Indiana introduces ignite
Initiative extends Filene Research Council’s i³ program at the state level
September 5, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS—A joint venture between the Indiana League and three Indiana credit union representatives associated with the Filene Research Institute’s i³ program is generating a lot of interest among the state’s credit unions. A new initiative, called ignite, and designed to generate innovation for Indiana’s credit unions, was introduced during the League’s Managers Conference August 23.

The elements of the program include education sessions offered by the League on a variety of topics of interest to leaders and emerging leaders at Indiana’s credit unions, along with the establishment of working groups that will develop new ideas and will be responsible for their implementation and/or the implementation of existing ideas presented by Filene’s i³ group.

“The success of the Filene Research Institute’s i³ program has inspired the creation of an extended program that can operate at the state level, which fits perfectly into League Chairman Jenny Budreau’s emphasis on offering more for emerging leaders at Indiana’s credit unions,” said League President John McKenzie. “The presence of three talented members of Filene’s i³ group in Indiana, along with their interest in establishing and overseeing ignite was the key to moving forward with an initiative that promises to enhance the success of Hoosier credit unions.”

McKenzie emphasized that the Indiana program also includes a professional development component that will be available to individuals from all affiliates regardless of whether they are selected for the working groups. Sessions that focus on topics such as entrepreneurialism, technology and current trends will be part of the League’s 2008 education calendar. The League presents upwards of 70 education sessions for affiliates annually.

The three individuals whose participation is key to how ignite will operate are:

Doug True, SVP of Technovation at FORUM CU and President of FORUM Solutions – True is an inaugural member of the i³ group.

Bob Falk, President and Chief Operating Officer at Purdue EFCU, a current i³-er

Nan Morrow, Vice President of Corporate Development at Centra CU, a current i³-er.

“Ignite is designed to compliment what the Filene Research Institute has done with its i³ initiative,” said True. “The ignite working groups will take some field trips and be exposed to exciting speakers that will provide brain food and inspiration for innovation.”

Applications for working group participants are being accepted until November 30 from Indiana League affiliates. Program details and applications have been mailed to all Indiana credit unions and materials are also available online at http://www.icul.org/ignite/default.asp.

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