Here's a tale about an ex-credit union CEO who abandoned the industry to take up a quirky new line of business and this month again received national TV exposure.
It's the story of Darrell Best, former head of an E. St. Louis CU and Illinois Credit Union League PAC leader and chapter president, who now runs a wedding-chapel-on-wheels business and was featured on an ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson."
Best, the former CEO of Metro East CU, now Scott CU of Collinsville and former CEO of Motor Coach Employees CU, was also most recently on national cable shows and is often picked up in the St. Louis media and on wire services.
"I can't say I miss running a credit union but I do miss the people I worked with," said Best who is now a minister and operates the mobile Best Wedding Chapel out of his Shelbyville home traveling to rural communities across the U.S. to perform for hire wedding ceremonies.
The concept has long fascinated the media giving Best Wedding ongoing exposure. Until he left Metro East, Best was a frequent member of Springfield lobbying groups as well as Hike the Hill treks to Washington to buttonhole lawmakers. "I can't say I miss that," confides Best. "This is far more fulfilling than running a credit union."
Best Wedding advertises "traditional, non-traditional and affordable weddings" and that "fun get-away" feeling at economical prices. "It was kind of nice performing a wedding recently for one of my credit union friends," added Best.
