MADISON, WI (March 20, 2014) – Filene Research Institute welcomes three new credit union and system CEOs to its administrative board of directors: Tracie Kenyon, president/CEO at Montana Credit Union Network; Maurice Smith, president/CEO at Local Government Federal Credit Union; and Robert “Bob” Trunzo, president/CEO at CUNA Mutual Group. Steve Suleski, senior vice president and chief governance officer at CUNA Mutual Group, joins the board as an advisory member.
The board also elected Smith as its new vice chair. Paul Kundert, CEO at the University of Wisconsin Credit Union, continues to serve as the board chair.
Kenyon, Smith and Trunzo replace outgoing board members Patsy Van Ouwerkerk, president/CEO at Travis Credit Union, Brett Thompson, president/CEO at The Wisconsin Credit Union League, and Jeff Post, former president/CEO at CUNA Mutual Group. Suleski replaces outgoing advisory member Randy Kohout, vice-president, organizational capability at CUNA Mutual Group.
“Filene Research Institute is a crucial resource for credit unions and anyone who cares about the credit union movement,” said Kundert. “Since Filene’s beginnings 25 years ago, the board has played an important role in keeping Filene relevant and impactful. We are grateful to Patsy, Brett and Jeff for their past and ongoing support of Filene’s mission.”
“Some of the finest thinkers in the credit union system serve on our board of directors,” said Mark Meyer, CEO at Filene. “Under their direction, Filene is committed to delivering the research, innovation and impact thinking and tools necessary to build the future of cooperative finance.”
Filene’s current administrative board of directors also includes:
- Treasurer: Bill Cheney, current president at CUNA & Affiliates
- Director: Jan Roche, president/CEO at State Department Federal Credit Union
- Director: Patricia Smith, president/CEO at Unitus Community Credit Union
- Advisory Member: Bill Hampel, chief economist at CUNA & Affiliates
Read more about Filene’s newest board of directors:
Tracie Kenyon is president/CEO of the Montana Credit Union Network, and also serves on the AACUL executive committee and as chairman of CULAC. She cut her teeth on credit union advocacy as VP of dues-supported services for the Utah Credit Union Association during both the HR 1151 battles and the legendary bank-credit union battles in the late 1990s.
Maurice Smith is president/CEO of North Carolina-based Local Government Federal Credit Union. He started his career in financial services as a loan officer for State Employees’ Credit Union in 1979, and served in several capacities including vice president/city executive and vice-president of marketing and training, before joining LGFCU as executive vice-president in 1992 and president in 1999.
Bob Trunzo is president/CEO of CUNA Mutual Group. Since joining CUNA Mutual Group in June 2005, he held a number of senior leadership positions, most recently as president of CUNA Mutual Group Insurance and Financial Services. In January 2014, he became the eighth president of CUNA Mutual Group in its 78-year history.
Steve Suleski is senior vice president and chief governance officer of CUNA Mutual Group, and leads the Office of Governance. Suleski joined CUNA Mutual Group in 1999 as associate general counsel. Previously he spent 12 years at Foley & Lardner, LLP in Madison, Wis., where he specialized in securities law, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate law.
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, Filene is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Nearly 1,000 members make the nonprofit’s research, innovation and impact programs possible.