
2025 Credit Union Conference
Join Us September 4th-5th!
Our always-popular credit union client conference is back and better than ever. As always, the conference will feature exceptional educational sessions and unparalleled opportunities to network with your peers.
Cost to register: $275/attendee (early bird)/$300/attendee (normal registration)
Register by 6/30/2025 for early bird pricing!
Agenda
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6:00 pm: Welcome Reception at Smitty’s Study Pub
Join us at Smitty’s Study Pub (located on the 8th floor of the Fluno Center) as we welcome everyone arriving in Madison the night before the conference kicks off. Enjoy views of downtown Madison while networking with your peers.
The first round is on Stark! -
8:45-9:30: Pre-Conference Strategy Session: Tools for Effectively Managing Early-Stage Delinquencies
How can credit unions manage early-stage delinquencies without massive staffs & resources? Join us to discuss best practices with credit union peers (and share your own) in this practical, idea-exchange session designed to help you prevent members from snowballing into late-stage delinquencies and to help your teams do more with less.
9:30-10:00: Registration
10:00-10:30: Introductions and Housekeeping
10:30-11:30: Effective Legal Collections
Mary Turke & Michael Oellerich, Turke & Steil LLP
We all know litigation can get expensive and end up being cost-prohibitive. However, creditors can assist their attorneys in making litigation more cost-effective simply by providing good documentation and information at the beginning of the lawyer-client relationship. Attorneys Mary Turke and Michael Oellerich will explain what creditors can do to make litigation more cost-effective and what strategies they utilize for their clients.
11:30-12:30: Lunch
12:30-1:30: Indirect Lending and Recovery Challenges
Stefanie Kempfer Collier, Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co
Join Attorney Stefanie Kempfer Collier for an open-floor discussion about practical strategies for mitigating risk. Discussion will focus on indirect lending programs and monitoring fair lending/UDAAP concerns across loan terms, add-on products and repossessions. But all topics are on the table and attendees will be invited to submit their compliance questions in advance.
1:30-1:45: Innovation Showcase
2:00-2:45: ChatGPT and Me: How to (Safely) Harness AI for Productivity and Performance
Nate Kalnins, The Stark Agency
AI is here to stay, and it isn’t just for IT. This session breaks down practical strategies for using ChatGPT and other tools to work faster, communicate better, and lead more effectively.
2:45-3:00: Innovation Showcase
3:15-4:15: Bright Ideas and Burning Issues Roundtable (Part I)
Open-forum roundtable discussions are back by popular demand! Learn ideas, tips and best practices from your peers in this can’t-miss session.
6:00-9:00: Pints and Pars Reception at 7 Iron Social Club
Join us on Thursday, September 4th for a private reception celebration at 7 Iron Social Club. Enjoy fun games, good food, and great companionship - in the heart of downtown Madison.
7 Iron is an upscale sports lounge with simulators for golf and many other games. It’s the perfect venue to unwind, relax and network with your peers.
Reception tickets must be purchased with registration. Tickets include games, food and drinks.
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7:30-8:30 am: Breakfast
8:30-9:00: Stark Update
Nate Kalnins, The Stark Agency
Hear a quick update about Stark’s operational enhancements, priorities and roadmap for 2026.
9:00-9:15: Innovation Showcase
9:30-10:30: Trending Caselaw and Compliance Updates
Justin Penn, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
10:45-11:30: Peer Panel Discussion
Panelists and topic TBD
11:30-12:15: Lunch
12:15-2:00 Bright Ideas and Burning Issues Roundtable (Part II)
Open-forum roundtable discussions are back by popular demand! Learn ideas, tips and best practices from your peers in this can’t-miss session.
2:00-2:15: Wrap up, door prizes and adjourn
Featured Speakers
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I help clients with business-related matters including sales and purchase contracts, entity formation, software and SaaS agreements, construction-related agreements and commercial terms and conditions of sale, among other things. Because I have extensive civil litigation experience, my advice always includes best practices to avoid disputes and contractual provisions that are essential in the event of litigation. Over my career, I have handled mediation, litigation and arbitration matters involving contracting parties (buyer-seller, licensor-licensee, landlord-tenant), business owners (shareholders, members, partners) and even family members (trust and probate claimants).
Since 2020, I have served as an arbitrator on the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) commercial dispute resolution panel.
My clients value my intelligent and well-reasoned analysis of issues, my responsiveness, and efficiency. I am down-to-earth and approachable. I do ask a lot of questions (at no cost to you) about your business and about your ultimate objective because the most valuable legal advice cannot be given in a vacuum—I need to know context and what a “win” would look like for you.
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Overview
I represent businesses and individuals in a wide variety of disputes and litigation matters. I enjoy getting to know my clients’ motives and objectives related to their current legal needs and then assist them through litigation or other methods to resolve the pressing issues. I meet and plan with clients on how best to avoid similar situations in the future. My clients value the personal connections we create, my timely responsiveness, and ability to analyze and explain the real impact of possible outcomes. I make it my priority to seek the best possible outcome for my clients based on their needs and desires.
Experience
Prior to joining Turke & Steil, I maintained a litigation and municipal practice at medium-sized firm in South Central Wisconsin. My practice was focused on assisting individuals and families through difficult divorce, child custody, and placement proceedings, representing local municipalities including Towns, Villages, and School Districts, and representing businesses in litigation. Whether it was an individual going through a divorce, a Town Board Chairman leading his community through the pandemic, or a contractor seeking to get paid for work performed, my clients can always count my expertise, advocacy, and ability to communicate succinctly and directly with them.
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Justin Penn defends the interests of companies and individuals in the financial services industry in jurisdictions across the country. He splits his time between Hinshaw's Chicago and Los Angeles offices. Justin is the co-chair of the firm's Consumer Financial Services Practice Group, where he has played an integral role since starting with the firm in the early 2000s. His extensive experience includes handling state and federal consumer statute litigation, including claims involving the:
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA);
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA);
Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA);
False Claims Act (FCA);
Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA); and the
Truth in Lending Act (TILA).
In addition, Justin advises corporations and professionals in professional liability and employment-related litigation. He has handled a wide range of legal malpractice matters, including cases involving an attorney's liability to non-clients. Justin has also represented hospitals, corporations, and religious organizations in complex litigation.
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Stefanie’s reputation for quality work and a positive attitude is an ideal match for any client.
Stefanie shows up to work every day with two goals in mind: to be accessible to her clients and to provide creative solutions when complex issues arise. Stefanie primarily represents credit unions, banks, and auto financiers in Indiana and across the U.S., on a broad range of legal and regulatory issues. She advises on trust and estate matters, employment issues, and litigation. She also handles replevins and collection-related matters as well as transactional work, including repossession letter reviews, contract reviews, and negotiation. Stefanie’s external compliance work covers the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA); Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA); Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA); and the Truth in Lending Act (TILA).
Stefanie hails from Centerville, a suburb of Dayton, Ohio, and currently resides in Indianapolis. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
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Nate joined the Stark Collection Agency in 2010, working part-time as a collector while he was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He now serves as Stark’s Chief Operating Officer and Director of Compliance and oversees all aspects of Stark’s operations, including strategic direction, workflow design, client education, and compliance.
Nate holds the Credit and Collections Compliance Officer (CCCO) designation through ACA International and the Leadership Development Certificate through the University of Wisconsin Small Business Development Center. Nate serves on the Great Lakes Credit and Collection Association (GLCCA) board of directors, where he is the immediate pastPresident. In 2019, Nate was nominated for the Madison Magnet Award and the Receivables Advisor Professional of the Year award. He is passionate about improving financial literacy, particularly among youth.
Hotel Information
The Fluno Center
601 University Ave
Madison, WI 53715
608-441-7117
Use the link above to reserve your room at our discounted block rate. You may also reserve your room by calling 608-441-7117.
Room rate: $180/night
Reserve your room by 8/4/2025 to guarantee receiving the block rate discount. Parking at the Fluno Center ($15/night) can be added to your reservation. You may also self-park in nearby parking ramps.
Rooms are available as part of the Stark block on the nights of 9/3 and 9/4. Rooms are not available at the block rate on 9/5-9/6 due to the home Badger football game.
Pints and Pars!
Join us on Thursday, September 4th for a private reception celebration at 7 Iron Social Club. Enjoy fun games, good food, and great companionship - in the heart of downtown Madison.
7 Iron is an upscale sports lounge with simulators for golf and many other games. It’s the perfect venue to unwind, relax and network with your peers.
Reception tickets must be purchased with registration. Tickets include games, food and drinks.
Cost: $70/person.
Hear from Previous Attendees
Conference Sponsors
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Unitas Financial Services
Our knowledgeable and experienced team is dedicated to delivering customized collateral protection and innovative lending solutions. By understanding each client’s unique challenges, we develop tailored strategies that strengthen risk management, ensure compliance, and enhance operational efficiency.
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ProFound Recovery Solutions
PRO Found Recovery Solutions was founded in 2009. Initially, our focus was primarily on skip tracing extremely difficult and aged accounts for our credit union partners. We quickly made a name for ourselves with our performance, relationships and top-notch customer service.
Our focus continues to be on providing the best service and results for our clients while ensuring our employees and vendors are compliant with all state and federal requirements.
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Provana
Provana offers innovative technology platforms and a large global workforce with depth and breadth of experience across the credit and compliance life cycle. The combination makes Provana the perfect partner to help your firm increase profitability, improve performance and exceed client expectations.