Thank you for joining us for a Special CTC Friday Conversation: "Meet the Credit Union Women's Leadership Alliance (CUWLA)." 

WHO IS CUWLA?

Leaders of the credit union movement who are passionate about sharing ideas, building a diverse, inclusive network, and supporting the communities we serve. Founded in 2020, membership is now 215 strong and growing.  

Why CUWLA exists?

Small organizations are crucial to the future of the credit union movement. Through bold, open, and engaged communication and innovative ideas, we provide a safe space for women CEOs of credit unions with asset sizes of $300 million or less.

Our esteemed panelists were:

• Linda White, Executive Director, Credit Union Women's Leadership Alliance (CUWLA)
• Delana Huling, President/CEO, Baylor Health Care System Credit Union
• Lynette Smith, Chief Engagement Officer, Quantum Governance

Sheilah Montgomery, Retired President/CEO of Florida A&M University Federal Credit Union, moderated the conversation. 

Keep reading to learn more about our participants. 

Linda White

Executive Director

Credit Union Women's Leadership Alliance (CUWLA)

Linda White is the Executive Director and a founding member of the Credit Union Women’s Leadership Alliance (CUWLA), founded in 2020.  She retired in 2022 as CEO of Upward Credit Union, located in Burlingame, CA, where she’d been for 37 years. Linda continues to serve on boards and committees that support the credit union industry and her local community. She is a WCMS Alumni, the 2012 Recipient of the CCUL Distinguished Service Award, and the 2018 recipient of the CCUL Kim Bannan Eternal Flame Award.  In 2019 she received her CU Development Educator (CUDE) designation.  In her spare time, she wrangles her dogs and enjoys road trips with her husband Larry.

Delana Huling

President/CEO

Baylor Health Care System Credit Union

Delana joined the Baylor Health Care System Credit Union team in May of 2022. The $92 million credit union located in Dallas, Texas currently serves the Baylor Scott & White Health employees and campus affiliates. Earlier this year, Delana spearheaded a strategic partnership between BHCSCU, BSW Health, and CONNETICS USA to support the onboarding and financial wellness of over 500 internationally educated nurses.

She has over 20 years of operational leadership in the financial industry with a proven track record in building diverse teams and coalitions to support business growth while leading change to drive organizational peak performance.

Delana earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, Texas. She is an alumnus of the Best Southwest Leadership program (TX) and earned a Diversity and Inclusion certification from Cornell University (NY).  Delana currently serves as President of the AACUC Texas Regional Chapter. She is a member of CUWLA, CUNA CEO and Operations Councils, GWLN, HCUA, and North TX Sister Society.

Lynette Smith

Chief Engagement Officer

 Quantum Governance

Lynette Smith has been in the credit union industry for 33 years. In the past twelve years Lynette has been the President/CEO of TruEnergy FCU (formally Washington Gas Light FCU), her first President position. Other positions in the industry included Vice President/ CFO, Vice President/COO, and Acting CEO.

Lynette also serves on the Board of the African American Credit Union Coalition and on the Board of the Metropolitan Area Credit Union Management Association.
Lynette has represented the credit union industry on Capital Hill, educating Congressmen on the credit industry and our mission of “People Helping People”. For her efforts on Capital Hill in 2008, she was awarded the National Association of Federal Credit Union’s “Paul Revere Award”.

In 2009 Lynette was selected to be a member of the Virginia Credit Union League’s Government Affairs Committee which represents Virginia Credit Union’s legislative efforts at both the state and federal levels.
In 2010, Washington Gas Light FCU received a Marketing National Award from NAFCU for a Loan Promotion for the credit union’s 70th Anniversary Celebration in 2009. Lynette led a panel discussion at the 33rd National Directors Conference, topic was NCUA Examination Concerns.

In 2011, Lynette was nominated by her peers of CEOs in the industry and received from NAFCU, the CEO of the Year Award for credit unions under $150 million in assets. She also gave testimony to the Financial Services Committee on April 6, 2011, in regard to the “Legislative Proposals to Improve the Structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau”. On July 19, 2012, Lynette gave her second testimony to the Financial Services Committee regarding “Who’s in your Wallet? Dodd-Frank’s Impact on Families, Communities and Small Businesses”.

Sheilah Montgomery

Retired President/CEO

Florida A&M University Federal Credit Union

For over four decades, Sheilah Montgomery has advanced the credit union movement mission and financial well-being of members. She serves as CEO of FAMU Federal Credit Union and has served as President/CEO of 1st Choice Credit Union and Credit Union of Atlanta, where she directed mission-critical projects and developed organizational capacity strategies. She is the co-founder of the AACUC, is an African American Credit Union Hall of Fame Inductee, and Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. A Certified Chief Executive, Credit Union Development Educator, and International South Africa CUDE, she has dedicated her career to being a servant leader.