2025 CU Times Luminaries Finalists: Executive Leadership at Credit Union Leagues & Trade Groups

Maureen’s leadership helped integrate Virginia credit unions into League programs, resulting in record participation at events like EMERGE and the Small Credit Union Roundtables. She co-hosted the INSPIRE Conference with the Carolinas League and the Global Women’s Leadership Network and supported global collaboration through the Association of British Credit Unions Limited (ABCUL) Learning Journey.

Patty Corkery – Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates

As CEO of the Michigan Credit Union League and CUSG, Patty Corkery stands as a transformative force for advocacy, innovation, and member empowerment in the credit union industry. In the past year, she led Michigan to deliver the nation’s highest volume of grassroots messages to Congress over 26,000 safeguarding the industry’s tax-exempt status in a time of critical uncertainty. She also launched CU Spark Tank, a first-of-its-kind innovation challenge to co-develop practical, tech-enabled solutions in areas like AI, digital financial education, and underserved member engagement.

She continues to advance talent pipelines, young professional growth, and diversity in leadership across Michigan’s 100+ credit unions. Her focus on collaborative fintech partnerships to drive smarter and inclusive lending reflects her vision of blending high-tech with high-touch. Patty’s influence reaches from the statehouse to Washington, D.C., and across the communities her league represents.

Miriam Ackerman – NACUSO

Miriam Ackerman has been a game changer for NACUSO by infusing the organization with bold, future-forward thinking rooted in real-world innovation. As a co-founder of NetGiver and CSO of DNT BLNK, she brings startup discipline, user-centric design, and fintech agility into the credit union ecosystem—an industry that has historically moved at a slower pace. Her presence on the NACUSO board and as Interim CEO has helped reframe CUSOs not just as service providers, but as engines of cooperative innovation. Miriam has a unique ability to bridge cultural, technical, and strategic domains—fostering collaborations that are both values-aligned and growth-oriented.

With a background in creative leadership across arts, tech, and finance, she champions human-first approaches that prioritize member impact and sustainability.

Jason Stverak – Defense Credit Union Council

In his role as Chief Advocacy Officer of the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC), Jason Stverak has played an influential role in advancing the credit union movement through dynamic trade association leadership. At DCUC, Jason has spearheaded initiatives that exemplify innovation and impact in advocacy. He was named a National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics 2024 Top Lobbyist for his exceptional, ethical contributions in lobbying. Jason also led the creation of DCUC’s Defending Credit Unions Political Action Committee and National Advocacy Fund, bolstering grassroots engagement and support for credit union champions in Congress.

He has unified industry voices on critical issues – collaborating with other associations to defend credit unions’ tax-exempt status in Congress – and helped shift DCUC’s approach from reactive defense to proactively shaping the narrative on Capitol Hill. Through these efforts, he has elevated the impact of trade associations within the credit union ecosystem.