Date: October 21, 2026
Time: 8:45 am CT (9:45 a.m. ET)
Where: Contact Your League

 

Small credit unions face unique opportunities and challenges, and this virtual meeting is designed to provide practical ideas you can put to work right away. Join TR Group for expert-led sessions on effective marketing strategies for small credit unions, leveraging your institution's strengths to drive growth, and building a productive relationship with your NCUA examiner.

While the program is tailored for credit unions with assets of $100 million or less, all credit unions are welcome to attend. Connect with peers, gain practical insights, and leave with ideas and strategies you can implement at your credit union.

 

Agenda

• 8:45 – 9:00 a.m. CT | 9:45 – 10:00 a.m. ET
  Welcome

• 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. CT | 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. ET
  Small CU Marketing, Bobbie Gardner

• 9:45 – 10:30 a.m. CT | 10:45 – 11:30 a.m. ET
  The puzzle-solving approach that enables small credit unions to thrive, Opal Tomashevska, TruStage

• 10:30 – 10:45 a.m. CT | 11:30 – 11:45 a.m. ET
  Break

• 10:45 – 11:30 a.m. CT | 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET
  Working with your examiner, Craig Bilotta, NCUA

 

Contact your league to get registered.

 

Sessions

9:00 – 9:45 a.m. CT | 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. ET
Get It Done Marketing for Small Credit Unions, Bobbie Gardner

Session Summary

Short on time, short on staff, and expected to do it all? This session is built for you.

In this fast-paced, no-fluff session, you’ll learn how to take your marketing from scattered to structured so you can actually get things done and see results.

You’ll walk away with:

• A clear way to plan one campaign without overthinking it
• A repeatable method to turn that campaign into email, social, and in-branch content
• Practical ways to use AI to speed up planning and content creation
• A 30-day marketing plan you can put into action immediately

This session is designed for real-world credit union teams. You’ll leave with a focused approach and tools you can start using right away.

 

Bobbie Garner is the founder of CuCurator and a credit union growth strategist, working with 40+ credit unions across 20 states to help small teams get their marketing done more efficiently and effectively.

Bobbie specializes in turning scattered marketing efforts into clear, repeatable systems that save time, improve consistency, and drive results. With a focus on practical execution and smart use of AI, Bobbie helps credit unions plan campaigns, create content faster, and get more value out of the resources they already have.

If you’re looking for a better way to manage marketing without adding more to your plate, this session will give you tools and ideas you can start using right away.

 

9:45 – 10:30 a.m. CT | 10:45 – 11:30 a.m. ET
The puzzle-solving approach that enables small credit unions to thrive, Opal Tomashevska, TruStage

Small credit unions are often seen as disadvantaged by a lack of scale. But in fact, many are flourishing. These small credit unions defy stereotypes, leveraging their unique strengths as flexible, committed, member-focused institutions keyed into the needs of their particular markets and communities. Learn what makes for a small credit union that is not just surviving, but thriving.

Key Takeaway: Small credit unions thrive by leveraging their agility, strong community connections, and focus on member needs, turning perceived disadvantages into competitive strengths for sustainable growth.

 

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. CT | 11:30 – 11:45 a.m. ET
Break

 

10:45 – 11:30 a.m. CT | 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET
Working with your examiner, Craig Bilotta, NCUA

In this 45-minute session, Supervisory Examiner Craig Bilotta will walk credit union leaders through practical strategies to strengthen their working relationship with their examiner and navigate the exam process with confidence.

Participants will gain insight on how examiners approach planning, scoping, and conducting the exam-and what credit unions can do to facilitate an efficient and effective examination. You’ll learn the do’s and don’ts of information sharing, tips for reducing exam friction, and techniques for aligning expectations early to avoid surprises later.