How LMCU Cut a 150-Step Process to 15 with AI

How LMCU Cut a 150-Step Process to 15 with AI

From Main Street AI by Multimodal

June 2, 2026 · 50 min

About this episode

Chris Ortega discusses how Lake Michigan Credit Union transformed its operations using AI and agile methodologies.

Ankur Patel interviews Chris Ortega, who leads technology transformation at Lake Michigan Credit Union; a $17B asset institution and the 13th largest credit union in the US.What's distinct about Chris's approach is that he restructures how the organization operates before deploying the tools - agile teams, a Center of Excellence, and a single Emerging Technology Governance Board that owns AI, RPA, and stablecoin. The episode covers how that structure was built, where RPA vs. agentic AI is the right call, and the cost discipline that keeps emerging tech from running away from the institution.Guest: Chris Ortega, CIO, Lake Michigan Credit UnionHost: Ankur Patel, CEO & Founder, Multimodal0:00 Introduction: Meet Chris Ortega0:32 Stabilizing the IT landscape at LMCU1:40 Inside a top credit union3:23 Building conviction for transformation5:20 The Center of Excellence and the three C's7:43 What surprised him about emerging tech9:31 Where traditional project management falls short11:25 Why agile fits today's pace14:06 One committee for AI, stablecoin, and whatever comes next15:53 From planning to execution to ROI18:33 Closing the gap between business and engineering22:09 Building…

People in this episode

Host: Ankur Patel

Guest: Chris Ortega

Topics covered

  • AI
  • technology transformation
  • credit unions
  • agile teams
  • emerging technology
  • RPA
  • cost discipline

Keywords

  • AI
  • Lake Michigan Credit Union
  • technology transformation
  • agile
  • RPA
  • emerging technology
  • credit unions
  • cost discipline

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Lake Michigan Credit Union, Multimodal

Places: US

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