The CU Growth & Innovation Summit (CUGI) is happy to welcome Michael Abraham, Chief Strategy Officer at Great Lakes Credit Union, as a moderator for the peer-driven session The Rise of CU M&A: Collaboration, Consolidation & Culture Fit.
Michael brings more than 20 years of experience across financial services, spanning community banking, credit unions, and enterprise growth strategy. After entering the credit union industry in 2014, he led First Financial through significant expansion, achieving substantial growth and launching the encurage Network Credit Union Model to support collaboration and scale. Following a strategic merger with Great Lakes Credit Union, Michael now oversees business development, lending, mergers and acquisitions, and long-term growth initiatives.
In addition to his role at Great Lakes, Michael serves as CEO of multiple affiliated organizations and sits on several industry and innovation-focused boards. He is also an educator, teaching finance and management at the university level, and remains deeply engaged in advancing leadership and collaboration across the credit union ecosystem.
During this session, Michael will guide a candid discussion among credit union executives navigating mergers and acquisitions as a path to growth. Participants will explore how to evaluate cultural alignment, manage leadership transitions, and maintain member trust throughout the M&A process. The conversation will focus on real-world lessons, practical considerations, and what to prioritize when collaboration and consolidation intersect.
CUGI is excited to welcome Michael Abraham to the Summit and to this important conversation shaping the future of credit union growth.
We hope to see you February 9–11, 2026, in Oak Brook, IL!
REGISTER TODAY to join us!
