Tennessee credit unions are getting creative by using federal holidays to host in-person leadership development sessions.
The day is an opportunity for all employees to gather to learn credit union news, celebrate the past year’s accomplishments and network with each other. Bonus, most credit unions offer employees a floating holiday!
Here’s a look at some of the leadership sessions hosted by Tennessee credit unions on Presidents’ Day.
Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union
Historically, Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union has utilized Presidents’ Day as an opportunity to bring our work family together under one roof for a day of socialization, training, team building and good food. Hopefully, throughout all the chaos, activities and events, everyone finds an occasion to have some fun while strengthening relationships and experiencing personal and professional growth. In exchange for working on Presidents’ Day, team members receive the day after Thanksgiving as an added holiday.
“While we are able to utilize some of our time to focus on required annualized training, we primarily use the day as a time to increase awareness in areas of key concerns such as cybersecurity and the numerous areas of fraud currently plaguing our industry,” said Andy Mullins, ACFCU CEO/president.
“Throughout the day we take a look into the rear-view mirror to celebrate previous years successes while at the same time reviewing and learning from areas that we may have come up short or missed opportunities,” Mullins added. “The day provides us with the perfect opportunity to introduce our vision and goals for the new year while fostering teamwork and generating buy-in from the entire team.”
Leaders Credit Union
While branches were closed on Presidents’ Day, over 200 Financial Champions at Leaders Credit Union gathered for their all-employee enrichment event, Leaders Champion Summit. This annual event reviews the past year’s achievements and milestones and provides a forum for strengthening the connections that help Leaders serve their members and communities more effectively.
This year’s Summit took on new energy with the announcement of their core conversion initiative, unveiled under the theme “Rock n’ Roll Out the New Core!” The atmosphere was electric as Leaders’ own financial champions took to the stage, showcasing their musical talents alongside renowned West Tennessee artist LOLO and the Jackson Sound. The performances transformed what could have been a standard corporate event into an unforgettable celebration that embodied Leaders’ commitment to innovation while maintaining their signature personal touch.
The fusion of professional development with creative expression perfectly captured the credit union’s dedication to both excellence and community spirit, proving that even technical transitions can be approached with creativity and joy. The event demonstrated that at Leaders Credit Union, every milestone is an opportunity to strengthen their team’s commitment to exceptional member service.
Orion Federal Credit Union
Orion Federal Credit Union hosted its annual all-employee meeting on Presidents’ Day. It was a great time for Orion to gather with new Orion President and CEO Ashley McDurmon. The day kicked off with a service project working with Make-A-Wish to honor local volunteers. McDurmon took the stage to express her vision and Orion’s commitment to guiding individuals, families and businesses through every stage of their financial journey.
“We’re not just a financial institution—we are your partner, invested in the long-term success of our customers,” said McDurmon. “We want to ensure that each customer feels known, supported and empowered to take control of their financial future.”
Employees attended professional development breakout sessions on topics such as fraud awareness, leadership, digital banking, home buying, tech savvy tools and more. The day ended honoring employees for their years of service including one employee’s 40-year commitment to Orion. Additionally, Orion honored team members with Shout Outs, Teamwork and the Spirit of Orion awards.
Scenic Community Credit Union
At Scenic Community Credit Union, we believe that being good isn’t enough—we strive for best. In our All-Staff Meeting we focused on Choosing Best Over Good: Elevating Member Experiences and what it means to go beyond expectations to deliver exceptional service and lasting value to our members.
“Having a “Best Over Good” mindset matters – it drives home the fact that Good is the Enemy of Best,” said Marty Stubblefield, CEO of Scenic Community Credit Union. “Successful people and organizations do what is expected of them… plus a little bit more. As a team, it’s important for us to meet together and all hear the same message, the same way to incorporate it into our day -to-day.”
Lessons from the Frisbee: The Power of Alignment
Marty Stubblefield relates his dog Jake and his Frisbee, which may seem like a simple story, but they teach us a vital lesson: being on the same page matters. Whether it’s in sports, business or financial services, success comes from alignment—understanding needs, anticipating challenges and working together toward excellence.
One major challenge we face is the “We’ve Always Done It That Way” Trap—where complacency prevents progress. But SCCU chooses to rise above mediocrity. Instead of settling for good enough, we continuously refine our services, enhance security, and create personalized banking experiences.
Why Best Over Good Matters
The financial landscape is changing. With 10,000 Baby Boomers retiring daily, Millennials taking over the workforce, and a $68 trillion wealth transfer happening in the next 20 years, credit unions must evolve to stay relevant.
We focused on our core values—trustworthiness, relational service, accountability and knowledgeability—which will guide us in this transformation. By prioritizing these values, we ensure that every interaction with our members is meaningful, transparent and future-focused.
What Happens When We Do It Right
When SCCU puts best over good, we see the impact in our members’ feedback:
- “I feel like all of us are a team instead of us vs. them.”
- “The staff is always ready with a smile and great service!”
- “I’ve been a member since 1963, and I’ve always been treated right.”
These testimonials remind us that our greatest strength isn’t just our services—it’s our people. It’s the kindness, attentiveness, and personal touch that keep members coming back.
Using the League as a Resource
SCCU is focused on building the confidences of our team in needs-based selling. We utilized the League to help with sales training approaching our All-Staff Meeting. These trainings focus on looking for ques, reading body language and sharing not only the features but the benefits products and services have on the member. Caroline hosted Jeopardy with our teams as a way to train what services and services we offer along with SCCU history.
Turning Everyday Interactions into Opportunities
During the meeting we explored real-life scenarios with Debbie, where SCCU staff can turn good service into great experiences from new member onboarding to family financial planning.
By listening, engaging and offering tailored solutions, we go beyond transactions—we build relationships.
Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union
This Presidents’ Day, Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union took a magical detour, gathering all 550 employees for a day filled with training, team bonding and major celebrations! The action-packed day kicked off with departments spreading out across town for some exciting team-building exercises and in-depth training sessions. After building connections and sharpening skills, everyone enjoyed a well-deserved lunch.
The grand finale took place at The Signal, where the whole TVFCU team reunited for an afternoon packed with awards, recognition and applause for the impressive goals achieved throughout the year. With a focus on the amazing contributions made both within the company and in the community, the vibe was nothing short of inspiring! DJ Keenan Daniels, better known as the “MillionDollaMan”, electrified the atmosphere and kept the excitement high all afternoon.
“Our team works tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of our members, and it’s important to pause and celebrate the incredible milestones we hit together,” said Todd Fortner, president and CEO. “This year, over 57 employees were recognized for their outstanding contributions and dedicated service to TVFCU!”
The event not only highlighted the achievements of the past year but also sparked excitement for all the magic still to come.
“Employee recognition is all about shining a light on the incredible efforts, teamwork, and dedication that make our organization a great place to work, concluded Janet Leamon, VP of HR.
What a way to celebrate the power of teamwork and dedication!
