Every single UFCU Member (and there are more than 360,000 of us) is supported by an amazing team of UFCU employees. Our Members rely upon UFCU to deliver products and services that help them build and maintain financial health, and our employees come to work every day with that goal in mind. Equipping those employees to serve our Members is a key focus of UFCU’s Board of Directors—the eleven individuals, all UFCU Members, who volunteer their time to oversee the strategic direction and activities of our cooperative. In that regard, the Board makes no decision more important than the selection of a Chief Executive Officer for the organization. We had that opportunity in 2022, following the announcement of Tony Budet’s retirement after a remarkable 38 years. Needless to say, we knew that appointing the next leader of the #1 credit union in Central Texas was of the utmost importance. We knew that we needed a leader who could grow UFCU strategically to reach new Members, evolve our culture to one that embraces an entrepreneurial mindset—tech savvy, experimental, and innovative—all while maintaining UFCU’s signature “People Matter” focus. The Board conducted a months-long national search with the assistance of a leading global executive search firm. We were introduced to an array of exceptional candidates whose strong interest in the position is a testament to the strength and reputation of UFCU.