CUES Celebrating 50 Years

Posted: 2012-01-16 00:00:00

MADISON, Wis.—In 2012, the Credit Union Executives Society is celebrating its 50th anniversary. CUES got its start in 1962, when it was known as CUES Managers Society, a department of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). Back then, “CUES” stood for Credit Union Executive Services and was a “service for larger credit unions.” It became the Credit Union Executives Society in 1972. Other significant milestones include:

-1967-1971 Bob DeThorne serves as executive director.

-1971-1989 Mike Welch serves as president/CEO.

-1978: The first issue of Credit Union Management™ magazine is published.

-1982: The first CUES Executive of the Year is named.

-1988: The first 25 honorees are inducted into the CUES Hall of Fame; there are currently 124 inductees.  

-1989: Fred Johnson is hired as CUES’ president/CEO. Johnson continues in this role today, and has announced his retirement at the end of 2012. 

-1993: CUES updates its mission to focus on professional development. 

-1995: The first CEO Institute is held.

-1996: CUES’ website, www.cues.org, is launched. 

-1997: 26 professionals complete the three-year CEO Institute program and earn their Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation; today, 421 have earned their CCE.

-2001: CUES builds its first owned headquarters.

-2009: The CUES Volunteer Hall of Fame launches with 24 honorees; there are 33 inductees currently. Also, the first Directors Leadership Institute: Governance is held. 

-2010: Center for Credit Union Board Excellence (CCUBE), Powered by CUES, is launched.

“We’re proud to be celebrating our anniversary and our role in the movement,” said Johnson. “We look forward to many more years of serving our members, and the entire industry. We’re also pleased to be launching a new event in 2012, in which we are collaborating with the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CCCU) to offer the CCCU and CUES International Convention. This enhanced educational opportunity will give credit union leaders and leaders of other co-operatives from 25 different nations the chance to meet and learn from each other. It’s a great way to celebrate CUES and the movement as a whole.”  

CCCU and CUES International Convention will be held June 23-26, 2012, in Montego Bay, Jamaica. 

For more information on CUES, visit cues.org ( http://www.cues.org ).

The Credit Union Executives Society 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.