The Foundation Dinner Presenting the Herb Wegner Memorial Awards

Celebrating the innovators of the credit union movement.

2024 nominations now open

About the Foundation Dinner

The Foundation Dinner is our primary fundraising event. The generosity and support of attendees and sponsors directly affects our ability to catalyze change through credit unions.

A mainstay of the annual event is the Herb Wegner Memorial Awards ceremony—the credit union movement’s highest national honors.

Herb Wegner Memorial Awards

The Herb Wegner Memorial Awards were established in 1988 to honor the memory of Herbert G. Wegner. The National Credit Union Foundation is proud to recognize leaders, programs and organizations that, like Herb Wegner, make a lasting impact on the credit union movement.

Nominations for the 2024 Herb Wegner Memorial Awards are now open and can be made in two categories:

Outstanding Individual Achievement, honoring an individual dedicated to promoting the credit union philosophy, whose leadership has had a lasting impact on the credit union movement.
Outstanding Organization or Program, honoring innovative institutions or initiatives that have measurably improved the local, national, or international credit union system.

To submit a nomination, complete and return the Herb Wegner Memorial Awards Nomination Packet with a minimum of five supportive references.

Deadline for submission is Friday, July 28, 2023, at 5 PM CT.

2023 Herb Wegner Memorial Award winners

Linda Bodie

For decades, Linda Bodie, CEO + Innovator at Element Federal Credit Union, has had a head-down, sleeves-up approach to improving the credit union system. Her tireless pursuit of innovation has helped credit unions (particularly the smallest) understand the challenges and opportunities to staying relevant in an increasingly disrupted marketplace—all to ensure the system can meet its mission of improving financial well-being for all.

Bodie was recognized with an Outstanding Individual Achievement Award.

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Linda Bodie, CEO + Innovator, Element Federal Credit Union

Brian Branch

In early 2021, Dr. Brian Branch announced his retirement as President & CEO of the World Council (WOCCU). It marked the conclusion of a decades-long career spent bringing the credit union difference to where it was most needed, no matter how distant or dangerous.

Branch was recognized with an Outstanding Individual Achievement Award.

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Dr. Brian Branch, former President & CEO, WOCCU

Bill Cheney

As CEO of California’s SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Cheney has overseen a sustained period of incredible growth—doubling membership and almost tripling in asset size since 2015. This has been accomplished through a relentless commitment to world-class, personal service; ensuring measurable outcomes for his 1.2 million members’ financial well-being, and supporting the U.S. and global credit union movement both financially and strategically.

Cheney was recognized with an Outstanding Individual Achievement Award.

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Bill Cheney, CEO, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

Winona Nava

Ask someone who knows her well to pinpoint the most impressive thing Winona Nava has accomplished during her nearly half-century career with New Mexico credit unions. They’ll struggle to decide. After all, when career highlights include taking over a credit union in conservatorship—then growing its assets from $10 million to $270 million—playing a key role in convincing your state to pass legislation that allows people to get a driver’s license without citizenship documentation, and spending 16 years combating predatory lending and helping pass legislation that lowered the interest rate cap from 175% to 36% … it’s pretty hard to choose.

Nava was recognized with an Outstanding Individual Achievement Award.

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