Sarah Snell Cooke Editor-in-Chief Credit Union Times

Credit Union Times Editor-in-Chief Sarah Snell Cooke has served in that role since January of this year, after having been named interim editor in December 2007.

Prior to that, Cooke covered the Washington, D.C. news beat for Credit Union Times for over seven years. She wrote for the Credit Union Regulatory Insider newsletter for more than a year before joining the Credit Union Times staff.

Cooke is married to John Cooke, with two small children, Jacob, 6, and Alexandra, 3. She resides in Fulton, Md. When not writing about credit unions or chasing after her kids, she can be found on the volleyball court.

Cooke earned her bachelors degree with honors in political science and a minor in journalism from McDaniel College in Westminster, Md.  

Antonio Hill Director of Marketing Services PSCU Financial Services

Antonio Hill, Director of Marketing Services for PSCU Financial Services provides marketing leadership for the cooperative’s corporate and product initiatives. 

Leading the Marketing Services staff, Hill is tasked with providing advertising, promotions, collateral, events, market research and other marketing support.

Formerly the Director of Consumer Marketing for Trinsic Communications, Inc., Hill established the company’s Marketing Department. He previous work experience includes stints with other market driven companies such as BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. and Nestle USA. 

Hill has a B.S. in Business Administration and M.B.A. in Marketing from Florida A&M University.

Jeffrey R. Hunt, CPM, CFP® Consumer Program Manager

Jeff Hunt is the Consumer Program Manager for MemberCONNECT products at CUNA Mutual Group in Madison, Wisconsin. Specializing in the 55-and-older strategic market, he helps credit unions attract and retain
customers. With a firm understanding of these consumers, Jeff is responsible for designing products, services, and informational materials that fit their needs and help them achieve financial security.

Prior to joining CUNA Mutual in January 2008, Jeff worked for USAA's Financial Planning Services Company, where he served as Director of Product Management. He also served as Director of the Financial Advice Center and Financial Planner at USAA. Previously, Jeff worked as a Wealth Management Advisor and Retirement Consultant for TIAA-CREF.

Jeff earned a Bachelor’s Degree in organizational communications from the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

Jeff holds many certifications and licenses. He is a Certified Product Manager (CPM), Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Retirement Planning Associate (RPA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist (CRPS), Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), and Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor (CMFC). Jeff also holds NASD Series 7, 24, and 63 licenses.

Jeff is a frequent speaker on retirement income distribution, capturing the baby boomer market, advocacy in financial services, effectiveness of financial advice, and online financial planning tools. He is also listed on many U.S. patents for online advice tools. 01/08 ©CUNA Mutual Group. 

Jim Johnson VP, Member Services 3 Rivers Federal Credit Union

Jim Johnson has been working for 3 Rivers FCU since 1999 and has held various positions including branch sales, training, and operations.  Prior to his credit union service, Johnson had worked as a teacher, professional musician, and manager in a non-profit organization. 

He is an member of the inaugural group “ignite Indiana” – a creative think/do group of selected Indiana credit union professionals.  Through this venture, he has created a blog site (http://sandwichgen.wordpress.com/) focusing on the “sandwich generation” – adults now caring for their elderly parents.  He also has created a cooperative branding website that demonstrates the credit union difference through the sharing of stories on how we positively impact their members’ lives.

Johnson’s involvement in the community includes church volunteer (music & kids), Junior Achievement teacher, and volunteer with Lifeline Youth & Family Services (organization helping at-risk teens).  He lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana with his wife, Laurie, and their two toddlers.  He spends is free time chasing after the kids and writing.

Susan Mitchell CEO O'Rourke, Mitchell & Associates

In January 2008, Susan Mitchell assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer of O’Rourke, Mitchell & Associates.  Prior to joining forces with Gene O’Rourke, Susan Mitchell was CEO/President of Mitchell, Stankovic and Associates and MyDAS, Inc. both consulting firms dedicated to credit unions.  They specialized in Educational Initiatives, Organizational Succession Planning, Operational Efficiency, Leadership Development and Strategic Planning to facilitate innovation within the industry. 

Susan began her career as a system analyst in the computer industry and progressed to hold positions in senior management of several Fortune 500 companies.  She worked with the Comptroller of Banks for the State of California to capitalize de novo banks, created innovative strategies and authored numerous educational documents, before co-founding MyDAS Marketing, Inc in 1985.  For more than 20 years MyDAS garnered an enviable reputation within the credit union industry in marketing, education and research. In April 2004 MyDAS was acquired by Liberty Enterprises and in June of 2005, acquired by John H. Harland and renamed Harland Educational Services.  

In 2002 Susan was given the inaugural Diversity Visionary Award and MyDAS received The Richard Miles Johnson Award and the Beacon Award by the California / Nevada Credit Union Leagues.  These awards recognized MyDAS’ leadership for their outreach efforts to educate the public on financial fiscal responsibility and their dedication to fostering appreciation of all cultures. Susan was named Southern Nevada Business Woman of the year in 2001 and MyDAS was honored as business of the year in 2000.

Joseph R. Sullivan, CFMP President and Founder Market Insights

Joseph Sullivan is a financial services industry consultant, professional speaker and a psychotherapist. He is founder and President of Market Insights, Inc., a Chicago based market research and consulting firm. The firm specializes in demographic assessments, strategic planning, marketing and messaging, cultural transformation and motivation. Joe’s career experience includes work with more than 160 financial services organizations nationally.

He is past President of the Illinois Chapter of the Bank Market Association, (the ABA Marketing Network) and a former chair of the BMA National Chapter Leadership Council. Joe is also on the faculty of the American Bankers
Association School of Bank Marketing at Northwestern University and a faculty member at the National School of Banking for ACB at Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT.

He has presented at numerous industry conferences on a broad range of topics including change management, marketing, growth strategies, and team building and maximizing individual and organizational potential. Joe earned an MBA from Loyola University Chicago and an MA in Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and is a Licensed Professional Counselor as well as a business/personal coach. Joe has also earned his Certified Financial Marketing Professional (CFMP) designation from the American Bankers Association. Joe is
also member of the Executive Committee and Board Member for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

Joe states that he has a bias toward action! “If you don’t take action regarding your customers, somebody else will!” -- His philosophy is that each organization and each individual must identify the potential that exists within the market and customer base and work steadfastly toward achieving this potential.

Ted Thames, CCE Strategic Planning Specialist Cornerstone Advisors, Inc.

Ted Thames is a strategy development and business planning consultant focused on helping credit unions and their business partners develop clear, value-based strategies and action-oriented business plans. Ted has many years of leadership experience and measurable results in strategic business planning, marketing and organizational management, focused on delivering solid strategy for increasing overall value to credit union members.

Prior to joining Cornerstone Advisors, Ted spent 17 years helping to build one of the most successful credit unions in the nation. Ted has a proven track record in producing franchise growth, shareholder value and increasing member profitability, as well as identification and leverage of new business opportunities.

Ted has developed a solid process for helping clients enhance core operating strategies, develop value-oriented strategic action plans and capital investment projects, followed by disciplined plan execution, management team alignment and performance management.

Ted holds a Certified Chief Executive designation from the Credit Union Executives Society and a graduate degree in Retail Banking from the Bank Industry Institute. He holds an undergraduate degree in Communications from the University of Texas and a Master of Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix.