Legacies - The California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues

Legacies
A tribute to three California credit union leaders
Periodicals Supplement to Credit Union Digest | Vol. 40 | No. 3a | April/May 2014
Rudy Hanley
Patsy Van Ouwerkerk
Jim Updike
They retire this year, but their impact
on our movement is unforgettable.
“Credit unions have benefited tremendously from the tireless efforts
and unwavering commitment of these three courageous leaders. We
are grateful for their innumerable contributions to the movement,
their distinguished tenures as CEOs, and their lifelong friendships.”
—Diana Dykstra, President and CEO of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues
Rudy Hanley
CEO of SchoolsFirst FCU (Santa Ana, CA)
“Rudy is simply one of the most
remarkable people the credit union
movement has ever known. He is
an ardent evangelist of the credit
union philosophy, and a gifted
communicator who connects with
people as he collaborates. He inspires
everyone he touches to be part of
something bigger.”
—Shruti Miyashiro,
CEO of Orange County’s CU
“I had the good fortune of working for
Rudy early in my credit union career.
Almost every success I’ve had in the
credit union movement is because of
what I learned from Rudy. He taught
me about the credit union philosophy,
serving others, and leading others
through sincere interest and
compassion.”
—Darren Williams,
CEO of Wescom CU
Rudy Hanley’s career is marked by more than four decades in
credit unions, with 32 years as CEO of SchoolsFirst FCU. Under his
leadership, SchoolsFirst grew into the fifth largest credit union in the
nation, and the largest in California, with 584,000 members and more
than $10 billion in assets.
A Hungarian immigrant—and originally a tax and small business
consultant—Hanley’s credit union career started in the California
Credit Union League’s Research and Information Department before
taking the helm at SchoolsFirst in 1982.
Throughout his career, he served on the boards of the California
League, Credit Union National Association, CUNA Strategic Services,
CUNA Mutual Group, Western CUNA Management School, and the
Consumer Federation of America.
Hanley is a founding member of Filene Research Institute, and also
helped form Comunidad Latina FCU. He is chairman of Trust for
Credit Unions, a family of mutual fund investments offered exclusively
to credit unions.
Hanley is also the recipient of several awards, including the 2014
Buck Levins Award, honoring him for defending the credit union
philosophy through advocacy efforts, as well as the League’s Unsung
Hero Award in 2010, which honors credit union individuals with at
least 20 years of service and who have made significant contributions
in the community.
He also received the 2011 Herb Wegner Memorial Award from the
National Credit Union Foundation for his individual achievements
within the credit union movement.
periodicals supplement to credit union digest | april/may 2014 | members first
3
Patsy Van Ouwerkerk
CEO of Travis CU (Vacaville, CA)
“Whatever will this credit union
system do without Patsy Van
Ouwerkerk? She has been a stalwart
champion of women in leadership
long before anyone talked about the
necessity for it. She has built loyalties
that will last her entire life. I am truly
honored to call her my dear friend.”
—Teresa Freeborn,
CEO of Xceed Financial FCU and Chairman of
the California Credit Union League
“Patsy has been a friend of credit
unions for her entire career. She
has helped guide many important
components of the credit union
system, including the California
Credit Union League, CO-OP Financial
Services, CU Direct Corporation, and
the Credit Union Executives Society. I
am proud to have worked with her at
Golden 1 Credit Union in Sacramento
and to watch her grow in her career
as CEO of several credit unions leading
up to her current position.”
During her 38-year career, Patsy Van Ouwerkerk has played leadership
roles in both large and small credit unions—beginning at Coast FCU
in 1975. In 2002 she joined Travis CU, where the credit union nearly
doubled in assets to $2.1 billion over a 12-year period, and now serves
more than 160,000 members.
In 2007, Van Ouwerkerk was awarded the California and Nevada
Credit Union Leagues’ Distinguished Service Award. She also received
the Leo H. Shapiro Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013—the
California Credit Union League’s highest honor—for her lifetime of
contributions to the California credit union movement.
She has served as League chairman in 2002, and on the boards of
Western CUNA Management School, CO-OP Financial Services,
Richard Myles Johnson Foundation, and Filene Research Institute.
Additionally, she is a founder of the World Council of Credit Union’s
Global Women’s Leadership Network, and has chaired fundraising
activities for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Van Ouwerkerk was a strong advocate for credit unions in the years
leading up to passage of the Credit Union Membership Access Act in
1998. She was also instrumental in developing the North Bay Political
Action Committee in Northern California, as well as establishing a
government affairs and legislative relations committee at Travis CU.
She was inducted into the Credit Union Executives Society’s Hall of
Fame in 1997.
—Stan Hollen,
CEO of CO-OP Financial Services
periodicals supplement to credit union digest | april/may 2014 | members first
5
Jim Updike
CEO of Honda FCU (Torrance, CA)
“Jim was a Navy corpsman in Vietnam
during the fiercest combat. Although
wounded in combat, the Marines kept
him alive to fight future battles as
chairman of the WesCorp board. None
have stood taller than this bearded, soft
spoken, ‘get things done’ professional.
The credit union movement and the
Richard Myles Johnson Foundation took
giant steps forward on his watch.”
—Richard Johnson, Board Director of the
Richard Myles Johnson Foundation, and former
CEO of Western Corporate FCU (WesCorp)
“I once had the privilege of auditing
credit unions while working for Richards
and Associates, CPAs. My boss once
asked: ‘Which of our California clients
has the most potential for greatness?’ I
offered that Honda Federal Credit Union,
which was $9 million, could evolve into
an almost unimaginable $50 million
credit union if it found a visionary leader.
Jim was hired within the next year. ‘Not
only did they hire the right guy,’ I told my
supervisor, ‘but I’m doubling down on
Honda’s potential. Mark my words, they
will be a $100 million credit union by the
time Jim retires’.”
—Gary Perez, CEO of USC CU
After 26 years as CEO of Honda FCU and 42 years working in the
credit union movement, Jim Updike is transitioning to a senior advisor
position at the credit union until May 2015. During his career, Honda
FCU grew to $625 million in assets, with a membership of 62,000 in
multiple states.
Before joining the Honda FCU family in 1986, Updike was CEO of
California Coast CU and NCR West FCU, and was responsible for the
first ever share-draft program at San Diego Gas and Electric CU.
He has served as a board member of the Richard Myles Johnson
Foundation since 2005, and in the capacity of chairman for several
years. His involvement has been instrumental in the success of
advancing financial literacy, including raising thousands of dollars on
behalf of the foundation.
Updike was also active on the California and Nevada Credit Union
Leagues’ Government Relations Committee, the California League’s
board of directors, and Western Corporate FCU’s board from 1995
to 2003, serving as chairman during his last two years of service.
Additionally, he served as chairman of the League’s International Task
Force, as well as in various fundraising roles for Children’s Miracle
Network Hospitals.
A distinguished leader, Updike was honored with the Leagues’ Unsung
Hero Award, recognizing credit union influencers with at least 20
years of service, and who have made significant contributions in the
community.
periodicals supplement to credit union digest | april/may 2014 | members first
7