Home » On The Go »

Western Credit Union Management School’s 2026 Graduates Poised to Make a Lasting Impact

Posted by on August 12, 2026

Wes Bell, VP of Marketing at ICCU, delivers the graduation address as class speaker

On July 23, the newest graduates of the Western Credit Union Management School (WCMS) were honored at the 64th graduation ceremony held at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif.

The “Psi” class of 2026 had 137 graduates, including 49 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 and have three examinations, two projects, and several virtual and in-person sessions.

During the ceremony, Mike Williams, President and CEO of Colorado Credit Union, was honored with this year’s James D. Likens Alumni Recognition Award, which recognizes significant achievements in the credit union movement following graduation from the school. The award celebrated Williams’ lifetime of accomplishments, volunteer service and contributions to the credit union movement.

Wes Bell, Vice President of Marketing at ICCU, served as this year’s commencement speaker, encouraging graduates to recognize the power of what they can accomplish together. He reminded students that, as a collective movement of leaders, they have the opportunity to create meaningful change and shape the future of the Credit Union 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.

Congratulations to all of the GoWest graduates!

High Honors

Honors

Arizona

 

Colorado

 

Idaho

 

Oregon

 

Washington

 

Wyoming

 

Utah

 

More Than a School: An Investment in Leadership

For those looking to expand their leadership skills, broaden their perspective, and build lasting connections across the industry, WCMS offers an experience that extends well beyond the classroom.

“Throughout the three-year program, I gained a deeper understanding of the credit union business model and the interconnected factors that drive long-term organizational success,” shared DeEtte Martitz, The District Credit Union. “Beyond the classroom, WCMS challenged me to shift my perspective from primarily operational thinking to a broader strategic mindset. As I have advanced into executive leadership, this transition has been invaluable.”

For Lauren Amburgy, Olympia Credit Union, the connections made through WCMS were just as valuable as the lessons learned. “This program has really brought me out of my shell and connected me with a large network of people in the industry that I will be able to utilize and share insights with from here on out,” she said.

For those ready to invest in their growth and prepare for their next leadership opportunity, WCMS offers the knowledge, perspective and industry relationships to help make that next step possible.

The GoWest Foundation provides professional development scholarships to assist credit union professionals and volunteers in accessing training and development opportunities, like WCMS, to better serve their credit unions, members, and communities. Learn more about scholarships today!

Posted in Across the Region, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Leadership, Oregon, Regional Member News, Small Credit Unions, Top Headlines, Washington, Wyoming, Young Professionals.

Aug12

Advocacy 101: Day 1 (Option 1)

Join GoWest Credit Union Association this August for a free two-part virtual Advocacy Training workshop, where you’ll learn how the impact stories you create at your credit union and Advocacy go hand in hand.
Aug12

Advocacy 101: Day 1 (Option 2)

Join GoWest Credit Union Association this August for a free two-part virtual Advocacy Training workshop, where you’ll learn how the impact stories you create at your credit union and Advocacy go hand in hand.
Aug12

Advocacy 101: Day 1 (Option 3)

Join GoWest Credit Union Association this August for a free two-part virtual Advocacy Training workshop, where you’ll learn how the impact stories you create at your credit union and Advocacy go hand in hand.
Aug13

Advocacy 101: Day 2

Join GoWest Credit Union Association this August for a free two-part virtual Advocacy Training workshop, where you’ll learn how the impact stories you create at your credit union and Advocacy go hand in hand.