Minnesota’s Credit Unions elect board; Honor colleagues at ACCELERATE 23 Annual Conference
ST. PAUL, MN (April 21, 2023) — Last week, over 500 credit union professionals, board members, and exhibitors from across Minnesota gathered for ACCELERATE 23, the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s (MnCUN) annual conference.
Held at the Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington, the conference featured guest speakers, educational sessions, networking opportunities, the MnCUN Business Meeting, the state’s largest credit union vendor exhibit hall, the Foundation Scholarship Council’s annual Silent Auction, and the annual CU4Kids Karaoke for Kids event.
Newly appointed MnCUN CEO and President Mara Humphrey addressed the general session and retiring MnCUN CEO and President Mark Cummins was honored during a celebration on Thursday night.
Casey O’Brien, 5-time cancer survivor, former Minnesota Gopher football player, speaker and closed the conference with his presentation, “The Three Keys to Overcoming Adversity.”
During the annual business meeting, the election results were announced. One incumbent was re-elected, and two new members were elected to three-year terms on the MnCUN Board of Directors:
- Randy Willert, Two Harbors Federal Credit Union – 10,000 or Fewer Members Category
- Steve Ewers, President/CEO of Member’s Cooperative Credit Union – At Large Category
- Greg Worthen, President/CEO of My Credit Union – At Large Category
Mark Cummins, and MnCUN Board Members, Tom Smith (TopLine Financial Credit Union) and Dan Stoltz (SPIRE Credit Union), were honored with a framed painting of Minnesota’s state flower, the lady slipper. Part of a one-of-a-kind state flower collection, these prints are displayed at the Credit Union House on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Cummins and Smith were recognized for their upcoming retirements and Stoltz for his final term as a Board Member.
Following the Business Meeting, Board table officers were elected. Dave Boden of Hiway CU will serve as Chair, Dana Garrett, North Memorial Federal CU will serve as Vice Chair, and Steve Ewers of Member’s Cooperative Credit Union will serve as Secretary/Treasurer.
“I am looking forward to working with the newly elected Board of Directors to build a future where credit unions thrive and advance the financial well-being of all Minnesotans,” said incoming MnCUN President and CEO Mara Humphrey.
Minn. Credit Unions Honor Colleagues during Awards Breakfast
The Minnesota Credit Union Network presented the Outstanding Credit Union Director of the Year and Outstanding Credit Union Professional of the Year awards at a ceremony during the conference.
The Director of the Year Award is given to a credit union board member who best represents the credit union spirit through dedication to, and belief in, the credit union movement.
The Outstanding Credit Union Director of the Year Award honor was awarded to Tom Heinzen, Board Chair of SPIRE Credit Union.
The Professional of the Year Award is given to a remarkable person who truly stands behind the “people helping people” credit union philosophy.
This year, the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s honoree for Outstanding Credit Union Professional of the Year Award went to Tom Smith, retiring President and CEO of TopLine Financial Credit Union.
“The Outstanding Professional and Director of the Year is the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s most prestigious awards and its recipients have distinguished themselves in their efforts to better their credit unions and promote credit union movement,” Mark Cummins, President and CEO of the Minnesota Credit Union Network, the state’s trade association for credit unions.
Video tributes of each of the award winners are available on the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s website (https://www.mncun.org/professional-and-volunteer-of-the-year.html).
Left to right, MnCUN President and CEO Mark Cummins, TopLine Financial CU President/CEO Tom Smith, MnCUN Board Chair Mary Hansen
Left to right, MnCUN President and CEO Mark Cummins, SPIRE Board Chair Tom Heinzen, MnCUN Board Chair Mary Hansen
About Minnesota Credit Union Network
The Minnesota Credit Union Network is the trade association for credit unions and works to ensure a thriving credit union system in Minnesota through powerful advocacy, expertise, resources, opportunity, and influence on behalf of our member credit unions and their more than 2 million members.
With over $40.7 billion in assets, Minnesota credit unions are local, trusted financial cooperatives that serve 2.2. million members at 405 branch locations, employing 5,868 people around the state. As not-for-profit institutions, credit unions give back to the communities they serve. For more information, visit mncun.org.
