The Corporate Connection
A Note from Chris
As we welcome the new year, I hope you had time to relax over the holidays, connect with loved ones, and reflect on the journey behind us and the opportunities ahead. The start of a new year is a perfect time to pause and appreciate the challenges that shaped us, the successes we celebrated, and the lessons that guide us forward.
This past year was remarkable for Corporate Central, marked by incredible growth and continued strong capital levels. Your dedication and support made these achievements possible, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment and trust.
Looking ahead, we remain focused on leveraging technology to optimize your experience and enhance our member service. Together, we will continue to strengthen our movement and create new opportunities.
Thank you for your partnership, and may 2025 bring joy, prosperity, and success to you and your loved ones. Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Chris Felton
President/CEO
Buzz About Beastro
Explore Beastro’s newest feature – Corporate Certificates!
On December 16, we launched Corporate Certificates in Beastro. This innovative update is designed to enhance your investment experience, offering a streamlined and user-friendly approach to managing your investments. You can now view available investments, including certificates and structured certificates, and make online requests to purchase. Additionally, you can access a list of active certificates, review your current holdings, and explore new certificates available for purchase. Once a certificate purchase is approved, you can download a safekeeping receipt for your records. Authentication has also been improved—no more PIN! User profiles can be established for those appropriate to view, request to purchase, and download safekeeping receipts for your credit union. To help your team get started, we have created a brief FAQ in the Knowledgebase.
2025 and Beyond Holiday Schedules
Corporate Central's holiday schedule is primarily based on the Federal Reserve holiday schedule.
The start of the new year means it’s time to fill calendars with important dates and reminders. We publish our holiday schedule at least three years in advance on our website. In fact, our holiday schedule is one of our most popular pages on our website. Below is a snapshot of our holiday schedule through 2027. Feel free to bookmark this popular page for future reference.
New Website Launched
Corporate Central has launched a newly designed website for better navigation and user experience.
We are excited to share that our newly redesigned website launched on December 18! It’s built with you in mind, offering improved navigation and a better user experience. Take a moment to explore the updated layout and new features—we think you will love it! And this is just the beginning; we will continue to make updates and enhancements, so check back often!
New Service Spotlight
QuantyPhi has introduced a CECL Validation service to support credit unions.
We are excited to announce that QuantyPhi is offering a new service designed to simplify compliance and boost confidence in CECL (Current Expected Credit Loss) processes for credit unions. The CECL Validation service provides a comprehensive review to enhance the accuracy, reliability, and regulatory alignment of credit unions’ CECL methodologies.
Navigating CECL compliance can be a complex journey, but QuantyPhi’s expertise is here to help. “CECL compliance is a critical component of a credit union’s financial health, and we’re thrilled to offer a service that ensures their processes meet and exceed regulatory expectations,” said Adam Stone, QuantyPhi President. “Our CECL Validation service offers insights and recommendations tailored to credit unions’ unique needs.”
What’s Included in the CECL Validation Service?
QuantyPhi focuses on six key areas essential for CECL success:
- Risk Factors: A detailed analysis of portfolio risks, such as historical loss data and economic conditions, ensures all potential risks are accounted for.
- Regulatory Compliance: Stay aligned with the latest guidance and navigate compliance confidently.
- Governance: Review governance frameworks, roles, and internal controls to support accuracy in CECL calculations.
- CECL Methodology: Evaluate modeling approaches, assumptions, and data inputs for best practices.
- Policies and Procedures: Ensure policies are comprehensive, documented, and consistently applied, with recommendations for improvement.
- Calculation Validation: Test and verify CECL calculations, reviewing model inputs and vendor processes for accuracy.
By addressing these areas, QuantyPhi helps credit unions build CECL processes that are both compliant and effective, reinforcing their financial stability and operational success.
Ready to learn more? Visit the QuantyPhi website for details and schedule a consultation today.
What’s Trending?
The future of credit unions: financial wellness as a core strategy.
In an era where member needs are evolving rapidly, credit unions are uniquely positioned to redefine their role from being financial service providers to becoming champions of holistic financial wellness. This is not just a shift in service but a comprehensive transformation that can deepen trust, loyalty, and financial engagement. As a cooperative industry, credit unions have the potential to lead this change, aligning financial health with member satisfaction and organizational sustainability.
Where to Find Us: Upcoming Conventions and Events
It’s a great time of year to show our support for credit unions across the country by attending, sponsoring, and presenting at various league and association events. Please stop by the Corporate Central booth and our CUSO booths and say hello!
January 28 – Wisconsin Credit Union League State GAC in Madison, WI
February 4-5 – Dakota Credit Union Association The Roundtable in Las Vegas, NV
February 4-6 – CUES Michigan Council Future Summit in Detroit, MI
February 17-19 – Iowa Credit Union League Legislative & Regulatory Conference in Des Moines, IA
February 19 – Nebraska Credit Union League Jam the Unicam in Lincoln, NE
March 2-6 – America’s Credit Union’s GAC in Washington, DC
Our Community
Offering warmth and kindness to animals awaiting their forever homes.
In early October, Corporate Cares volunteers visited HAWS in Waukesha to spread warmth and comfort. The team crafted 30 cozy blankets for the dogs, just in time for cooler weather. With HAWS welcoming animals from hurricane-affected areas, these blankets provide a small but meaningful gesture to help scared animals feel safe and loved.
Reality Check Day offers students real world experience.
In November, Corporate Central teamed up with Educators Credit Union for Reality Check Day, giving MPS students a fun, hands-on lesson in family budgeting. Students navigated a series of stations simulating real-life expenses like housing, transportation, childcare, and shopping—plus a few surprises! Our team had a fantastic time interacting with these young budgeters and watching them tackle the challenge.
Corporate Central employees support families at the Ronald McDonald House of Eastern Wisconsin.
We were honored to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House of Eastern Wisconsin, where a few of our team members packed lunches for the Lunch 2 Go program. This wonderful initiative provides families with grab-and-go meals, so they can focus on supporting their children during medical care. We were also thrilled to present a check to help further their incredible mission.
Showing our holiday spirit: Christmas with the Vets 🎄
The holiday season is always a special time here at Corporate Central, and this year was no exception! We were thrilled to kick off Christmas with the Vets for the 9th year in a row. Partnering with “Doc” (Jeffery Dentice) and his team of elves is one of our favorite traditions as we join forces to bring holiday cheer to the veterans at the VA Hospital.
For an incredible 37 years, Doc has dedicated himself to making sure these heroes are remembered during the holidays with thoughtful gifts, and we’re honored to play a small part in his amazing mission. Our team came together to donate much-needed items like toothpaste, deodorant, playing cards, soap, gloves, socks, hats—and even made a financial contribution.
But that’s not all! Our awesome crew also stuffed 360 stockings full of goodies to brighten the holidays for these deserving veterans. It’s always such a joy to support this incredible cause and spread a little holiday magic to those who have given so much.
Spreading warmth and comfort for the holiday season.
The holiday season is a time for sharing, caring, and spreading joy—and we had the incredible opportunity to do just that! We came together to make a difference for children spending their holidays away from home at the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). We hosted a special event where kids got to unleash their creativity and compassion. They stuffed teddy bears and dressed them in cozy pajamas, turning each bear into a cuddly companion filled with love. These special bears were donated to the children staying at RMHC. And we didn’t stop there! We also donated brand-new pajamas in various sizes—from infants to young adults—and made a financial contribution to help the RMHC continue their amazing work. Together, we were able to spread the gift of warmth and comfort to kids who need it most.
If you are interested in volunteering with Corporate Central at future events, please send us an email at [email protected].
Credit Unions Connect
Stories that exemplify the movement
Letting no child be forgotten this holiday season.
Financial Plus Credit Union raised an incredible $5,714.16 for the annual Old Newsboys of Flint Paper Sale—a record-breaking achievement! Thanks to their generosity, children from birth to age 18 will receive gifts this holiday season, bringing joy to those who might otherwise go without.
Donating to a cause that supports the entire community.
Altra Federal Credit Union proudly donated $30,000 to support the City of Onalaska’s Community Center and Gymnasium Construction Project. Their contribution will support the creation of a multi-generational facility, where families and chidren of all abilities will be able to gather, play, and engage in activities both indoors and outdoors.
What’s New and Who’s Who
Help us celebrate Michael Baumann’s CCUIP achievement.
We are thrilled to announce that Michael Baumann, MBA, CCUIP, Investment Analyst, has earned the prestigious Certified Credit Union Investments Professional (CCUIP) designation. Michael recently completed the Investment Certification School through America’s Credit Unions in Chicago, a premier program designed for credit union professionals.
This comprehensive certification equips participants with advanced skills in portfolio management, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance, enabling them to provide expert financial guidance tailored to the credit union industry. Michael’s dedication to advancing his investment expertise reflects Corporate Central’s ongoing commitment to education, innovation, and excellence. His certification strengthens our ability to support member credit unions with sound investment strategies, helping them navigate today’s dynamic financial landscape. Congratulations, Michael, on this impressive achievement!
Corporate Central welcomed Pete Paulson as Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer.
We are thrilled to announce Pete Paulson has joined Corporate Central as our new Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer (SVP/COO). In this vital leadership role, Pete oversees key operations that drive our mission forward, ensuring alignment with Corporate Central’s strategic initiatives.
As SVP/COO, Pete leads our Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance, and Human Resources teams, focusing on achieving organizational goals while fostering collaboration and efficiency. He also manages exam and audit processes to ensure compliance with all regulations and policies. Additionally, Pete spearheads the development of contingency, incident response, and operational resiliency plans, ensuring long-term stability for Corporate Central.
Pete is passionate about building an “employer of choice” culture, mentoring talent, and driving interdepartmental success in risk management, talent acquisition, and operational excellence.
Bringing a wealth of industry experience, Pete has dedicated his entire career to the credit union movement, holding roles in branches, lending, operations, IT, executive leadership, and beyond. He has also led a CUSO and a philanthropic organization and served on several boards, including the Illinois Credit Union League, Envisant, and Corporate Central’s own board. Pete’s impressive credentials include the Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation and recognition as a Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE).
A visionary leader, Pete has worked with Filene Research Institute’s i3 and Think Tank initiatives, driving innovation and professional growth within the industry. He holds a BBA from Iowa State University and an MBA from Loyola University Chicago, and he began his credit union journey as a college student—gaining firsthand experience with credit unions of all sizes.
Outside of work, Pete and his wife enjoy traveling and staying active in their children’s lives as proud empty nesters. Pete also contributes his time to his church council, endowment board, and other community organizations. Please join us in welcoming Pete to the Corporate Central family!
Corporate Central welcomed Chelsea Menge as Relationship Development Manager.
We are excited to introduce Chelsea Menge as our new Relationship Development Manager. In this key role, Chelsea works closely with our member credit unions to understand their unique needs, assess financial climates, and provide tailored solutions through Corporate Central’s products and services. Her collaboration with our member services and investment teams strengthens partnerships and drives growth, ensuring a bright future for both our members and Corporate Central.
Chelsea brings extensive credit union experience, starting her career in 2007 and holding various roles, including Teller, Loan Officer, Interim Branch Manager, Training Specialist, Vice President of Retail Operations, and Director of Branch Operations. Her comprehensive expertise makes her a valuable asset to our credit union.
Originally from Iowa, Chelsea earned an Associate’s degree in Business Administration from Kirkwood Community College and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management from Upper Iowa University. Outside of work, she’s a passionate fan of Iowa football and women’s basketball, especially following Caitlin Clark’s professional career. She enjoys exercising, golfing, boating, snowmobiling, attending Heartland Church, and spending time with her husband, two children, and loved ones. Chelsea is also committed to giving back through community volunteer work. We are excited to have Chelsea on board and look forward to the contributions she will bring to our team and members.
Shannon Cate earns prestigious leadership certification.
Corporate Central is thrilled to celebrate Shannon Cate, NCP, CCUFC, and CWCUL, Director of Member Experience, for earning the Certified Wisconsin Credit Union Leader (CWCUL) designation. Shannon achieved this distinction by successfully completing the Leadership Institute Part I certificate program, a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Continuing Education and the Wisconsin Credit Union League.
The Leadership Institute is a rigorous six-month program designed for emerging and mid-level managers. Its goal is to equip participants with the tools needed for effective leadership, succession planning, and career growth. From August to December, Shannon participated in 11 interactive virtual sessions, gaining 4.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and completing at least five program modules to earn the CWCUL designation.
Shannon’s dedication to professional development and leadership excellence reflects Corporate Central’s commitment to serving our members at the highest level. Congratulations, Shannon, on this outstanding achievement!
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