Hello everyone!
This is my first newsletter since taking over for Larry Nichols as CEO. I wanted to start by thanking Larry for his dedication and efforts over the years to MDT and the credit union community. Larry has made our industry stronger, and his impact will live on for years to come. I am humbled to be chosen as the next leader of MDT and am excited about and confident in our future, our industry and the impact we can have on your credit unions and members.
For those of you who don’t know me very well, I’ve been with MDT for over 16 years in the CFO role and have been heavily involved in shaping MDT’s strategic direction in recent years. I grew up in the Metro Detroit area, and I’ve been married to my amazing wife Sara for over 23 years. We have two children – our daughter is a junior in college, and our son is about to graduate high school. Our family has spent years going to science olympiads, softball fields, basketball courts and lots of hockey rinks, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I’m a proud Michigan State Spartan, where I received my bachelor’s degree in accounting, and Indiana Hoosier, where I received my MBA. Over the years, I’ve lived in Washington DC, Chicago and San Jose before coming back to Michigan. I love Michigan and all of the seasons (yes, even winter!), as I enjoy golfing, skiing, tennis and playing hockey (poorly, but with enthusiasm). I also enjoy rooting on the Spartans, Pistons, Tigers, Lions and Red Wings. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of you at our MDT CEO Forums, conferences and site visits. I look forward to reconnecting with those I’ve met and introducing myself to those I haven’t yet.
Speaking of events, our 2025 MDT E3 2025 Conference is just around the corner! Join us from May 19-21 in the heart of Detroit at The Westin Book Cadillac. This valuable event will be filled with educational sessions, insightful panels and lively networking opportunities designed to help you elevate your operations and member experience. Register here!
As part of MDT E3, I’ll be co-hosting a special CEO Luncheon with Greg Adelson, President and CEO of Jack Henry. This will be a great opportunity for credit union CEOs to come together for meaningful conversations about the trends and strategies shaping our industry. While we won’t be holding a CEO Forum in 2025, this luncheon will offer a valuable way to stay connected and engaged.
I also want to take a moment to recognize a few powerful forces at MDT. A big congratulations to Ashley Pope, who won the prestigious MDT President’s Award. This award is presented to individuals who routinely go above and beyond, displaying their dedication to MDT, their clients and the credit union community. Congrats, Ashley – and thank you for all that you do!
And please join me in welcoming Amanda Garabedian, President and CEO of Adventure Credit Union, to MDT’s board of directors! Her passion for the credit union movement, strategic insight and expertise has already proven to be invaluable. We’re thrilled to have Amanda on board to support and strengthen our mission moving forward, helping credit unions navigate the complex financial technology ecosystem and ensuring you remain institutions of choice for members.
Lastly, I wanted to share the great success we have had with our new Consulting and Project Management service offering. Clients that have worked with our consultants and PMs have found them to be extremely responsive, insightful and focused on meeting their unique needs. Please contact your CRM if you have projects, problems or strategic initiatives that we could support.
It’s been an exciting and productive start to the year, and I look forward to sharing more about MDT’s vision for the future at our MDT E3 Conference and seeing many of you in Detroit. Until then, enjoy the longer hours of daylight and first signs of spring!
Warm Regards,
Chris