CUES Unveils Top 15 In Next Top Credit Union Exec Challenge
Credit Union Journal | By Michael Bartlett
CUES on Friday said the 2015 CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec challenge has been narrowed to the Top 15 applicants.
The Next Top Credit Union Exec competition — held in partnership with DDJ Myers and powered by Currency — searches for emerging leaders age 35 and younger from within the credit union industry.
The top 10 vote-getters automatically advanced in the competition, and five additional applicants were chosen by a judging panel of former NTCUE finalists to round out the Top 15, CUES said.
"Entering our sixth year of this challenge, we are encouraged to see the deserving young leaders the credit union world continues to nominate for this award," John Pembroke, president and CEO of CUES, said in a prepared statement. "Applicants from three Canadian provinces and 12 U.S. states submitted an entry video. After putting the applicants to a public vote, we were thrilled to see thousands of people voting."
Named to the Top 15 in the CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec competition are:
- Hayley Badeaux, 29, chief operations officer at Shell Geismar CU, Geismar, La.
- Matt Beckett, 30, private wealth advisor at Coastal Community Financial Management Inc., Courtenay, B.C., Canada
- Danielle Buscher, 30, learning and development manager at West Community CU, O'Fallon, Mo.
- Brittney Dessart, 23, SEG and social media coordinator at PCM CU, Green Bay, Wis.
- Nathan Dormody, 35, branch manager at Royal CU, Edina, Minn.
- Molly Gary, 25, marketing research specialist at Ent FCU, Colorado Springs, Colo.
- Ally Haegele, 24, collections specialist at Rocky Mountain CU, Helena, Mont.
- Jimese Harkley, 35, philanthropy and community relations manager at America's First FCU, Birmingham, Ala.
- Jae Kim, 32, branch manager at Servus CU, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Ryan Manis, 29, regional branch manager at Kohler CU, Kohler, Wis.
- Karen Myers, 32, member experience manager at Community Choice CU, Farmington Hills, Mich.
- Joshua Poole, 34, chief lending officer at Shell Geismar CU, Geismar, La.
- Candice Thiry, 33, branch manager at PCM CU, Marinette, Wis.
- Garrick Throckmorton, 35, AVP organizational development at Allegacy FCU, Winston-Salem, N.C.
- Kris Wanner, 34, investment specialist at Conexus CU, Regina, Sask., Canada
The Top 15 will now submit a blog post update about their project to www.NextTopCreditUnionExec.com. And to provide additional value to the competition experience, they'll each receive an executive coaching session from DDJ Myers, a CUES Supplier member and strategic provider.
A judging panel of two CUES members and DDJ Myers CEO Deedee Myers, Ph.D., will then score the Top 15's applications and blog posts, narrowing the competition to the Final Five, who will move on to the finals.
The five Finalists will receive additional coaching, airfare, accommodation and registration to CUES' CEO/Executive Team Network, Nov. 8-11 in Scottsdale, Ariz., where they will give their final presentations. The winner will receive further coaching, airfare, accommodation and registration for two CUES' CEO Institutes, a total prize package valued at $20,000.
CUES is an international membership association for credit union executives. CUES' mission is to educate and develop credit union CEOs, directors and future leaders.
Based in Phoenix, DDJ Myers offers executive recruitment, strategic organization, and customized leadership programs.
Currency (www.currencymarketing.ca), based in Chilliwack, B.C., is an integrated marketing agency for credit unions and is featuring its latest financial education concept — It's a Money Thing.