Inspiring Innovation and Member Engagement: Highlights from the Ukrainian American Credit Union Association Conference in Boston
Boston, a city renowned for its rich history and vibrant culture, recently hosted the much-anticipated Ukrainian American Credit Union Association (UACUA) Conference and annual meeting. The UACUA comprises 10 Ukrainian-American credit unions, representing over 125,000 members with $4.4 billion in assets.
The conference was held at the Hilton Park Plaza Hotel from June 25–27, 2024, and brought together UACUA credit union professionals from across the country for three days of networking, learning, and inspiration. This year’s conference featured a robust agenda, including addresses from three distinguished speakers who provided invaluable insights into member engagement and future innovations in the credit union industry.
This year’s conference also welcomed guests from Ukraine and Canada. The Ukrainian credit unions were represented by Olha Tuhai, President of the All-Ukrainian Credit Union Association, and Volodymyr Sydorowsky, CEO of the Anicia Credit Union based in Lviv, Ukraine. The Canadian contingent included Michael Mychajlyshyn, Chairman of the Canadian Credit Union Council; Natalia Lyshchyna and Taras Pidzymecky, Chairman and CEO respectively of Ukrainian Credit Union Ltd., Toronto, Canada; and Bohdan Leshchyshyn, representing Buduchnist Credit Union, also of Toronto.
The conference kicked off on Thursday evening, June 25, with a “meet and greet” hospitality event. UACUA Chairman Anatoli Murha welcomed the attendees and emphasized the importance of innovation and member-centric services in the rapidly evolving financial landscape. The informal gathering included a short presentation by Dr. Oleh Kotsyuba, Director of Print and Digital Publications for the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI), who spoke about the need to combat Russian misinformation regarding the history of Ukraine. Dr. Kotsyuba was accompanied by HURI’s Executive Director Tymish Holowinsky.
On Friday, June 26, the conference began with a greeting from Ukrainian delegates Olha Tuhai and Volodymyr Sydorowsky, who provided an overview of the current situation of Ukrainian credit unions and the challenges these financial institutions face in light of the war in Ukraine. The main part of the day’s conference was dedicated to the challenges and opportunities facing credit unions in the digital age. Julie Lewis, Vice President of Community Engagement at the University of South Florida Federal Credit Union, presented on the topic of “Engaging Younger Members for Growth.” Her insights set the tone for the conference, encouraging attendees to think critically about their strategic priorities.
The second presenter was Raoul Souza, founder of the Brazil-based Ubots, Inc., who provided real-world examples of credit unions that have successfully leveraged technology to enhance their offerings, from mobile banking apps to artificial intelligence-driven customer support. “Collaboration between credit unions and AI applications can unlock tremendous value for both parties,” Souza remarked, inspiring attendees to explore new avenues for growth and collaboration.
The final presenter was Vsevolod Onyshkevych, a serial Ukrainian-American entrepreneur and strategic growth advisor for technology firms, who offered insights into general business growth and scaling. The conference concluded with an overview of customer engagement by Juli Lewis and Khrystyna Luchka, Vice President of Member Experience at Selfreliance Federal Credit Union – Chicago.
The UACUA’s annual meeting was held on Saturday morning, June 27. The annual meeting presidium was chaired by Bohdan Kurczak of Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union. UACUA Chairman of the Board, Anatoli Murha, recapped some of the highlights of the association’s projects and activities from the past year. Mr. Kurczak took this opportunity to thank George Stachiw of Self Reliance New England Federal Credit Union for his over 30 years of service to UACUA as a long-standing secretary. Mr. Stachiw will be stepping down as a UACUA director as part of the recent merger of the New England credit union with Selfreliance – Chicago. A full list of UACUA leadership and board members can be found on uacua.com.
The Ukrainian American Credit Union Association Conference in Boston was a resounding success, leaving attendees inspired and equipped with new ideas to drive their organizations forward. The insights shared underscored the importance of innovation, technology, and purpose-driven leadership in the evolving credit union landscape. As the conference drew to a close, participants left with a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to enhancing the financial well-being of their members and communities.
