ITHACA, N.Y. — The wait to see who would replace the legendary Bill Myers at Alternatives Federal Credit Union here is now over. AFCU announced that the CU search committee selected Tristram Coffin, the Pacific Northwest CUSO CEO and NACUSO award-winner after a yearlong search. Coffin's first day at the helm was Wednesday, July 25.

Coffin has delivered the goods, most recently at One Washington Financial, the mortgage, investment and lending CUSO that provides services to 34 credit unions. Coffin developed an innovative short-term loan product to compete with payday lenders that benefited Washington CU members and forged a partnership between credit unions and a nonprofit community action agency to offer lifeline financial services to the underserved in the eastern part of the state.

He was recognized as one of the “40 under 40″ outstanding business leaders in the Seattle area. Before that he worked as CEO of CUSERVE, a CUSO of the Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union. That CUSO was named CUSO of the Year by NACUSO.