IRVINE, Calif. – On March 22, CU Direct executives, employees, board members and representatives of member credit unions gathered at the CUSO's new Innovation Lab in Irvine, Calif., for a grand opening reception and ribbon cutting. The Ontario, Calif.-based auto lending CUSO's Innovation Lab will serve as a workspace for employees as well as a place for CU Direct's partner credit unions to discuss their experiences with CU Direct products and test new solutions. Click through the slideshow to see highlights from the event. 
CU Direct Vice President of Sales Marci Francisco and Communications/Public Relations Lead Bill Meyer celebrate the Innovation Lab's grand opening. 
The Innovation Lab features collaborative workspaces with high-tech features. 
Attendees enjoy cocktails and appetizers at the Innovation Lab grand opening. 
CU Direct President/CEO Tony Boutelle, second from left in foreground, addresses attendees at the grand opening event. 
CU Direct SVP of Marketing and Innovation Brian Hendricks, holding scissors, and other members of the CU Direct family prepare for the Innovation Lab's official opening. 
Attendees celebrate the grand opening of the Innovation Lab.
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Natasha Chilingerian
Natasha Chilingerian has been immersed in the credit union industry for over a decade. She first joined CU Times in 2011 as a freelance writer, and following a two-year hiatus from 2013-2015, during which time she served as a communications specialist for Xceed Financial Credit Union (now Kinecta Federal Credit Union), she re-joined the CU Times team full-time as managing editor. She was promoted to executive editor in 2019. In the earlier days of her career, Chilingerian focused on news and lifestyle journalism, serving as a writer and editor for numerous regional publications in Oregon, Louisiana, South Carolina and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, she holds experience in marketing copywriting for companies in the finance and technology space. At CU Times, she covers People and Community news, cybersecurity, fintech partnerships, marketing, workplace culture, leadership, DEI, branch strategies, digital banking and more. She currently works remotely and splits her time between Southern California and Portland, Ore.
