After a nationwide search and a review of more than 200 interested candidates, $1.2 billion Altura Credit Union looked right down the hall when it came time to name a successor to President and CEO Mark Hawkins.
Jennifer Binkley, who has been with the Riverside, Calif.-based CU for nearly 15 years, and has been executive vice president and chief operating officer for nine years, will step into the CEO role on Feb. 20.
In May 2016, Altura said Hawkins, who has been CEO since 1988,
In 2002, Binkley joined Altura as president of the credit union's Auto Expert subsidiary, an auto locating and buying service. After serving nearly six years as Auto Expert's president, Binkley was tapped for the role of executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2008.
In 2012, Binkley developed "Reliance Checking," a product designed to help those with
A Fond Farewell
With the finish line now just 40 days away, on Wednesday Hawkins told Credit Union Journal this is a "gratifying" time for him.
"I have been here almost 30 years, and that is a pretty good length of time. The recession really impacted what happened in this region, what happened with Altura and what happened with me," he said. "Thirty years is a long time, and I am anxious to turn it over to Jennifer and to the board of directors."
Hawkins noted Binkley has been with Altura for the better part of 15 years, so she has been here for the good times and the bad times. "She came up through Auto Expert, and she deserves a lot of credit. She took the CUSO to very high levels of performance, and has won multiple awards for that, including the Malcolm Baldridge Award."
Hawkins will remain a resident in the area and will still be a member of Altura. He will serve on the board of the CU's foundation. "I look forward to watching the credit union continue to grow."
"The marketplace is very different from 30 years ago. Technology has changed dramatically. Expectations of members has changed dramatically. Times change, needs change, and we are going to have a leadership change."
'Challenging' Process
"The process of choosing a successor for Mark was a challenging one," said Ofelia Valdez-Yeager, Altura's board chairman. "He has served as Altura's leader for nearly 30 years, almost half of the six decades of the credit union's existence. His commitment to our members, our employees and our community has been validated again and again. The board took seriously our role of finding a CEO who will build upon Mark's legacy and carry Altura forward to an even brighter future. After meeting with numerous candidates and much deliberation, the board is confident that Jennifer is the best person for that role."
"Jennifer has come up through the ranks of Altura, and she has proven herself every step of the way," said Hawkins. "She is well prepared for the challenges she will face as CEO. She understands Altura, is dedicated to meeting our members' needs and is devoted to our community. Jennifer is going to do a great job and I am excited for her."
Binkley said of her selection, "I am honored to be chosen as the next CEO of Altura Credit Union. Mark is an amazing leader and a visionary. Following him is a little daunting, but I am definitely up to the challenge. I am committed to serving Altura's members, our team and the Inland Empire community. Together, all of us at Altura are focused on introducing products and services that help our members achieve their financial goals. I also pledge to continue Altura's legacy of charitable giving and working with local partners to invest in community success for all of us."
Hawkins, 65, was roundly praised by the board of directors for his leadership of Altura for the past 29 years. Board Chairman Valdez-Yeager said, "Mark grew this institution from three branches and 28 employees serving 14,000 members to nearly 120,000 members today. We have seen the credit union grow from just $37 million in assets to today's $1.22 billion in assets with 13 branches and 327 employees. His leadership has created a valuable financial institution that serves not only our members but the community at large. It is a legacy that we trust Jennifer will continue into the future."
