PLANO, TEXAS— Caroline Willard has been named to succeed Dick Ensweiler as president of the Cornerstone Credit Union League, Credit Union Resources and the Cornerstone CU Foundation. Willard is currently executive vice president of Markets and Strategy for CO-OP Financial Services in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and will continue in that role until she assumes her full-time duties with Cornerstone in April 2017.
“Having spent the last 10 years at the nation's largest CUSO, it is an honor to be given the opportunity to serve credit unions at one of the largest leagues in the country,” said Willard in a statement. “This role will give me a chance to tap into what I have learned at both CO-OP Financial Services and at American First Credit Union, where I served on the executive team for five years. I am excited to work with Cornerstone's board and management team to aggressively advocate on behalf of credit unions and to find innovative ways to improve service delivery as we navigate a changing environment for advocacy and collaboration.”
Willard will replace the well-known Ensweiler, who announced in December 2015 his plans to retire at the end of April 2017, following more than 20 years of service to credit unions at the Texas Credit Union League, which became part of Cornerstone Credit Union League, along with leagues in Oklahoma and Arkansas in 2013. Ensweiler is retiring after serving in various regional and national capacities within the credit union system for more than 50 years.
“We are thrilled with the association and business prospects for Cornerstone and Credit Union Resources under Caroline’s leadership,” said Cornerstone Chairman Kenny Harrington, president/CEO of MemberSource Credit Union, Houston, Texas. “Cornerstone is one of the strongest leagues in the country, and we believe Caroline’s leadership, background, expertise, and vision for the future will provide Cornerstone member credit unions with even more value and enriched products and services for their membership.”
Willard said she expects to use her expertise and passions to build upon Cornerstone’s strength, reputation, and relevance to its credit union members and the entire credit union system.
Willard added that her vision includes positioning Cornerstone as an influencer at the national level to create better efficiencies in serving a changing credit union marketplace, ensuring Cornerstone and its subsidiaries are delivering relevant services that provide a meaningful return to the association and its members, building upon Cornerstone’s legislative and grassroots advocacy efforts so they can serve as a model for leagues across the country, and ensuring that the value proposition for Cornerstone and CUNA are clearly differentiated.
In a statement,CO-OP Financial Services' CEO Todd Clark extended congratulations, saying, “We are very happy for Caroline as she embarks on this new phase in her career and extremely grateful for her leadership and the accomplishments she made during her tenure at CO-OP. The great benefit for us is that we will continue collaborating with Caroline in her new role. CO-OP has always had a very strong relationship with Cornerstone CUL. Their service organization, Credit Union Resources, Inc., has partnered with us on CO-OP Shared Branching and for other CO-OP products and services to their credit unions. We look forward to continuing our work with Cornerstone CUL under Caroline’s leadership."
Clark added that the search for Willard’s replacement is being initiated immediately and her duties will be handled in the interim both by him and her direct reports.
Other Subsidiaries & Responsibilities At Cornerstone
Credit Union Resources, a fully-owned subsidiary of Cornerstone, provides solutions and expertise to credit unions across the country and said it will benefit immeasurably from Willard’s experience in delivering business solutions that match the needs of credit union staff, boards of directors, and members.
“Credit Union Resources is a significant contributor to the credit union system through its relationships with system partners and the products and services delivered by Resources staff to credit unions,” said Resources Chairman Mike Kloiber, president and CEO of Tinker Federal Credit Union, Oklahoma City, Okla. “We are really excited about the thought leadership Caroline will bring to Resources as it delivers solutions that support the success and growth of credit unions across the country while also exploring opportunities to benefit and grow the influence of credit unions in an evolving financial services landscape.”
Willard's Resume
Willard has served in various capacities with CO-OP Financial Services since 2006. Prior to joining CO-OP, Willard was vice president for marketing and strategic planning with American First Credit Union, La Habra, Calif., with $700 million in assets, from 2001 to 2006. She has a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University School of Business and Management, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications/Public Relations from California State University, Fullerton.
Willard currently serves as a board member for Finivation Software and CUES. She was named a “Woman to Watch” by Credit Union Times in 2012; and has previously served as the chairman for the CUES national board of directors; as an advisory member for the Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles’ Credit Unions for Kids program; as a board member for the Southern California and Arizona CUES Council; and as a member of the California Credit Union League Political Action Committee.
The search was handled by Credit Union Resources’ Executive Search division, and a selection committee made up of Cornerstone member credit union executives.