BOULDER, Colo. – The National Credit Union Foundation said it will posthumously present a Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement to Bill Sterner, a long-time credit union pioneer who died earlier this year.
At the time of his death, Sterner, 66, was CEO of Elevations Credit Union. “Bill’s memory shines on in all our lives,” said Wegner Award nominator John Dill, President/CEO of the Credit Union Association of Colorado as well as the Credit Union Foundation of Colorado and Wyoming. “Bill’s strong commitment, vision, and innovation to foster growth in the credit union industry will continue to inspire and help advance future generations and new frontiers.”
During his credit union career, which followed a stint in the Peace Corps, Sterner helped to save the Credit Union Development Education (DE) program from elimination in the face of severe budget cuts and later helped provide additional financial support, was a vice president of CUNA, headed up CUNA’s Project Moonshot (launched in 1990 with a goal of building CU membership to 100-million Americans by 2000), and spent the last eight years of his life leading growth at Elevations FCU, including the development of an innovative mortgage down payment assistance program for University of Colorado faculty and 0% bicycle loans for students. Sterner also was active in the state league and SunCorp Credit Union.
