nd Floor
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Pre-Conference Event – An Evening at The Legendary Buckhorn Saloon, Museum, and The Texas Ranger Museum – Sponsored by CASHY! Dust off your boots for a night of BOOTS & BLING!
Step into the story.
The Buckhorn Saloon is more than a venue, it’s where Texas legend was born. It’s the very place where Teddy Roosevelt recruited the Rough Riders and where Pancho Villa is rumored to have plotted revolution. History doesn’t just hang on the walls here - it breathes.
Travel back to a bustling 1900s San Antonio and experience the classic saloon, and both museums which include: a blacksmith shop, gun shop, newspaper press, telegraph office, and even a jail. Yes, you can quite literally belly up to the authentic bar (spittoons included).
Join us as we gather where legends once stood - connecting, celebrating, and continuing to Carry the Torch together.
Enjoy a curated selectionof Texas-inspired bites and beverages as you mix, mingle, and make meaningful connections in one of the most iconic settings in San Antonio. Gluten Free options available.
For more information to the museum: https://www.buckhornmuseum.com
Conference Day 1
Monday, July 27, 2026
8:00 am – 9:00 am | Registration Desk Open – 2nd Floor (directly off the escalators)
8:00 am – 9:00 am | Breakfast Buffet
9:00 am – 10:15 am | Empower Hour – FGH Ballroom - Kelli Holloway, CEO of Kelli & Co
Holding the Room: Leading with Empathy in Seasons of Loss
This keynote explores how leaders and financial educators create psychological safety in times of disruption and collective grief. In seasons when loss enters the workplace, professionals are often expected to continue the mission while carrying unseen emotional weight.
Together, we will examine how empathy, resilience, and emotional intelligence are not “soft skills,” but essential leadership strategies. We will explore how to honor loss without losing momentum, how to lead when you feel unsteady, and how to create cultures where people feel safe to say,“I’m not okay.” Grounded in connection and courage, this keynote equips attendees to continue advancing financial education while leading with humanity, steadiness, and intention.
10:15 am – 10:30 am | Trysh Olson Memorial – FGH Ballroom
10:30 am – 10:45 am | Stretch Break
10:45 am – 12:00 pm Empower Hour – FGH Ballroom - Lee Silber, Award-Winning Author
The Credit Union Way - Bridging Tradition of the Past with the Technology of Today to Create a Brighter Future
At the heart of the credit union way and the mission of our movement of people helping people is the fundamental question we ask ourselves: not what can I get, but what can I give. This thought-provoking program highlights the best of the best: new and creative ways to teach financial literacy, examples of heartwarming credit union caring and exceptional service, and how we can work together to make a difference.
This is a fun, interactive, and lively session but we will also honor our fallen hero by asking, “What would Trysh do?” and carry these characteristics forward in our work so she can still have an impact in the credit union world.
12:00 pm – 1:15pm | Lunch On Your Own
1:15pm – 2:30 pm | Presenting Sponsor Overview & Giveaway - FGH Ballroom - Mart, CASHY CEO & Founder
Game On: Financial Education Showdown
It’s day three - let’s wake things up. Attendees will compete live in a fast-paced financial education showdown. Test your knowledge, compete against peers, and win special surprise prizes.
2:30 pm – 2:45pm | Cashy Presenting Sponsor Overview
2:45 pm – 3:00pm | Transunion Platinum Sponsor Overview
3:00 pm – 3:15 pm | Kadince Platinum Sponsor Overview
3:15 pm – 4:30 pm | Empower Hour – FGH Ballroom - Jedidiah Collins, CPFC, ACC, Author, Comedian
Be a Pro - Confidence, Trust, Value
Step off the sidelines and into the arena of what it means to ‘Be A Pro’. In this unforgettable session, Jed challenges audiences to rethink what it means to perform with excellence - not through talent or titles, but through intentional confidence, relational trust, and daily value creation. Discover how to silence the inner critic and unearth unshakeable confidence, build a network of ironclad trust by mastering the art of relationship measurement, and engineer unforgettable value that makes your name the one they remember.
Leave with more than just theory - gain a transformative framework to "Be A Pro" in every aspect of your life and ignite the champion within. If your audience needs inspiration they’ll actually apply, Jed’s message is guaranteed to move them from motivation to action.
4:30 pm – 4:45 pm | Kaleidoscope Platinum Sponsor Overview
4:45 pm – 5:00 pm | GreenPath Platinum Sponsor Overview
6:00 pm – 9 p.m. | Vendor and Business Partner Reception – Casa Rio Riverwalk
430 E Commerce San Antonio, TX 78205
Join us for drinks and tapas on the San Antonio Riverwalk!
This is your chance to meet and mingle with our vendors, business partners, and peers. Each attendee will receive one drink ticket, redeemable for beer, wine, or Casa Rio’s Traditional Margarita or Sangria. The menu is gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly
Conference Day 2
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
8:00 am – 8:30 am | Rise & Shine Breakfast – Business Partner Drawings - FGH Ballroom
8:30 am – 9:00 am | Annual Meeting Updates for CUFEN – FGH Ballroom
9:00 am – 9:15 am | Banzai! Platinum Sponsor Overview
9:15 am – 10:30 am | Empower Hour – FGH Ballroom - Alex Sheen, CEO of Because I Said I Would.
Because I Said I Would
We live in a society that often does not respect the importance of a promise. It is too easy to say “I’ll get to it” or “tomorrow.” In many ways we have become numb to disappointment and broken commitments. This expectation starts to fade into our character as individuals. Alex Sheen believes that every individual has the strength to become a person of their word. As the Founder of an international social movement, Alex shares his insights and actionable ways to become better at fulfilling commitments. He inspires others to become more accountable to their promises through compelling and real-life examples from the because I said I would Alex convincingly illustrates how integrity and keeping your promises are forever interwoven. He discusses how holding ourselves and each other accountable truly changes humanity for the better.
10:30 am – 11:00 am | Snack & Visit with Business Partners and Alex
11:00 am – 11:15 am | Money Confidence Platinum Sponsor Overview
11:30 am – 12:30 pm | Innovation Workshops - Lee Silber, Award-Winning Author – FGH Ballroom
Back To The Future
Bridging Tradition of the Past with the Technology of Today to Create a Brighter Future
We’ll explore ways to reach, teach, and win over younger generations with timeless and practical principles presented in new and interesting ways. We’ll borrow the best ideas from other credit union professionals and use teaching techniques and technology to grab, hold, excite, and move young people to embrace credit unions and financial stability. This is a hands-on workshop with practical ideas and support materials to put these principles into practice. Looking to the past to gain ideas we can use in the present to help create a new, financially strong group of members in the future is what this class is all about.
Jedidiah Collins, CPFC, ACC, Author, Comedian – Chula Vista (Last Names M-Z)
From Pro to Program
12:30 pm – 1:45 pm | Lunch On Your Own
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm Innovation Workshops - Lee Silber, Award-Winning Author – FGH Ballroom (Last Names M-Z)
Back To The Future
Bridging Tradition of the Past with the Technology of Today to Create a Brighter Future
We’ll explore ways to reach, teach, and win over younger generations with timeless and practical principles presented in new and interesting ways. We’ll borrow the best ideas from other credit union professionals and use teaching techniques and technology to grab, hold,excite, and move young people to embrace credit unions and financial stability. This is a hands-on workshop with practical ideas and support materials to put these principles into practice. Looking to the past to gain ideas we can use in the present to help create a new, financially strong group of members in the future is what this class is all about. This is a hands-on workshop with practical ideas and support materials to put these principles into practice. Looking to the past to gain ideas we can use in the present to help create a new, financially strong group of members in the future is what this class is all about.
Jedidiah Collins, CPFC, ACC, Author, Comedian – Chula Vista (Last Names A-L)
From Pro to Program
3:00 pm – 3:15 pm | GoalSetter Platinum Sponsor Overview
3:15 pm – 3:30 pm | Genaspire Platinum Sponsor Overview
3:30 pm – 4:45 pm | Empower Hour - FGH Ballroom - Christopher Morris, DE Program Director of National Credit Union Foundation
Financial Well-Being: Our Unifying Purpose
The credit union difference is rooted in both the head and the heart. In this dynamic session, you’ll gain powerful insights into how the most successful credit unions position the cooperative principles and people-first philosophy as a growth strategy to bring greater financial well-being to the communities they serve. More than just an exploration of our roots, this session will explore the future potential of the movement, and how understanding this can energize your passion, strengthen your credit union, and elevate your career. Come ready to be inspired, engaged and empowered to center financial well-being in everything you do.
4:45 pm – 5:00 pm | Platinum Sponsor Overview
5:00 pm | Evening on Your Own
Conference Day 3
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
8:00 am – 8:45 am | Rise & Shine Breakfast – FGH Ballroom
8:45 am – 10:00 am | Empower Hour – FGH Ballroom - Colin Ryan, Author and Speaker
Taking Care of the Person Within the Professional
In a time of economic strain, constant responsibility, and emotional overload, this session speaks directly to the person beneath the professional: the human being carrying unseen burdens while still showing up to serve. Our speaker, Colin Ryan, financial speaker and author of the new book Epic Tiny Victories: A Hopeful Book on Mental Health and Reframing Your Life, will blend humor, storytelling, and reflection in order to offer you practical tools for resilience, so you can honor your own capacity, manage stress and replenish your energy so you’re not trying to “pour from an empty pitcher”.
10:00 am – 10:15 am | Stretch Break
10:15 am – 10:30 am | Money Habitudes Platinum Sponsor Overview
10:30 am – 11:30 am | Empower Hour – FGH Ballroom - Cara Macksound- Money Habtitudes
The Human Side of Money: An Interactive Exploration of Bias and Relational Money
This highly interactive session uses a live trading simulation based on the card game Pit to help participants explore the relational and behavioral sides of money. Derived from real-life experience, the activity invites participants to uncover and reflect on their own cognitive biases and observe how those biases influence financial decision-making, trust, relationships, and overall well-being.
11:30 am – 11:45 am | Stretch Break & Snack
11:45 am – 12:30 pm | Aspire & Inspire Breakouts – FGH Ballroom - Sadie Hammock - Publix Employees Federal Credit Union
Financially Fresh with PEFCU
Financially Fresh reimagines financial education through a simple but powerful gameboard approach that turns learning into a journey—not a lecture. This session will show how one credit union uses gamification, visual pathways, and incentives to normalize financial conversations and drive lasting behavior change. Attendees will leave with practical ideas to make financial education more engaging, relatable, and actionoriented at their own institutions.
Attendees will gain an understanding of:
How to create a Shared Financial Language and Roadmap
How Incentives Power Engagement
How to Gamify Financial Education
Erin Roache and Leatrice Caldwell, State Employees’ Credit Union – Chula Vista Building a Framework for Growth: Leveraging your branch network to expand your financial education program
Looking for ways for your small team to expand your financial education program? Find out how SECU’s Financial Education team makes a state-wide impact by using their branch network to reach every county in North Carolina. Through this interactive workshop, you will learn ways to:
Train and prepare your branch network
Create standardized experiences for programs across your footprint
Develop or maintain procedures to ensure compliance in programming
Gather the details to help tell the story of your impact to stakeholders
12:30 pm – 1:45 pm | Lunch On Your Own
1:45 pm – 2:30 pm | Aspire & Inspire Breakouts (Your Choice) - Morgan Talbot, kadince – FGH Ballroom
How Credit Unions Build Financial Education Programs People Engage With Many credit unions are deeply committed to financial education, yet struggle with low participation, limited visibility, or volunteer burnout. This breakout session explores how successful credit unions are rethinking the way they design, promote, and sustain financial education programs. Drawing on real-world examples and proven best practices across the credit union movement, this session will
examine how marketing strategies, employee volunteer engagement, and community partnerships can work together to increase participation and impact…without increasing staff burden. Attendees will leave with practical, adaptable strategies they can apply immediately to strengthen their financial education efforts and better serve their communities.
Guest Speakers, Empowering Employee Education – Chula Vista How To Expand Your Internal Program
2:40 pm – 3:25 pm | Aspire & Inspire Breakouts (Your Choice) - Jimdre Westbrook, Silver State Credit Union – FGH Ballroom
Beyond the Branch: If Your CU Disappeared Tomorrow… Would Your Community Notice?
This session is a real-world case study and interactive workshop designed for credit union professionals who want to move financial education from a “nice-to-have” program into a visible, measurable, and mission-critical driver of community impact and market penetration.
Drawing from firsthand experience building a Financial Literacy Department from scratch at a mid-sized credit union, attendees will walk through how financial education can be intentionally designed, delivered, and broadcast beyond the branch – through schools, community partnerships, experiential events, and owned media like podcasts.
The session will explore how leveraging financial education as a strategic growth tool can increase brand trust, deepen relationships within education communities, and create long-term pipelines for membership, loans, and engagement. Attendees will leave with practical frameworks, replicable strategies, and a renewed vision for how their credit union can become indispensable to the communities it serves.
Denise Romanelli, TruMark Financial Credit Union – Chula Vista
How to treat financial distress with a psychological-wellness check-up.
Finances are the most important contributor towards personal and professional success. Every aspect of our lives is influenced by money, yet it is the least taught lesson. Most people think they don’t need education until…they find themselves in crisis.
As financial educators we know how to provide tactical problem-solving strategies. But the only way out for people in crisis is how to cut back. This is a difficult situation to improve during crisis and expect immediate solutions.What do we know about how people manage their funds prior to their financial predicament? What should we watch for in our members’ conversations, behaviors, and account transactions? Can we identify these individuals before they reach their financial breaking point?
This session will include the psychology of money and the cognitive approach to how the mind drives behavior. You will leave with greater awareness of how we can address their mindset with a financial wellness check-up to prevent an impending financial and emotional breakdown.
3:35 pm – 4:45 pm | Power-Up Panel – FGH Ballroom - Guest Speakers and Experts Behavioral Finance
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm | Annual Awards Dinner & Conference Registeration 2027 Giveaway – FGH Ballroom Add guests for $125/person
2026 Legacy in Motion Award Application Form
Application Deadline - June 12, 2026
The Legacy in Motion Award recognizes individuals whose leadership, compassion, and vision have meaningfully advanced financial education and strengthened the financial well-being of the communities they serve. Named in the memory and honor of Trysh Olson, a passionate advocate and architect of collaborative financial education, this award reflects her belief that education is most powerful when rooted in service, partnership, and measurable community impact.
The Legacy in Motion Award honors professionals who exemplify:
A deep and sustained commitment to financial education access and equity.
Excellence in program development, outreach, and advocacy.
Leadership that inspires collaboration across credit unions, educators, and community organizations.
A demonstrated ability to translate financial education into positive real-world outcomes.
Nominees should show clear evidence of impact beyond their institution, including innovative educational initiatives, community partnerships, or programs that have expanded access to financial knowledge for underserved or vulnerable populations.
Award Criteria
Eligible nominees will demonstrate:
Leadership in advancing financial education within their credit union and community.
Advocacy for lifelong financial learning across diverse audiences.
Measurable outcomes or sustained impact resulting from their efforts.
Alignment with CUFEN’s mission and the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People".
Award Details
The award recipient will receive a $500 charitable donation, awarded in their name, to be given to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization aligned with financial education or community empowerment. The award recipient will also receive free registration for the 2027 CUFEN Conference.
Each nomination must include:
Nominee information
Credit union affiliation
A written statement from the nominee describing their work and impact
Photos and stories related to this award will be shared on our social media platforms and through other communications.
All applications will be reviewed by the CUFEN Board of Directors, and the award will be formally presented during our CUFEN Conference Awards Night.
Legacy Statement
The Legacy in Motion Award is more than recognition - it is a continuation of Trysh’s life’s work. Each recipient carries forward her legacy by ensuring that financial education remains intentional, inclusive, and transformative, empowering individuals and communities to build stronger financial futures.
*SOLICITATION BY NON-EXHIBITORS: Persons not affiliated with a registered Exhibitor pursuant to a signed Exhibit Agreement Form are prohibited from posting any displays or distributing any catalogs, merchandise, printed matter, souvenirs or the like within the Event premises, meeting facilities, or hospitality suites.