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Char Sears '23

Char has spent the last two decades as a Credit Union professional in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. As Vice President, Member Experience & Product Management, Char leads the credit union’s strategic and innovative focus on the use of products and data. Delivering Inspiring Service is her ‘north star’ while advancing key initiatives through the continuous enhancement of processes, products, and technology systems.

Char believes building for resiliency and sustainability are paramount, while staying rooted in human-centric design as she carries out her work to advance the Credit Union movement.

Char was named one of 2022’s “Women in Technology” by Finnopotamus and is a CUNA Certified Credit Union Executive, graduating from Western CUNA Mangement School in 2023. She has been recognized for her active commitment to several Credit Union committees and leadership networks, as well as making an impact in her local community by sitting on non-profit boards and volunteering her time with several organizations. She actively mentors women in the tech space and is a fierce champion of women in banking. She holds a Human Resource Management Certificate from Portland State University’s Center for Executive and Professional Education.

Financial Analysis

This course builds upon the Financial Management course from the first year by exploring further into: strategic financial concepts, peer credit union analysis, financial projections and management of strategic financial scenarios. The tools gained in this course will prepare students for the financial analysis required in the second year project which requires using data from their own credit union to design financial projections and suggest strategic plans.

Faculty
Matt Stephenson

Technology Implementations

Credit unions face pressures from many emerging technologies including blockchain, cryptocurrency, the metaverse, and artificial intelligence. Credit union leaders must also be prepared for unforeseen new technologies that will arise. While this course will provide a limited overview of current emerging technologies, the focus of the content is on how and when to effectively leverage technology to better serve business priorities. When, how –and should– new technologies be implemented to improve business process automation and when do technologies permit new business possibilities. FInally, how does technology interact with development of an organization’s business priorities?

Faculty
Dr. Lamont Black

Student Presentations

Students in their final year of WCMS must create an educational presentation on a current topic in the financial services industry. Students develop a unique perspective on a contemporary challenge, and persuasively articulate their thesis to their peers. Student presentations are evaluated by two separate WCMS faculty members for both content and persuasiveness of argument. Peer students further provide feedback, and the student must evaluate their own taped presentation and create an action plan for improvement. The Year 3 Presentation is a synthesis of the student’s WCMS education and should be presented again when the student returns to their organization.

Strategic Foundations

An introduction to the basic foundations of marketing theory with application to credit union management. Explores customer preferences, branding and advertising channels, and the relationship between marketing and other functions of the credit union. Students will use marketing principles to propose strategies for their credit union.

Faculty
Dr. Neil Goldman

Personal Strategic Development

This course explores the possibilities, and responsibilities, of credit union leadership. How can students take the skills they have learned and WMCS and help implement better member service at their credit union? The course uses case studies from leaders and strategies in other fields to explore the role of leadership and strategy for credit union professionals.

Faculty
Dr. Michael Steinberger

Negotiation Strategy

Presents theoretical principles and concepts from psychology, sociology, and economics to improve practical negotiations skills. Class participants learn not only to enhance their individual abilities, but also to analyze contexts for the most effective application of these skills. Course includes experiential learning, i.e. negotiations simulations.

Faculty
Miguel Unzueta

Financial Simulation Presentations

This interactive course summarizes the main results of the financial simulation exercises. Students will evaluate their team’s objectives and results from the simulation and then present their major learning areas from the exercise. This capstone course requires students to integrate skills from across the curriculum, including: economics, financial management, marketing, philosophy, strategy, and communication skills. Students are encouraged to use novel presentation techniques to maximize class interest in their topic presentations.

Faculty Matt Stephenson

Credit Union Financial Simulation

This course requires students to use their financial training to lead a simulated credit union through several years of economic conditions based on actual historical events.  Working in teams, students are required to allocated budget priorities, generate strategic plans and adjust to the economic environment to attain their uniquely determined goals.  In addition to reinforcing financial skills, the course ensures students understand the interplay between every facet of credit union operation.

Faculty
Matt Stephenson

Change Management

Organizations must adapt as their business environment changes. How do leaders engage best practices and engage employees to plan for and execute change within the organization? This course builds on examples from other industries to help leaders identify best practices and problematic practices in preparing the organization to anticipate and respond to change.

Faculty
Robin Elledge

Business Ethics

The course explores the philosophical foundation for ethical decision making with application to business decisions. What are the responsibilities of business leaders to their customers, employees, business partners, community, government and to themselves? How to evaluate moral decision-making and the principles of moral choice.

Faculty
Dr. Miguel Unzueta

Regulation & Political Advocacy

The structure and history of financial sector and credit union regulation, and the role for political advocacy. Major themes include the role of regulation in public policy, the interplay between regulation and market structure, and the role of political action in shaping regulation. Examples from credit union regulation, including compliance, political advocacy and strategies to work with regulators.

Faculty
Scott Simpson

Money & Financial Institutions

This course explores money creation and monetary policy.  Students will explore the causes of inflation and recessions and analyzes the role of the Federal Reserve System and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in conducting monetary policy in the US economy.  Particular attention will be placed on the interaction between monetary policy and credit union strategy.

Faculty
Dr. Lamont Black

Managing the Human Resource

This course provides an overview of the tools and techniques of human resource management. How do organizations attract, retain and empower their employee talent. Students will also analyze how their credit union is organized, and the practices used for people management within the organization.

Faculty
Harry Eggleton

Managing Risk & Getting Things Done

The course explores the evaluation of risks and uncertainty when making decisions and identifying mitigation strategies. In addition to exploring frameworks for risk management, the course also explores the consequences of inaction—decisions still need to be made even under uncertainty. Examples are drawn from credit union case studies to help students estimate risks and design strategies to avoid or minimize exposure. The course also assists student to understand the examination requirements of federal and state credit union regulators.

Faculty
John Janclaes

Managing Legal Risks

This course examines enterprise risk management in legal decision making, focusing on fiduciary duties and human resources. Students will explore decision-making frameworks for evaluating mitigation strategies for legal risks.  Examples drawn from credit union experiences will allow students to practice making strategic decisions under legal risk.

Faculty
Bill Adler
Cristina Miller
Robert Wilkins

Introduction to Project II

This course prepares students to use the skills from their first two years of WCMS to create a strategic plan for their credit union. The project requires students to explore historical trends and forecast future financial conditions in order to create and analyze a business plan for their credit union.

Faculty
Matt Stephenson

Executive Presentation Skills

This course explores how to effectively, authentically and consistently influence others.  Provides practical skills and techniques to improve day-to-day communication and build a personal brand and persuasive influence.  

Faculty Stacey Hanke

Data Analytics

The course provides a survey of data analytic components, including data collection, methods, statistical analyses and inference, and data structure and frameworks.  Case studies will help students learn to better harness quantitative analyses to improve insights, operations, efficiencies and improve member service.

Faculty Anne Legg

Credit Union Operations

This course provides an overview of the key functions carried out at credit unions, including: operations, finance, human resources, marketing, and information technology. Students will explore the interplay between functional areas and assess the strengths and weaknesses of credit unions’ operational strategies. Particular emphasis will be placed on application of course tools on the student’s credit union.

Faculty
Bill Birnie
Tracie Kenyon
Shonna Shearson

WCMS Innovators Challenge

This course uses recent research to present systematic techniques that individuals can use to increase creativity, innovative problem solving and design thinking. Through repeated individual and group activities, students will improve their capacity for developing innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to real-world issues. This two-part course requires students to complete a user-centric mini-project between sessions where students observe people in their environment to gain a deeper understanding of users’ motivations and needs, and then to propose solutions to address those needs. The course culminates in an innovation tournament between student teams proposing new products, services or collaborations to better address member needs in the credit union environment.

Faculty
Megan Freshour
Maddie Gunderson
Christie Kimbell

Project Management

An overview of Project Management theory, with examples from academic and credit union sector projects. Provides tools and techniques for project definition, goal creation, budgeting, timeline planning, risk analysis, team-building, tracking and managing the project, and project post-review and analysis. This course provides the foundation for the service-learning project portions of the WCMS curriculum. All students will have the opportunity to implement tools from this course in practice through management of projects during, and between, sessions.

Faculty
Jodi Breese

Organizational Behavior

This course covers the basic principles of organizational behavior and management, including how individuals make decisions and motivate others, how to influence groups, and how to exert leadership throughout an organization.

Faculty Dr. Michelle Bligh

Managing Self & Others

Uses psychology research to understand personal and interpersonal motivation and decision-making. Students will explore their own personal management style and the styles of others. How must incentive structures change to motivate individuals with different psychological profiles.

Faculty Harry Eggleton

Introduction to Project I

This course prepares students to use the skills from their first year of WCMS to analyze the strategic position of their credit union.  Project I exposes students to the major functional areas of their credit union and assists them in developing the skills to explain the strategic interaction between these areas for credit union operation.

Faculty
Tracie Kenyon
Shonna Shearson

Financial Management I or II

This course analyzes the foundations of finance with emphasis on credit union management. Key topics include valuation of assets and liabilities, risk and risk management, understanding financial statements and key accounting ratios. Financial Management II is designed for students with previous training and/or responsibilities in finance and allocates more class time to current credit union issues related to financial management.

Faculty
Matt Stephenson
Dr. Bill Hampel

Economics I or II

A first course on the fundamentals of economics and modern market economies. Explores the principles of micro and macroeconomics, including the role of supply and demand in a market economy, the determination of interest rates, and the estimation of present value and decision making across time. The course also explores how economic conditions affect credit union performance across time. Economics II is designed for students with previous training in economics and allocates more class time to current credit union issues related to economics issues.

Faculty
Dr. Michael Steinberger
Dr. Bill Hampel

Credit Union Management

This course helps students discover the elements of a strategic market position. Students will understand the dynamics of strategy and develop the strategic management position for a credit union.

Faculty Dr. Michael Steinberger

Credit Union History & Philosophy

This course explores the history and business structure of credit unions and cooperatives. What is the societal role of nonprofit cooperatives and why are U.S. credit unions are tax exempt? The course explores the historical roots and modern mandate of credit union’s mandates to serve the underserved.

Faculty
Mark Meyer

Communications

This course presents the elements of effective communication with application to appropriate writing styles for business. Students will develop appropriate communication styles to use when working with colleagues using various technological means.

Faculty
Tracie Kenyon

Business Law

This course provides an introduction to business law from a practical legal standpoint, drawing from credit union experience. This course will focus on corporate and business law, and establish a foundation for contract and tort law, as well as other important legal concepts for business leaders.

Faculty
William J. Adler
Cristina Miller

Behavioral Psychology

The theories and empirical findings of psychology and the relationship between the mind and human behavior.  How do patterns from academic research help us to predict actions and behaviors, and form better habits and business decisions.

Faculty
Dr. Nicole Weekes

Course Name

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Faculty
Mark Meyer