The CU Leadership Convention is proud to announce nominations are currently being accepted for the Neoteric Changemaker Award for 2024, named after the first recipient of the award, Renée Sattiewhite, CEO and President of the African-American Credit Union Coalition.

This national award recognizes those who have demonstrated personal perseverance, advanced the cause of “people helping people,” advocated for relevant ideation and created positive programming for leaders. The unique name of the award was selected because it represents the literal meaning of the word neoteric: A modern person who advocates for new ideas.

Deadline for nominations is 11:59 pm Eastern, June 10, 2024. Only 1 nomination per person is allowed.

Nomination Requirements:

Anyone may submit a nomination for the Renée Sattiewhite Neoteric Changemaker Award. Nominations must clearly document why the candidate or team should be considered, above all others, for this distinguished award.

Nominations must contain sufficient information to inform the selection process without additional research. Complete nominations must include the nominee's (or team members') curriculum vitae or resume(s). While a CV or resume provides the committee with a more comprehensive overview of the nominee's (or team members’) accomplishments and experiences, it is not a substitute for any of the required items listed below. After reviewing initial nomination submissions, the committee may request reference letters to assist in the evaluation of the nominees under consideration.

The following is a list of examples that may be considered in the evaluation process:

• Demonstrated an exceptional ability to make change happen in the credit union sector with a focus on modernizing the purpose of “people, helping people.”
• A body of work that has had a broad impact on the advancement of the credit union movement within society.
• Exceptional display of volunteerism within the credit union movement outside organizational or job description.
• Been a role model or mentor for others and epitomized the true meaning of being a Changemaker – putting ideas into action.
• Unwavering/Enduring commitment to achieving diversity, equity, inclusion and sense of belonging for a broad audience of stakeholders, across all demographic segments understanding that allyship is paramount to all sustainable initiatives.

Recognition

Recipient(s) will receive an award with their name engraved, which recipient(s) may keep. Each recipient(s) will also receive two complimentary registrations to the 2025 CU Leadership Conference.

Submit Nominations

About Renée Sattiewhite

The Neoteric Changemaker Award is named after the first recipient of this prestigious award. Renée Sattiewhite, CEO and President of the African-American Credit Union Coalition, sets the standard as someone who has demonstrated personal perseverance, advanced the cause of “people helping people,” advocated for relevant ideation, and created positive programming for leaders.

“Modernizing the social impact of the credit union industry is vital to sustainability and to robust connection with future generations,“ noted Susan Mitchell, Chair of the Neoteric Changemaker Award Governance Committee, who presented the award on July 27, 2023 at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. “We must urgently pursue ways to revitalize our cooperative vision to what is relevant in today’s society and only aspirational leadership can do it. Renée Sattiewhite is that aspirational leader in the credit union movement.”

Committee members serving on inaugural award committee passionately agreed Renée Sattiewhite has enhanced the credit union movement, emphasized the critical need for diversity, pioneered allyship and relentlessly advocated for all humans. She speaks for equity. She also has shown that it takes bravery and some personal risk when advocating for change knowing that if one stands alone, eventually others will join her. 

“The creation of the award is to honor an individual who has overcome tremendous challenges to create change in the credit union movement and was very clear that the first award should go to Renée as she is the definition of a changemaker,” said Dennis Sullivan, Chairman of the CU Leadership Convention. “There are few people who have done so much for the industry and made DEI a rallying cry for all credit unions nationwide.”

The Neoteric Changemaker Award will be presented each year at the CU Leadership Convention and is open to anyone within the credit union movement who advocates for new ideas.