Registration for MAP's Annual Conference 

Networking Lunch at Westin Bellevue (12:00 PM).  Thursday’s lunch will feature a presentation and conversation with Tricia Duryee, technology and commerce reporter for the Wall Street Journal’s AllThingsD.com. Tricia has been covering software, mobile and e-commerce for more than a decade, including eight years at the Seattle Times. Tricia’s presentation will include her coverage and insights into Starbuck’s Mobile Payments Initiative.

Golfing at Newcastle  – Coal Creek Signature Course (1:30 PM).   Few courses offer views as stunning as those found at The Golf Club at Newcastle’s signature course, Coal Creek.  Even more memorable is the course itself.  Designed by renowned golf course architect Robert E. Cupp in consultation with Masters Champion Fred Couples, the facility combines characteristics of some of the game’s legendary courses with innovative practices to provide an exceptional playing experience round after round.

Conference Network Activity –  Concierge’s Choice of Northwest Sights.  Out of town visitors and Seattle locals alike will be enthralled by the Tours from the Concierge’s Choice of Northwest Sights.  Attendees can choose from three very different but very Northwest adventures. (Choose One)

Signature Northwest Wine Tasting Tour - Come enjoy a memorable tour in the beautiful Sammamish River Valley. Woodinville Wine Country is home to over 100 wineries and tasting rooms representing every appellation in Washington.  The winemakers will host you on tour of the Northwest’s finest wineries, tasting rooms and, of course, celebrated wines. Nearly all of the Woodinville wineries grow their grapes in the warm, arid climate of Eastern Washington’s Columbia Valley where vineyards boast sandy, gravelly soils providing an idea medium to plant vines.  Columbia Valley vineyard temperatures consistently hover in the mid-80’s during the summer.  Come fall, warm days and cool nights protect the grapes natural acidity and ripen the fruit to perfection.

White Mustache Urban Adventure Tour - Believing that we could show off our city in a more authentic and tasty way if we’d abandon the sponsored sample trays and long walks, White Mustache has re-invented the act of eating, redefined the concept of a food tour, and flat pulled down the pants of our fair city.  For those brave enough to venture out and explore the 100 plus neighborhoods, few cities offer a more diverse, unique, flavorful, bountiful, and delicious gastronomical play land. With this in mind, and in full appreciation of others who have come before, White Moustache Urban Adventure Co. invites you the first “eating tour on wheels.”

The Authentic Northwest Eco-Tour - A fun, educational and informative Northwest experience, leads you around the city following our “Emerald Necklace” of city parks, woodlands, neighborhoods, locks, college campuses and shorelines. You will have the opportunity to spot for Pacific Northwest birds and wildlife, including expert interpretation of local and natural history, culture, geology, urban ecosystems. Take in the historical Pioneer Square area of old Seattle, learn of the Great Seattle Fire, the Klondike Gold Rush and hear the history of the Space Needle, Smith Tower, Pike Place Market, catch a glimpse of the Olympic Sculpture Park, a nine-acre open and vibrant green space for art!

MAP Welcome Reception & Dinner (6:30 PM)  Join us at the Lucky Strike at The Bellevue Collection (next door to the Westin) for a night of fun and networking. The Lucky Strike is the perfect venue for meeting and “getting to know” fellow credit union professionals in a relaxed environment.  You will be our guests at Lucky Strike’s exclusive Luxe Private Lounge with 4 state-of-the-art bowling lanes and a hosted bar for select-Northwest beer and wines.  Dinner is an inventive menu of casual cuisine in unique space that combines vintage elements with modern, artistic decor, lit up in colorful lights and highlighted by a 20ft by 12ft HD projection screen featuring movies and special attractions.  With a full arcade, live DJs, 10 plasma screen TVs and 16 high-resolution projector screens, Lucky Strike is the perfect combo of space and activities for our event.

Kick-off and Welcome – 9:00 AM

Presentation & Workshop – 9:30 AM
    –  Lead by Jacqueline Claudia, Strategy Workshop: Metrics for Driving Successful Card Programs

Lunch – 12:00 Noon – Lake Chelan Ballroom

Debit Seminar – 1:00 PM
    –  Greg Borchardt - Debit Economics and Outlook

Keynote Presentation – 2:00 PM
    –  Michael Marx - 2013 Economic Landscape - Opportunities for Credit Unions

Jacqueline Claudia, principal of the award-winning Decision Strategies International, will lead the morning workshop.  As most organizations compete in red oceans, stained by the blood of competition, fighting for market share, and try to maintain prices and efficiencies, Jacqueline will lead a Blue Ocean Strategy session to explore new Blue Ocean market opportunities.  Jacqueline, working with product experts for Visa and MAP, will explain how credit unions can find new avenues for growth and profitability. After this intense workshop, participants will walk away with deep insight into customer value preferences, moves that would shift customer loyalty and behaviors, and pricing options.Jacqueline received a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters of Business Administration from the Darden School at the University of Virginia. She leads the firm’s Innovation practice, and is deeply involved in the local venture community.

Greg Borchardt will overview new tools for debit porfolio growth. Mr. Borchardt represents Visa as a leader of its Consumer Debit Products. Greg has been indispensable at assisting MAP clients grow their sales volume by identifying portfolio opportunities to increase penetration, activation and usage – as well as improving operational efficiencies. He is a former VP/Product Manger at Bank of America, First Nationwide Bank and former Product Manager at Fair Isaac.

Michael Marx, Visa’s Vice President of Market Intelligence and Research Services, is the primary source for market research, competitive intelligence and consumer trends data for financial institutions issuing Visa-branded cards. Visa conducts approximately 300 cardholder research programs per year and Mr. Marx is responsible for consulting and communicating on all aspects of intelligence including market research, market intelligence, competitive intelligence and consumer trends.  Visa monitors the marketplace from both a broad perspective and a narrow tactical perspective. The company conducts many tracking studies over the phone, face-to-face and through focus groups.  Visa’s largest study is a panel study, tracing consumer behaviors via mail through consumers who agree to complete a diary about their payment behavior.

Accomodations - The Bellevue Westin
Guests staying at the The Bellevue Westin will enjoy luxurious accommodations and amenities, including the signature Westin Heavenly Bed, views of Lake Washington or Mount Rainier, a heated indoor pool and jacuzzi, the Westin Workout Gym, and the Truce Spa.Each room is equipped with a spacious work desk, two multi-line phones (one cordless) with voicemail, and a 32-inch LCD TV. Member Access Pacific has negotiated a Conference rate available for both nights of August 21 and August 22.  Special conference rates available with online booking >>> Click Here.  Or, call reservations directly at 1-888-627-8084 and ask for the Member Access Pacific rate.