We are pleased to announce the full curriculum for the 2026 Caribbean Islands CU Educational Cruise.
Join Tom Glatt and Jennifer Glatt for a unique educational experience that combines high-level strategic planning with deep dives into member experience design.
Hosted by CU Conferences, this event offers a rare opportunity to step away from the daily grind and engage in big-picture thinking while at sea. We have expanded this year's agenda to include 10 distinct sessions across three days of instruction.
The curriculum is designed to bridge the gap between the "Hard Skills" of governance and risk and the "Soft Skills" of hospitality and member connection.
Event & Cruise Details
- Host: CU Conferences
- Cruise Dates: February 15–25, 2026
- Ship: Enchanted Princess (Princess Cruises)
- Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Princess Cays, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Kitts, and Tortola
- Registration:Register at CUConferences.com
The Curriculum
Day 1: The Leader Within & The Strategic Horizon
The conference opens by looking inward at leadership psychology and outward at the market landscape.
1. Strategic Vision: Turning Today's Challenges into Tomorrow's Opportunities (Speaker: Tom Glatt) Move beyond static planning to a "Living Strategy." We will use environmental risk assessments to translate market insights into a compelling, adaptable vision for your credit union's future.
2. The Psychology of Risk: How Personality Shapes Decision-Making (Speaker: Tom Glatt) New Session: Every strategic decision is filtered through the personality of the leader making it. Leveraging the Risk Type Compass™, we will explore your own risk disposition—from "Wary" to "Adventurous"—and learn how to balance these types within your board to avoid "groupthink."
3. Curating Connection: What Hospitality Teaches About Community (Speaker: Jennifer Glatt) Differentiation in a crowded market requires more than better rates. Discover fresh ideas on how to champion community engagement strategies—from celebrating members to amplifying partnerships.
Day 2: Governance, Systems, & The Member Experience
Day two focuses on the systems that run the credit union, from the boardroom to the front line.
4. The Board's Role in Governance: Building a Foundation for Success (Speaker: Tom Glatt) We will guide you through assessing current governance practices and customizing a framework that enhances decision-making and strengthens risk oversight.
5. From Check-In to Check-Up: Designing Seamless Member Journeys (Speaker: Jennifer Glatt) Learn a framework for auditing your member experience. Ensure every interaction is intentional, aligned with your brand, and strengthens the feedback loops that inform your retention strategy.
6. The "Living System": Operationalizing Your Strategy (Speaker: Tom Glatt) New Session: A strategic plan is useless if it sits in a binder. Drawing from the "Living System" methodology, learn how to use tools like the Business Model Canvas and OKRs to turn your strategy into a dynamic, auditable operating system.
7. Designing for Delight: The Role of Details in Loyalty (Speaker: Jennifer Glatt) Gain a sharper lens to assess how the "little things" in your communications and digital tools create the lasting impressions that shape member loyalty.
Day 3: Performance, Action, & Continuous Improvement
We conclude by turning theory into measurable action.
8. CU HealthScore: Your Credit Union's Vital Signs (Speaker: Tom Glatt) A deep dive into the CU HealthScore model, breaking down the key metrics and explaining how to use this data to inform strategic decision-making.
9. From Strategy to Action: Implementing Initiatives That Drive Results (Speaker: Tom Glatt) Learn to translate strategic objectives into actionable initiatives by effectively prioritizing and allocating resources to projects that deliver tangible results.
10. Sustaining Success: Embedding a Culture of Continuous Improvement (Speaker: Tom Glatt) Using tools like the CU HealthScore to track progress, we will discuss how to regularly review your strategic plan and adapt to the ever-changing financial landscape.
We look forward to seeing you on board the Enchanted Princess for this blend of strategy, experience design, and professional connection.
