JEAN CHATZKY RETURNS TO HOST THINK 19, MAINSTAGE KEYNOTERS FILL OUT 2019 LINE-UP

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, California – Jean Chatzky, financial editor of NBC’s TODAY show, is returning as host of THINK 19, along with five additional keynote speakers who will share their unique perspectives about business transformation under the conference theme “Opportunity Never Rests.”
 

“The rapid evolution of technology is opening new doors for credit unions at an unprecedented rate, and the potential for credit unions has never been more promising to better serve members and grow their businesses,” said Samantha Paxson, Chief Experience Officer for CO-OP. “The new additions to our keynote speakers will help us unlock the secrets to that potential, ranging from personal finance, technology and member experience to habit formation, organizational change and digital transformation.”
 

With the conference kicking off on May 6 in Miami Beach, Florida, the newly added speakers include:
 

Jean Chatzky, host of the past two THINK conferences. In addition to her TODAY Show duties, Chatzky is  founder and CEO of HerMoney, a multimedia company focused on delivering information women need to manage their money, and she also serves as personal finance ambassador for AARP. In March 2019 she will launch her 11th book, “Women With Money.”
 

Jeanne Bliss, Founder/President of CustomerBliss, and a leading business coach on customer experience. Bliss is also a returning THINK speaker, having spoken at the 2011 gathering. Her common sense approach is summarized in the title of her 2018 book, “Would You Do That to Your Mother?: The ‘Make Mom Proud’ Standard for How to Treat Your Customers.” It will be the theme of her THINK 19 presentation. 
 

Charles Duhigg, author of “Smarter Faster Better: The Transformative Power of Real Productivity” (2017) and “The Power of Habit” (2014). Duhigg was a New York Times reporter for 10 years and won a Pulitzer Prize in 2013. At THINK 19, Duhigg will focus on how credit unions can predict and control habits, and ultimately know what customers want before they themselves do.
 

Taavi Kotka, who helped architect the digital transformation of an entire country as Chief Information Officer of Estonia. The country’s e-residency program, launched in December 2014, allows non-citizens access to Estonian services, such as company formation, banking, payment processing and tax information. Kotka will discuss how “Strategic Agility” transformed a country – and can transform a credit union.
 

Jeffry Pilcher, President/CEO of The Financial Brand, an online publication founded in August 2007, covering the retail banking industry. The site claims 1.75 million readers in more than 200 countries. Pilcher will devote his talk to identifying the leading trends impacting financial services.
 

Stephanie Woerner, a Research Scientist at the MIT Sloan Center for Information Systems Research. She studies how companies manage organizational change caused by the digitization of the economy. Her research centers on enterprise digitization and the associated governance and strategy implications. Woerner will devote her THINK 19 talk to helping credit unions identify their own digital business model.

The six new speakers complement THINK 19’s previously announced line-up, including Seth Godin, best-selling author, entrepreneur and thought leader; Chef Jose Andres, who also authored “We Fed an Island: The True Story of Rebuilding Puerto Rico, One Meal at a Time”; brand guru Omar Johnson, and Amy Purdy, Paralympic snowboarding champion and best-selling author.
 

Through March 8, credit unions can take advantage of CO-OP’s winter registration pricing, with registration available at $1,799, $200 off the full registration fee of $1,999. THINK 19 will be held May 6-9, 2019, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. Online registration is available at www.co-opthink.org/register.
 

Now in its 12th year, THINK is a year-round platform for credit union collaboration, innovation and evolution. Visit www.co-opthink.org to access the wide variety of learning opportunities, including THINK Review magazine, THINK blog and videos from past THINK conferences.
 

For more information on THINK, visit www.co-opthink.org. 

About CO-OP Financial Services

CO-OP Financial Services is a payments and financial technology company whose mission is ensuring the success of the credit union movement. CO-OP payments solutions, engagement services and strategic counsel help credit unions optimize member experiences to consistently provide seamless, personalized multi-channel offerings, while delivering secure, sophisticated fraud mitigation service. For more information, visit www.co-opfs.org.
 

Contact:
 

Bill Prichard, APR, Director, Public Relations

CO-OP Financial Services

800.782.9042, ext. 3450

[email protected]