Dear Members:
As your Board Chair, I would like to share an update on behalf of the Board of Directors.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jeff Kennedy has identified his path toward retirement, to occur sometime in early 2025. We are grateful for Jeff’s almost 40 years of service and his dedication to serving our employees, members, and communities, culminating in our successful merger that has made us even stronger. He has led our credit union with compassion for the lives of our members and their financial well-being.
Jeff has committed to maintaining his role as we move through this transition until we are poised to find his successor. We have added the letter that Jeff prepared for an internal announcement of his retirement to our employees for your purview. Our priority is to provide seamless services without disruption. We have all confidence in our Executive Leadership team and dedicated employees to continue the important work that is being done as we stay focused on the merger.
With this news, the recruitment of the next CEO has officially opened. We have retained the services of DDJ Meyers Executive Search Firm to identify the qualified candidate pool. We are committed to selecting a CEO who will play a pivotal role in advancing and supporting the mission of our esteemed credit union.
We will ensure that we identify a visionary and dynamic leader who shares our values and is dedicated to the growth and success of our credit union. The CEO we select will be instrumental in steering our organization towards greater heights of excellence while upholding our commitment to serving our members, employees, and communities with integrity and innovation.
Throughout the selection process, we will meticulously consider candidates who demonstrate a profound understanding of the importance of culture, financial services, strong leadership qualities, and exhibit a genuine passion for our “people helping people” philosophy. It is imperative that the new CEO aligns with our mission and values and fosters an environment of inspiration and innovation to deliver an exceptional member experience.
We will continue to provide products and services for our members to realize our vision in building communities where all feel financially secure and empowered to reach their dreams. Thank you for being a member. We appreciate the support and trust you have in us. We strive to exceed your expectations and will continue to work hard for you.
Thomas Pettus-Czar
Board Chair
TwinStar Credit Union
Northwest Community Credit Union, a division of Twinstar Credit Union
Letter from Jeff Kennedy to employees
Teams:
After careful consideration, including conversations with my family and our Board of Directors, I am officially announcing my plan to retire in early 2025.
Over the past almost 40 years, I have had the honor and privilege of helping lead this remarkable institution. Together, we have achieved significant milestones, navigated challenges, and embraced opportunities for growth and innovation, not least of which was the historic merger last year bringing together Northwest Community Credit Union and TwinStar Credit Union.
As you know, the merger, which won’t be fully completed from a systems integration perspective until next year, has positioned our combined organization to serve more members throughout the Pacific Northwest. Today, we serve more than 257,000 members with 36 branches and $4.3 billion in assets, making us one the largest credit unions in the Washington/Oregon region.
I am immensely proud of the progress we have made, and I am confident that the credit union is well-positioned for continued success.
While I am excited about the future, it is bittersweet to leave behind an exceptional team and an institution that has been such a significant part of my professional journey. I am grateful for the support, trust, and collaboration of the Board, our dedicated staff, and our loyal members.
I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will work closely with the Board to facilitate the process. I have full confidence in the leadership team and their ability to continue driving the credit union forward.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your CEO. I look forward to watching our credit union thrive and achieve even greater success in the years to come.
- Jeff