SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, November 36:00 PM - 9:00 PM Get in the Driver's Seat Kickoff (optional event)Start your Kentucky Economic Conference experience in the driver’s seat in true Corvette style! Join us at the National Corvette Museum for an evening of great food, networking, and a little friendly competition behind the wheel. Enjoy dinner surrounded by automotive history as you explore the museum’s impressive collection of Corvettes and discover the stories behind one of America’s most iconic cars. Then, put your driving skills to the test with the Corvette driving simulators for a fun and immersive experience.
Wednesday, November 4Embassy Suites by Hilton Bowling GreenWarren Ballroom C556 Hub BoulevardBowling Green, KY 42103
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Registration/Breakfast
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Mike SchenkPractical Insight for Planning, Pricing, Investment, and Risk ManagementToday’s economic challenges include a toxic mix of stubborn inflation, interest-rate uncertainty, a cooling labor market, rising public deb, and both geopolitical and trade disruptions. Uncertainty and instability rule. Black swans circle menacingly like vultures. Forecasting is now exceedingly difficult. Planning seems nearly impossible. This lively discussion outlines dangerous forces driving the New Economy, explores Schenk’s Dismal Dashboard of Doom and provides a detailed action plan to ensure your credit union’s success – come what may. Designed for credit union executives, Mike’s session translates complex signals into practical insight for planning, pricing, investment, and risk management.
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM: Break
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM: Mike SchenkPractical Insight for Planning, Pricing, Investment, and Risk Management cont...
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: J. Sebastián Leguizamón, PhDThe Behavioral Aspects of Mortgage and Auto LendingWhat happens to borrower behavior when interest rates rise, fall, or stay elevated? How do mortgage rate lock-ins influence refinancing? What really drives consumers when shopping for a mortgage or a car? And what causes borrowers to fall behind when incomes decline? This session uses evidence and behavioral economics to explore these questions—and examines which interventions can actually change member behavior.
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM: Break
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM: Roundtable Session - What Does This Mean for Our Credit Unions?This interactive roundtable will connect the dots between the economic outlook, practical credit union decision-making, and the behaviors influencing members’ financial choices. The conversation will focus on the “so what?” for credit unions: How should leaders translate these economic and behavioral insights into better decisions, strategies, and member outcomes? Come prepared to engage, ask questions, and take away practical ideas you can apply at your credit union.
Mike Schenk is an economic consultant specializing in explaining trends in the economy and financial institutions to business leaders. He has over 40 years of experience in the financial services industry. He recently retired from his role as chief economist for America’s Credit Unions - after 33 years at the national credit union trade association. In that role he conducted economic research and supported the organization’s public relations and advocacy efforts. His analyses regularly appeared in trade publications, and he also was a frequent contributor to the financial media.
Schenk serves on the board of the Filene Research Institute, an independent, non-profit consumer and cooperative finance think tank. He also serves on the board of a $7.5 billion credit union with 250,000 members and a focus on helping women avoid poverty in retirement. In his 20 years on the Summit board Mike served as Board Chair and has Chaired the credit union’s Asset-Liability Management and Risk Management/Internal Audit Committees. He currently serves as the credit union’s Treasurer.
J. Sebastián Leguizamón is an Associate Professor of Economics at WKU and Director of the Center for Applied Economics (WKU). He received his Ph.D. in Economics in 2011 and then spent two years as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Economics department at Tulane University in New Orleans. Right after, and prior to coming to WKU in 2015, he taught economics and statistics at Vanderbilt University. His research spans many different topics but he specializes in the economics of governments and public policy, including state and local taxation.
Hotel:Embassy Suites by Hilton Bowling Green556 Hub BoulevardBowling Green, KY 42103
Overnight accommodations are available at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Bowling Green. Reservations must be made no later than Thursday, October 8, 2026. Availability and rate are not guaranteed after that date. Room rates are $192/night. Check-In: 4:00 p.m.; Check-Out: 12:00 p.m. To reserve a room online, please visit Embassy Suite's website.
Questions about this event? Please contact: [email protected].
Yes, it's okay to send me text messages including order confirmations, updates, event reminders, and event information. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to cancel. View our terms of service & privacy policy.
Check only if you this is your first time attending the KY Economic Conference.
Kickoff at National Corvette Museum (Dinner, Museum Exhibits, & Similator)
11/3/26 | 6:00PM - 9:00PMNational Corvette Museum350 Corvette DriveBowling Green, KY 42101
I authorize you to debit my VolCorp account for all Forum registration fees included in this registration form. (You will need to select Check for the payment option below when choosing this payment method.)Payment by credit card or check is also available below.
