NextUP

MDC’s NextUP program is the credit union industry’s preeminent innovation training and development opportunity, bringing together our owners’ best movers-and-shakers and brightest up-and-comers.

Through our exclusive program, staff from our ownership receive innovation training, project development support, and strategic growth coaching from Avtex, an industry-leading consultant with which MDC has deep ties.

“MDC is in a unique position to drive current and future differentiation for credit unions in a market place that is crowded with financial service offerings. The NextUP program is the “jet fuel” for credit union distinction, personnel development, and innovation skills and capability development. Avtex is honored to help facilitate the research, innovation and NextUP program activities. The ideas that incubate from the program activities are the future competitive advantage for the MDC owners. The skills that the NextUP participants develop will equip them to be future leaders.” – Kurt Schroeder, Chief Experience Officer at Avtex

Typically NextUP would be gathering in Chicago and San Diego for our Summer 2021 and Winter 2022 owner meetings, but we have something very special in mind this year in response to the changes we've made to our owner meeting format during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: a special, redesigned, six-month session called NextUP F◎CUS, tentatively launching later this fall. The innovators who participate in NextUP F◎CUS will concentrate their work around the intersection of physical, mental, and financial health. Long-term MDC partners Avtex, the National Credit Union Foundation, and Financial Health Network will all be deeply involved in NextUP F◎CUS.

“The ideas and research coming from the NextUP Program are completely unlike any other program in the movement. There is no other group that not only develops the initial idea but then spends the following 12 to 18 months bringing it to reality. Ideas, backed by research, partnerships, and execution can change the world.” – Kris Kovacs, CEO, Constellation Digital Partners

Here at MDC, we call NextUP our win-win-win. Our participants get world-class experience creating and developing a new idea, our owner credit unions get the benefit of giving a new staff member this training each year, and our network generates actionable project ideas for MDC. Best of all, participation in this valuable opportunity is already included with MDC ownership, so our credit unions only pay for their participants’ travel and accommodation expenses.

All MDC owners are encouraged to send one participant to our NextUP program each year. Please contact Sarah Lietz if you are interested in knowing more!

Are you a current or former participant of NextUP or MDC’s Innovation Council? Click here to join our alumni group on MDC Connect!