BOULDER, Colo. — The industry here and in Washington was mourning the death last week of Elevations President/CEO William Sterner, a leading figure for years on both national and international levels.
Sterner has spent his professional life in credit unions, including as the current chairman of the Credit Union Association of Colorado and a former manager at CUNA and the World Council of Credit Unions.
Sterner, 66, died March 31, four days after suffering a heart attack while attending a CUAC Legislative Capital Forum in Denver.
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"Bill Sterner embodied the credit union philosophy of 'people helping people' in his service to our entire credit union movement in Colorado and the national stature he brought to our state," declared John Dill, president/CEO of CUAC.
Sterner, who also was a director at SunCorp CU and the Credit Union Service Network, started at Elevations in 1997 as vice president of marketing and was named CEO in 2000.
Under his leadership, Elevations grew rapidly from $340 million to over $790 million with over 75,000 members and more recently took the CU formerly known as UofC FCU into the state system to add new members and branching powers in growing suburban areas outside Denver.
Elevations said it would name an interim CEO at a board meeting last week and in the meantime was operating with an acting CEO whom it did not identify. The Colorado association said in accord with its succession policy, Douglas Ferraro, its vice chairman and president/CEO of Bellco CU of Denver, would move up to replace Sterner.
"Mr. Sterner's passion for credit unions began in the 60s when he worked with the Peace Corp. to help villagers in South America set up financial cooperatives," said an Elevations statement. "His career spanned over 46 years and included management positions with the Credit Union National Association, California and Kansas Credit Union Leagues and the World Council."
Elevations and the CUAC called Sterner "a tireless advocate for credit unions," noting he had traveled to Asia and South America to consult with executives managing or organizing co-ops.
At Elevations he recently guided expansion of new Web and online banking services while expanding the branch network.
Within CUAC, Sterner was also chairman of Credit Union Strategic Partners, the league's service corporation.
League officials said Sterner collapsed March 28 before the Legislative Forum meeting began. He was rushed to Denver Health Center where he remained in critical condition until his death on March 31.
In Boulder he was the incoming chairman of the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County and past chair and a director of the Boulder Chamber Economic Council Association.
"I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with Bill and call him my friend," concluded Dill, the CUAC CEO.
Sterner's wife, Pat Brownell, was the executive director of the National Credit Union Foundation. Since she left that position, she has consulted with nonprofits and foundations across the country.
In addition to Brownell, Sterner is survived by four adult children and three sisters.
Funeral services for Sterner were held at Crist Mortuary in Boulder on April 5. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bill Sterner's name to Community Trust at the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County, 1123 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302.
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