Credit Union Leaders to Judge 2026 CUES Pitch Show
Three industry experts will evaluate finalists at the upcoming CUES Emerge competition on October 7, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Saving
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The 2026 CUES Emerge Pitch Show will take place on October 7, 2026, featuring five finalists competing for the title of 2026 CUES Emerging Leader. Judges Mykol Fero, Mirren Harris, and Brian Scott will evaluate the participants to determine the eventual winners.
Why it matters
The program provides essential leadership development opportunities for credit union professionals by fostering innovation and business growth. This showcase highlights emerging talent within the financial sector as participants present their ideas to an expert panel.
Finalists will participate in a live online event featuring seven-minute presentations and three-minute Q&A sessions. Following these pitches, the panel will name a Top Three cohort and one individual as the 2026 CUES Emerging Leader.
The players
CUES
Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, CUES is a professional association dedicated to providing leadership development and educational resources to credit union executives.
Mykol Fero
Mykol Fero is one of three industry leaders selected to serve as a judge for the upcoming 2026 CUES Emerge Pitch Show.
Mirren Harris
Mirren Harris is a designated judge for the CUES Emerge Pitch Show who will evaluate the business presentations of the five finalists.
Brian Scott
Brian Scott is an industry professional tasked with judging the finalists at the October 2026 pitch competition.
The details
The competition concludes a rigorous process that saw 30 participants advance from a broader group of 36 candidates to reach this final stage. During the event, judges will assess the presentations based on clarity, the articulation of business ideas, and potential benefits to the credit union movement.
Timeline
The CUES Emerge Pitch Show takes place on Oct. 7, 2026, at 1 p.m. CDT.
Market Landscape
This event serves as the competitive culmination of the CUES Emerge leadership development program. It represents a broader industry trend of investing in internal talent pipelines to drive long-term innovation within the credit union sector.
For credit union members and professionals, this competition highlights the innovative services and leadership strategies currently being developed within the sector. Observing these pitches provides insight into the future service improvements and operational efficiencies that may eventually reach retail members.
The takeaway
The success of credit unions increasingly depends on the ability to cultivate high-level talent capable of solving modern financial challenges. Developing a robust internal pipeline remains a critical strategy for institutions looking to maintain a competitive advantage.
What happens next
The 2026 CUES Emerge Pitch Show is scheduled for Oct. 7, 2026, at 1 p.m. CDT, where the top three participants and the 2026 CUES Emerging Leader will be named.
Further reading
To learn more about financial career development, visit the Saving section.
More information
To view finalists and sign up for reminders, visit the CUES Emerge official site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CUToday.
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