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NCBA CLUSA board member Juan Fernández among inaugural Maurice R. Smith DEI Leadership award recipients

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Recipients were selected based on their DEI thought leadership; demonstrated commitment and passion to engage others in DEI; and the social impact of their work within the credit union community.

The African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC) has named the inaugural Maurice R. Smith DEI Leadership Award recipients, who will be honored during the 25th Anniversary AACUC Annual Conference on July 19, 2023 at the Atlanta Evergreen Lakeside Resort in Stone Mountain, Georgia. The honorees include four individuals and one organization:

  • Martin Eakes, CEO, Self-Help Credit Union and Self-Help Federal Credit Union
  • Juan Fernández, President/CEO, Credit Union Association of New Mexico
  • Gigi Hyland, Executive Director, National Credit Union Foundation
  • Diane Rector, Consumer Affairs Analyst, National Credit Union Administration
  • Self-Help Credit Union

Fernández is president and CEO of the Credit Union Association of New Mexico (CUANM). Over the course of his nearly 20-year credit union tenure, which he began as a teller during college, he has led credit union community development efforts in New York, assisting them in seizing opportunities to serve unmet needs in their communities and achieving sustainable growth. He and his team are credited with drafting successful legislative initiatives to lower the compliance burden and enable credit unions to reach more markets and communities. He recently launched programs to help New Mexico credit unions achieve CDFI certification and serve needs that went unmet by other financial institutions. Fernández is also a recently reelected member of NCBA CLUSA’s Board of Directors.

Learn more about the recipients

Earlier this year, the AACUC Board of Directors voted unanimously to rename the organization’s DEI Trailblazer Award to the Maurice R. Smith DEI Leadership Award in honor of retired CEO of both Local Government Federal Credit Union and Civic Federal Credit Union and current AACUC Board Chairman. Honorees are selected based on the following criteria:

  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) thought leadership
  • Demonstrated commitment and passion for engaging others in DEI
  • Social impact of their work in the credit union community and our society

“Everyone in the credit union movement not only knows who Maurice R. Smith is, but they also revere his efforts and accomplishments to make our movement more diverse, equitable and inclusive.” – Renée Sattiewhite, president and CEO, AACUC

“Everyone in the credit union movement not only knows who Maurice R. Smith is, but they also revere his efforts and accomplishments to make our movement more diverse, equitable and inclusive,” AACUC president and CEO Renée Sattiewhite said. “In the spirit of what and for whom the Maurice R. Smith DEI Leadership Award stands, I couldn’t think of a more prolific inaugural set of individuals and organizations to represent our beloved Maurice R. Smith.”

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