Christina Mullins Won CUES Emerging Leader Award
The senior lending specialist was honored following a project pitch at the national CUES Emerge competition.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Scholarships
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Christina Mullins, a senior lending resources specialist at State Employees' CU, has been named the 2026 CUES Emerging Leader. The recognition follows a final project pitch event featuring five finalists selected from the credit union leadership program.
Why it matters
The CUES Emerge program is designed to cultivate future credit union executives through professional development. Winners gain access to exclusive leadership coaching and assessments intended to enhance their ability to lead within their institutions.
The CUES Emerge program selected 5 finalists in early 2026 from across the industry. The three top award winners received a professional educational package including leadership assessment and coaching.
The players
Christina Mullins
She serves as a senior lending resources specialist at State Employees' CU and was the winner of the 2026 CUES Emerging Leader award.
Justin Thompson
He is one of the two runners-up named for the 2026 CUES Emerge program.
Brandon White
He is one of the two runners-up named for the 2026 CUES Emerge program.
Tim McAlpine
He served as the host for the online pitch show where finalists presented their final projects.
The details
Finalists participated in a series of live online courses and Mastermind sessions throughout the year to prepare for their final evaluations. During an online pitch show, participants presented their business case projects to a panel of expert judges.
Timeline
Early 2026: Five finalists were selected for the CUES Emerge program.
October 7, 2026: Finalists presented projects during an online pitch show.
January 2027: Applications for the 2027 CUES Emerge program open.
Culture Shift
This recognition aligns with a broader societal shift toward professional certification and mentorship programs as primary drivers of executive advancement in the financial sector. The program reflects a growing trend of credit unions investing in leadership pipelines to secure long-term institutional stability.
Aspiring leaders within the credit union industry can use this professional development track to refine their project management and pitch capabilities. Interested professionals should monitor application timelines to leverage these coaching resources for their own career advancement.
The takeaway
The CUES Emerge program highlights the importance of pitching structured business solutions as a way to demonstrate leadership potential. Professionals looking to advance their careers should prioritize developing actionable business cases that can solve real-world institutional challenges.
What happens next
Applications for the 2027 CUES Emerge program are scheduled to open in January 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about career growth opportunities in our Scholarships section.
More information
For more information, visit the CUES Emerge program information.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CUToday.
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