CUES Emerge 2023 Final Five Announced

CUES and partner Currency are pleased to announce five finalists have been selected to compete to be named the 2023 CUES Emerging Leader.

Thirty-six up-and-coming professionals took part in the program; 30 self-selected into the competition phase to have their submitted business cases reviewed by a panel of judges. The five judges reviewed all entries and identified the top Five Finalists to participate in the online pitch show, powered by Currency.

The Five Finalists are:

  • Jana Chamberlin, Instructional Design Manager, Northwest Federal Credit Union, Herndon, VA

  • Jayde DelGado, Branch Manager, Harborstone Credit Union, Lakewood, WA

  • Antionette Morton, Accounting Manager, Educational Systems Federal Credit Union, Greenbelt, MD

  • Katrina Otto, Director of Human Resources and Development, Members Choice Credit Union, Houston, TX

  • Avi Poje, Training and Education Manager, Hughes Federal Credit Union, Tucson, AZ

“A record breaking 120 applicants threw their hat into the ring for the 2023 CUES Emerge program,” said Heather McKissick, CUES president/CEO. “The thirty-six selected to participate created intriguing business cases for the judges, who indicated the race to the Final Five was very tight. The five finalists were handpicked for their compelling proposals addressing challenges that many credit unions share.”

“We appreciate this partnership with CUES and applaud the cohort of credit union professionals who threw themselves fully into the program; this was a great group of young professionals,” said Tim McAlpine, Currency president. “We had insightful discussions during the educational sessions, and the Mastermind sessions helped deepen the learning and broaden the scope of knowledge for all participants.”

The Five Finalists will take to the virtual stage and present their business cases during a live online pitch show, on October 4. Tune in to hear from these talented leaders and support their journey.

Following the live show, the judges will select the Top Three, and the ultimate 2023 CUES Emerging Leader will be named.

All members of the Top Three will receive a tiered educational package plus a leadership assessment and coaching to support continued development and growth within the industry.

Follow along with the next stage of the competition at CUESEmerge.com.

CUES Emerge was created to offer free professional development to the industry’s up-and-coming leaders. Participants who complete the course work and business case earn the Certified Credit Union Manager designation in recognition of their commitment to their career, credit union and the industry.

To learn more about CUES, visit cues.org. To learn more about Currency, visit currencymarketing.ca.


CUES is the leading talent development solutions provider for credit unions in North America. We educate, develop and support credit union CEOs, executives, directors, and emerging leaders through partnerships with premier business schools, live and online events, digital learning, networking, and premium content. With over 42,000 members and growing, we measure success one leader at a time.

Connect with CUES at CUES.org and on LinkedInFacebookTwitter, and Instagram. For daily insights on issues impacting credit unions visit CUmanagement.com.

Currency is a credit union-focused marketing firm. Our unique programs—It’s a Money Thing, CUES Emerge—focus on helping credit unions raise awareness, build relationships and foster financial empowerment with young adults.