INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana Credit Union League has recognized a number of people for their accomplishments.
Each was recognized during the league’s recent annual meeting. Those honored include:
Global Good Award
Kevin Ryan has been named the recipient of the Indiana Credit Union League’s Global Good Award. Ryan, a past League chairman, retired as CEO of Financial Center First CU at the end of 2021.
“In his years on the league board and at the credit union, and in the time since his retirement, his service and leadership have benefited several credit unions in countries around the world,” the ICUL said. “He traveled to Ireland last year as a continuation of the partnership between Financial Center First CU, the league, and Dundalk Credit Union of Dundalk, Ireland. Representatives from this Irish credit union first visited Indiana in 2020.
“Ryan has been part of other international development projects including a trip to Colombia, South America, in 2018 that focused on financial literacy and bringing services to the unbanked; a speaking engagement at the World Council of Credit Unions’ (WOCCU) annual conference in 2019 in the Bahamas; and a trip to the Netherlands in 2019 to speak at a national conference held by that country.”
According to the ICUL, Ryan also opened his credit union to international visitors whenever the league hosted groups from other countries. Of note are visitors the league hosted from Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, the Netherlands, Ireland, and the Caribbean Island nation of Dominica.
The league and Indiana’s credit unions were recognized by WOCCU with its 2020 Distinguished Service Award, which was presented when Ryan was ICUL Chairman.
Ryan, who was also recently named to the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions board, received his award during the Indiana Credit Union League Convention before an audience of credit union colleagues from around the state.
Emerging Leadership Award
Lindsay Wirtz of Everwise Credit Union is a recipient of the 2023 Emerging Leadership Award from the Indiana Credit Union League.
Wirtz, who is a business services development officer, has spent her career with Everwise, which was formerly Teachers Credit Union.
“She has managed several branches in Indianapolis and in her current role has grown member business deposits significantly,” the ICUL said. “She is a founding member of the credit union’s Diversity Council, and she has won several awards while at Everwise that recognize her performance and leadership. She has completed the league’s ignite program, and she is the chairman of the Central Chapter of Credit Unions. Additionally, she is on the advisory board of the Franklin Education Foundation, and she is a committee volunteer for Special Olympics.”
The Emerging Leadership Award recognizes the next generation of credit union leaders in Indiana for their accomplishments and for the potential to be an Indiana credit union leader in the future.
Emerging Leadership Award
Todd Roach, VP/Controller at ProFed Federal Credit Union in Fort Wayne is a recipient of the 2023 Emerging Leadership Award from the Indiana Credit Union League.
“Roach came to the credit union in 2012 as a part-time accounting assistant while completing his undergrad degree. He was promoted several times over a 10-year period and is currently vice president/controller,” the league said. “He received his MBA while working at the credit union, and he has also earned several important designations. He was in the inaugural group that received the Certified Credit Union Investment Professional designation, and he is an Accredited ACH Professional, Accredited Payments Risk Professional, and Certified Credit Union Executive. His success and growth at ProFed FCU are evidence of his remarkable dedication, exceptional skills, and commitment to professional excellence.”
Emerging Leadership Award
Amanda Edwards of Centra Credit Union (Centra CU) is a recipient of the 2023 Emerging Leadership Award from the Indiana Credit Union League.
Edwards, who is SVP of Operations, has been with Centra CU since 2001, starting as a teller and rising to her current position through several roles in account recovery, branch management, and deposit operations.
“She has also taken on other responsibilities including leading project teams to improve the credit union’s overdraft program, a core conversion team, and digital banking platform transition. Outside the credit union, she is an active volunteer at her church and in her community,” the league said.
Leadership Achievement Award
Tim Yoder, board chairman of Interra Credit Union is the recipient of the 2023 Leadership Achievement Award from the Indiana Credit Union League.
“As a lifelong Interra Credit Union member, Yoder has been quoted as saying, ‘It was a dream of mine to serve on the Interra board of directors,’ the ICUL said. “He has helped Interra Credit Union achieve amazing growth in assets and membership during his tenure. When he joined the board in 2012, the credit union had reached $600 million in assets with 50,000 members. Today, the credit union holds $1.8 billion in assets and serves nearly 92,000 members. He has helped guide the building of 10 new locations and expansion of the field of membership from five counties to 24. He has supported new technology investments in digital banking, robust contact center upgrades, and online lending plus the development of full mortgage and investment services.
“He humbly acknowledges the success of the credit union’s agricultural roots making Interra Credit Union the second-largest agricultural lending credit union in the United States today. All of this success has occurred through Yoder’s focus on staying true to the core credit union principles – people helping people,” the league said.
A Licensed Mortician
The ICUL noted Yoder has been Interra Credit Union’s chairman since 2016 and in that capacity has helped establish the Interra Cares Foundation and has helped celebrate the credit union’s 90th anniversary.
“As a licensed mortician, his family business, Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, was established thanks to a loan from the credit union,” the league added. “It is now a third-generation business in Goshen, Indiana.”
Professional Achievement Award
INDIANAPOLIS – Bob Falk, president/CEO of Purdue Federal Credit Union, has received the Indiana Credit Union League’s 2023 Professional Achievement Award.
The award recognizes Indiana credit union presidents/CEOs for their professional accomplishments, commitment to the credit union movement, and contributions to their credit union and community.
“Falk was named president/CEO of Purdue Federal in 2008,” the league said. “He has served on several League committees including Governmental Affairs where he has been an active member for more than 15 years. He and two others founded the League’s ignite initiative which provides a framework for professional development and collaboration.
Advocate for Movement
“He is also an advocate for the credit union movement outside Indiana, dedicating extensive time and expertise to high-profile organizations that benefit credit unions across the country such as CO-OP Financial Services where he is currently on the board of directors,” the league continued. “Falk has also served on The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council, on the board of Prime Alliance, and on CUNA’s Housing Subcommittee.
“Outside of the credit union business, he is engaged in his community, holding positions on the United Way of Greater Lafayette board over a six-year period, including the chairmanship, and as a 21-year member of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.
Hall of Fame
David Abernathy, former league chairman, was inducted into the Indiana Credit Union Hall of Fame during the Indiana Credit Union League’s statewide convention.
“Abernathy’s financial services career has spanned more than half a century. Most recently, he was CEO at Via Credit Union, retiring in 2022 after many achievements,” the league noted. “His contributions to political advocacy on behalf of credit unions will be a long-remembered legacy. He was a key contact at the state and federal levels, leading countless interactions and outreach efforts to ensure that legislators remained aware of the issues that were most important to credit unions.
“He also served for 21 years on the Credit Union Centers board of directors, guiding that organization as its Board President for seven years, providing shared branching in multiple states,” the league continued. “At the national level, Abernathy served credit unions in a multi-year role as Indiana’s Trustee for the Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC). He rose to the Executive Committee of this organization where he was a successful fundraiser, representing the interests of credit unions across the country.
“For the league, he was a committed supporter of Indiana’s credit unions and their members across the state. He served on the league board from 2016-2022 and was chairman of the board from 2021-2022.”
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