DEI Trailblazer announces retirement
BOULDER CITY, NV (August 20, 2020) — Society has been changing rapidly in recent years, with increased acceptance of same-sex marriage, along with movements to increase cultural and gender diversity. North Jersey Federal Credit Union has not needed to catch up with these changes, however, because thanks to Lourdes Cortez, the credit union has been a trailblazer of inclusivity long before the term was on everyone’s lips.
Cortez will be retiring from her longtime post as CEO of North Jersey FCU on Dec. 31, 2020, but she has left a legacy that will last for years. Cortez has been with the credit union since 1984, when she began working as a teller. In the decades since, she was promoted to a number of positions in different departments, including collections, lending and electronic services. In 2005, she received one final promotion – from VP of operations and lending to chief executive officer.
The list of awards Cortez has won during her credit union career is long enough to be a Tolstoy novel. They range from CU industry honors such as the Dora Maxwell Award for Community Involvement, to recognition from the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, to the 2015 “Hope Saves the Day Award” for her efforts in the autistic community, to the 2019 Jefferson Award from the Governor of New Jersey for her public service. She recently was awarded the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions 2020 “CEO of the Year” in her asset size.
Asked about the many accolades, Cortez deflected credit to her staff. “If you surround yourself with the best, it makes everything easier,” she said.
Under her leadership, North Jersey FCU grew from $161 million to $233 million in total assets. The credit union has achieved a number of firsts in its state and local area, including developing a bilingual website (English and Spanish versions), creating a branch on wheels (called the “Green Machine”), hosting first-time home-buyers seminars, and opening a student-run branch at a local high school.
Read more about NJFCU, Lourdes and her journey HERE.
Applications still being accepted! CLICK HERE to submit your resume.
For more information, please reach out to Zach Christensen at zach@mitchellstankovic.com.
About Mitchell Stankovic and Associates
Located in Boulder City, Nevada, Mitchell, Stankovic & Associates (MSA) mission is to stand up for issues that will make a difference to a diverse world of people, the bottom line for credit unions and change member lives globally. Clients glow when asked about MSA because they know what a partnership truly means – working together to achieve financial democracy. Led by CEO Susan Mitchell, MSA believes that credit unions have a social purpose, and its consulting services emphasize doing the right thing as good business, garnering sustainable growth and relevance within the market. From CEO Leadership Transitions to Strategic Planning to Modernizing Board Governance, MSA consulting practice has 25-year clients who have become champions to encourage new clients from all over the world. Serial entrepreneurs, MSA consultants have founded industry initiatives like the Underground Movement, Global Women’s Leadership Network, CU Pride, HRD Network and they volunteer on governing bodies of Worldwide Foundation and Credit Union DEI Collective.
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