No, this isn't a sports recap of the Mid-American Conference! This is the Marketing Association of Credit Unions (MAC) Conference set in Hollywood, California. The three-day event created by credit union marketers for credit union marketers featured more than 75 credit unions from across the U.S. and included 16 keynote speakers. This was the first conference that Digital Marketing Strategist Kacey Kaderly attended since he started at image.works, and here he shares some of the highlights.
Can you give a short summary of what you did at the MAC Conference?
I worked with others at the image.works booth and had many one-on-one conversations with key decision-makers, including marketing heads, VPs, and directors, throughout the conference. There was a friendly atmosphere, and we made valuable connections.
What was unique about attending MAC?
What made MAC unique was its exclusive focus on credit unions and vendors serving the financial industry. There were plenty of networking events, giving us lots of time with attendees. We also got to hear from some highly successful keynote speakers in the financial industry, who shared their strategies and insights. The event was business-focused but also had fun networking opportunities.
What was the best advice you heard?
The best advice I heard was from a speaker who shared their experience working at a credit union. They said, “We asked our entire team, 'If our credit union closed tomorrow, how would the community be affected?' No one had anything to say. The truth was the community wouldn’t be affected. So, we changed that. We came up with solutions to make a real difference in the community, which led to increased brand awareness, membership acquisition and loyalty.”
How did you get to interact with other industry leaders and attendees?
Almost every attendee stopped by the image.works booth, giving us plenty of opportunities for conversations. We also connected with attendees during welcome parties, meals and various networking sessions.
A highlight was a group trip to Warner Bros. Studios, where we spent quality time with attendees, and there were cocktail hours, after-parties and a big awards dinner. We also took attendees out for sushi at Yamashiro Hollywood, which had an incredible view of the city. The dinner was a hit, and we even got a surprise invite to a private comedy show afterward, where we all had a great time and shared lots of laughs. It was great to spend time building relationships with credit union employees, like Patricia from Redstone Federal Credit Union and Morgan and Amy from CSE Federal Credit Union.
What are your goals following the conference?
I am excited to reach out to new contacts and offer our free Digital Marketing Assessment. This assessment allows them to see how healthy their website is and how they rank against local competitors in key metrics. We also aim to discuss their current digital marketing efforts to identify any areas where we can assist.
What was the highlight of the trip for you?
The highlight of the trip was getting to meet potential clients in person. Most of our communication is usually done virtually, so it was great to build real, face-to-face relationships. Now, when we connect virtually, it will feel like we know each other beyond just a screen. Plus, the food was a nice bonus – I don’t think I was ever hungry the entire trip!
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth – it was great to be able to speak with you. We hope to see both new and familiar faces at future conferences!