Education Phase Competition Phase 2026 Cohort Official Rules History Testimonials Meet the Team FAQs
 
 

An exciting education and recognition program from CUES

Meet the class of 2026

36 emerging leaders. One powerful journey. Follow along as they grow, compete and shape the future of credit unions.

Participant details

Applications for 2026 are now closed. Stay connected and be the first to know when the next cohort opens.

 
 

Built on a solid foundation

CUES and Currency Marketing have enjoyed a long-standing partnership dating back to 2010 when, together, we launched the inaugural CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec competition. In 2020, CUES Emerge was launched and built on the success of CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec. Over the past 15 years, CUES has awarded more than $500,000 in prizes and has impacted the lives of countless young credit union professionals.

CUES is an independent, not-for-profit, international membership association. Our mission is to educate and develop credit union CEOs, executives, directors and future leaders.

Learn more

Currency Marketing is a leading financial education provider for credit unions, with its flagship program, It’s a Money Thing. We help credit unions attract, educate and inspire young adult members.

Learn more

Supporting Partners

TruStage is a financially strong insurance and financial services provider, built on the philosophy of people helping people, meeting the needs of middle-market consumers and businesses.

Learn more

Envision Excellence is a leadership consulting firm that provides leadership development programs for managers and executives, keynote speeches, team building and leadership assessments.

Learn more
 

Value for all participants

Value 1

Deepen knowledge through connections with subject matter experts and industry peers

Value 2

Improve your ability to understand and develop strategic alignment in your organization

Value 3

Examine issues facing your credit union and ask the right questions to identify the core problem

Value 4

Research, develop and write a formal business case

Value 5

Increase your impact through enhanced presentation and speaking skills

Value 6

Learn to communicate ideas more effectively to senior leaders

Participants have an opportunity to

Earn a designation

All participants that successfully complete the online courses, Mastermind sessions and a business case will receive a Certified Credit Union Manager designation.

Be recognized

Five finalists will be announced in August and move forward with the competition phase of CUES Emerge. These five will receive coaching and present their business case to our judging panel and a live online audience. The top three will receive further education opportunities and coaching.

background-blue-green-grad.jpg
 

What’s new with CUES Emerge?

See All News
Featured
36 Innovators, One Transformative Program: Introducing the 2026 CUES Emerge Cohort
36 Innovators, One Transformative Program: Introducing the 2026 CUES Emerge Cohort

Thirty-six emerging leaders from across North America have been selected to participate in the 2026 CUES Emerge competition.

Read More →
CUbroadcast: 2026 CUES Emerge Calls All Emerging Leaders to Take the Next Step
CUbroadcast: 2026 CUES Emerge Calls All Emerging Leaders to Take the Next Step

CUES VP of Marketing Nicole (Nikki) Morrison and Currency CEO Tim McAlpine joined us on the show to announce the kick off of CUES 2026 Emerge.

Read More →