December 10, 2025 • 36 mins
Year-end reflections are only useful if they’re honest, and that’s exactly where we go. We relive the moments that truly moved our community, an after party that validated creative risk, a rock paper scissors icebreaker that turned strangers into allies, and a pet partners activation that brought calm and joy to a packed annual. Alongside the wins, we get candid about what fell short: convention center logistics that thinned out late sessions, AV and lighting cues that needed tighter coordination, and a reminder that food quality can influence how people feel about everything else in the day.
From there, we lay out a sharper 2026 playbook for credit union mortgage professionals: three experiential summits designed for practical learning and real connection. Dallas adds that honky tonk energy and live music for fast rapport, St. Louis pairs content with a behind-the-scenes look at Anheuser-Busch to mirror operational excellence, and Baltimore brings heritage and innovation together at the Inner Harbor and Guinness Open Gate. We also double down on our network meetings for servicing and underwriting, and expand YPN with monthly meetups so emerging leaders get more reps, more mentorship, and more visibility.
You’ll hear why we’re shifting back to integrated hotel venues to improve session stickiness and casual collisions, how we’ll sequence general sessions with big panels and solo voices for better rhythm, and what we’re changing about production prep to keep live moments crisp. We also open up about the personal side of delivery, time, balance, and the discipline to slow down when the calendar finally does. Through it all, our focus stays on tangible member value: cleaner messaging around data products like our HMDA-driven analysis, clearer “why now” framing, and formats that make people want to stay in the room.
If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a quick review. Your feedback shapes the experiences we build next.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
The views and opinions expressed in this
podcast do not necessarilyreflect the views or positions
of Acuma, its board ofdirectors, its management staff,
or its members.
The podcast discussion presentedis conversational in nature and
for general information only.
SPEAKER_02 (00:27):
This is Acmas on Point Podcast.
On today's episode, the staffwill dive into our
end-of-the-year review wherewe'll sit down and talk about
2025, the good, the bad, and theugly.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys andgirls, hello, and welcome to
Akmazon Point Podcast, a series,folks, I'm sharing the stories
of people who are making apositive impact in the credit
(00:48):
union mortgage industry.
I'm your host, Peter Benjamin.
Joining me today is the amazingteam, Acuma, Chris Okorfmacher,
Director of Events and MemberRelations, Justin Hawkins,
Director of MarketingCommunications, and the famous
Cameron Hinton, AssociateDirector of Events and Member
(01:08):
Relations.
Team, how's it going?
Don't join us.
Hi.
You are there.
Thank you.
Hey, Peter.
SPEAKER_04 (01:15):
It's going awesome.
Good to see your face.
SPEAKER_02 (01:18):
I'm good.
You too, Krista.
SPEAKER_01 (01:22):
It's awesome.
SPEAKER_02 (01:24):
I love I love the enthusiasm, Cam.
Love the enthusiasm.
All right.
Guys, you know, this is ournormal end-of-the-year review.
We'll talk about favoritemoments, lessons learned, things
we're looking to uh for nextyear.
Uh, but of course, before we getto that, let's dive into what's
(01:44):
what's going on over at Acuma.
Justin the Hawk, what's thelatest and greatest happening
with Acuma?
And how are you doing today?
SPEAKER_03 (01:53):
I'm good, Peter.
How are you?
Living the dream.
I love it.
All right.
Well, if uh anybody didn't getto hear our Thanksgiving
episodes, happy Thanksgiving,and happy holidays to everyone
out there listening.
Um, well, we gotta we'reactually kind of in this weird
quiet moment.
And I say that because it'sabout to get really busy really
(02:14):
fast and we're really excitedabout it.
But can I say stupid busy?
Is that okay?
I'm gonna say stupid busy.
Yeah, we're we're about to bestupid busy.
Like, I mean, if you can imaginethe acima team running around
with their heads cut off likelittle chickens, that's what
we're gonna look like for thenext 30 days.
Um, because we're we're gettingready for our summits.
Uh, we're gonna be openingregistration in early January.
(02:37):
So if you missed last year'sexperiential summit meetings uh
meeting, then you're not gonnawant to miss it this year.
We didn't just double down, wekind of tripled down on it.
So we're gonna have threedifferent meetings this year for
our summits.
We're gonna be in Dallas fromMarch 24th and 25th, St.
Louis April 14th to April 15th,and Baltimore from Baltimore,
(02:59):
Maryland from April 28th to29th.
It's the only one I said tostate, just in case everybody
wasn't sure Baltimore's inMaryland.
But uh I was I was confused fora second.
Uh you know, I was just tryingto make it complicated for one.
Um but uh and then all of our Q1uh network meetings, those are
gonna be um coming up uh prettysoon.
(03:20):
Uh so stay on the lookout forthose.
And then beyond that, we haveour webinar series, those are
happening all year round.
I think there's one happeningtomorrow as well.
So be sure to head over andattend that if you're
interested.
And also our favorite on-pointpodcast.
SPEAKER_02 (03:35):
Our favorite.
It's our favorite.
All right, guys.
Well, let's let's do this.
Um, you know, the famous,notorious, infamous, whatever
you want to call this, end ofthe year review with the Acma
team.
All right.
So as always, we just go aroundthe horn and just share favorite
(03:56):
moments, um, you know, thingsthat we really want to focus on
improving because you know, Ithink this team does it very
well.
You know, we we I don't want tosay we learn from our mistakes,
but we are very good atfine-tuning and perfecting the
things that we do.
I think as a small team, youalmost have to be able to do
(04:16):
that, evolve and adjust.
Uh, because if we don't, we keeprepeating the same mistakes and
we keep not learning from them.
We're just we're not gonna canone, we're gonna go crazy.
Uh two, uh, I think none of usuh we all have that personality
of almost like a perfectionist.
None of us are are satisfiedwith subpar.
(04:39):
So and then of course we'llwe'll we'll focus on next year.
So let's let's first start withfavorite moments.
Um any of you can go uh first.
Um I'm I'm happy to, but uhactually, Cam would pick on you.
What was your favorite moment?
Although I I have a good senseof what it is.
(05:00):
Your your your favorite momentfrom this year.
SPEAKER_01 (05:03):
What's your good sense of what it is?
I'm just curious.
SPEAKER_02 (05:06):
Uh coming back to work to see me.
SPEAKER_01 (05:09):
Well, it was very fun coming back.
I mean, it was hard for surecoming back, but in some ways,
but also very exciting just toget back into the routine of
things.
But um, as many of you know, ormaybe you don't know, I had a
baby um in March of this year.
So I was out for just a bit.
Um, but I came back in June.
(05:31):
And pretty much from the momentI got back, it was everything
was focused on annual.
So um that was the core, Iguess, part of my year
Acuma-wise.
And the moment um relating toAcum, at least the after party
that we had this year wasawesome.
(05:54):
Um the turnout was great and itwas something new that we did.
So I was curious to see how itwas gonna go.
Um and it was amazing.
So I'm excited.
I was excited to to see thathappen and also to continue that
in the future.
Um but yeah, that's my favoritemoment from this year.
SPEAKER_02 (06:12):
Okay, love it.
Um, you you were lucky.
You you got to pretty much, youknow, skip the first half of
events.
Um you didn't have to go throughthat craziness.
But uh, you know, of course, wewere excited to have you back.
SPEAKER_01 (06:26):
Um I I missed uh I missed the summit though, which
I'm excited to attend those thiscoming because it's the it's a
little bit different than um thelast time I attended one.
So it'll be nice to see that.
SPEAKER_02 (06:40):
That's be awesome.
Awesome.
Uh I'll go next.
I think for me, my favoritemoment or moments honestly are
rock, paper, scissors.
Hands down.
You know, yeah.
Especially Savannah.
(07:01):
You know, those the people inboth Savannah and Seattle went
absolutely crazy during rock ourrock, paper, scissors networking
event.
You know, that we that we uhwhat we started networking
events or activities uh lastyear or two years ago.
Last year.
No, it was it was no last yearwe did uh tracking the case.
(07:22):
The year before we did uhHimalayas, yeah, yeah, and
climbing the summit.
But this year we we switched itup and did uh rock, paper,
scissors.
And that energy and the noisecoming out of those rooms,
especially Savannah, uh was justuh awesome to watch.
(07:44):
It was awesome to watch, youknow, these 30s, 40s, 50
something people year oldpeople, you know, going back to
being 10 years old again andplaying rock, paper, scissors.
Um it was that that was mypersonal uh favorite moments.
I just thought they wereawesome.
SPEAKER_04 (08:06):
You do come up with some hare-brained, albeit good
uh icebreakers, Peter.
SPEAKER_02 (08:11):
Thank you.
Thank you, thank you.
SPEAKER_04 (08:12):
You're welcome.
Usually you say stuff and I'mjust like, mm-hmm.
But that one worked well.
SPEAKER_02 (08:18):
It did.
It did.
SPEAKER_04 (08:19):
It did.
SPEAKER_02 (08:21):
All right.
Krista, you you go next.
SPEAKER_04 (08:24):
Okay, awesome.
So for me, um, since we did themid-year hot wings, hot ones,
whatever review, I'm kind offocusing on the second half of
the year with these questions.
So for me, my favorite momentsum were at annual for the second
half of the year.
I loved having the pet partnersthere and the dogs and the
(08:46):
fluffy kitty that was there.
So I think our attendees umstop.
Um I think our attendees enjoyedthe dogs.
Um, so looking forward tohopefully repeating that um next
year in Vegas.
SPEAKER_02 (09:02):
And then um just a couple other just just real
quick, going back to the petthing.
SPEAKER_04 (09:06):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (09:06):
I'm very upset still by this.
The number of people who saidthat they spent hours petting
dogs and they all they wantedwas to take home a dog, and they
were upset that they couldn'ttake home a dog, even though
they didn't live in Denver.
SPEAKER_04 (09:23):
Yeah, I mean, what are you gonna do?
Throw it on the plane?
SPEAKER_02 (09:25):
Yeah, no, but like it was people loved it.
Like they yeah, just being overI mean, and and I only sat down
with um uh one of the dogs.
It was what I want to call it,was it wasn't a lab.
Wasn't a lab, um something likethat.
Um, and it was sweet dog, sweet,sweet, sweet dog.
(09:46):
Yeah, I didn't come close tothat cat though.
SPEAKER_04 (09:48):
Oh my god, I love cats.
He reminded me of the cat I had.
So and Justin, were you madbecause you didn't get to see
the little tiny horse?
SPEAKER_03 (09:55):
No, the pony.
SPEAKER_04 (09:56):
Okay, the pony.
Are we back on that again?
SPEAKER_03 (09:59):
Yes, we are.
Like you promised us a pony.
We I didn't promise.
SPEAKER_04 (10:03):
I said it was a pony.
SPEAKER_02 (10:04):
We even promised the king, we even promised the
community that there might be achance of this new pony.
SPEAKER_04 (10:10):
A chance.
You promised a chance.
SPEAKER_02 (10:13):
I said it might might be a chance, right?
SPEAKER_04 (10:15):
Okay, so moving on.
SPEAKER_02 (10:17):
Um promised me a pony.
SPEAKER_04 (10:19):
Yeah, we'll get over it.
You'll be fine.
Um the other thing I loved wasMiles the mascot and the
cheerleaders, and we always tryto like find some kind of fun
local thing when we're at thedestinations we are at for
annual.
And I think Cameron and Istarted working on that in like
February, and we didn't even getconfirmation that they were
(10:41):
coming until pretty much likethe end of August.
So it took us months to confirmMiles and the cheerleaders, but
they showed up and it was cool.
And I love that they were in theexhibit hall with us too.
So I like that.
And then one final quick littlething is we always tease slash
get annoyed at Peter when he haslike 97 speakers on our agendas.
(11:06):
Um, but the panels this year inthe general session were like
stacked with amazing speakers.
And I really think our attendeesenjoyed those panels a lot.
Um and just reflecting back onthat, there we just had some
amazing people that were onthese panels that were on our
(11:27):
stage in Denver and sharingtheir wisdom with our attendees.
So um don't get your don't don'teven think about it for next
year, Peter.
But I'm sure you already are.
But we're gonna plan panelsbetter.
We're gonna do like a big panel,one speaker, a big panel, one
speaker.
Because having two panels oflike eight people back to back
is crazy.
SPEAKER_02 (11:47):
Don't tell me what to do.
SPEAKER_04 (11:50):
Okay, well, I'll just switch the agenda whether
you like it or not.
SPEAKER_03 (11:54):
All right, justin.
Well, just to kind of throw mythunder because my favorite
moment was the pet partner.
So I thought that was a reallycool, unique thing that we did
this year.
Um I thought it was fun to seepeople engaging and interacting
and just going to play with thethe pets because I mean, Peter,
(12:15):
you kind of brought up the the10-year-olds on the playground,
right?
With the rock, paper, scissors.
I mean, that's what we got tosee with adults and little
puppies and dogs and cats.
I think there was a cat, maybe.
See, there were cats.
See, I just assumed there werecats.
I stayed away from them.
But uh the dogs were justadorable, and watching people
(12:37):
play and have a good time withthem, that was really cool to
see.
I'm actually shocked you didn'ttalk about the baseball game.
I mean, I enjoyed the baseballgame.
It was the blue wahoos.
I love baseball.
Baseball's always fun, but I wastrying to keep it, you know,
more event related.
Because I mean, I was alsothinking about when we scared
the when we scared the pee outof Krista.
(12:58):
That was pretty fun.
That was a fun moment.
SPEAKER_04 (13:01):
In Savannah, yeah, that was nice.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_03 (13:03):
Yeah, just jumping out from behind a bush.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (13:06):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (13:06):
Yeah.
But no, the baseball game wasawesome.
I I I mean, you know how much Ilove baseball.
So uh getting to go to a minorleague game.
Um, I try to go to a game ifwe're it's baseball season and
we're in town somewhere andthere's a game going on.
I do try to go to a baseballgame as much as I can.
Um, but getting to see the bluewahoos, getting to see minor
league games, um, those arealways fun because those are the
(13:29):
hopefully those are the nextgeneration of LOB players.
Hopefully they make that getthey get the call one day.
Hopefully.
That was a beautiful stadium.
That was a gorgeous stadium,actually.
Oh, for minor league games, thatwas easily top five of the ones
I've been to.
Um how many have you been to?
Five?
(13:49):
No, about seven.
No.
Um I've probably been for minorleagues.
I've probably been to about 15or 20.
Oh, right, really?
That's all right.
SPEAKER_02 (13:56):
Yeah, I'm just gonna get I'm guessing you've been to
was it Nimio Nimeo Park,whatever, here here in uh my
area uh with the keys.
Yeah, yep.
SPEAKER_03 (14:05):
In there, I've done uh buoy up there as well.
Or I've done buoy based socksfor minor league.
I've done Nashville Sounds.
So I went to them a lot as akid.
That stadium's changed, so butthat that's a story for another
day.
SPEAKER_04 (14:19):
Most boring four hours of sports in my entire
life.
Sorry, Justin.
Thank God they had boxed wine.
They had boxed wine, so that wasreally exciting.
SPEAKER_03 (14:26):
Yeah, it wasn't four hours, it was like two and a
half.
SPEAKER_04 (14:31):
Still long, long enough.
How long is the normal game?
SPEAKER_03 (14:36):
Um, now that they've got the pitch clock, it's like
two and a half, three hours.
The fastest game I've ever satthrough was like two hours.
And that was we didn't even staythe whole time.
No, we left in the eighthinning.
We didn't get to see the end ofit, and that was just because
the blue waggers were putting upbeating on the the biscuits.
Biscuits.
SPEAKER_02 (14:55):
Biscuits.
Biscuits.
All right.
Still great names, by the way.
Seriously.
All right, so let's let's go onto lessons learned.
I'll go first with this one.
Yeah, I mean, I have a few thatI think that we need to you know
kind of continue to assess,continue to figure out how we do
better.
(15:15):
Um, you know, for me, you know,I'm gonna start off with you
know, Acuma subscriptions andthe Humder Report.
I think it's a fantastic productthat we put out.
And I I think it's a somethingthat will provide a good
analysis for our members tounderstand how to lend better.
(15:36):
I'm gonna start off by sayingthat.
I I I I just wish there was away for us to be able to get it
out to our members where more ofthem are willing to take
advantage of it.
Um and maybe you know the lessonlearned from this is that you
know, you know, the the withthem has to be we have to do a
(15:57):
better job of explaining thewith them.
And I I don't really know how wedo that because I thought it was
self-explanatory.
Like we showed the data points,we we talked about what they can
learn.
Um, we even walked through it,and I want to say in a few
webinars to kind of tease it up.
But I I I just really wish thatpeople would have taken
advantage of a bit more.
(16:19):
Uh another one, um, yeah, Ialthough I liked Miles and the
cheerleaders, and this is justsilly, I kind of wish people
would have stayed around in thein the general session, that
kickoff session, to kind ofwatch them.
People started filing out alittle too early.
Um I kind of just wish peoplewould have stayed because you
(16:41):
know that they were, you couldtell that you know the
cheerleaders were kind of like,well, what's going on?
Everyone's leaving, right?
Um, but anyways, um, justtiming.
And the final thing I have isand that convention center.
Um, as much as I liked, and Ithought it was awesome that we
were in Denver and theconvention center, you know, uh,
(17:02):
I don't necessarily know if ifwe want to go back to a
convention center anytime soonbecause of all of the unknown
things and uncontrollable thatgo into having an event at a
convention center, it is athousand times easier having it
at an all-in-one hotel, at leastfrom my viewpoint.
(17:24):
Um even when you compare thelast day, day three, when we did
Acuma X, which was by the wayawesome.
I uh if that if I had a secondfavorite moment, Acuma X was my
second favorite moment.
Um but if you think about it,comparatively speaking, the
number of people that showed upto Acuma X, if we were to
compare Acuma X to last year oreven the year before when we
(17:47):
were at the Bellagio and the GayLord, I felt there's a more
people stuck around at those twolocations than did this year
because of the convention centerand it being separate and you
know the additional time that ittook them to walk and not just
roll out of bed and walkdownstairs, right?
So lessons learned.
(18:08):
I mean, I think you know,there's nothing we can do about
it.
I mean, I think something we'vealready learned these lessons
and we're we've already made thethe necessary changes.
But those are the things that II have on my radar to kind of
improve upon.
Anyone else can go?
Justin, how about you go?
SPEAKER_03 (18:27):
Oh man, this is always the hardest question for
me.
Uh it's not because I don'tlearn lessons, it's just because
I try to think about like whatdid we learn from an event
perspective, but then what did Ilearn from a personal or
professional perspective?
And I think the the thing that Iand I you know I don't mind
being somewhat vulnerable here,but the thing I think I struggle
with the most uh is uh time.
(18:51):
Uh just there's never enoughtime for me.
Um and I I I feel like I getreally worked up sometimes with
uh some of the stuff that wehave going on.
And uh I know that I know,right?
People would never expect thatof me.
No, I'm just a little highstrung.
Like you said in the beginning,we're we're the reason why we
(19:11):
are the able to do what we do isbecause we're somewhat a
perfectionist, and I I kind oflean in on that a little bit
more, I think, uh, with myself.
And so um just the thing thatI'm learning more about myself
is just to kind of step back andyou know, it's gonna get done.
It will get done.
I know it will because I don'thave a button in me that says
(19:32):
that you know you're you canfail.
Um, but just knowing that it'sgonna get done and learning from
that as a personal professionalperspective.
Um I'm just kind of trying tofigure out that as I kind of
continue and move forward,especially, you know, and I kind
of teased it at the beginninglike you, you know, we have
three summits coming up andwe're gonna be chickens with our
(19:53):
heads cut off.
Like I, you know, I I kind ofexpressed it all to you last
week, like uh I'm just waitingfor the ball to drop.
And i it's literally like thatthat that emotion that I'm
trying to uh just learn that,you know, it's gonna be okay.
So it's a little personal.
I get it, but no, I love it.
SPEAKER_02 (20:14):
I love it.
Camcho.
SPEAKER_01 (20:17):
Yeah, I think a little bit similar to Justin, um
again, sort of relates to thesame theme, but having a baby at
home, it's changed, I guess.
Or just it just it's made it waymore important to improve my
time management skills.
Um something that I alwaysthought I was pretty good at,
but it's more of a challenge asI'm sure all of you can relate
(20:41):
since you all have kids, butit's just something that I've
had to focus on a bit more.
Um I can actually, I mean, andI'm aware of it, but I've
improved how fast I can docertain things.
Um, but it's just always abattle, I guess.
And it's a nice part aboutworking at home or from home for
the most part.
(21:01):
Um, but it's also hard.
So I think that's just somethingI have to continue to work on.
Um but it's certainly a lesson.
And then relating back to Acuma,I think Chris already mentioned
it a little bit, but this yearat annual, just some of the um
sessions, perhaps maybescheduling them a little bit
(21:26):
different, um, just so thatthere aren't so many uh speakers
back to back, just getting themall mic'd up um is a little bit
of a challenge um back to back.
So those are two things for me,just from this year.
SPEAKER_04 (21:46):
Um yeah, so Peter, um I definitely align with you.
I had my notes here on um thequeuing for the general
sessions, just like it was itwas just all a little off uh
this year, like the lighting alittle bit, and not all the
sessions, just mostly with Milesand the cheerleaders and the
band and stuff like that.
So, and the band the nextmorning that we had the you
(22:08):
know, the Bronco drumline, andit just it was frustrating to
me.
So that's just something for meto make sure that I'm going
over, you know, with our A Vteam and the lighting team and
the scripts and like making surethe queuing is just better on
that.
Um agree the conferenceconvention center was a bit
challenging, like there werejust so many moving parts and
(22:30):
and so many different divisionsthat seemed to work with each
other, but then seemed to not.
So it was just really makingsure that like nothing got
dropped um or you know, jugglingall of those balls, which is
just wild.
Um, the food drives me crazy,and there is absolutely we have
(22:52):
no control.
It's like the weather, right?
You cannot control what kind ofeggs are going to be served.
And I know that our attendees uhcomment about it, which is
great, and they should, but it'sjust something that really
frustrated.
It's frustrated me for like 20years in this industry.
(23:13):
Like you cannot control thefood, and it can make or break,
you know, somebody's day, kindof, you know.
So that to me is um is alwaysfrustrating.
And some places have amazingfood and some places don't.
So um, yeah.
So those were just kind of my mythoughts.
And I actually will just tee offof what all of us have been
(23:36):
saying.
I think um this year has beenvery crazy and very busy.
And I think when it quiets down,I feel like we've all been
taking a little bit more of anadvantage of that this year.
So, you know, when we have maybeone week where there's not a
zillion meetings and we're notall having to like travel again,
you know, take care of yourself.
(23:57):
You know, go for a walk in themorning and you know, don't sit
down at your computer at 5 a.m.,give yourself a little grace,
you know, and have an extra cupof coffee or whatever.
So I've been trying to do thatalso.
Um, and I think it's wise for usbecause we are incredibly
fast-paced and um what we do ina day, the four of us, is pretty
(24:20):
extraordinary.
So giving ourselves some graceduring the quiet periods, I
think, is really meaningful.
SPEAKER_02 (24:28):
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
All right.
Uh, next question.
Uh, what are you looking forforward to in 2026?
We have a lot going on.
Um, if anything, you can arguethat we have more going on.
What are you looking forward tonext year?
Justin, start with you.
SPEAKER_03 (24:52):
Um, I'm looking forward to December 31st next
year.
Yep.
When it's all over No, I'mkidding.
I I tell my kids that all thetime.
They're like, oh, what was yourfavorite part about vacation?
Oh, getting there.
What was your favorite part?
Was the worst part going home?
No, uh, seriously.
I I'm I'm looking forward to thesummits.
(25:13):
Um, I really love those events.
Um I think that they were theywere something that were started
whenever Cameron and I came onboard, and maybe that's why they
I held them a little bit closer.
Um, it's just because we got tohelp uh mold and build them into
what they have become.
Um, but I really like those, howthey've evolved into the
(25:36):
experiential part, and I thinkthat we have some really cool
experiences planned uh thisyear.
Um, we get to uh dust off ourcowboy boots and go to a honky
tonk, you know?
So like that would be fun.
A couple breweries are in there,and who doesn't like the good
taste of beer?
Um, nobody on this team doesthem, I promise.
SPEAKER_02 (25:55):
Uh Cameron.
Okay, Cameron, you like salvageCameron.
SPEAKER_03 (26:00):
Cameron, at least we use it.
SPEAKER_01 (26:01):
Sometimes, yeah.
I'll I'll get one, but it's notmy preference.
SPEAKER_02 (26:05):
They might have wine.
unknown (26:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (26:08):
It might be on a box.
SPEAKER_02 (26:10):
Yeah, it either has to be a box or it has to come in
one of those big jugs.
Those are the best.
Was it Sutton Home or somethinglike that?
Yeah.
Uh no, I guess.
SPEAKER_04 (26:23):
That's very lovely.
SPEAKER_02 (26:23):
Arbor mist, yeah.
There you go.
SPEAKER_04 (26:25):
Ew, you guys, gross.
SPEAKER_03 (26:28):
Nothing better.
Arbor mist.
But no, I'm really lookingforward to the summit events.
I think uh our members lovethose as well.
I think that they're um reallyspecial because it just gives
our members a chance to open upand really share.
And, you know, it's kind of whatmakes credit unions a little bit
unique in that regard, is thatthey're not so closed off and
(26:48):
competitive with each other.
Um, they're willing to share theideas and how to overcome
obstacles and uh those kind ofthings.
And those summits are builtaround those discussions.
SPEAKER_02 (26:59):
So let's go, Cam.
What'd you what did you learn?
What are you looking forward to?
SPEAKER_01 (27:09):
Excuse me.
unknown (27:09):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (27:10):
So the summits as well.
Um, that's one thing.
I as Justin said, I was a partof it when we first started
these.
Um, but I had not been to asummit yet where we had the
experiential component be such alarge part.
Um, so this will be my firstyear attending and helping put
(27:31):
together um these events withthat experience that's such a a
large part of what why peoplewant to go and the networking
portion of it.
Another thing, um, our networkmeetings.
I'm really looking forward toseeing those grow.
Again, this year we addedservicing and then also
underwriting, which are super,super popular.
(27:54):
Um, so looking forward to seeingthose grow and also YPN.
As you guys know, I'm heavilyinvolved in that.
And next year we will be havingum our normal YPN quarterly
meetings, but also a monthlymeetup where everyone can come
together and just chat, network,get to know each other.
(28:16):
So super excited to get thatgoing and see how it goes.
SPEAKER_02 (28:20):
Okay.
Awesome.
Krista.
SPEAKER_04 (28:24):
Yes.
So um, so I'm actually reallyexcited about the cities we have
for 2026.
I think we've done a really nicejob of like spreading our
locations across the UnitedStates from San Diego to Vegas
to Dallas to St.
Louis to Baltimore.
So I really think um, you know,we're reaching all of the parts
(28:45):
of the US and hopefully all ofour credit unions will be able
to join us and all thosedifferent destinations.
So I'm excited for that.
And also to piggyback off whatCameron was saying, um, our
networks are really cool and Ithink people are enjoying those.
The amount of discussion we haveon those um is great.
So it'll be fun to continue withthose in 2026 as well.
SPEAKER_02 (29:10):
Yeah, love it, love it.
For me, uh, I think I'm reallylooking forward to actually all
three of the summits.
Um, I love the way that they'veevolved or that event has
evolved and now includes youknow experiences, you know.
(29:33):
As as Justin mentioned, you weregonna go and do the Billy Bobs,
honky tonk.
I think that's gonna be awesome.
You know, seeing some livemusic, um, riding an electric
bowl, maybe even going to youknow, uh, a rodeo or something
like that.
But I think I think all in all,that's that's a fun experience.
You know, with St.
Louis, you know, having an eventat Anheuser Busch and going on
(29:55):
that brewery tour, I think isgoing to be really, really cool.
Um but also meeting atClydesdale, that would be that
would be awesome.
Um and I I think, you know, andof course, Baltimore, obviously,
it's it's it's a local event uhfor you know three of us.
Uh but I haven't been to theGuinness Open Gate uh in heck uh
(30:21):
three years.
Um it's a beautiful property,looking forward to it.
I mean, uh love Guinness.
Um, but also I mean, stayingdowntown and in the inner harbor
of Baltimore.
Uh I I love the inner harbor.
I think it's a great place, uh,filled with history.
Uh so I mean the the those Ithink we did really good on the
(30:42):
summits, the experiences, thelocations, excited for it.
Um I that's what I'm really youknow geeked up for for next
year.
So, you know, before we we startum you know transitioning uh to
the second segment of our ourour end of the year podcast, uh
(31:04):
any final thoughts?
Any anything else that anyonewants to uh contribute?
No?
Well, I I guess I I'll say onething.
You know, it's uh I I I say itoften and I'll I'll continue to
say it.
You know, this is you know, weare a team of four and you know
small staff workforce.
(31:25):
You know, I I know we you know Iask a lot of all of you, and you
know, we push ourselves to thelimit for the sake of you know
this mission, but if I don't sayit enough, I apologize.
Just thank you, everyone,everyone, for your hard work.
Um, we had another successfulyear, and obviously we couldn't
do it as without you and andjust being such a close team.
(31:47):
So uh looking forward to thefuture, and um, yeah, just want
to say thank you.
SPEAKER_04 (31:52):
Thank you, Peter.
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (31:54):
All right, and so let's go ahead and transition to
the second segment of ourpodcast, where as tradition
states, we do the most heavilyrequested segment of dad jokes.
So everyone should should havecome prepared with two to three
dad jokes.
We'll we'll each deliver two dadjokes.
(32:14):
We reserve that third one justin case one of them flops.
Um, but let's go around thathorn and share our dad jokes.
Krista, you get to go first.
SPEAKER_04 (32:25):
Why did the pony miss singing at the Christmas
concert?
SPEAKER_03 (32:30):
Why didn't you invited by Krista?
SPEAKER_04 (32:34):
Justin's seriously.
SPEAKER_02 (32:35):
Krista loved about ponies.
Why did the pony why?
SPEAKER_04 (32:41):
It was a little horse.
SPEAKER_03 (32:46):
Oh, that was for you, Justin.
SPEAKER_04 (32:48):
That was for you.
SPEAKER_03 (32:49):
We had a whole argument on the fact that ponies
are not little horses, but youswore up and down that they are
not, and now they are.
SPEAKER_04 (32:58):
I'm I just put that in one that right in there for
you on purpose.
You're welcome.
SPEAKER_03 (33:04):
All right, I liked it.
It was good.
SPEAKER_04 (33:07):
You want me to do one one more, or are we going
around?
SPEAKER_03 (33:09):
No, one more.
One more.
SPEAKER_04 (33:11):
Um, what does Santa use to settle his stomach?
Ornaments.
Yes, those are both really dumb,but they're funny.
SPEAKER_02 (33:25):
The little horse one was better.
The little horse one was better.
SPEAKER_01 (33:28):
Perfect.
SPEAKER_02 (33:29):
All right, all right, Cam, go.
SPEAKER_01 (33:32):
Why do reindeer like Mrs.
Claws so much?
She slays.
You like it?
(33:54):
All right, now I got another onetoo.
How much does Santa pay hisreindeer?
SPEAKER_02 (34:01):
How much?
SPEAKER_01 (34:02):
Eight bucks.
The other one was better, huh?
SPEAKER_02 (34:10):
No, no, no.
Yeah, it was, but that was thatwas good.
That was that was good.
SPEAKER_03 (34:15):
All right, hot.
Yeah, I went theme with uhChristmas holiday as well.
So uh how did Scrooge win thefootball game?
How?
The ghost of Christmas past.
That's okay.
My next one's my favorite.
(34:36):
Um why did only the letter E geta Christmas present?
SPEAKER_02 (34:42):
The letter E only get a Christmas present.
Why?
The other letters were naughty.
Or naughty?
That's good.
Um what do you call it when asnowman throws a temper tantrum?
(35:05):
A meltdown.
unknown (35:08):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (35:10):
Thank you.
Um what's the snowman's favoritesnack?
SPEAKER_04 (35:15):
Ornaments?
SPEAKER_02 (35:18):
Ice crispy treats.
Oh, that one's good too.
All right, guys.
Well, that wraps up thisepisode's uh round of dad jokes,
and the year dad jokes.
Um, we all kind of went for thesame theme a little bit, but
winter Christmas season.
(35:39):
Yeah, it is the time of theyear.
It is, it is.
Well, everyone, thank you verymuch again for all the hard work
that you do for Acima, ourmembers.
Um looking forward to 2026.
And you know, you know, Cam,Krista, Justin, guys, thank you
very much.
SPEAKER_04 (35:57):
Thank you for your leadership, Peter, and for
managing this crazy crew.
SPEAKER_02 (36:02):
Crazy is an emphasis.
And to close out, thank you, allof you.
We know your time is valuable.
Thank you for tuning in to thelatest episode of Acuma's On
Point Podcast.
We hope you enjoyed it.
Until next time, be well, myfriends.
SPEAKER_00 (36:19):
Thanks for listening.
We'll see you next time at theAcuma on Point Podcast.
If not already, be sure tosubscribe and give us a five
star rating.
For more great episodes andinformation, be sure to visit us
online at Acuma.org.
And to get the latest updates,head over to our LinkedIn page.
The views and opinions expressed in this
podcast do not necessarilyreflect the views or positions
of Acuma, its board ofdirectors, its management staff,
or its members.
The podcast discussion presentedis conversational in nature and
for general information only.
SPEAKER_02 (00:27):
This is Acmas on Point Podcast.
On today's episode, the staffwill dive into our
end-of-the-year review wherewe'll sit down and talk about
2025, the good, the bad, and theugly.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys andgirls, hello, and welcome to
Akmazon Point Podcast, a series,folks, I'm sharing the stories
of people who are making apositive impact in the credit
(00:48):
union mortgage industry.
I'm your host, Peter Benjamin.
Joining me today is the amazingteam, Acuma, Chris Okorfmacher,
Director of Events and MemberRelations, Justin Hawkins,
Director of MarketingCommunications, and the famous
Cameron Hinton, AssociateDirector of Events and Member
(01:08):
Relations.
Team, how's it going?
Don't join us.
Hi.
You are there.
Thank you.
Hey, Peter.
SPEAKER_04 (01:15):
It's going awesome.
Good to see your face.
SPEAKER_02 (01:18):
I'm good.
You too, Krista.
SPEAKER_01 (01:22):
It's awesome.
SPEAKER_02 (01:24):
I love I love the enthusiasm, Cam.
Love the enthusiasm.
All right.
Guys, you know, this is ournormal end-of-the-year review.
We'll talk about favoritemoments, lessons learned, things
we're looking to uh for nextyear.
Uh, but of course, before we getto that, let's dive into what's
(01:44):
what's going on over at Acuma.
Justin the Hawk, what's thelatest and greatest happening
with Acuma?
And how are you doing today?
SPEAKER_03 (01:53):
I'm good, Peter.
How are you?
Living the dream.
I love it.
All right.
Well, if uh anybody didn't getto hear our Thanksgiving
episodes, happy Thanksgiving,and happy holidays to everyone
out there listening.
Um, well, we gotta we'reactually kind of in this weird
quiet moment.
And I say that because it'sabout to get really busy really
(02:14):
fast and we're really excitedabout it.
But can I say stupid busy?
Is that okay?
I'm gonna say stupid busy.
Yeah, we're we're about to bestupid busy.
Like, I mean, if you can imaginethe acima team running around
with their heads cut off likelittle chickens, that's what
we're gonna look like for thenext 30 days.
Um, because we're we're gettingready for our summits.
Uh, we're gonna be openingregistration in early January.
(02:37):
So if you missed last year'sexperiential summit meetings uh
meeting, then you're not gonnawant to miss it this year.
We didn't just double down, wekind of tripled down on it.
So we're gonna have threedifferent meetings this year for
our summits.
We're gonna be in Dallas fromMarch 24th and 25th, St.
Louis April 14th to April 15th,and Baltimore from Baltimore,
(02:59):
Maryland from April 28th to29th.
It's the only one I said tostate, just in case everybody
wasn't sure Baltimore's inMaryland.
But uh I was I was confused fora second.
Uh you know, I was just tryingto make it complicated for one.
Um but uh and then all of our Q1uh network meetings, those are
gonna be um coming up uh prettysoon.
(03:20):
Uh so stay on the lookout forthose.
And then beyond that, we haveour webinar series, those are
happening all year round.
I think there's one happeningtomorrow as well.
So be sure to head over andattend that if you're
interested.
And also our favorite on-pointpodcast.
SPEAKER_02 (03:35):
Our favorite.
It's our favorite.
All right, guys.
Well, let's let's do this.
Um, you know, the famous,notorious, infamous, whatever
you want to call this, end ofthe year review with the Acma
team.
All right.
So as always, we just go aroundthe horn and just share favorite
(03:56):
moments, um, you know, thingsthat we really want to focus on
improving because you know, Ithink this team does it very
well.
You know, we we I don't want tosay we learn from our mistakes,
but we are very good atfine-tuning and perfecting the
things that we do.
I think as a small team, youalmost have to be able to do
(04:16):
that, evolve and adjust.
Uh, because if we don't, we keeprepeating the same mistakes and
we keep not learning from them.
We're just we're not gonna canone, we're gonna go crazy.
Uh two, uh, I think none of usuh we all have that personality
of almost like a perfectionist.
None of us are are satisfiedwith subpar.
(04:39):
So and then of course we'llwe'll we'll focus on next year.
So let's let's first start withfavorite moments.
Um any of you can go uh first.
Um I'm I'm happy to, but uhactually, Cam would pick on you.
What was your favorite moment?
Although I I have a good senseof what it is.
(05:00):
Your your your favorite momentfrom this year.
SPEAKER_01 (05:03):
What's your good sense of what it is?
I'm just curious.
SPEAKER_02 (05:06):
Uh coming back to work to see me.
SPEAKER_01 (05:09):
Well, it was very fun coming back.
I mean, it was hard for surecoming back, but in some ways,
but also very exciting just toget back into the routine of
things.
But um, as many of you know, ormaybe you don't know, I had a
baby um in March of this year.
So I was out for just a bit.
Um, but I came back in June.
(05:31):
And pretty much from the momentI got back, it was everything
was focused on annual.
So um that was the core, Iguess, part of my year
Acuma-wise.
And the moment um relating toAcum, at least the after party
that we had this year wasawesome.
(05:54):
Um the turnout was great and itwas something new that we did.
So I was curious to see how itwas gonna go.
Um and it was amazing.
So I'm excited.
I was excited to to see thathappen and also to continue that
in the future.
Um but yeah, that's my favoritemoment from this year.
SPEAKER_02 (06:12):
Okay, love it.
Um, you you were lucky.
You you got to pretty much, youknow, skip the first half of
events.
Um you didn't have to go throughthat craziness.
But uh, you know, of course, wewere excited to have you back.
SPEAKER_01 (06:26):
Um I I missed uh I missed the summit though, which
I'm excited to attend those thiscoming because it's the it's a
little bit different than um thelast time I attended one.
So it'll be nice to see that.
SPEAKER_02 (06:40):
That's be awesome.
Awesome.
Uh I'll go next.
I think for me, my favoritemoment or moments honestly are
rock, paper, scissors.
Hands down.
You know, yeah.
Especially Savannah.
(07:01):
You know, those the people inboth Savannah and Seattle went
absolutely crazy during rock ourrock, paper, scissors networking
event.
You know, that we that we uhwhat we started networking
events or activities uh lastyear or two years ago.
Last year.
No, it was it was no last yearwe did uh tracking the case.
(07:22):
The year before we did uhHimalayas, yeah, yeah, and
climbing the summit.
But this year we we switched itup and did uh rock, paper,
scissors.
And that energy and the noisecoming out of those rooms,
especially Savannah, uh was justuh awesome to watch.
(07:44):
It was awesome to watch, youknow, these 30s, 40s, 50
something people year oldpeople, you know, going back to
being 10 years old again andplaying rock, paper, scissors.
Um it was that that was mypersonal uh favorite moments.
I just thought they wereawesome.
SPEAKER_04 (08:06):
You do come up with some hare-brained, albeit good
uh icebreakers, Peter.
SPEAKER_02 (08:11):
Thank you.
Thank you, thank you.
SPEAKER_04 (08:12):
You're welcome.
Usually you say stuff and I'mjust like, mm-hmm.
But that one worked well.
SPEAKER_02 (08:18):
It did.
It did.
SPEAKER_04 (08:19):
It did.
SPEAKER_02 (08:21):
All right.
Krista, you you go next.
SPEAKER_04 (08:24):
Okay, awesome.
So for me, um, since we did themid-year hot wings, hot ones,
whatever review, I'm kind offocusing on the second half of
the year with these questions.
So for me, my favorite momentsum were at annual for the second
half of the year.
I loved having the pet partnersthere and the dogs and the
(08:46):
fluffy kitty that was there.
So I think our attendees umstop.
Um I think our attendees enjoyedthe dogs.
Um, so looking forward tohopefully repeating that um next
year in Vegas.
SPEAKER_02 (09:02):
And then um just a couple other just just real
quick, going back to the petthing.
SPEAKER_04 (09:06):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (09:06):
I'm very upset still by this.
The number of people who saidthat they spent hours petting
dogs and they all they wantedwas to take home a dog, and they
were upset that they couldn'ttake home a dog, even though
they didn't live in Denver.
SPEAKER_04 (09:23):
Yeah, I mean, what are you gonna do?
Throw it on the plane?
SPEAKER_02 (09:25):
Yeah, no, but like it was people loved it.
Like they yeah, just being overI mean, and and I only sat down
with um uh one of the dogs.
It was what I want to call it,was it wasn't a lab.
Wasn't a lab, um something likethat.
Um, and it was sweet dog, sweet,sweet, sweet dog.
(09:46):
Yeah, I didn't come close tothat cat though.
SPEAKER_04 (09:48):
Oh my god, I love cats.
He reminded me of the cat I had.
So and Justin, were you madbecause you didn't get to see
the little tiny horse?
SPEAKER_03 (09:55):
No, the pony.
SPEAKER_04 (09:56):
Okay, the pony.
Are we back on that again?
SPEAKER_03 (09:59):
Yes, we are.
Like you promised us a pony.
We I didn't promise.
SPEAKER_04 (10:03):
I said it was a pony.
SPEAKER_02 (10:04):
We even promised the king, we even promised the
community that there might be achance of this new pony.
SPEAKER_04 (10:10):
A chance.
You promised a chance.
SPEAKER_02 (10:13):
I said it might might be a chance, right?
SPEAKER_04 (10:15):
Okay, so moving on.
SPEAKER_02 (10:17):
Um promised me a pony.
SPEAKER_04 (10:19):
Yeah, we'll get over it.
You'll be fine.
Um the other thing I loved wasMiles the mascot and the
cheerleaders, and we always tryto like find some kind of fun
local thing when we're at thedestinations we are at for
annual.
And I think Cameron and Istarted working on that in like
February, and we didn't even getconfirmation that they were
(10:41):
coming until pretty much likethe end of August.
So it took us months to confirmMiles and the cheerleaders, but
they showed up and it was cool.
And I love that they were in theexhibit hall with us too.
So I like that.
And then one final quick littlething is we always tease slash
get annoyed at Peter when he haslike 97 speakers on our agendas.
(11:06):
Um, but the panels this year inthe general session were like
stacked with amazing speakers.
And I really think our attendeesenjoyed those panels a lot.
Um and just reflecting back onthat, there we just had some
amazing people that were onthese panels that were on our
(11:27):
stage in Denver and sharingtheir wisdom with our attendees.
So um don't get your don't don'teven think about it for next
year, Peter.
But I'm sure you already are.
But we're gonna plan panelsbetter.
We're gonna do like a big panel,one speaker, a big panel, one
speaker.
Because having two panels oflike eight people back to back
is crazy.
SPEAKER_02 (11:47):
Don't tell me what to do.
SPEAKER_04 (11:50):
Okay, well, I'll just switch the agenda whether
you like it or not.
SPEAKER_03 (11:54):
All right, justin.
Well, just to kind of throw mythunder because my favorite
moment was the pet partner.
So I thought that was a reallycool, unique thing that we did
this year.
Um I thought it was fun to seepeople engaging and interacting
and just going to play with thethe pets because I mean, Peter,
(12:15):
you kind of brought up the the10-year-olds on the playground,
right?
With the rock, paper, scissors.
I mean, that's what we got tosee with adults and little
puppies and dogs and cats.
I think there was a cat, maybe.
See, there were cats.
See, I just assumed there werecats.
I stayed away from them.
But uh the dogs were justadorable, and watching people
(12:37):
play and have a good time withthem, that was really cool to
see.
I'm actually shocked you didn'ttalk about the baseball game.
I mean, I enjoyed the baseballgame.
It was the blue wahoos.
I love baseball.
Baseball's always fun, but I wastrying to keep it, you know,
more event related.
Because I mean, I was alsothinking about when we scared
the when we scared the pee outof Krista.
(12:58):
That was pretty fun.
That was a fun moment.
SPEAKER_04 (13:01):
In Savannah, yeah, that was nice.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_03 (13:03):
Yeah, just jumping out from behind a bush.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (13:06):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (13:06):
Yeah.
But no, the baseball game wasawesome.
I I I mean, you know how much Ilove baseball.
So uh getting to go to a minorleague game.
Um, I try to go to a game ifwe're it's baseball season and
we're in town somewhere andthere's a game going on.
I do try to go to a baseballgame as much as I can.
Um, but getting to see the bluewahoos, getting to see minor
league games, um, those arealways fun because those are the
(13:29):
hopefully those are the nextgeneration of LOB players.
Hopefully they make that getthey get the call one day.
Hopefully.
That was a beautiful stadium.
That was a gorgeous stadium,actually.
Oh, for minor league games, thatwas easily top five of the ones
I've been to.
Um how many have you been to?
Five?
(13:49):
No, about seven.
No.
Um I've probably been for minorleagues.
I've probably been to about 15or 20.
Oh, right, really?
That's all right.
SPEAKER_02 (13:56):
Yeah, I'm just gonna get I'm guessing you've been to
was it Nimio Nimeo Park,whatever, here here in uh my
area uh with the keys.
Yeah, yep.
SPEAKER_03 (14:05):
In there, I've done uh buoy up there as well.
Or I've done buoy based socksfor minor league.
I've done Nashville Sounds.
So I went to them a lot as akid.
That stadium's changed, so butthat that's a story for another
day.
SPEAKER_04 (14:19):
Most boring four hours of sports in my entire
life.
Sorry, Justin.
Thank God they had boxed wine.
They had boxed wine, so that wasreally exciting.
SPEAKER_03 (14:26):
Yeah, it wasn't four hours, it was like two and a
half.
SPEAKER_04 (14:31):
Still long, long enough.
How long is the normal game?
SPEAKER_03 (14:36):
Um, now that they've got the pitch clock, it's like
two and a half, three hours.
The fastest game I've ever satthrough was like two hours.
And that was we didn't even staythe whole time.
No, we left in the eighthinning.
We didn't get to see the end ofit, and that was just because
the blue waggers were putting upbeating on the the biscuits.
Biscuits.
SPEAKER_02 (14:55):
Biscuits.
Biscuits.
All right.
Still great names, by the way.
Seriously.
All right, so let's let's go onto lessons learned.
I'll go first with this one.
Yeah, I mean, I have a few thatI think that we need to you know
kind of continue to assess,continue to figure out how we do
better.
(15:15):
Um, you know, for me, you know,I'm gonna start off with you
know, Acuma subscriptions andthe Humder Report.
I think it's a fantastic productthat we put out.
And I I think it's a somethingthat will provide a good
analysis for our members tounderstand how to lend better.
(15:36):
I'm gonna start off by sayingthat.
I I I I just wish there was away for us to be able to get it
out to our members where more ofthem are willing to take
advantage of it.
Um and maybe you know the lessonlearned from this is that you
know, you know, the the withthem has to be we have to do a
(15:57):
better job of explaining thewith them.
And I I don't really know how wedo that because I thought it was
self-explanatory.
Like we showed the data points,we we talked about what they can
learn.
Um, we even walked through it,and I want to say in a few
webinars to kind of tease it up.
But I I I just really wish thatpeople would have taken
advantage of a bit more.
(16:19):
Uh another one, um, yeah, Ialthough I liked Miles and the
cheerleaders, and this is justsilly, I kind of wish people
would have stayed around in thein the general session, that
kickoff session, to kind ofwatch them.
People started filing out alittle too early.
Um I kind of just wish peoplewould have stayed because you
(16:41):
know that they were, you couldtell that you know the
cheerleaders were kind of like,well, what's going on?
Everyone's leaving, right?
Um, but anyways, um, justtiming.
And the final thing I have isand that convention center.
Um, as much as I liked, and Ithought it was awesome that we
were in Denver and theconvention center, you know, uh,
(17:02):
I don't necessarily know if ifwe want to go back to a
convention center anytime soonbecause of all of the unknown
things and uncontrollable thatgo into having an event at a
convention center, it is athousand times easier having it
at an all-in-one hotel, at leastfrom my viewpoint.
(17:24):
Um even when you compare thelast day, day three, when we did
Acuma X, which was by the wayawesome.
I uh if that if I had a secondfavorite moment, Acuma X was my
second favorite moment.
Um but if you think about it,comparatively speaking, the
number of people that showed upto Acuma X, if we were to
compare Acuma X to last year oreven the year before when we
(17:47):
were at the Bellagio and the GayLord, I felt there's a more
people stuck around at those twolocations than did this year
because of the convention centerand it being separate and you
know the additional time that ittook them to walk and not just
roll out of bed and walkdownstairs, right?
So lessons learned.
(18:08):
I mean, I think you know,there's nothing we can do about
it.
I mean, I think something we'vealready learned these lessons
and we're we've already made thethe necessary changes.
But those are the things that II have on my radar to kind of
improve upon.
Anyone else can go?
Justin, how about you go?
SPEAKER_03 (18:27):
Oh man, this is always the hardest question for
me.
Uh it's not because I don'tlearn lessons, it's just because
I try to think about like whatdid we learn from an event
perspective, but then what did Ilearn from a personal or
professional perspective?
And I think the the thing that Iand I you know I don't mind
being somewhat vulnerable here,but the thing I think I struggle
with the most uh is uh time.
(18:51):
Uh just there's never enoughtime for me.
Um and I I I feel like I getreally worked up sometimes with
uh some of the stuff that wehave going on.
And uh I know that I know,right?
People would never expect thatof me.
No, I'm just a little highstrung.
Like you said in the beginning,we're we're the reason why we
(19:11):
are the able to do what we do isbecause we're somewhat a
perfectionist, and I I kind oflean in on that a little bit
more, I think, uh, with myself.
And so um just the thing thatI'm learning more about myself
is just to kind of step back andyou know, it's gonna get done.
It will get done.
I know it will because I don'thave a button in me that says
(19:32):
that you know you're you canfail.
Um, but just knowing that it'sgonna get done and learning from
that as a personal professionalperspective.
Um I'm just kind of trying tofigure out that as I kind of
continue and move forward,especially, you know, and I kind
of teased it at the beginninglike you, you know, we have
three summits coming up andwe're gonna be chickens with our
(19:53):
heads cut off.
Like I, you know, I I kind ofexpressed it all to you last
week, like uh I'm just waitingfor the ball to drop.
And i it's literally like thatthat that emotion that I'm
trying to uh just learn that,you know, it's gonna be okay.
So it's a little personal.
I get it, but no, I love it.
SPEAKER_02 (20:14):
I love it.
Camcho.
SPEAKER_01 (20:17):
Yeah, I think a little bit similar to Justin, um
again, sort of relates to thesame theme, but having a baby at
home, it's changed, I guess.
Or just it just it's made it waymore important to improve my
time management skills.
Um something that I alwaysthought I was pretty good at,
but it's more of a challenge asI'm sure all of you can relate
(20:41):
since you all have kids, butit's just something that I've
had to focus on a bit more.
Um I can actually, I mean, andI'm aware of it, but I've
improved how fast I can docertain things.
Um, but it's just always abattle, I guess.
And it's a nice part aboutworking at home or from home for
the most part.
(21:01):
Um, but it's also hard.
So I think that's just somethingI have to continue to work on.
Um but it's certainly a lesson.
And then relating back to Acuma,I think Chris already mentioned
it a little bit, but this yearat annual, just some of the um
sessions, perhaps maybescheduling them a little bit
(21:26):
different, um, just so thatthere aren't so many uh speakers
back to back, just getting themall mic'd up um is a little bit
of a challenge um back to back.
So those are two things for me,just from this year.
SPEAKER_04 (21:46):
Um yeah, so Peter, um I definitely align with you.
I had my notes here on um thequeuing for the general
sessions, just like it was itwas just all a little off uh
this year, like the lighting alittle bit, and not all the
sessions, just mostly with Milesand the cheerleaders and the
band and stuff like that.
So, and the band the nextmorning that we had the you
(22:08):
know, the Bronco drumline, andit just it was frustrating to
me.
So that's just something for meto make sure that I'm going
over, you know, with our A Vteam and the lighting team and
the scripts and like making surethe queuing is just better on
that.
Um agree the conferenceconvention center was a bit
challenging, like there werejust so many moving parts and
(22:30):
and so many different divisionsthat seemed to work with each
other, but then seemed to not.
So it was just really makingsure that like nothing got
dropped um or you know, jugglingall of those balls, which is
just wild.
Um, the food drives me crazy,and there is absolutely we have
(22:52):
no control.
It's like the weather, right?
You cannot control what kind ofeggs are going to be served.
And I know that our attendees uhcomment about it, which is
great, and they should, but it'sjust something that really
frustrated.
It's frustrated me for like 20years in this industry.
(23:13):
Like you cannot control thefood, and it can make or break,
you know, somebody's day, kindof, you know.
So that to me is um is alwaysfrustrating.
And some places have amazingfood and some places don't.
So um, yeah.
So those were just kind of my mythoughts.
And I actually will just tee offof what all of us have been
(23:36):
saying.
I think um this year has beenvery crazy and very busy.
And I think when it quiets down,I feel like we've all been
taking a little bit more of anadvantage of that this year.
So, you know, when we have maybeone week where there's not a
zillion meetings and we're notall having to like travel again,
you know, take care of yourself.
(23:57):
You know, go for a walk in themorning and you know, don't sit
down at your computer at 5 a.m.,give yourself a little grace,
you know, and have an extra cupof coffee or whatever.
So I've been trying to do thatalso.
Um, and I think it's wise for usbecause we are incredibly
fast-paced and um what we do ina day, the four of us, is pretty
(24:20):
extraordinary.
So giving ourselves some graceduring the quiet periods, I
think, is really meaningful.
SPEAKER_02 (24:28):
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
All right.
Uh, next question.
Uh, what are you looking forforward to in 2026?
We have a lot going on.
Um, if anything, you can arguethat we have more going on.
What are you looking forward tonext year?
Justin, start with you.
SPEAKER_03 (24:52):
Um, I'm looking forward to December 31st next
year.
Yep.
When it's all over No, I'mkidding.
I I tell my kids that all thetime.
They're like, oh, what was yourfavorite part about vacation?
Oh, getting there.
What was your favorite part?
Was the worst part going home?
No, uh, seriously.
I I'm I'm looking forward to thesummits.
(25:13):
Um, I really love those events.
Um I think that they were theywere something that were started
whenever Cameron and I came onboard, and maybe that's why they
I held them a little bit closer.
Um, it's just because we got tohelp uh mold and build them into
what they have become.
Um, but I really like those, howthey've evolved into the
(25:36):
experiential part, and I thinkthat we have some really cool
experiences planned uh thisyear.
Um, we get to uh dust off ourcowboy boots and go to a honky
tonk, you know?
So like that would be fun.
A couple breweries are in there,and who doesn't like the good
taste of beer?
Um, nobody on this team doesthem, I promise.
SPEAKER_02 (25:55):
Uh Cameron.
Okay, Cameron, you like salvageCameron.
SPEAKER_03 (26:00):
Cameron, at least we use it.
SPEAKER_01 (26:01):
Sometimes, yeah.
I'll I'll get one, but it's notmy preference.
SPEAKER_02 (26:05):
They might have wine.
unknown (26:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (26:08):
It might be on a box.
SPEAKER_02 (26:10):
Yeah, it either has to be a box or it has to come in
one of those big jugs.
Those are the best.
Was it Sutton Home or somethinglike that?
Yeah.
Uh no, I guess.
SPEAKER_04 (26:23):
That's very lovely.
SPEAKER_02 (26:23):
Arbor mist, yeah.
There you go.
SPEAKER_04 (26:25):
Ew, you guys, gross.
SPEAKER_03 (26:28):
Nothing better.
Arbor mist.
But no, I'm really lookingforward to the summit events.
I think uh our members lovethose as well.
I think that they're um reallyspecial because it just gives
our members a chance to open upand really share.
And, you know, it's kind of whatmakes credit unions a little bit
unique in that regard, is thatthey're not so closed off and
(26:48):
competitive with each other.
Um, they're willing to share theideas and how to overcome
obstacles and uh those kind ofthings.
And those summits are builtaround those discussions.
SPEAKER_02 (26:59):
So let's go, Cam.
What'd you what did you learn?
What are you looking forward to?
SPEAKER_01 (27:09):
Excuse me.
unknown (27:09):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (27:10):
So the summits as well.
Um, that's one thing.
I as Justin said, I was a partof it when we first started
these.
Um, but I had not been to asummit yet where we had the
experiential component be such alarge part.
Um, so this will be my firstyear attending and helping put
(27:31):
together um these events withthat experience that's such a a
large part of what why peoplewant to go and the networking
portion of it.
Another thing, um, our networkmeetings.
I'm really looking forward toseeing those grow.
Again, this year we addedservicing and then also
underwriting, which are super,super popular.
(27:54):
Um, so looking forward to seeingthose grow and also YPN.
As you guys know, I'm heavilyinvolved in that.
And next year we will be havingum our normal YPN quarterly
meetings, but also a monthlymeetup where everyone can come
together and just chat, network,get to know each other.
(28:16):
So super excited to get thatgoing and see how it goes.
SPEAKER_02 (28:20):
Okay.
Awesome.
Krista.
SPEAKER_04 (28:24):
Yes.
So um, so I'm actually reallyexcited about the cities we have
for 2026.
I think we've done a really nicejob of like spreading our
locations across the UnitedStates from San Diego to Vegas
to Dallas to St.
Louis to Baltimore.
So I really think um, you know,we're reaching all of the parts
(28:45):
of the US and hopefully all ofour credit unions will be able
to join us and all thosedifferent destinations.
So I'm excited for that.
And also to piggyback off whatCameron was saying, um, our
networks are really cool and Ithink people are enjoying those.
The amount of discussion we haveon those um is great.
So it'll be fun to continue withthose in 2026 as well.
SPEAKER_02 (29:10):
Yeah, love it, love it.
For me, uh, I think I'm reallylooking forward to actually all
three of the summits.
Um, I love the way that they'veevolved or that event has
evolved and now includes youknow experiences, you know.
(29:33):
As as Justin mentioned, you weregonna go and do the Billy Bobs,
honky tonk.
I think that's gonna be awesome.
You know, seeing some livemusic, um, riding an electric
bowl, maybe even going to youknow, uh, a rodeo or something
like that.
But I think I think all in all,that's that's a fun experience.
You know, with St.
Louis, you know, having an eventat Anheuser Busch and going on
(29:55):
that brewery tour, I think isgoing to be really, really cool.
Um but also meeting atClydesdale, that would be that
would be awesome.
Um and I I think, you know, andof course, Baltimore, obviously,
it's it's it's a local event uhfor you know three of us.
Uh but I haven't been to theGuinness Open Gate uh in heck uh
(30:21):
three years.
Um it's a beautiful property,looking forward to it.
I mean, uh love Guinness.
Um, but also I mean, stayingdowntown and in the inner harbor
of Baltimore.
Uh I I love the inner harbor.
I think it's a great place, uh,filled with history.
Uh so I mean the the those Ithink we did really good on the
(30:42):
summits, the experiences, thelocations, excited for it.
Um I that's what I'm really youknow geeked up for for next
year.
So, you know, before we we startum you know transitioning uh to
the second segment of our ourour end of the year podcast, uh
(31:04):
any final thoughts?
Any anything else that anyonewants to uh contribute?
No?
Well, I I guess I I'll say onething.
You know, it's uh I I I say itoften and I'll I'll continue to
say it.
You know, this is you know, weare a team of four and you know
small staff workforce.
(31:25):
You know, I I know we you know Iask a lot of all of you, and you
know, we push ourselves to thelimit for the sake of you know
this mission, but if I don't sayit enough, I apologize.
Just thank you, everyone,everyone, for your hard work.
Um, we had another successfulyear, and obviously we couldn't
do it as without you and andjust being such a close team.
(31:47):
So uh looking forward to thefuture, and um, yeah, just want
to say thank you.
SPEAKER_04 (31:52):
Thank you, Peter.
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (31:54):
All right, and so let's go ahead and transition to
the second segment of ourpodcast, where as tradition
states, we do the most heavilyrequested segment of dad jokes.
So everyone should should havecome prepared with two to three
dad jokes.
We'll we'll each deliver two dadjokes.
(32:14):
We reserve that third one justin case one of them flops.
Um, but let's go around thathorn and share our dad jokes.
Krista, you get to go first.
SPEAKER_04 (32:25):
Why did the pony miss singing at the Christmas
concert?
SPEAKER_03 (32:30):
Why didn't you invited by Krista?
SPEAKER_04 (32:34):
Justin's seriously.
SPEAKER_02 (32:35):
Krista loved about ponies.
Why did the pony why?
SPEAKER_04 (32:41):
It was a little horse.
SPEAKER_03 (32:46):
Oh, that was for you, Justin.
SPEAKER_04 (32:48):
That was for you.
SPEAKER_03 (32:49):
We had a whole argument on the fact that ponies
are not little horses, but youswore up and down that they are
not, and now they are.
SPEAKER_04 (32:58):
I'm I just put that in one that right in there for
you on purpose.
You're welcome.
SPEAKER_03 (33:04):
All right, I liked it.
It was good.
SPEAKER_04 (33:07):
You want me to do one one more, or are we going
around?
SPEAKER_03 (33:09):
No, one more.
One more.
SPEAKER_04 (33:11):
Um, what does Santa use to settle his stomach?
Ornaments.
Yes, those are both really dumb,but they're funny.
SPEAKER_02 (33:25):
The little horse one was better.
The little horse one was better.
SPEAKER_01 (33:28):
Perfect.
SPEAKER_02 (33:29):
All right, all right, Cam, go.
SPEAKER_01 (33:32):
Why do reindeer like Mrs.
Claws so much?
She slays.
You like it?
(33:54):
All right, now I got another onetoo.
How much does Santa pay hisreindeer?
SPEAKER_02 (34:01):
How much?
SPEAKER_01 (34:02):
Eight bucks.
The other one was better, huh?
SPEAKER_02 (34:10):
No, no, no.
Yeah, it was, but that was thatwas good.
That was that was good.
SPEAKER_03 (34:15):
All right, hot.
Yeah, I went theme with uhChristmas holiday as well.
So uh how did Scrooge win thefootball game?
How?
The ghost of Christmas past.
That's okay.
My next one's my favorite.
(34:36):
Um why did only the letter E geta Christmas present?
SPEAKER_02 (34:42):
The letter E only get a Christmas present.
Why?
The other letters were naughty.
Or naughty?
That's good.
Um what do you call it when asnowman throws a temper tantrum?
(35:05):
A meltdown.
unknown (35:08):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (35:10):
Thank you.
Um what's the snowman's favoritesnack?
SPEAKER_04 (35:15):
Ornaments?
SPEAKER_02 (35:18):
Ice crispy treats.
Oh, that one's good too.
All right, guys.
Well, that wraps up thisepisode's uh round of dad jokes,
and the year dad jokes.
Um, we all kind of went for thesame theme a little bit, but
winter Christmas season.
(35:39):
Yeah, it is the time of theyear.
It is, it is.
Well, everyone, thank you verymuch again for all the hard work
that you do for Acima, ourmembers.
Um looking forward to 2026.
And you know, you know, Cam,Krista, Justin, guys, thank you
very much.
SPEAKER_04 (35:57):
Thank you for your leadership, Peter, and for
managing this crazy crew.
SPEAKER_02 (36:02):
Crazy is an emphasis.
And to close out, thank you, allof you.
We know your time is valuable.
Thank you for tuning in to thelatest episode of Acuma's On
Point Podcast.
We hope you enjoyed it.
Until next time, be well, myfriends.
SPEAKER_00 (36:19):
Thanks for listening.
We'll see you next time at theAcuma on Point Podcast.
If not already, be sure tosubscribe and give us a five
star rating.
For more great episodes andinformation, be sure to visit us
online at Acuma.org.
And to get the latest updates,head over to our LinkedIn page.
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