We're pleased to present the finalists of our new, pioneering recognition program: CU Times LUMINARIES. The program's Class of 2022 members are being honored for the dynamic and inclusive ways they are driving the credit union industry forward.
The LUMINARIES program shines a spotlight on how the top-performing industry participants are producing meaningful results in the areas that matter most to credit unions, rather than emphasizing asset levels, rankings or the latest industry buzz.
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The Class of 2022 includes finalists in four categories: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Executive Leadership, Innovation in Technology and Product Innovation. Profiles of those being recognized in the first two categories will be published online in September, while those in the second two categories will be published in October. We will feature selected finalists in upcoming print issues in October and November.
The LUMINARIES Class of 2022 Finalists will be reviewed by a diverse panel of judges from across the industry, as well by our editorial team.
Winners will be announced at a ceremony scheduled for Nov. 9 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Individual Executives
- Anjoli Walker, BCU Credit Union
- Samira Salem, Credit Union National Association (CUNA)
- Rhotunda Conda, Golden 1 Credit Union
- Maurice Smith, Local Government Federal Credit Union
- Lynn Heckler, PSCU
- Colleen Nerius, SAFE Credit Union
- Richard Romero, Seattle Credit Union
Organization
- Coastal Credit Union
- Community Credit Union
- Ent Credit Union
- Jovia Financial Credit Union
- Members 1st Federal Credit Union
- Spectra Credit Union
- Travis Credit Union
Executive Leadership
Individual Executives – East
- Brian Best, GTE Financial
- Kyle Markland, Municipal Credit Union
- Dan McGowan, Pioneer Appalachia FCU
- Dan Stoltz, SPIRE Credit Union
- Jan N. Roche, State Department Federal Credit Union
- Bob McKay, Together Credit Union
Individual Executives – West
- Emily Hollis, ALM First
- Kendall Garrison, Amplify Credit Union
- Doug Burke, Aux, Llc
- Mollie Bell, Ent Credit Union
- Greg Mitchell, First Tech Federal Credit Union
- Howard N. Baker, Greater Texas|Aggieland Credit Union
- Matt Rarden, Kirtland Federal Credit Union
- Sterling S. Nielsen, Mountain America Credit Union
- Kelley Ferguson, Numerica Credit Union
- Andrea Brewer, PremierOne Credit Union
- David Frazier, Texans Credit Union
- David Tuyo, University Credit Union
Organization
- Chartway Credit Union
- Community Credit Union
- Credit Union National Association
- Credit Union of Texas
- Municipal Credit Union
- New Orleans Firemen's Federal Credit Union
- Texans Credit Union
Innovation in Technology
Individual Executives
- Michael Tindall, Area Financial Services
- Ben Teske, Greater Texas|Aggieland Credit Union
- Amber Kaeter, Magnifi Financial CU
- April M. Clobes, MSU Federal Credit Union
- Joe Welu, Total Expert
Organization
- 4Front Credit Union
- Commonwealth Credit Union
- Enrich
- Ent Credit Union
- MAX Credit Union
- NorthPark Community Credit Union
- Open Lending
- THRIVE Strategic Services
Product Innovation
Individual Executives
- Kristi Kenworthy, Dora Financial LLC
- Ryan Coleman, Equifax
- Chuck Fagan, PSCU
- Joe Welu, Total Expert
Organization
- Alliant Credit Union
- Amplify Credit Union
- Commonwealth Credit Union
- Community Credit Union
- Dora Financial
- eGain Corporation
- Experian
- KeyPoint Credit Union
- Patelco Credit Union
- Workers Credit Union
Rising Star
- Jeramey Litzman, Associated Credit Union of Texas
- Laraine Dickerson, CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc.
- Alison Heller, Equifax
- Kenia Calderon Ceron, GreenState Credit Union
- Alex Welle, Magnifi Financial CU
- Emilie Lewis, Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union
- Chase Larson, St. Cloud Financial Credit Union
- Haley Rebel, Styskal, Wiese & Melchione, LLP
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Michael Ogden
Editor-in-Chief at CU Times. To connect, email at [email protected]. As Editor-in-Chief of CU Times since 2016, Michael Ogden has led the editorial team in all aspects of content strategy and execution, including the creation of the publication’s exclusive and proprietary research database of the credit union industry’s economic landscape. Under Michael’s leadership, CU Times has successfully shifted to an all-digital editorial product with new focuses on the payments, fraud, lending and regulatory beats. Most recently, he introduced a data-focused editorial product for subscribers that breaks down credit union issues into hard data, allowing for a deeper and more factual narrative for readers. In 2024, he launched the "Shared Accounts With CU Times" podcast, which offers a fresh, inside-the-newsroom perspective through interviews with leaders from the credit union industry and the regulatory world. He dives into pressing credit union issues, while revealing the personalities working behind-the-scenes to push the credit union world forward. His background includes years as a radio and TV anchor/reporter and a public relations and digital/social media manager, where he covered the food and music industries, as well as cooperatives and credit unions. Over the years, he has launched numerous exclusive video and podcast series, including a successful series of interactive backstage interviews with musicians at music festivals, showcasing his social media and live streaming production skills.
