CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec Finalists Announced

The judges’ results are in! The five Finalists for the 2018 CUES®Next Top Credit Union Exec challenge are:

  • Blaine Bartholomew, Unitus Community Credit Union, Portland, Oregon, United States
  • Lynette Cupps, MAX Credit Union, Montgomery, Alabama, United States
  • Clark Duncan, Fort Knox Federal Credit Union, Radcliff, Kentucky, United States 
  • Jodi Maus, Central Minnesota Credit Union, Melrose, Minnesota, United States
  • Emily Strybosch, Libro Credit Union, London, Ontario, Canada 

A combination of public vote and a judging panel determined the Top 10 entrants. Since the results of that vote were announced in July, all 10 young professionals have been providing updates to their projects at www.nexttopcreditunionexec.com. These updates and entrants’ earlier video applications were evaluated by a judging team composed of Deedee Myers, CEO of DDJ Myers, Phoenix, and two credit union executives.

“The five Finalists were selected from a highly competitive group,” said John Pembroke, CUES’ president/CEO. “Once again, we had several notable entries this year. Our judges had to consider a wide range of items to choose five quality young leaders from our Top 10 to move through to the Finals. 

“Thank you to all of our applicants for their hard work to get to this point, and for the outstanding ideas they bring to their credit unions and the credit union industry. Congratulations to our Finalists; we look forward to learning more about their projects as they progress between now and their final presentations at CEO/Executive Team Network in November,” said Pembroke. 

In addition to two coaching sessions provided by challenge sponsor and Silver CUESolutions provider for their succession planning, executive recruitment and leadership coaching services DDJ Myers, the five Finalists each receive registration, accommodations and airfare to CUES’ CEO/Executive Team Network™ in Nashville, November 5-7, 2018. There, the Finalists will face off for the grand prize, a CUES educational package valued at $20,000, and the honor of being named 2018 CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec on November 7.

CUES (www.cues.org) is a Madison, Wisconsin-based, independent, not-for-profit, international membership association for credit union executives. CUES’ mission is to educate and develop credit union CEOs, directors and future leaders.

Currency (www.currencymarketing.ca) is a credit union-focused marketing firm. Our unique programs—It’s a Money Thing, Young & Free and Next Top Credit Union Exec—focus on helping credit unions raise awareness, build relationships and foster financial empowerment with young adults.

Based in Phoenix, Ariz., DDJ Myers (www.ddjmyers.com) offers executive recruitment, strategic organization, and customized leadership programs.

2018 CompetitionCUES Next Top Credit Union Exec Team