Announcing the Women On Work Contest Winners
It’s high time to shine a brighter light on the spectacular women in the Community Banking and Credit Union industry – to recognize the transformational work they do daily to propel the industry forward. And that is precisely what the WOW Contest is all about.
Our mission? To celebrate extraordinary women in the Community Banking and CU space, to bring greater awareness around women in the industry, and to create a movement of leadership driven by women who are doing inspiring work.
This movement is sponsored by CRMNEXT, CU Sol (a Credit Union CUSO), and America’s Credit Union Museum. While this is a contest with real prizes, our hope is that it will open a path for greater recognition of women nationwide in the community movement, inspire up-and-coming Banking and CU professionals, and pave a way for future leaders in this industry.
WOW Winner!
Susan Mitchell
CEO, Mitchell Stankovic & Associates
“She is an inspiration. She is making a difference. And she demonstrates that a remarkable impact can be made by an individual who tirelessly works to change lives through credit unions, domestically and around the world.”
Susan’s LinkedIn Header says it all! “STANDUP for things in life that matter! Voice for financial democracy & social equality! Founder of Underground Movement and Founding GWLN Chair. 2018 NCUF Herb Wegner Award Winner Lifetime Achievement.”
WOW First Runner-Up
Denise Wymore
Head of Marketing, QCash Financial
“Denise has been driven by the 6th cooperative principle: cooperation among cooperatives.”
“In 2008 she helped to form the Member Loyalty Group CUSO bringing together six powerhouse credit unions to form an alliance with Satmetrix, the co-creator of the Net Promoter Score. By joining forces, they were able to give access to the best survey software to credit unions of all sizes.”
“2012 Denise Wymore was voted a “Woman to Watch” by the CU Times.”
WOW Second Runner-Up
Sarah Bang
Senior Advisor to the Vice Chairman of the NCUA, NCUA
“Sarah was my mentor. When she was an EVP of the Oregon Credit Union League, she saw something in me and always pushed me to take risks. She always said, ‘Act like the expert and you will become one.’”
“She championed the Credit Union for Kids charity in Oregon making us the second largest donor for years and served on the Children’s Miracle Network BOD. When a woman gives birth to her child, well that’s a miracle but when something goes wrong, having excellent medical care is essential.”
- Winner’s Trophy
- 12”x12” Granite Paver at America’s Credit Union Museum
- $5,000 OR Donation to Charity of Susan’s choice
- $1,000 donation to America’s Credit Union Museum in Susan’s
- Airfare and Accommodations to the Museum’s Hall of Fame Induction Festivities on September 28-29, 2022
- First Runner-Up Trophy
- 4”x8” Brick at the America’s Credit Union Museum
- $3,000 OR Donation to Charity of Denise’s choice
- $1,000 donation to America’s Credit Union Museum in Denise’s name
- Airfare and Accommodations to the Museum’s Hall of Fame Induction Festivities on September 28-29, 2022
- Second Runner-Up Trophy
- 4”x8” Brick at America’s Credit Union Museum
- $1,000 OR Donation to Charity of Sarah’s choice
- $1,000 donation to America’s Credit Union Museum in Sarah’s name
- Airfare and Accommodations to the Museum’s Hall of Fame Induction Festivities on September 28-29, 2022
Our 2022 WOW Contest Top 10!
Congratulations to our entire Top-10 and all our nominations for the First Annual Women On Work (WOW) Contest!
Sarah Bang
Alison Carr
Lauren Culp
Bonnie Doolin
Lily Newfarmer
Susan Mitchell
Brandi Stankovic
Teri Robinson
Linda White
Denise Wymore
Thank You to Our Judges!
Our partners hand-picked the best of the best as Judges for this inaugural year of the WOW Contest, and we can’t thank them enough for taking the time to choose our 2022 WOW Contest winners.
Merry Pateuk
SVP, Industry Engagement
Merry Pateuk, SVP, Industry Engagement, fulfills PSCU’s strategic objective of leveraging the cooperative’s scale to advocate on behalf of the credit union industry. She cultivates relationships between PSCU and local, state, and national organizations that support credit unions and works collaboratively with industry partners to ensure there is alignment on key topics and a cohesive voice to ultimately strengthen credit unions’ position in the market.
She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina. Merry also earned the Credit Union Development Educators (CUDE) and Africa Development Educators distinction from the National Credit Union Foundation.
She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina. Merry also earned the Credit Union Development Educators (CUDE) and Africa Development Educators distinction from the National Credit Union Foundation.
Julie Ferguson, CUDE
Owner, JRF Consulting Services, LLC
Julie R Ferguson founded JRF Consulting Services in 2009 after spending 16 years at First Tech Federal Credit Union in the Pacific Northwest. Julie is passionate about helping credit unions create and execute focused and results oriented business development strategies that help members achieve financial success. A speaker at credit union conferences, Julie shares her expertise to help our credit union movement grow nationwide and around the world. Julie is a member of the World Council’s Global Women Leadership Network, on the Advisory Board for the Berenstain Bears Financial Literacy Program for credit unions, an author at CUInsight, and a proud CUDE.
Kristi Arrington
VP, Growth by Design at League of Southeastern Credit Unions
Kristi Arrington is vice president at Growth by Design, an award winning, full-service marketing agency housed in the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates. In this role, Kristi oversees all operations, ensuring a 16-person staff provides creative, high quality and innovative marketing, business development and communications solutions to 100+ clients across the U.S.
Kristi has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and business development strategy in the financial services arena. She is a member of the Georgie Marketing Council Board, Credit Union for Kids Activation Board (Children’s Miracle Network), and Credit Unions for Kids Content Marketing Board. She is also a member of the Children’s Miracle Network Greater Atlanta Chapter Committee and the AACUL Communications/PR Advisory Committee.
Kristi has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and business development strategy in the financial services arena. She is a member of the Georgie Marketing Council Board, Credit Union for Kids Activation Board (Children’s Miracle Network), and Credit Unions for Kids Content Marketing Board. She is also a member of the Children’s Miracle Network Greater Atlanta Chapter Committee and the AACUL Communications/PR Advisory Committee.
Anne Legg
Founder, THRIVE Strategic Services
Anne Legg is a recognized credit union business strategist, presenter, author, and educator with an MBA thesis on the credit union business model as well as two internationally published whitepapers on credit union business strategy. She has presented and published twice at the International Cooperative Summit held in Quebec, Canada making her the only credit union professional in the United States to do so.
She has spent 17 years in the C-suite for credit unions and currently is the founder and principal of THRIVE Strategic Services located in Southern California. She absolutely LOVES working with credit unions to create revolutionary member relationships via organizational education, member-centric data strategies, and data maturity.
She has spent 17 years in the C-suite for credit unions and currently is the founder and principal of THRIVE Strategic Services located in Southern California. She absolutely LOVES working with credit unions to create revolutionary member relationships via organizational education, member-centric data strategies, and data maturity.
Nanci Wilson
Marketing & Community Engagement Officer, University Federal Credit Union
Nanci started her credit union journey due to lack of kindness. That fact is what led her to close her bank account and open up at a credit union. Ultimately it led her to want to work at a credit union. The rest is history.
After graduating from Credit Union Development Education at the National Credit Union Foundation and going back as a mentor and graduation speaker, she knew that her heart belonged to the movement. You can find Nanci traveling around speaking about the amazing things credit unions are capable of and how to create member and coworker loyalty through being a relatable human being.
After graduating from Credit Union Development Education at the National Credit Union Foundation and going back as a mentor and graduation speaker, she knew that her heart belonged to the movement. You can find Nanci traveling around speaking about the amazing things credit unions are capable of and how to create member and coworker loyalty through being a relatable human being.
Latonya Allen
Director of Consumer Lending and Marketing at Government Printing Office Federal Credit Union
Latonya Allen is the Director of Consumer Lending and Marketing for Government Printing Office Federal Credit Union, where she provides member lending services and product development. Latonya works with members to identify their financial goals and create solutions for members achieving their goals. She also influences the strategic direction of the credit union by providing creative concept development for marketing and strategic engagement to facilitate growth and impact for the credit union members.
Latonya has more than 20 years of experience in the credit union industry. Under her leadership, Government Printing Office Federal Credit Union has received multiple Marketing Trailblazer Awards from the Maryland & D.C. Credit Union Association. She simply lives by the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People” in both her professional and personal life. She is a graduate of the Credit Union Development Educator Program (CUDE) from The National Credit Union Foundation and is a proud member of the African-American Credit Union Coalition where she serves as Chapter Liaison. Latonya also serves as Underground Advocate for the Underground Movement, an industry initiative founded by Mitchell, Stankovic & Associates. She is currently a member of the Credit Union Financial Education Network and the Maryland & D.C. Credit Union Association Young Professional Network.
Latonya has more than 20 years of experience in the credit union industry. Under her leadership, Government Printing Office Federal Credit Union has received multiple Marketing Trailblazer Awards from the Maryland & D.C. Credit Union Association. She simply lives by the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People” in both her professional and personal life. She is a graduate of the Credit Union Development Educator Program (CUDE) from The National Credit Union Foundation and is a proud member of the African-American Credit Union Coalition where she serves as Chapter Liaison. Latonya also serves as Underground Advocate for the Underground Movement, an industry initiative founded by Mitchell, Stankovic & Associates. She is currently a member of the Credit Union Financial Education Network and the Maryland & D.C. Credit Union Association Young Professional Network.
Thank you to our Advisory Panel!
As co-sponsors and allies of the women on the judging panel, we couldn’t have done this without you! Thank you for helping celebrate the amazing women in the Community Banking and CU industry.
Stephanie Smith
Executive Director, America’s Credit Union Museum
Jonathan Taylor
CEO, CU Sol
