ease of use

Today we dive into the often overlooked aspect of podcasting gear: ease of use. Drawing from story from a recent client interaction, we will talk about the significance of considering the user-friendliness of your equipment.  We will discuss choosing the gear that matches your technical expertise. Constantly dealing with setup issues can take away from the joy of podcasting, and sometimes a simpler recording setup is necessary. In a world where popular gear choices can sometimes require more technical knowledge, more money, and more technical issues, sometimes the easier setup is the answer.  Tune in as we discuss the unpopular opinion of not buying the best gear to record your podcast.

Topics Covered:

• Importance of considering ease of use when purchasing podcasting gear
• A story from a client's difficulties with their equipment
• Choosing gear suitable for your technical expertise
• Maybe not choosing that SM7B 
• Prioritizing ease of use over audio quality
• Discussing the potential negative impact of constantly struggling with technical issues on the podcasting experience

How to connect with me further:
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“Working with credit unions is less transactional, and more about being a good partner and solving problems.” - Craig Helmers

Thank you for tuning in to episode 60 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Craig Helmers, VP of ATM Management at ATM USA. Craig shares his career journey with ATM USA and his passion for working with credit unions. ATM USA is a nationally-recognized and trusted partner of high-quality, turnkey ATM equipment and services. One of their goals is to take the work of operating ATMs off of credit union teams.

During our conversation, Craig and I chat about how credit unions can approach ATM and ITM management by outsourcing. Craig shares tips on how to prepare for ATM compliance changes and how it’s beneficial to have a go-to partner especially when regulatory or technology requirements change. As we look to the future, ATM USA is committed to providing credit unions with ATM solutions to create a better member and employee experience. Listen as Craig shares new products and technology that will provide solutions for running an ATM fleet.

As we wrap up the episode, Craig talks about the inspiring career journey of his friend’s father, some of his favorite travel spots, and the impactful book his older brother gave him. Enjoy my conversation with Craig Helmers!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Craig:
Craig Helmers, VP of ATM Management at ATM USA
Chelmers@atmusa.com
atmusa.com
Craig: LinkedIn
ATM USA: LinkedIn |  Twitter | Facebook 

“Digital transformation is a team sport.” - John Janclaes

Thank you for tuning in to episode 55 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is John Janclaes, President at Nymbus CUSO. John was a guest on the podcast two years ago so we dive right into how the environment for credit unions has evolved and how Nymbus has grown. The team at Nymbus offers a fresh perspective on growth for brands, credit unions, banks, and fintechs, with the technology and support for digital transformation. 

During our conversation, John talks about the significance of technology as it pertains to acquiring members, deepening relationships, and retaining members for growth. He expresses how digital transformation is a team sport and it takes collaboration to integrate new systems and see progress. John talks about the book he is writing to help leaders assess, manage, and optimize partner relationships called, “The Partnership Advantage: How to Revitalize Community Financial Institutions.” It will be available this summer. When looking ahead, John is particularly looking forward to the Modern Core his team is developing to reach new growth and unlock new opportunities. Listen as John shares insights as the industry is evolving and how we can continue learning from each other.

As we wrap up the episode, John talks about an influential leader in his life, a book about high performing companies, and a city he loves to visit. Enjoy my conversation with John Janclaes!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with John:
John Janclaes, President at Nymbus CUSO
jjanclaes@nymbus.com
nymbus.com/
John: LinkedIn
Nymbus: LinkedIn | Twitter 

“Credit unions are in a perfect spot to help people, to grow, and to be relevant.” - Jack Imes

Thank you for tuning in to episode 54 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Jack Imes, Chief Client Lending Consultant at Allied Solutions. Jack spent over 35 years working with credit unions and community banks. Allied Solutions is focused on using technology-based solutions to help clients grow their bottom line, protect their business and members, and evolve to stay ahead of the competition.

During our conversation, Jack shares how technology is the key to creating a better member experience for all generations. He talks about constantly building relationships to bring the latest innovations to clients and their members. Jack explains how Allied Solutions’ portfolio of diversified products is customized to meet individual partnership needs. As we look to the future, Allied Solutions is focused on supporting credit unions and providing them with tools for growth and longevity. Listen as Jack talks about providing seamless tech stack solutions to scale services and experiences.

As we wrap up the episode, Jack shares why he admires Michael Jordan, listening to podcasts, and exploring small towns. Enjoy my conversation with Jack Imes!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Jack:
Jack Imes, Chief Client Lending Consultant at Allied Solutions
jack.imes@alliedsolutions.net
alliedsolutions.net
Jack: LinkedIn
Allied Solutions: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook 

“Don’t be hesitant about entering the faster payments arena.” - Mark Majeske

Thank you for tuning in to episode 40 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Mark Majeske, SVP of Faster Payments at Alacriti. The team at Alacriti helps credit unions identify needs of the market, so they can stay on the edge of innovation and time their actions right for members. Credit unions large and small, can participate and compete in the marketplace, especially faster payments. Alacriti partners with credit unions to not only assess market needs but also bring connectivity to various payment rails as well.

In this conversation, Mark and I discuss the hurdles of faster payments and the new expectations it creates in business. He discusses the ease of integration and implementation of a new payment rail into a current core system. Mark talks about payment rail options, and the importance of understanding what members want when it comes to those options to create an easy experience for all. Mark discusses factors that need to be considered when it comes to fraud, along with a hybrid system to protect faster payments against fraud. 

Tune in to hear what new trends are expected to emerge in financial services as well as what’s in store for the future at Alacriti. He emphasizes the importance of member centric applications and cryptocurrency. Ultimately, Alacriti is a partner for credit unions that gives members the experience they want and expect.

As we wrap up the episode, Mark talks about his favorite music from the 70s & 80s, how he defines success, and what he enjoys doing at his lake house. Enjoy my conversation with Mark Majeske!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Mark:
Mark Majeske, SVP of Faster Payments at Alacriti
mark.majeske@alacriti.com
https://www.alacriti.com     
Mark: LinkedIn
Alacriti: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

“Credit unions are relevant, I just think we can do a better job of making sure the market knows that.” - Roger Willey

Thank you for tuning in to episode 39 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Roger Willey, Chief Revenue Officer at VisiFI. With four decades of experience, VisiFI is a technology provider and CUSO supporting approximately 120 credit unions. Roger began his career when consumer behavior was a rising topic, and has since seen it become a critical business objective. He considers himself a business growth strategist that uses data to help credit unions grow their market share. The core mission at VisiFI is to help credit unions embrace technology and create a digital environment to lead and expand the relationship with their members into easy to use and seamless experiences.

In this episode, Roger discusses the necessary measures credit unions must take to adapt to new trends, support longevity, and connect with members. He talks about opportunities to develop data, intelligence, and member service. Listen to Roger share his thoughts on the unique leverage credit unions have over big banks and how credit unions can adapt to market changes and grow within different environments.

Tune in to hear how you can use the value proposition of credit unions as a competitive advantage and why this message needs to be shared with consumers worldwide. Roger explains how complexity in credit union models adds cost and risk. We discuss VisiFI’s plans on innovating for the future to meet various needs of clients and members. Roger believes the methodology for business growth does not change; but the market, products, and the unique value proposition do change, requiring credit unions to be more agile. Ultimately, Roger encourages listeners to embrace storytelling and find ways to adapt in this digital landscape. 

As we wrap up the episode, Roger talks about a recent purchase he can’t live without, the Rolling Stones, and traveling with his wife as empty nesters. Enjoy my conversation with Roger Willey!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Roger:
Roger Willey, Chief Revenue Officer at VisiFI
roger.willey@dedagroup.it
https://visifi.com/   
Roger: LinkedIn
VisiFI: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

“We create a great member experience while achieving compliance goals.” -Tony Repanich

Thank you for tuning in to episode 33 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Tony Repanich, President and COO at Shield Compliance. Shield Compliance works to transform how credit unions manage risk, comply with regulation, and satisfy growing operational demands associated with serving the legal cannabis market. Shield’s core platform technologies automate the compliance process and give credit unions the structure they need to monitor, measure, and control operations. Their Shield Assure, Shield Engage, and Shield Transact products ensure efficiency and reliability so credit unions can remain compliant while taking risks in a new line of business.

Tony has been in the financial services industry for over two decades. In this episode, he talks  about how Shield Compliance can unlock new business opportunities and add value to credit unions. He discusses the economic advantages of cannabis banking and how they can provide the technology needed to mitigate and manage risk. Tony addresses the concerns facing the cannabis banking industry, including regulatory requirements, risk assessments, and personal viewpoints. 

Tune in to hear Tony discuss ways to satisfy the regulatory and risk side while supporting access to banking for legal enterprises. Tony also shares ways credit unions in areas with legalized cannabis industries can help make their communities safer by providing access to banking for these cash-heavy businesses. During our conversation, you’ll also hear Tony dive into the cannabis banking playbook that he created to help credit unions understand the logistics of this new environment and frame out what they can expect.

As we wrap up the episode, Tony talks about the magic of Starbucks, his go-to podcast, and his favorite Peloton instructor. Enjoy my conversation with Tony Repanich!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Tony:
Tony Repanich, President and COO at Shield Compliance
tony@shieldbanking.com
www.shieldbanking.com     
LinkedIn | Facebook

“Disruption comes in all shapes and sizes.” - Dania Buchanan

Thank you for tuning in to episode 31 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Dania Buchanan, the President at SmartVault. The core mission at SmartVault is providing businesses with a central document destination that enables the adoption of a fully digital, fully automated document workflow. The SmartVault system is also highly secure and supports regulatory compliance mandates. They focus on reducing or eliminating routine and repetitive tasks associated with document workflows, serving small and mid-sized businesses like credit unions.

While she originally wanted to be a journalist, in this episode Dania discusses the inspiration that led to founding SmartVault and taking on the role as President. She shares that product disruption is exciting to her, as her team turns traditional document management on its head. We explore ways that integrating document management into the apps and workflows credit unions are already using can make them more competitive.

Dania always works to create a culture where staff can do the best and most vibrant work of their careers. Throughout the episode, we talk through the needs of employees to be able to collaborate whether working from the office, at home, or in a hybrid of the two. Dania expresses how important community service is to her as a leader and how she intentionally builds structures for her whole team to participate. As technology continues to evolve, Dania recommends building the foundation first and leveraging incremental change instead of trying to redo everything at once.

As we wrap up the episode, Dania shares a favorite beverage, her go-to podcasts, and the person she thinks of first when she hears the word “success.” Enjoy my conversation with Dania Buchanan!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Dania:
Dania Buchanan, President at SmartVault
dbuchanan@smartvault.com
https://www.smartvault.com/
LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

“Being reactive is no longer an option if you want to remain relevant.” - Kent Zimmer

Thank you for tuning in to episode 30 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Kent Zimmer, CEO at CU NextGen. CU NextGen is the CUSO dedicated to bringing next-generation technology to credit unions, helping them improve the service delivered to their members, the daily experiences of their staff members, and the efficiency of their operations. CU NextGen is a partnership between Members Development Company, a consortium of nearly 70 large and future-focused credit unions, and ClaySys Technologies, a technology company with leading products in the no-code application development, robotic process automation (RPA), and artificial intelligence spaces.

During our conversation, Kent emphasizes that expectations for ease-of-use and digital experience are constantly evolving. Kent and I discuss how CU NextGen gives credit unions the tools they need for digital transformation, and provides them the flexibility to quickly customize the member experience. Kent shares his thoughts on credit unions being more proactive in customizing the member experience and embracing digital transformation, instead of being reactive to changes. He is excited for the future and for new challenges in creating a better member experience on behalf of credit unions.

During our rapid fire questions, Kent talks about owning a Tesla, winning gold at the pickleball nationals, and his go-to music choices. Listen in as Kent talks about why his idea of success comes from mentors instead of celebrities, and what book he recommends. Enjoy my conversation with Kent Zimmer!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Kent:
Kent Zimmer, CEO at CU NextGen
kent.zimmer@cunextgen.com
https://cunextgen.com/ 
LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

“We have the opportunity to level the playing field by taking advantage of resources.” - Carl Robinson

Thank you for tuning in to episode 17 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Carl Robinson, SVP of Payments at Alacriti. In this episode, Carl shares insights on how to use tech to the fullest in the shifting market of payments and cloud optimization. We chat about his career journey, his personal experiences with automation, and the importance of understanding digital strategy to enhance the user experience. 

Members are now accustomed to speed, real-time service, and “instant gratification” with many digital services. The speed of money movement and payments are what members view as excellent service. Carl explains how cost-effective iteration can help credit unions leverage technology and increase the quality of operations and member experience without needing to start from scratch.

Carl encourages credit union teams to start finding new solutions by experimenting with tech approaches that increase real time services and speed. Incorporating these elements can help credit unions jump ahead in the financial services industry while mitigating risk. He also shares resources credit unions use to get started. 

During our rapid fire questions, we learn that Carl has been interested in the world of payments for many years but wanted to be a racecar driver growing up. He shares that his calendar is rarely empty and that he enjoys spending his time with his children. Listen in as Carl walks us through his favorite books to read and who he thinks of when he hears the word “success.” Enjoy my conversation with Carl Robinson! 

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Carl:
Carl Robinson, Senior Vice President of Payments at Alacriti
carl.robinson@alacriti.com
www.alacriti.com
LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

In next week’s episode of the Hewlett Packard Labs Podcast “From Research to Reality”, Dejan Milojicic hosts Faraz Ahmed and Lianjie Cao, research scientists at Hewlett Packard Labs. Faraz and Lianjie discuss aspects of orchestrating (managing) Edge. They compare edge vs data center orchestration and discuss ease of deployment as an orchestration use case. They explain major challenges in scaling and securing edge orchestration. They put their research in the context of HPE strategy and HPE products. They conclude with their favorite hobbies: hiking, badminton.  And hiking.