The ELGA Credit Union (ELGA CU) Board of Directors would like to congratulate CEO Karen Church on her retirement on February 25th, after 45 years of service to the credit union.
Karen has been a steadfast servant to the credit union and its members, to the community as a whole, and to the credit union industry throughout her career.
Hired in 1974 as a co-op student, Karen’s career grew with the credit union. She was named CEO in 1993 and has worked since then to grow the credit union from a $32 million institution with 18 associates, to a $1.2 billion institution with 13 branches, 250 associates and 81,000 members. Karen served as the credit union’s second CEO in its history.
Leaving a legacy of service, Karen will continue her community work through various projects with Catholic Charities and the newly-founded ELGA Credit Union Foundation for Impact. Karen will continue to host the Ginormous Tent Sale at ELGA CU each year, which has raised $105,000 over 6 years to support the work Catholic Charities does in the community. Her service has been recognized by many. Karen has been named to the Genesee Regional Women’s Hall of Fame and received the Sybil Atwood Lifetime Award in 2019. She was also honored with the Michigan Credit Union League’s Distinguished Service Award in 2020.
Karen is regarded as an exceptional mentor and role model by her peers. She was one of only a few female CEOs when she was promoted in 1993, and she has been a true pioneer for women in the industry.
In retirement, Karen looks forward to traveling with her husband and spending more time with her family, especially her six grandchildren.
Congratulations, Karen, and thank you for an incredible 45 years!
