Bill Cheney to be Honored with Herb Wegner Memorial Award
SchoolsFirst FCU CEO and long-time credit union leader Bill Cheney is one of four honorees of this year’s Herb Wegner Memorial Award announced this week by the National Credit Union Foundation — the U.S. credit union movement’s highest national honor!
“Through their vision, leadership, and commitment to the cooperative principles they have displayed — and continue to embody — this year’s honorees have made an immeasurable impact on financial wellbeing at a global level,” said Gigi Hyland, executive director of the Foundation. “By celebrating their storied achievements, the Foundation seeks to catalyze all of us to do as much as we can to ensure everyone can achieve financial freedom through credit unions.”
The award — now in its 34th year — is named in honor of the Credit Union National Association’s (CUNA) late CEO Herb Wegner from several years ago, whose tireless dedication and innovative ideas and deeds truly revolutionized the way credit unions serve their communities. It recognizes his spirit of innovative, creative, risk-taking leadership and “remains a symbol of human service” each year,” Hyland said.
This year’s four winners have collectively dedicated almost 150 years to the credit union movement. Cheney’s fellow honorees include Linda Bodie, CEO and innovator of Element FCU (West Virginia); Brian Branch, former president and CEO of the World Council of Credit Unions (Wisconsin); and Winona Nava, CEO of Guadalupe CU (New Mexico).
Cheney and the others will be celebrated at the Foundation’s Annual Dinner on Feb. 27, 2023, held in conjunction with the CUNA’s Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington D.C. It’s the first time since 2018 that four individuals will receive this prestigious award.
The Foundation Dinner is the nonprofit’s primary fundraising event. In addition to the Herb Wegner Memorial Award presentation, the event highlights the Foundation’s impact and work to improve people’s financial lives through credit unions. Additional dinner information, individual tickets, and sponsorship opportunities are available here.
For more than 30 years, Cheney has played a significant role in the credit union movement, first serving in community and employee-based credit unions, followed by roles as president and CEO of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues and president and CEO of CUNA, the nation’s largest advocacy group for credit unions.
Cheney worked in Washington, D.C. and throughout the country representing America’s credit unions before the White House, Congress, and federal government agencies. A common thread throughout his career has been his unwavering commitment to helping all members thrive, advancing efforts to support diversity and inclusion, and championing the credit union cooperative’s principles.
In 2021, Cheney was awarded the Leo H. Shapiro Lifetime Achievement Award by the California Credit Union League, recognizing excellence in credit union philosophy and a lifetime of contributions to the credit union industry. It is the League’s highest honor, named after Leo H. Shapiro, the “father” of the California credit union movement and founder of the California League.
The Leagues would like to congratulate Cheney on being honored with the Herb Wegner Memorial Award — and thank him once again for his many contributions to the credit union movement!
