CUES Has Named 2026 Award Recipients
The organization recognized leaders and an institution for their contributions to the credit union movement.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Awards
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CUES has announced its 2026 award recipients, honoring three leaders and one credit union for their professional achievements. The honors include induction into the CUES Hall of Fame and recognition for executive and directorial excellence.
Why it matters
These awards celebrate individuals and organizations that have driven significant growth and innovation within the credit union sector. The recognition highlights the impact of long-term leadership and strategic development on community financial institutions.
Chris Harlan led University of Illinois Community Credit Union to double its assets and grow membership by over 35% since 2019. Gerry Agnes recently retired after serving as CEO of Elevations Credit Union for 17 years.
The players
CUES
Based in Madison, this organization provides strategic professional development and networking for credit union leaders.
Gerry Agnes
A veteran executive, he served as CEO of Elevations Credit Union for 17 years before retiring in early 2026.
Chris Harlan
He serves as an executive leader who steered the University of Illinois Community Credit Union through a period of rapid asset expansion.
LAFCU
This financial institution was chosen as the recipient of the John Pembroke Catalyst for Change award.
Kenneth Ampy
He was honored as the recipient of the CUES Distinguished Director award for his leadership contributions.
The details
Gerry Agnes will be inducted into the CUES Hall of Fame, while Chris Harlan and Kenneth Ampy were named recipients of the Outstanding Chief Executive and Distinguished Director awards. Additionally, LAFCU was selected to receive the John Pembroke Catalyst for Change award for its industry contributions.
Timeline
The period of 2019-2026 marked significant growth for University of Illinois Community Credit Union.
Gerry Agnes retired from his role as CEO of Elevations Credit Union in February 2026.
The CUES Directors Conference will be held from December 6-9, 2026, in San Antonio.
The CUES Symposium will take place from January 31-February 4, 2027, in Marco Island.
Culture Shift
These awards reflect a growing industry focus on recognizing long-term executive service and institutional transformation within the credit union sector. The acknowledgment of figures like Gerry Agnes underscores the transition as veteran leaders retire and legacy models are updated.
Readers interested in the financial sector may look to these award-winning institutions as benchmarks for organizational growth and leadership strategies. Attendees of the upcoming industry conferences in San Antonio and Marco Island can engage with these honorees to learn about their successful models.
The takeaway
Recognizing leadership excellence helps set a standard for operational growth in community-based financial institutions. Credit union professionals can study the strategies of these award winners to implement effective development plans in their own organizations.
Further reading
For more on industry honors, visit the Awards section.
More information
View complete details about the honorees on the CUES awards information portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CUToday.
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