SHAZAM Core User Group Meeting Recap
Article contributor: Tony Lisenby / Senior Vice President, Client Implementation Services
In early September, SHAZAM Core users from across the country gathered in Kansas City, MO, for the annual SHAZAM Core User Group Meeting. The event kicked off with a welcome reception where many attendees reconnected with peers they’ve met and learned from at previous conferences. 25 first-time attendees were made to feel right at home in the welcoming atmosphere.
The next morning started with SHAZAM Updates from Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer Stephan Thomasee, followed by updates on the core from our Product Management team. A highlight every year is the “Wow – We Can Do That” session, where Michelle Haskin gathers feedback from Client Support about what common questions they have received over the past year to provide guidance. This year, she also included tips on Service Expert, our new application for submitting support requests.
After walk-throughs of Digital Banking and DocuCommand®, attendees moved to the “Ask an Expert” breakout sessions. Unlike presentation-led general sessions, these sessions allow attendees to ask subject matter experts questions directly to create dynamic discussions on how to most effectively use our core banking solution. Topics this year included Core/Compass XDTM/Integrations/Call Report, Platform (Teller, New Accounts, AccountLaunchTM), Digital Banking, Compliance, and Insight/Lookout.
The day ended with a general session on compliance, where Jackie Ward, Vice President, Compliance, found a way to make a challenging topic entertaining for the audience with her delivery.
The second day included a general session on FedNow®. Attendees were fortunate to have two of the three SHAZAM Core banks who recently went live on the new FedNow Service at the conference. Representatives from these banks happily shared their experience implementing the new instant payments service through SHAZAM with other attendees.
FedNow/Faster Payments was also the focus of one of the Product Q&A breakout sessions, along with DocuCommand, AccountLaunch and the SHAZAM Core Toolbox. The SHAZAM Core Toolbox breakout highlighted the various tools managed by our Client Learning team enabling clients to expand their knowledge or help train others.
Core User Group President Andrew Couse facilitated the business portion of the meeting, where nominations for treasurer were made and voted on by the attendees. Seth Bingham from Auburn State Bank (Auburn, NE) was elected and will assist with the planning of the next conference, which will take place in Nashville, TN. The 2024 SHAZAM Core User Group Meeting date will be announced in the coming weeks.
The end of the conference featured an in-depth Teller and AccountLaunch review and an energizing keynote by Mitch Holthus, the longest tenured and most decorated play-by-play "voice" in franchise history for the Kansas City Chiefs. Mitch encouraged attendees to recognize and use the power of listening, the power of purpose and the power of waiting. He stayed a few minutes afterward to delight the audience by posing for pictures with his two Superbowl rings.
Thanks to Wolters Kluwer® (gold), CSPI®(silver), and American Banking Systems (bronze) for sponsoring the conference and addressing attendees about the services they provide and their integration with our core. All in all, it was another great year of learning and networking — with a little fun rolled in as well. We look forward to seeing you again next year in Nashville!