WASHINGTON–Two Dakotans have been inducted into the Hall of Leaders at Credit Union House in Washington.
“This is a unique and special designation that pays tribute to those who have made a significant impact on the credit union movement at the local, state, and national level,” said the Dakota Credit Union Association.
Inducted were Paul J. Brucker, president/CEO of Railway CU in Mandan, N.D., and Melanie Stillwell, CEO of Western Cooperative Credit Union in Williston, N.D. Each was inducted during a ceremony held at the Marriott Marquis, with Jeff Olson, president/CEO of DakCU, presenting the awards.
“(Brucker) has a long history with the (credit union). He was a high school student when he first took a part-time job in the late 1980s,” DakCU said. “By the time he assumed the CEO title, he had worked in every single position available at the credit union, including maintenance, and even acted as janitor for a period. Today, he leads the credit union with more than 7,600 members and $160 million in assets.
Long-Time Trustee
“Brucker has been a North Dakota CULAC Trustee for many years. With strong feelings about the burden of regulations and the importance of advocating for credit unions, he plays an active leadership role in educating the credit union community about the importance of CUPAC/CULAC,” the association continued.
In addition, he also serves on the CULAC Executive Committee and has earned the CULAC Ambassador designation for many years. He has served as a governor appointed member of the North Dakota State Credit Union Board since 2005.
Long CU Career
Stillwell began her long credit union career right out of college, where she received degrees in accounting and finance, DakCU said. Her first position was as an NCUA examiner starting in 1986. A
“After years of training and working with NCUA, she began working at Safeway Rocky Mountain FCU in Denver as SVP-finance. In 1998, she was hired as EVP of Western Cooperative CU, before being promoted to CEO in 2002,” the association stated. “As CEO, Melanie oversees Western Cooperative Credit Union, a large, community chartered, agricultural-based credit union that does a significant amount of agricultural lending. While the institution originated in Williston, N.D., they have grown through the years and now have nine locations in western North Dakota. When Melanie first started at the credit union, they were at $75 million in assets – today they are over $436 million.”
Serves on Boards
Stillwell has served on the North Dakota State Credit Union Board as a governor appointee since 2003. She has served on the Dakota Credit Union Association Board since 2017, and served as a board member for Pactola, a lending CUSO established by Dakota credit unions. On the national level, Melanie has served three terms on the CUNA Examination & Supervision Subcommittee.
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