Meet the Newest Graduates of Western CUNA Management School

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on July 31, 2024

On July 25, the newest graduates of the Western CUNA Management School (WCMS) were honored at the 62nd graduation ceremony held in Bridges Hall of Music at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif. 

The “Phi” class of 2024 had 108 graduates, including 45 from the GoWest region, who took part in the three-year program that is designed to transform students into passionate, strategic credit union leaders through rigorous collegiate-level head and heart education. Students at WCMS attend intensive two-week leadership educational programs for three consecutive summers as well as have three examinations, two projects, and several virtual and in-person sessions. 

“I went into WCMS with a case of Imposter Syndrome,” shared Paige Beffort, GoWest’s Manager of CU Development, who graduated in the Phi class. “Three years later, I am so proud to have graduated knowing I have the knowledge and skillset to make me a valuable voice at the table and leader in the Credit Union Movement. I could not be more excited to see what my fellow Phi’s go on to accomplish!” 

Josh Harden, Director of Training and HR at Colorado Credit Union, was chosen by his classmates to be this year’s class commencement speaker and received the Rick Craig Prize for Excellence in Project II. The award recognizes superb excellence in a student’s second-year WCMS project, an endeavor that usually takes each student more than 200 hours to complete. “WCMS provides an unparalleled educational and growth opportunity for those that go through the program, driving students to forge meaningful connections within the industry,” said Harden. “This helps us continue leveraging the credit union ‘superpower’ of collaboration.”

“Western CUNA Management School has been instrumental in preparing me for the challenges credit unions face today and will encounter in the future,” said Layna Officer, a Phi graduate and GoWest Director of CU Leadership and Talent Development. “The holistic education I received has inspired me to create lasting impact within the CU Movement.” 

Eleven students from the GoWest region earned “Honors” and “High Honors” for their hard work and dedication to the WCMS program. These distinctions were earned based on each student’s performance on the examinations taken by all students at the end of each school year and for their analysis in each of their two major research projects (based on their credit union) completed between sessions.  

High Honors

• Lars Gilberts, Numerica Credit Union 

• Josh Harden, Colorado Credit Union  

• Annette Pixley, InRoads Credit Union  

• Matthew Sullivan, Frontier Credit Union  

Honors 

• Nik Cunningham, Global Credit Union  

• Nicole Elliott, Harborstone Credit Union  

• Heather Fate, TAPCO Credit Union 

• Scott Heise, Vantage West Credit Union  

• Lakyn Machuga, Numerica Credit Union  

• Layna Officer, GoWest Credit Union Association 

• Nick Stafford, Idaho Central Credit Union 

Congratulations to all of the GoWest region graduates!

Arizona 

Catherine Harr, Vantage West Credit Union
Matthew Heise, Vantage West Credit Union
Joanna Jackson, Tucson Old Pueblo Credit Union
Miriam Limon, Avenir Financial Federal Credit Union 

Colorado 

Paige Beffort, GoWest Credit Union Association
Mercedes Dailey, Canvas Credit Union
Josh Harden, Colorado Credit Union
Steve Larios, Canvas Credit Union
Michael Nelson, Canvas Credit Union
Lyndsay Stahl, Blue Federal Credit Union  

Idaho 

Jennifer Nalley, Idaho Central Credit Union
Karen Rowe, Beehive Federal Credit Union
Nick Stafford, Idaho Central Credit Union
Matthew Sullivan, Frontier Credit Union
Mindy Sutherland, Beehive Federal Credit Union 

Oregon 

Tina Amato, Mid Oregon Credit Union
Larry Cavasso, Unitus Community Credit Union
Lisa Dalton, Rogue Credit Union
Melissa Grimm, Unitus Community Credit Union
Kari Joel, Mid Oregon Credit Union
Gaye Memis, First Tech Federal Credit Union
Annette Pixley, InRoads Credit Union
Jesica Ramos, Northwest Adventist Federal Credit Union
Sabrina Rebolledo, Rivermark Community Credit Union
Stephanie Young, OCCU 

Washington 

Rachel Combs, iQ Credit Union
Nicole Elliott, Harborstone Credit Union
Meredith Ellis, Red Canoe Credit Union
Heather Fate, TAPCO Credit Union
Lars Gilberts, Numerica Credit Union
Rozalind Kitt, STCU
Michelle Lynn, TwinStar Credit Union
Lakyn Machuga, Numerica Credit Union
Stephanie Moore, Harborstone Credit Union
Nathan Reitz, Washington State Employees Credit Union
Shanon Rieman, Horizon Credit Union
Ashlynn Sellers, STCU 

Wyoming 

Jacqueline Keen, Blue Federal Credit Union
Layna Officer, GoWest Credit Union Association 

Alaska 

Thomas Bentley, Global Credit Union
Nik Cunningham, Global Credit Union
Leisa DeYarmon, Global Credit Union
Dana Gonerzik, Global Credit Union
Jesus Rodriguez, Global Credit Union
Kelly Smith, Credit Union 1 

Posted in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Leadership, Oregon, Regional Member News, Washington, Wyoming, Young Professionals.