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About SCMS

Expanding Horizons. Exploring Possibilities.

Southwest Credit Union Management School is the go-to experience for rising and C-suite credit union professionals. The school provides higher academic-style learning and engagement opportunities. With SCMS's blend of in-person, live-virtual, and self-paced learning, students build business acumen, broaden the scope and strategic direction of their credit unions, enhance leadership skills, collaborate with other professionals, and grow networks to last a lifetime.

SCMS Team - Administration, Committees & Faculty

Leadership Administration & Strategy Team

  • Janine McBee, CMM, CUDE, honorary alum, SCMS Director, Cornerstone League
  • Amber Bailey, CUDE, Education Director, Experiences & Events, Cornerstone League
  • Jovani Triche, CCUC, Education Coordinator, Experiences & Events, Cornerstone League

Core Strategy, Faculty, and Evaluator Team

  • Melissa Burleson, SCMS advisor, engagement & community development manager, Tarrant County’s CU
  • Eric Mangham, financial management strategist and evaluator CFO, Arkansas FCU 
  • Amy Herbig, branding CEO, The BA Group

Faculty, Academic Advisors & Campus Liaison - Texas Christian University

  • Brandon Chicotsky. Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Marketing, Texas Christian University, Neeley School of Business

Historical Timeline

  • 1966 - The first class enrolled, consisting of six one-week sessions. Host campus – University of Houston
  • 1972 - The first graduation
  • 1987 – The SCMS director role transferred from Joe Wasaff to Janine McBee
  • 1992 – Host campus changed to University of North Texas
  • 1995 – Dr. Carl Frederickson brought on as senior faculty advisor and core project evaluator
  • 2000 – Shawn Bailey becomes SCMS director
  • 2002 – Steve Gibbs steps in as SCMS Director
  • 2003 – Host campus changed to SMU
  • 2004 – Texas Christian University became our host campus
  • 2006 – John Vardallas onboards as senior faculty and core project evaluator.
  • 2006 – Janine McBee returns as SCMS Director
  • 2019 – Deborah Rightmire, Senior faculty advisor – ALM and Financial Management retires
  • 2020 – Year of transition.
    • COVID drove the first ever postponement of the school.
    • Senior faculty advisor and core project evaluator transitioning from John Vardallas to Robert “Bob” Hamer
    • Eric Mangham assumes the role of Senior faculty advisor – ALM and Financial Management
  • 2020 – The first SCMSAA virtual business meeting
  • 2021 – Curriculum is redesigned for the first virtual SCMS experience
    • The Core Project was reimagined. Amy Herbig launched the Business Plan: Defining Your Credit Union Why and Strategic Business and Marketing Plan. Eric Mangham restructured the Financial Management Strategic Plan. 
  • 2021 – First hybrid commencement
  • 2022 – First blended school experience incorporating one in-person and two live-virtual terms to complete one year. Year-round student engagement to enhance learning and foster networking. Combined updated core project assignments with a variety of tools designed to build the student’s toolkit, preparing agile and resilient leaders to grow their credit unions and navigate the next business disruption.
    • Launched SCMS Alumni/Student Ambassador program 
  • 2023 –Celebrated the 50th Commencement

 

Credit Union Management School System

Southwest Credit Union Management School is one of four schools in the country. We are jointly governed, independently directed, each with the goal of helping credit unions develop future leaders and a leadership pipeline to their fullest potential.

Graduation from one of the four Credit Union Management Schools is recognized throughout the credit union movement as an honor and mark of accomplishment. These schools provide valuable, hands-on comprehensive management training. Contact your league or regional school for more information.

SCMS
(Southwest Credit Union Management School)

Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX 
Contact: [email protected] 
469-385-6634 

Credit unions from the following states traditionally attend the Southwest school: 
AR, KS, LA, MO, OK, TX

Madison Credit Union Management School

University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI
Contact:  Email
800-356-9655

Credit unions from the following states traditionally attend the Madison school: 
CT, DC, DE, IL, IN, IA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OH, PA, RI, SD, VT, WI, WV

SRCUS
(Southeast Credit Union Management School)

University of Georgia
Athens, GA
Contact: Lauren DeAngelis
919-457-9059

Credit unions from the following states traditionally attend SRCUS school: 
AL, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA

WCMS
(Western Credit Union Management School)

Pomona College
Claremont, CA
Contact:  Brandi Gleason
253-241-9899

Credit unions from the following states traditionally attend the WCMS school: 
AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
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