CUES Hall of Fame Inductees

2022 Award Winners

Barry Nelson, CCE

Retired CEO
Travis Credit Union

Vacaville, California

Barry began his career at Travis Credit Union in January 2000 as Assistant Vice President of Finance.  After several promotions, in August 2014, he became president and CEO. In 2011, he earned his Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation.

Under his leadership, Travis CU grew to be the 12th largest credit union in California with 24 branches, $4.7 billion in assets, and more than 217,000 members.

Travis CU has been recognized at the state and national level for continuously delivering more than expected by seeking new ways to help the members and community.

Award Video

Erin Mendez, CCE

President/CEO
Patelco Credit Union

Pleasanton, California

Erin has been leading Patelco CU as CEO since 2013. In 2012, she earned her Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation. In 2021, she joined the Patelco Credit Union Board of Directors.

Erin spearheaded the credit union’s evolution from a rate- and fee-focused institution into a mission-driven organization focused on the financial health and well-being of the communities it serves. Under her leadership, Patelco has grown from $3.9 billion to over $8.9 billion in assets.

The San Francisco Business Times listed her as one of the top five people to know in the Tri-Valley.

Award Video

Sterling Nielsen, CPA

President/CEO
Mountain America CU

Sandy, Utah 

Sterling became president/CEO of Mountain America Credit Union during the banking crisis in 2008.

Under his leadership, Mountain America CU has grown over $5 billion in assets and added over 20 branches throughout the intermountain west. The strategies he set forth allowed the credit union to grow at an average of 17.39% from 2016 to 2018. 

He was named the 2019 CUES Outstanding Chief Executive. And he was selected by Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce as one of the 2018 Titan Award recipients.

Award Video

Paul Kelly

Retired CEO
connectFirst Credit Union

Calgary, Alberta

Paul joined connectFirst in 1995 as the VP/finance in what was then First Calgary Savings. After two other promotions, in 2009, he was appointed as president/CEO.

Through a strong focus on sustainable growth, Paul was instrumental in bringing together First Calgary Financial and Chinook Credit Union to form Connect First Credit Union in 2014.

The success of this growth strategy also saw mergers with Legacy Credit Union in 2017 and Mountain View Credit Union in 2018.

In 2021, he oversaw the CU’s rebrand as connectFirst.

Award Video