Director of Credit Education, University of Michigan Credit Union

Kathryn has been helping people improve their budgeting skills since 1976, and has been called the "budget guru" by the Ann Arbor Observer. Through the University of Michigan Credit Union, Kathryn provides budget counseling as a free service to UMCU members.

Trained and certified as a credit counselor, Kathryn developed a credit education program to teach consumers the skills needed to establish workable budgets, avoid bankruptcy, and improve creditworthiness. In private counseling sessions, she teaches how to control spending, reduce debt, begin to save and still enjoy life! With her unique blend of compassion, realism, and humor she helps them find sensible, workable answers to their financial problems.

Kathryn hosted a call-in radio talk show called "Credit Line" on WAAM radio for two years, has produced four credit education videos and her articles have been published in several credit union newsletters. Kathryn is the editor of ON MY OWN, a newsletter on the wise use of credit by and for high school students.

Mary-Lou has been involved in the credit union movement since 1989. She has been involved in all areas of credit union operations: general operations, marketing, collections, lending, and compliance. She is a CUNA certified Credit Union Compliance Expert (CUCE) and is president of Compliance Plus, Inc., which provides strategic planning, training, compliance, and consulting services to credit unions. Mary-Lou was the senior research and information consultant for the California/Nevada Credit Union League for seven years, and since founding her company in 2000, has provided training for credit unions and leagues around the country. Prior to her tenure at the league, she spent five years in the credit union trenches.

Ken is the executive director of Consumer Credit Counseling Service and Family Service Association of Sheboygan, WI. Ken has a passion and commitment to financial literacy and the education of consumers. He believes we need to help consumers develop the skills necessary to provide financial stability and improve their quality of life. Ken has served as a board member of his credit union for 19 years, worked with the Wisconsin Credit Union League on various education and training programs, and was selected as the League's 2000 Volunteer of the Year.

Claudine Oriani has been involved in adult education assessment, design, and delivery for the past 25 years, 15 of which have been spent in the credit union industry. Her thought-provoking presentations on marketing/branding, employee development, team building, leadership, strategic planning, service, and financial literacy have received superior marks from thousands of participants. Claudine once performed as a stand-up comedian and often infuses her presentations with humor. On this subject, she states: "Research has quantified the link between laughter and learning retention, so there's a method to my madness."

Charles is an emeritus professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is widely published and is the co-author of 15 books including Dynamic Counseling, A Practical Guide to Interviewing, and Restoring Harmony: Conflict Management in School Settings. In addition, Charles is regularly engaged as a consultant to community, business, and educational institutions. He has conducted over 300 seminars and workshops nationally and internationally on financial and school counseling, communications, problem-solving, conflict-resolution, training, and team building.