CLAREMONT, Calif.--Winona Nava, President and CEO of Guadalupe Credit Union in New Mexico, has been honored with the 2023 James D. Likens Western CUNA Management (WCMS) Alumni Recognition Award.
Each year, this prestigious honor is awarded to a WCMS alumnus who has made significant professional growth and strides in his or her credit union career — as well as leading through significant service to the credit union community — after graduation from Western CUNA Management School.
Winona attributes much of her successful 45-year career in credit unions to winning a full scholarship to WCMS in 1983. Throughout her career, she continually took on duties beyond those in her job description and learned as much as possible. In 1983, upon returning from WCMS, she received a promotion to Branch Manager of State Employees Credit Union in Santa Fe, NM and established the first branch, which was 60 miles away in Albuquerque.
Following graduation from WCMS in 1985, this single mom returned to school to pursue her bachelor’s degree. Promoted in 1985 to Operations Manager of the then $12.5 million-asset credit union, she managed the accounting, plastic card, and operations of State Employees.
In 1986, she was promoted to Executive Vice-President and served in that capacity until 1991. She served as the main touchpoint for examiners. She also served on her state credit union league’s Chapter Board, quickly becoming the President. Additionally, she achieved the designation of Certified Credit Union Executive from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) in 1989.
Following the exit of a new CEO who had replaced the retired CEO of Guadalupe Credit Union in 1989 (resulting in conservatorship), state and federal regulators encouraged her to apply for the open CEO position. She did so — and started her new position in May of 1991 when the credit union was $10 million in assets. By February 1992, the regulatory conservatorship ended, and member control was regained.
Over the next nine years, the credit union prospered and grew from $10 to $30 million in assets under her leadership. She also led a field-of-membership expansion to underserved individuals in the credit union’s footprint, which fueled growth.