54 Credit Union Leaders From Across The United States Designated As Credit Union Development Educators

Madison, WI (June 24, 2025) – The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) today announced 54 credit union leaders from across the United States, were designated as Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs) after completing the National Credit Union Foundation’s signature Development Education (DE) program in June 2025.  

Delivered as an immersive week-long in-person event, the DE program is a unique, transformative training experience. It provides lessons in credit union structure, purpose and the “why” that differentiates credit unions from other financial institutions. Participants engage in small and large group exercises and interactive speaker sessions focused on the credit union difference, empathy, and financial well-being for all.  

This graduating class joins more than 3,000 credit union advocates from 35 countries who have previously received their CUDE (Credit Union Development Educator) designation.  

“Congratulations to the newest 54 members of the CUDE family! The Foundation’s Credit Union Development Education (DE) program has existed for 43 years. It’s designed to inspire and educate credit union professionals around our collective ‘why’ as a movement and the development issues that present barriers to financial well-being. Participants leave with a deeper understanding of how the credit union system can leverage its cooperative difference and help build stronger communities,” said Foundation Executive Director Lauren Culp. 

The June 2025 DE graduating class included credit union movement representatives from across the United States: 

Abby Ulm, Rize CU

Amanda Boykin, SPC CU

Ashley McCloskey, Peach State FCU

Audra Pettus, Labor FCU

Ben Lemoine, Suncoast CU

Beth Blanton, Skyla Federal Credit Union

Brandi Byrne, Nutmeg State Financial CU

Brittany Eaton, Town and Country FCU

Caitlin Vance, SPC CU

Catherine Porterfield, America’s Credit Unions

Christina Kilson, UEW Co-operative Credit Union Limited

Cooper Larson, Royal Credit Union

Devin Stanfield, PixelSpoke

Emily Griffith, Black Hills Federal Credit Union

Emmeline Garcia, GECU Federal Credit Union

Frieda Afandi, Humanidei

Gilbert Osei-Kwadwo, Apple FCU

Jamie Propst, University of Illinois Community CU

Janette Romero,  Bohol Community Multipurpose Cooperative

Jennifer Harbeck, NCUF

Jenny Jackson, America’s Credit Unions

Jessica Herring, Loyalty Credit Union

Josh Fortuna, Christian Financial Credit Union

Kara Robinson, Tinker FCU

Kate Austin Stanford, TruStage

Katie Fairbairn, Santa Cruz Community CU

Keili McEwen, Tinker FCU

Kirby Boyd, My Community CU

Kristin Robertucci, ORNL FCU

Kristina Kovacevic, First Alliance CU

Lindy Howell, Skyla Federal Credit Union

Lisa Lee, Pelican State CU

Mary Mindieta Bugg, TruWest Credit Union

Matthew Rizzie, Great Lakes CU

Melissa Robinson, The Credit Union League of Conneticut Inc

Mia Peterson, Fox Communities CU

Missy Peters, Community First CU

Monica Gilbert, Financial Health FCU

Nathan Bill, TwinStar CU

Nicole Shaw, Cooperative Choice Network CU  Robert T. James, Velera

Sara D’Souza, Coastal Credit Union

Shayla Gross, Spokane Teachers CU

Shirley K. Smith, Golden 1 Credit Union

Stephanie Barton, Black Hills Federal Credit Union

Stephanie Leahy, Vibe CU

Sterling Clay, Ent CU

Steve Stapp, Unitus Community CU

Taneshia Henderson, Tarrant County’s CU

Tanguela Powers, Neighbors FCU

Taylor Murray, Servistar Consulting

Tina Buttchen, TruStage

Tom J. Kuang, SchoolsFirst FCU

Vanessa Coria, Chartway FCU

The program was facilitated by Montana’s Credit Unions President, Gerry Singleton and John Cassidy, Director of Credit Union System Relations at TruStage and coordinated by Alicia Crotteau, Programs Coordinator at the Foundation. The class was mentored by Marnie Gerkhardt, Ent Credit Union; Kevin Shaw, Illinois Credit Union League; Fe Johnson, UW Credit Union; Andrea Rusnak, Member Access Processing; Robbie Young, CUInsight; and Grace Akinyi Ogolla, African Cooperative Development Foundation.  

Interested in attending DE this year?  

Registration for Virtual DE is still available! To register for an available program or for more information on DE, please visit ncuf.coop/development-education/program. To be added to the notification list to receive DE updates directly to your inbox, please contact [email protected].  

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About the National Credit Union Foundation (ncuf.coop) 

The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) is the charitable arm of the U.S. credit union movement and works as a catalyst to improve people’s financial lives through credit unions. Through grants and programs, the Foundation is strengthening financial well-being, igniting passion and instilling knowledge about the credit union difference, and uniting resources to help credit union people during disaster. Donations to the Foundation ultimately enable credit unions to help their members reach life-changing goals and achieve financial freedom. 

Media Contact: 

Amber Conger 

[email protected]