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.
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.
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.
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.
Previous Winners

Ed Bergen, CCD, CCE
President/CEO
Sunova Credit Union Limited
Selkirk, Manitoba

Tyrone Muse
President/CEO
Vision Federal Credit Union
Endicott, New York

Kit Snyder, CCE
President/CEO
Consumers CU
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Stewart Ramsey, CCD, CIE, CCE
Retired President/CEO
Pen Air Federal Credit Union
Pensacola, Florida
Check out his Award Video!
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Maurice Smith
President/CEO
Local Government Federal Credit Union
Civic Federal Credit Union
Raleigh, North Carolina
Check out his Award Video!
Joe Hearn, CCE
President/CEO
Dupaco Community Credit Union
Dubuque, IA
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Stephanie Sherrod, CCE
President/CEO
TDECU
Lake Jackson, TX
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Greg Smith
Retired President/CEO
PSECU
Harrisburg, PA
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Kim Sponem
President/CEO
Summit Credit Union
Madison, WI
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Al Suraci, CCE
Retired CEO
Northern Credit Union
Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario
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Marty Komsa
Retired President/CEO
Windsor Family Credit Union
Windsor, Ontario
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Eileen Rivera
Retired President/CEO
Skyone Federal Credit Union
Hawthorne, CA
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Cathie Tierney, CCUE
Retired President/CEO
Community First Credit Union
Appleton, WI
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Douglas A. Fecher, CCE
President/CEO
Wright-Patt Credit Union, Inc.
Fairborn, OH
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Michael G. Valentine
President/CEO
BCU
Vernon Hills, IL
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Sally A. Dischler, CCUE, CCE
President/CEO
Heartland Credit Union
Madison, WI
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Joseph A. Melbourne, Jr.
President/CEO
CFE Federal Credit Union
Lake Mary, FL
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William A. Raker, CCE
President/CEO
Firefly Credit Union
Burnsville, MN
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