Ever wonder what it looks like when leadership actually works?
CUES just dropped its 2026 award lineup, and these aren’t your run-of-the-mill participation trophies. We’re talking about real people doing real work—the kind that doubles assets, builds inclusive cultures, and leaves a legacy worth talking about.
Let’s meet the winners.
Chris Harlan: The CEO Who Gets It
Chris Harlan, CEO of University of Illinois Community Credit Union, snagged the CUES Outstanding Chief Executive award. And honestly? The numbers speak for themselves.
Between 2019 and 2026, Harlan helped the credit union double its assets and grow membership by over 35%. But here’s what really stands out: his focus on empowering employees led to the credit union landing on the Top 25 Best Credit Unions to Work For in America list five years running. Five. Years.
The Outstanding Chief Executive award goes to leaders who nail the trifecta—professional achievement, employee motivation, and community dedication. Harlan checks all three boxes, including launching a partnership program that brings financial education directly to community employees and their families. That’s the kind of move that creates ripple effects.
Kenneth Ampy: The Board Member Every Credit Union Needs
Kenneth Ampy, CCD, Immediate Past Chairman of Virginia Credit Union, earned the CUES Distinguished Director Award. This one recognizes volunteers whose work strengthens their entire organization—not just shows up for meetings.
Ampy guided his board through some seriously choppy waters: post-pandemic recovery and a merger process that could have gone sideways in a dozen different ways. His approach? Sound judgment, integrity, and collaboration. Basically, he kept everyone focused on what actually matters—members, employees, and long-term organizational health.
A graduate of both CUES Strategic Growth Institute and CUES Governance Leadership Institute, Ampy also proves that great directors never stop learning. It’s a reminder that effective governance isn’t something you figure out once and forget about.
LAFCU: Building a Culture That Actually Includes People
LAFCU won the John Pembroke Catalyst for Change Award, which recognizes credit unions making diversity, equity, and inclusion more than just a bullet point in a mission statement.
Under CEO Kelli Ellsworth Etchison’s leadership, DEI became woven into how LAFCU operates day-to-day. We’re talking a representative employee committee, thoughtful learning experiences, and multicultural celebrations that grew so big they became community events. That’s what happens when you ground inclusion in empathy, action, and accountability—not just talk about it in quarterly reports.
Gerry Agnes: A Career’s Worth of Showing Up
The CUES Hall of Fame inductee is Gerry Agnes, retired CEO of Elevations Credit Union. This honor isn’t handed out lightly—it recognizes lifetime achievement and contributions to the entire credit union movement.
Agnes retired in February 2026 after 17 years leading Elevations and 25 years as a CUES member. His resume includes eight years on the CUES Arizona/Southern California Council Board and six years on the CUES Board itself. That’s a quarter-century of learning, leading, and giving back to an industry he clearly believes in.
Why This Matters
“These honorees exemplify the leadership, courage, and commitment that move the credit union industry forward,” said Brian Cacic, CUES VP/Member Experience. “From delivering meaningful growth and strong governance to creating cultures of belonging and modeling a lifetime of service, their impact reaches far beyond their own organizations.”
He’s right. These aren’t awards for hitting arbitrary benchmarks. They’re recognition for the kind of work that actually changes organizations and communities.
Mark Your Calendar
Want to see these leaders get their moment? The CUES Distinguished Director Award and John Pembroke Catalyst for Change Award will be presented at CUES Directors Conference, December 6-9, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.
The CUES Outstanding Chief Executive Award and CUES Hall of Fame induction happen at CUES Symposium, January 31-February 4, 2027, in Marco Island, Florida. There’s a newly added Awards & Recognition Luncheon presented by Visa, whose sponsorship reflects a shared commitment to celebrating the people shaping the future of credit unions.
In other words: leadership that matters, being recognized the way it should be.