WASHINGTON – Charles Elliott, president/CEO of the Mississippi Credit Union Association (MSCUA), was recognized with the 2020 Eugene H. Farley League Leadership Award by the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL) at a private reception during CUNA’s recent Governmental Affairs Conference.
The award honors a league employee who demonstrates visionary leadership at the state and national levels.
“I care about every credit union and every credit union member…I work for everybody else; nobody works for me,” Elliott continued, “Hurricane Katrina was the best job that God ever gave me…We got $1.4 million from your leagues, your credit unions, that came to Mississippi. And we were able to give it to 144 people who lost their homes, and most of them didn’t get a dime from anywhere else.”
Elliott’s career at the Mississippi Credit Union Association began immediately out of college, in January 1980, as a league consultant, making 2020 is his 40th service anniversary with MSCUA. He subsequently held the positions of director of education/public relations, director of consulting services, and executive vice president of the Mississippi Credit Union League and League Services Corp. He was appointed president/CEO of the Mississippi Credit Union Association in January 1989.
CUNA noted the MCUA has earned a 100% affiliation rate among Mississippi credit unions.
‘An Environment of Trust’
“Charles Elliott consistently cultivates and maintains personal relationships with MSCUA members at every level,” said Fred Robinson, president/CEO of the Tennessee Credit Union League. “He has created an environment of trust and respect for both himself and the organization he leads.”
Added Brad Miller, executive director of the AACUL, “I admire Charles’ ability to lead through relationships both with his credit unions - as he answers calls from a credit union staff member or volunteer, anytime, anywhere and personally attends credit union special events and chapter meetings whenever possible - and with his team at MSCUA where he is an admired and respected leader.”
CUNA noted Elliott’s distinguished career includes several key advocacy opportunities, including as a delegate to President Clinton’s Summit on Retirement Savings in 1998, as well as a delegate to President Bush’s 2002 National SAVER Summit; a key legislative communication role for credit unions during the HR 1151 effort with former Senator Trent Lott (R-MS), who was majority leader at the time and who held the responsibility for bringing credit unions’ legislation to the floor for a vote; providing oral and written testimony to the House Financial Services Subcommittee about financial institutions’ response to Hurricane Katrina and ways Congress could help hurricane afflicted credit unions recover and continue their service to members.
Numerous Positions and Honors
During his career Elliott has held numerous positions, including Credit Union House chairman, CUNA board member, CUNA Volunteer Leadership Committee member, CUNA Finance Committee member, AACUL Political Involvement & Grassroots Committee member, National Youth Involvement Board Executive Committee member and trustee for Southeast Regional Credit Union Schools, Inc.
Elliott’s other accolades include being among the first in the country to earn the Certified League Executive (CLE) designation; the Certified Development Educator (CUDE) designation; the National Credit Union Foundation Anchor Award for his “strength, perseverance and leadership in helping credit unions recover from Hurricane Katrina”; AACUL’s President's Award; the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders award; CUNA’s Credit Union Hero of the Year Award finalist.
The Farley League Leadership Award was endowed by a contribution from Richard Heins, former CEO of CUNA Mutual Group, and named in honor of Gene Farley, former CEO of the Virginia Credit Union League, in recognition of his longtime leadership in the credit union movement.