Board and Committee Leadership Conference

November 18 – 20, 2026 

November 18 – 20, 2026
Dollywood Heartsong Resort — Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Make plans to join your peers for an education conference designed just for credit union volunteers. The Board & Committee Leadership Conference is set for November 18 – 20, 2026, in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. It features a full range of informative sessions on critical, timely issues with first-rate speakers.

We welcome credit unions associated with the Tennessee League or their respective leagues to participate in this informative educational event. If you are a vendor or third party and would like more information about this event, please contact the Events Team.

Schedule – All times EST

Wednesday, November 18

3:00 pm

Registration

5:00 pm

Networking Reception

5:30 pm

Welcome Dinner and Entertainment!

Thursday, November 19

7:30 am

Registration Open

7:45 am – 9:00 am

Networking Breakfast Buffet

9:00 am

Welcome

9:00 am

General Session – David Reed

9:00 am

Bank Secrecy Act Updates for Volunteers

12:00 pm

Networking Lunch Buffet 

1:15 pm

The Top 10 Things Supervisory Committee Members Need to Know – Supervisory Committee Breakout Session

1:15 pm

Emerging Risk Outlook – Board of Directors Breakout Session

1:15 pm

General Session – Board of Directors

3:30 pm

Evening on Your Own to Explore Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg!

Friday, November 20

8:00 am

Breakfast Buffet 

9:00 am

Leadership Principles that Build Strong Teams – Jed Collins

10:00 am

Conference Closing Remarks & Door Prizes!

Speaker Sessions

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Jed Collins

From Undrafted to Unstoppable: Leadership, Money & the Mindset of a 7‑Year NFL Pro

What does it take to build a career when no one drafts you?

Former NFL fullback Jed Collins shares the story of going from undrafted free agent to seven-season NFL veteran — a journey defined not by talent alone, but by grit, discipline, adaptability, and relentless commitment to improvement.

But this isn’t just a football story.

Today, Jed works closely with young athletes who are suddenly earning extraordinary sums through NIL agreements — or signing life-changing professional contracts overnight. He’ll offer a candid look at what happens when talent meets money before maturity, and what separates those who build lasting success from those who flame out.

For credit union board leaders charged with stewardship, culture, and long-term sustainability, Jed will connect the dots between:

  • The mindset required to win consistently
  • The discipline behind sustained high performance
  • And the leadership principles that build strong teams — on and off the field

This session will challenge you to think differently about resilience, financial literacy, and what it truly takes to build something that lasts.

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David Reed

Attorney, author, consultant, and nationally recognized speaker, David A. Reed is a partner in the law firm of Reed and Jolly, PLLC, and founder of CUDoctor, a full-service credit union consulting practice. Through Reed & Jolly, Mr. Reed provides guidance to credit unions concerning a variety of matters, including the establishment and revision of credit union policies and procedures, organizational compliance, collections, security, contractual agreements, regulatory matters, and corporate governance. His engaging speaking style has garnered him status as a regular lecturer nationwide on topics such as regulatory compliance, consumer lending, bankruptcy, and collections. And, he offers facilitation services and a full range of on-site training programs that can be delivered to the Board, executive team, managers, or frontline staff.

A former trial attorney and Vice President and General Counsel of a large credit union, Mr. Reed is particularly noted as an expert in the areas of credit union operations, bankruptcy, and collections. He has been selected to train NCUA Field Examination and Audit Staff on numerous issues, including ID Theft Red Flags, S.A.F.E. Act, Third Party Contract Management, and Bankruptcy matters.

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Jim Bullard, Trustage

Emerging Risk Outlook

Keeping ahead of the complex array of ever-changing risks, compliance issues, and industry regulations impacting credit unions requires keen awareness, effective preparation, and loss-control scrutiny. When risk management is effective, typically nothing bad happens. But if you’re blindsided by a problem, your credit union’s reputation takes the hit. Don’t let not knowing which emerging risks are around the corner take the blame. While each credit union has its own unique risk footprint, this Emerging Risks Outlook introduces risks and trends that should be on your radar.

Dollywood Heartsong Resort

 

ROOM RATE: Starting at $304 per night plus tax

Reservation Deadline: October 20, 2026

  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Complimentary Nightly Marshmallow “Roasties”
  • Exclusive Dollywood Benefits for Resort Guests with Valid Admission Tickets or Season Passes
  • Complimentary Self-Parking
  • Valet Parking – $25 per night

Please register to attend the event at the same time you book your hotel room.

Reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis and will sell out quickly, so book soon!

One night deposit is due at time of booking. The deposit is refundable provided the reservation is cancelled according to the cancellation policy. You may cancel your reservation up to 72 hours prior to arrival without penalty.

Book by Phone

Group reservations can be made by phoning your reservation request to 1-800-DOLLYWOOD (800-365-5996) and referencing the 2026 Board and Committee Leadership Conference. 
 

Book Online

Online reservations can be made with the hotel booking link below.

Reservation Deadline: October 20, 2026

Book early. The room block will likely sell out. 

If You Need to Cancel

Cancellations received more than 14 days before the event are eligible for a refund, minus a $100 administrative fee. This fee is waived for events priced at $100 or less.

Cancellations received 14 days or less before the event are not eligible for a refund, as catering and venue commitments have already been finalized.

Refunds are not available for no-shows. However, you’re welcome to send a colleague in your place at no additional cost—just let us know ahead of time.

To cancel, please email events@yourleague.org.

We welcome credit unions associated with the association or their respective leagues to participate in this informative educational event.

If you are a vendor or third party and would like more information about this event, please contact the Events Team.

© 2026 Tennessee Credit Union League