7 17 Credit Union CEO Soukenik to retire, Demmler named successor
WARREN , (September 26, 2023) — With the upcoming retirement of Gary Soukenik after 46 years at the helm of 7 17 Credit Union, John Demmler has been named President and CEO of 7 17 Credit Union. The transition of leadership of the largest credit union in Northeast Ohio will occur on November 1, 2023.
Demmler, an Ohio native, began his career in the financial service industry nearly 25 years ago. He will be returning to Ohio from Austin, Texas where he has served as the Chief Lending Officer and Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy at A+ Federal Credit Union.
“Our primary goal was to continue building on the incredible success that has been Gary Soukenik’s legacy,” said Paul Marshall, Chairman of the 7 17 Credit Union Board of Directors. “That meant conducting a nationwide search to ensure that we found someone that would support a mission and culture built on mutual respect and that would be committed to our members, our staff and the communities we serve. We found that in John Demmler.”
During Soukenik’s tenure, the credit union grew from $39 million in assets to $1.6 billion. Serving more than 110,000 members across a six-county area of Northeast Ohio, 7 17 has earned a number of awards and recognitions ranking it among the largest, strongest and healthiest credit unions in the country.
“I look forward to my return to Ohio. 7 17 is such a strong credit union with a long, proud history,” said Demmler. “I am excited to work with the staff and board of 7 17 to continue building on a legacy of people helping people with a focus on financial inclusion and economic development.”
In addition to leading all lending initiatives in his past role, Demmler was responsible for developing and executing A+ Federal’s strategic plan with all initiatives directed toward a mission of building stronger communities. Soukenik shared that this aligned perfectly with 7 17’s strategic direction.
“I have been honored to serve the members of 7 17 for 46 years,” said Soukenik. “I would not want to leave without knowing that our members and staff were in good hands. John will work well with the rest of our leadership team to ensure that our service to our members and our commitment to the communities we serve is second to none.”
Soukenik will stay on in an advisory capacity for several weeks to assist with the transition and to provide Demmler with any support he may need as he gets up and running in his new position.
About 7 17 Credit Union
7 1 7 Credit Union is the largest credit union in Northeast Ohio with 1 3 branch locations and $1 .6 billion in assets. Established in 1 957, we're proud to help people improve their lives financially and support the communities we serve. Anyone living or working in Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, Portage, Stark, or Summit Counties is eligible to open accounts with 7 1 7 Credit Union. To learn more about 7 1 7, our services, and how to join, visit www.717cu.com. Follow us on Facebook, X, and Linked ln.
