COLUMBUS, Ohio—Credit union leaders have been honored in two states.
In the Buckeye State, the Ohio Credit Union Foundation has inducted several people into its William A. Herring Society.
William A. Herring Society inductees are honored based on their accomplishments, commitment to the common mission of credit unions, and belief in changing lives through credit unions.
Those who were honored include:
Becky Landis, State Highway Patrol FCU, Columbus, Ohio
“While serving as the Foundation’s board chair, Becky led efforts that achieved record-breaking fundraising and established a new grant program, New Beginnings, which offers people and families a financial path forward. Up to $10,000 in funding is available for pilot and existing programs, projects, and initiatives.”
Vidya Iyengar, Pillar Credit Union, Marion, Ohio
“Vidya is a board member for Navatros, a for-profit Ohio Credit Union League affiliate, and an advocate for local Marion organizations including the Palace Theatre, the Marion County Historical Society, YMCA, and Marion Technical College. For over 37 years, Ms. Iyengar has steadfastly served her team and community, helping all people achieve their full potential.”
Dean Pielemeier, Abbey Credit Union, Vandalia, Ohio
“As a Foundation board member, Dean supports education and outreach initiatives that promote financial independence through credit unions. Mr. Pielemeier’s pledge to helping others extends through his role as CEO, where he is committed to serving members without limits, including home visits to help members set up Abbey’s home banking platform.”
Loren Rush, Universal 1 Credit Union, Dayton, Ohio
“Throughout her 41 years of credit union tenure, Loren consistently demonstrated loyalty, dedication, and excellent service to people, including members, the local community, and credit union industry partners. Ms. Rush diligently served the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, the EPI Foundation, the Ohio Credit Union League, CUNA Mutual Owner Advisory Council, and the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors throughout her impressive career.”
Pamella Travis, CSE Federal Credit Union, Canton, Ohio
“Pamella became a board member at CSE in 1998 and served the credit union in various leadership capacities, including as a top staff member in the mortgage department. Following her retirement, Ms. Travis rejoined the board and will conclude her impactful tenure this month. Aside from her credit union career and service, Pamella volunteers throughout her local community to make a difference for others.”
“Ohio credit union leaders inducted into the Ohio Credit Union Foundation’s William A. Herring Society are honored for their steadfast commitment to the Credit Union Movement,” said Kimberly Connor, executive director of the Ohio Credit Union Foundation. “When a leader is inducted into the Society, an investment into the Foundation is made to pay it forward for future credit union outreach efforts to people and communities in need.”
Cornerstone League Honors Winners
The Cornerstone league has announced the winners of its highest awards.
The winners include:
Cameron Dickey, 2023 Professional of the Year
Dickey, president/CEO of Cy-Fair FCU, has led the credit union for 10 years. He has a 20-year history of service to credit unions in a range of capacities, including a six-year tenure as president of Providence Health System FCU in Portland, Ore.
“Dickey’s passion and sustained contributions are evidence of his commitment to the international credit union movement. He was recognized in 2021 with the highest award one can receive worldwide, the Distinguished Service Award, from the World Council of Credit Unions,” the CCUL said. “His award came with high praise for his dedication to helping vulnerable populations, orphans, and young credit union leaders around the world.
Today, he serves on the boards of two local nonprofits: Cy-Fair Educational Foundation, which funds college scholarships for high school seniors, and Reach Unlimited, which provides support services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He also serves on the boards of two credit union CUSOs, the association added.
He serves as chair of Cornerstone League’s International Credit Union Committee, and as a member of the Texas Governmental Affairs and Awards and Recognition committees. He’s a staunch advocate for credit unions and a frequent participant at Hike the Hill and governmental affairs conferences. He also won the Advocate of the Year award from the Oregon Credit Union League in 2004.
2023 Hall of Fame Inductees
Dwayne Ashcraft, Hall of Fame
Ashcraft, president and CEO of Arkansas Superior FCU in Warren, Ark., where he had been employed since February 1973, retired in January 2022 and remains on the board.
“Under Ashcraft’s leadership, Arkansas Superior FCU grew from $330,000 in assets with 500 members to $76 million in assets and more than 10,500 members. He was so successful, he was inducted into the Arkansas Credit Union Hall of Fame in 2013,” the CCUL said. “Ashcraft served on the Arkansas Credit Union League board of directors for 18 years and as its chairman for another 10 years. Notably, he was involved in creating the new Cornerstone League, whose inaugural board Ashcraft served on for three years. He was on the Cornerstone Foundation Committee for several years, and was active in Cornerstone’s governmental affairs committees, ARCUPAC, and CULAC.”
In the community, Ashcraft served on the Bradley County Chamber of Commerce and Bradley County Industrial Development and Ministry Resource.
Don Mullins
Don Mullins began his 44-year credit union career in 1979 with the $13 billion Southwest Corporate Federal Credit Union, serving as vice president of member services, loan officer, and assistant treasurer. In 1985 he was named the president/CEO of Las Colinas FCU, the CCUL said.
“Mullins played a monumental role in developing the strategy that gave Texas credit unions the ability to offer checking accounts in the 1980s. Because credit unions could not clear checks through the Federal Reserve, Mullins helped devise a strategy for a collective group of credit unions to purchase Town North Bank,” the association explained. “Through this endeavor, credit unions purchased shares in the bank, granting them ownership rights and the ability to begin offering checking accounts to their members. The purchase of Town North Bank also paved the way for credit unions to offer credit and debit cards to their members and further strengthened their ability to compete with banks.”
Oversaw Growth
According to the CCUL, Mullins later moved to Texas Trust Credit Union, where he spent 15 years as chief operating officer. During his tenure, Mullins led the credit union as it grew from a solitary branch to five locations. He also provided leadership through Texas Trust’s first merger and launched the credit union’s first CUSO. During the liquidity crunch in the early ‘80s, he worked voluntarily with NCUA to develop policies that gave 90% of credit unions a permanent source of backup liquidity.
One of the most noteworthy contributions Mullins made to the credit union movement was his 20 years of teaching. In the 1980s, he developed an associate degree program in credit union management for the Dallas County Community College District, the association added.
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