Press
Filene Research Institute names Tansley Stearns as chief impact officer
MADISON, WI (March 10, 2014) – Filene Research Institute announces today the promotion of Tansley Stearns to chief impact officer. In this role, Stearns will help credit unions, credit union leagues and credit union service organizations across North America apply the nonprofit’s research and innovation findings. She joined Filene in 2012 as impact director, where she was instrumental in transforming research and innovation into action for credit unions and their members.
“With more than 15 years of credit union leadership experience across a variety of functional areas, Tansley is well suited to lead our impact strategy to the next level,” said Mark Meyer, CEO at Filene. “She knows how to help organizations move ideas forward to drive business results.”
Filene introduced a sharpened focus on impact in 2009 as an extension of the nonprofit’s core value of bringing powerful research, good ideas and innovations to credit unions. In 2013, Filene launched six impact programs addressing credit union needs around innovation, social media and digital marketing, online sales, debt management, and virtual employee coaching. More than 500 credit union professionals throughout North America participated in these programs.
“There has never been a better time to be a credit union,” said Stearns. “As a credit union ‘junkie’, I am honored to be a part of team Filene. Our members have challenged us to make our research actionable and I am thrilled to lead the team that takes the best of our research and innovation and moves it into practical application so credit unions can better live their missions of improving members’ financial lives.”
In her previous roles at credit unions, Stearns was responsible for developing and implementing strategy and leading and driving business with all frontline teams including the call center, branches, lending, strategy, training, marketing and business development. She most recently served as an assistant vice president of corporate strategy and government relations at Bethpage Federal Credit Union in New York, N.Y.
As one of the original credit union professionals selected for Filene’s i3 innovation program, Stearns helped launch innovative projects such as Debt in Focus (now Savvy Money) SmartScore and Decision Point. Credit Union Times named her a Trailblazer 40 Below in 2013.
Stearns earned a Bachelor of Arts dual degree in Psychology and English at the University of Michigan. She is a Credit Union Executive Society Certified Marketing Executive and Certified Senior Executive. She also is an Alumni Emeritus of Michael Neill and Associates.
About Filene
Filene Research Institute is an independent, consumer finance think and do tank dedicated to scientific and thoughtful analysis about issues affecting the future of credit unions, retail banking and cooperative finance. Founded 25 years ago in Madison, Wis., Filene is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Nearly 1,000 members make the nonprofit’s research, innovation and impact programs possible.