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Fifteen Applicants for 2012 CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec Competition Moving On to Next Round

Christopher Stevenson
VP/Marketing & Professional Development
800.252.2664 or 608.271.2664, ext. 315
christopher@cues.org
www.cues.org

MADISON, Wis.—The industry’s first competition recognizing the incredible young leaders of the credit union movement announced its top 15 applicants in the 2012 CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec ( http://nexttopcreditunionexec.com/ ) challenge, as voted by the general public. The Credit Union Executives Society’s (CUES) competition for the industry’s emerging leaders is held in partnership with DDJ Myers ( http://www.ddjmyers.com/ ) and is administered by Currency Marketing ( http://currencymarketing.ca/ ).

CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec challenge searches for emerging leaders age 35 and under from within the credit union industry.

“After last year’s winner, Devin Selte, challenged CUES’ CEO/Executive Team Network™ attendees to nominate more young leaders for the competition, CUES received an overwhelming amount of interest in the contest. Over 100 people were nominated to enter, and 31 of those nominated submitted an entry video. After putting the 31 entrants to a public vote, we’re excited to name the Top 15, those that received the most votes in this phase of the competition,” says Barb Kachelski, CUES SVP /COO.  “We’re pleased to see so many great entrants.”

Named to the Top 15 in the CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec competition were:

  • Chris Ferguson, 34, Assistant Vice President-Retail Delivery, FORUM Credit Union, Indianapolis,  Ind., USA
  • Kristina Flores, 31, Director of Marketing, Prospera Credit Union, Appleton, Wis., USA
  • Bryon Goguen, 29, Financial Analyst, Leominster Credit Union, Leominster, Mass., USA
  • Jill Huls, 32, Divisional Manager-Conexus Wealth Management, Conexus Credit Union, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Ashley Kohlrus, 33, Chief Experience Officer, Allegacy Federal Credit Union, Winston-Salem, N.C., USA
  • Matt McCombs, 30, EVP/Chief Operating Officer, DHCU Community Credit Union, Moline, Ill., USA
  • Nate Muniz, 34, Public Relations Manager, Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union, Harrisburg, Pa., USA
  • Duane Nicol, 34, Marketing and Communication Manager, Assiniboine Credit Union, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  • Cas Scott, 29, Direct Marketing Manager, Community CPS Australia, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
  • Jay Sherer, 31, Marketing Director, Evangelical Christian Credit Union, Brea, Calif., USA
  • Kirk Smith, 32, In Store Branch Manager, TwinStar Credit Union, Olympia, Wash., USA
  • Bruce Ulrich, 31, Marketing Director, Statewide Federal Credit Union, Flowood, Miss., USA
  • Peter Walker, 33, Regional Branch Services Manager, OSU Federal Credit Union, Corvalis, Ore., USA
  • Corlinda Wooden, 32, Regional Branch Manager, Unitus Community Credit Union, Portland, Ore., USA
  • Melina Young, 27, Director of Marketing, Verity Credit Union, Seattle, Wash., USA

To provide additional value to the competition experience, the Top 15 receive executive coaching sessions from DDJ Myers. In addition to their original application, the judging panel of two CUES members and Deedee Myers of DDJ Myers, will be scoring an additional blog post that the Top 15 will submit. The top five will move on to the finals.

The five Finalists will receive additional coaching, airfare, accommodation and registration to CUES’ CEO/Executive Team Network ( http://www.cues.org/professional-development/conferences-and-networking/ceo-executive-team-network ), November 4-7 in Manalapan, Fla, where they will give their final presentations. The winner will receive further coaching, airfare, accommodation and registration for two CUES’ CEO Institutes ( http://www.cues.org/professional-development/institutes ), a total prize package valued at $20,000.

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.

Based in Phoenix, Ariz., DDJ Myers offers executive recruitment, strategic organization, and customized leadership programs.

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