HOUSTON — If anyone can look a challenge squarely in the eye, decide right away to conquer it and come out shining on the other end, it's Barbara Stephens.

In November 2005, Stephens, who was recently named the new chairwoman of the African-American Credit Union Coalition, received the sobering news that sends women from all walks of life reeling: she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It came as a shock to Stephens, who is a staunch advocate of women wellness exams and did not have a history of the disease in her family.

“When I was diagnosed, I had some decisions to make after the shock was over,” said Stephens, who is also president/CEO of $25 million Houston Municipal Employees Federal Credit Union. “Either I was going to let it defeat me or I was going to beat it. I made the choice that there was enough medicine and treatment out there to beat it.”

Stephens went through 18 grueling months of chemotherapy and radiation. Looking back, she recalls, there were days when she came to work but should not have. She kept her schedule as normal as possible leaving at noon for radiation treatments and returning to work an hour later.

“I wanted to get my mind off the cancer,” Stephens said on her decision to continue working. “I believe in mind over matter. For me, having cancer was 50% mental and 50% physical.”

In April 2007, she was given a clean bill of health. Thanks to a “very supportive” board, a dedicated

husband and family but above else, her “strengthened faith in God,” Stephens said she is able to be here today.

“I don't sweat the small stuff anymore,” Stephens said. “I live each day to the fullest. I think the good Lord takes people through storms and then the sun shines. I'm thankful.”

Strong and independent as ever, Stephens said she is up to the newest challenge of guiding the AACUC in a direction that has taken the group on several new and exciting paths. The organization has grown to more than 300 members and touts several programs that have helped to increase its presence including its internship program, mentoring efforts and fundraising campaigns.

“The AACUC is finally on the map but we want to increase the awareness even more,” Stephens said.

To that end, the coalition is ramping up its efforts to increase membership. WesCorp, CUNA Mutual Group, $30 billion Navy FCU, PSCU Financial Services, the National Credit Union Foundation, CUES and at least a half dozen other credit unions and vendors have signed on as members and conference sponsors. Stephens will be sending personal invitations to credit unions, especially in Texas and surrounding states, to join. The coalition publishes Perspectives, a newsletter updating members on happenings.

The AACUC will continue to bring more college students to the credit union movement through its internship program. This year marked the second year Stephens' credit union hosted an intern. That intern was recently promoted to accounting supervisor.

“She came in her junior year and was majoring in accounting,” Stephens said. “I told her at the time, if you want to stay in this industry, I'll do all I can to help you.”

To that end, Stephens said AACUC will also beef up its mentoring programs. The outreach has grown considerably under fellow board member Helen Godfrey-Smith, who, along with the mentorship committee, continues to help credit unions still feeling the effects of the deadly hurricanes that hammered the Gulf region in the summer of 2005. The AACUC recently offered to pay the rent for New Orleans-based $2 million VAHNOLA FCU for the remainder of the year. The credit union lost its only office space after Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, its sponsor, sustained heavy damage to its facility.

Even prior to then, the mentorship committee has reached out to smaller credit unions seeking help with operational issues, compliance, accounting and redrafting policies and procedures. That mentoring doesn't stop at this country's borders. AACUC continues to work with the World Council of Credit Unions to mentor credit unions in Africa.

“A small credit union sometimes may have limited resources,” Stephens said. “These smaller credit unions are usually one to two person offices. It's either hard for them to get away to attend training sessions or they can't afford to do so.”

Stephens, who first heard of AACUC during its networking meeting during CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference in 2003, remembers thinking “why haven't I heard of this group.” When the AACUC held its annual conference in Dallas that same year, she was approached to become the group's assistant treasurer. That led to becoming treasurer and then vice chair. Stephens said she wants the AACUC message of inclusion to continue.

“I have been on the other side attending conferences. I was the first African-American to serve on the board of Texas Credit Union League. I remember going to my first board meeting knowing that I was going to be the only one there. But they made me feel welcomed and I didn't feel any different. We have that same feeling at AACUC. We want everyone to feel welcomed.”

Stephens has served at the helm of Houston Municipal Employees FCU for 15 years and has been in the movement for 31 years and currently is on the education advisory committee at TCUL and is on the boards of several CUSOs. The Birmingham, Ala. native got her start as a teller at a credit union in San Diego. She worked her way up the ranks from there to loan processor, loan officer, collections, branch manager to the current top spot.

“I tell my staff all the time, if this is where you want to go, all you have to do is set your mind on it, and you can move up through the ranks,” Stephens said.

Meanwhile, the biggest challenge for AACUC has been getting others in the industry to embrace a new organization.

“There is the challenge of getting people to believe in us enough to want to join the organization. But we're getting the word out more,” Stephens said. “We feel like we have something to bring to the table.”

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