2024 Inductees

Donna Bland serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden 1 Credit Union, one of the nation’s largest credit unions. Originally joining Golden 1 in 1994 before being named President and CEO in 2010, Donna has dedicated her career to improving the financial lives of Californians.

Under Donna’s leadership as CEO, Golden 1 has tripled its assets and doubled its membership, serving more than 1.1 million members throughout California as of 2024. During this time, Golden 1 became the first credit union to be granted statewide field of membership in California, allowing anyone who lives or regularly works in the state to join as a member. With Donna at the helm, Golden 1 has evolved into a leading credit union of choice, delivering financial solutions, products, resources, and support that members and communities need to thrive. In addition to this work, Golden 1 has brought free financial education programs and resources to communities throughout California to advance financial equity and well-being. Donna’s passion for the credit union industry goes beyond advancing Golden 1 as a leading financial institution. This passion is built upon, and driven by, the positive benefits that credit unions have in changing lives and advancing financial empowerment throughout the state.

Beyond Golden 1, Donna has served on the Board of Directors for the California Credit Union League, Credit Union Direct Lending, and the Greater Sacramento Economic Council. She has served on the Fast Company Impact Council, Visa Executive Client Council, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation’s Credit Union Advisory Committee, and the CUNA Credit Union Powers Subcommittee. Among others, Donna has been recognized as one of American Banker’s “Most Powerful Women in Credit Unions,” Women We Admire’s “Top 100 Women in Finance,” and the Leadership California “Trailblazer Award.”

Judy McCartney’s remarkable career in credit unions began in 1968 in Alaska, where she managed a one-person credit union for Wien Air Alaska. Serving 856 employees across 99 remote villages, Judy played a vital role in helping employees transition from a barter-based economy to urban financial systems, providing essential education on cash, credit, and insurance. Her early success demonstrated her commitment to member service and financial literacy.

Judy’s innovative spirit continued at FAA Western FCU, where she launched the "Mean Green Machine" program, teaching middle schoolers financial responsibility through small loans. This program, which required young members to demonstrate a source of income and repay loans, gained national recognition for its effectiveness in promoting financial education.

In 1982, Judy joined Orange County’s Credit Union as an assistant manager, overseeing $60 million in assets. By 1985, she became the first woman to serve as CEO, leading the credit union to nearly $1 billion in assets and expanding its services throughout Orange County, California. Her leadership was transformative, fostering a diverse culture of member-focused service and community engagement.

Judy is a champion for women and underserved. In 2009, she helped establish the WOCCU Global Women's Leadership Network, supporting the advancement of women leaders worldwide. Her numerous accolades, including induction into the Credit Union Executive Society Hall of Fame and the Leo J. Shapiro Lifetime Achievement Award, reflect her profound impact. Judy’s legacy is one of innovation, leadership, and a steadfast dedication to fostering inclusivity and excellence in the credit union industry.

Tansley Stearns embodies an unwavering spirit, where "no" is a foreign concept. Having dedicated her entire career to transforming leadership in credit unions, her journey epitomizes dedication to community impact. Tansley's boundless enthusiasm fuels a culture that places people at the core. Her influence over credit unions is traced from BestSource Credit Union, where she launched her career, to her impact on credit unions nationwide. Tansley exudes a legacy of service, empathy, and an ever-present smile that invigorates and uplifts every community she touches.

In her current role as President & CEO, Tansley’s legacy is taking shape as an innovative strategist dedicated to closing the gender gap, ensuring that future generations of women leaders catalyze the unparalleled transformation our movement requires well into the future. As a champion of financial wellness, Tansley has launched groundbreaking initiatives, including programs to reduce the financial burden of cancer, address the disparities in affordable housing, engage students in activated financial literacy, and reduce financial barriers for domestic violence survivors. She leads the organizations she serves to systematically commit to deeper social equity and community support. As the chief impact officer at Filene Research Institute, Tansley forged connections between academia, credit unions, and Silicon Valley, amplifying research's practical influence.

Tansley is a respected thought leader in the industry. Whether through her thought-provoking writing or speaking engagements at major industry events globally, her dedication to nurturing talent is evident in her mentorship of future leaders. She is also the founder and board chair of In the Cellar, a CU4Kids marquee annual event raising funds for local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, with an emphasis on mental health programs. Tansley Stearns empowers others to dream the impossible and make it a reality.

Crystal Long, President and CEO of GECU in El Paso, Texas, has been a transformative leader in the credit union movement for over 40 years. Starting as a file clerk at age 19, she advanced through roles such as teller, Operations Manager, Vice President of Lending, and Executive Vice President before becoming CEO in 2011. Under her leadership, GECU has grown to become El Paso’s largest credit union, with over $4.4 billion in assets and serving over 430,000 members.

In 2021, Crystal guided GECU through its transition to a federally chartered credit union, expanding its service area to communities across Texas and New Mexico. This milestone granted GECU the largest field of membership area ever awarded by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Her innovative strategies, including the award-winning GECU Neighborhood Branch concept and advancements in digital technology have solidified GECU’s leadership in financial services.

Outside of GECU, Crystal is a committed advocate for credit union development and global outreach. As a Certified Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE), she fosters a culture of learning and service. Her global impact was highlighted by her field visit to Kenya with the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), where she promoted financial inclusion and economic empowerment.

Crystal’s exceptional contributions were recognized with the 2019 Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement and the Greg Inman Servant Leadership award in 2024 underscoring her significant impact and dedication to the credit union movement. Crystal also serves on Boards at the local, state and national levels.

Patsy Van Ouwerkerk is a distinguished leader in the credit union movement, celebrated for her transformative contributions and enduring influence. As CEO of Travis Credit Union in Vacaville, CA, from 2002 to 2014, she led the credit union through significant growth, doubling its assets from $1.1 billion to $2.2 billion, expanding its branch network by 14 locations, and successfully managing two mergers. Her visionary leadership cemented Travis CU's role as a key community partner, with a strong focus on member value and financial education.

Her career began at Coast Central FCU, followed by Golden 1 CU, where she advanced from an entry-level position to senior vice president over 15 years. Prior to her tenure at Travis CU, Van Ouwerkerk served as CEO of Alliance CU, where she managed its conversion to a multi-state community charter, and led Columbia Community CU.

Van Ouwerkerk’s extensive involvement includes board roles with Western CUNA Management School, the California Credit Union League, CU Direct Lending, Credit Union Executive Society (CUES), CO-OP Financial Services, and the Filene Research Institute. She was a founding member of the Global Women’s Leadership Network and received the Athena Award in 2022, recognizing her significant impact on women in the industry.

After retiring, Van Ouwerkerk achieved her Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) designation and continues to champion the credit union sector through consulting, fundraising, and active involvement with the Global Women’s Leadership Network and WOCCU’s international initiatives. Her dedication to developing and mentoring others, lifelong learning, and advancing the industry remains steadfast.

Joanne Todd's passion for the Credit Union and Cooperative Movements began at age 19 when she managed a small manufacturing credit union. She now serves as the President/CEO of low-income designated Northeast Family Federal Credit Union. As a servant leader, she works alongside a multicultural team dedicated to addressing the varied needs of each member. Joanne leads with purpose, collaborating with members to strengthen community. She established a branch and internship programs at local high schools, where students gain financial services and literacy skills. She is a catalyst for financial inclusion in Northeast Connecticut.

As a devoted International Credit Union Development Educator (I-CUDE), Joanne’s impact extends globally. She co-founded American Friends of Kenya, focusing on building libraries and delivering financial education in underserved African communities. Her role in the inaugural Africa DE Mentor group was pivotal in advancing the Development Educator (DE) movement, mentoring local leaders, and establishing sustainable financial education programs.

Joanne’s influence reaches beyond her credit union, shaping financial education and inclusion through her roles in the Education Credit Union Council, Global Women’s Leadership Network, Credit Union League of Connecticut, Credit Unions Building Financial Independence Foundation, Credit Union Women’s Leadership Alliance, and leadership in myriad local collaborative organizations.

Joanne’s unwavering commitment to leadership, diversity, and community empowerment reflects her vision and inspires future generations in the Credit Union Movement.

Caroline Willard, President and CEO of Cornerstone League, Cornerstone Resources, and the Cornerstone Foundation since 2017, is a distinguished credit union leader with over 20 years of experience in the movement. After working at a thrift in the 90s, Caroline worked at American First Credit Union and then Co-op Solutions, where she excelled in mergers and acquisitions, marketing, and strategic planning. While at Cornerstone League, she orchestrated the 2023 merger with the Heartland Credit Union Association, expanding Cornerstone’s services across five states, representing nearly 700 credit unions and benefiting over 14 million members.

Willard’s commitment to the credit union industry is evident through her board roles with the American Association of Credit Union Leagues, CUES (including a term as Chairman), Credit Unions for Kids, and Plexcity. She also served on the Credit Union National Association Board of Directors for five years, advancing to Vice Chairman before helping to negotiate the merger with NAFCU to form America’s Credit Unions.

In 2022, Willard showcased her global dedication by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with the African Confederation of Cooperative Savings and Credit Associations (ACCOSCA), raising funds for a credit union training center in Nairobi. This endeavor underscored her commitment to international credit union development and personal growth.
As a League President, she serves as a thought leader for advocacy issues such as field of membership legislation and the Credit Card Competition Act, reflecting her pivotal role in shaping the future of credit unions and financial services.