The question of whether credit unions should make swift and massive changes or measured and incremental ones in response to future business trends and risks will be the subject of a debate to be held at CO-OP Financial Service's THINK 13 conference.

The THINK 13 conference will be held in Chicago from April 29 through May 2.

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Dubbed the “Disruption Challenge,” the debate will pit two teams from different parts of the credit union industry.

The first team, “Massive Changers,” will make the case for swift, dramatic and significant change to credit unions.

The opposing team, “Measured Changers,” will argue that credit unions will succeed and ultimately thrive if change is implemented incrementally. The event is truly competitive – attendees will vote for the point of view they think carried the day, CO-OP said.

Credit Union Times Editor/Publisher Sarah Snell Cooke will be part of one of the teams.

“THINK 13 is focusing on change management in a business environment characterized by disruptive forces,” said Stan Hollen, president/CEO of CO-OP Financial Services in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

“We have assembled two highly qualified teams of presenters, and a panel of experts, on massive and measured change. Both approaches are options credit unions should consider, and our design with this unique debate is to help credit unions determine the best way to navigate these disruptive times,” Hollen said.

The debate will be held at the start of the Thursday, May 2, general session, CO-OP said. It will be facilitated by conference master of ceremonies Valerie Coleman Morris, a former business and finance correspondent for CNN, and moderated by Caroline Willard, executive vice president, Markets and Strategy, for CO-OP.