MADISON, Wis. – Learn how to create new value in credit union products and services by focusing on empathy to drive innovation during a keynote address at the CUNA Technology Council Summit, Aug. 5-8 in San Francisco.

During “Wired to Care” Dev Patnaik, founder of the growth strategy firm Jump Associates, will explain how companies must first understand what potential customers care about in order to create new value. He will also discuss the biological sources of empathy within the human mind and their critical role in decision making, learning, and judgment. Patnaik also demonstrates how politicians can use empathy to cut through a jungle of contradictory information.

Also, hear about several core processors’ key initiatives to make credit unions more competitive and help drive efficiency during the Core Processor Roadmap breakout sessions. Representatives from OSI, Symitar Systems, Harland Financial Solutions, and Fiserv will outline short- and long-term plans, how their plans intersect industry trends, and the benefits to credit unions.

Additional conference sessions will explore: online banking, collaboration technologies, six sigma, virtual solutions for real problems, information technology examiner issues, security and compliance update, open-source software, and more.

“This year’s sessions are focused on good decision-making that takes advantage of efficient technologies and innovative solutions to help credit unions stay at the forefront of technology during a turbulent economy,” said Rudy Pereira, council chair and senior vice president of operations and technology for Alliance CU in Chicago.

Participants may register online at www.cunatechnologycouncil.org by clicking on the
"2009 conference" link in the “Events” pull-down menu. A complimentary conference registration and up to $1,500 in related expenses is available through the Dan Riley Memorial Scholarship. For more information, select the
“Scholarships” link in the “Events” pull-down menu.

For any questions pertaining to conference registration, call (800) 356-9655, ext. 4400, or by e-mail at reginfo@cuna.coop. For program information inquiries, contact Deb Verdecchia, CUNA Councils program coordinator at (800) 356-9655, ext. 4357, or by e-mail at dverdecchia@cuna.coop.