Recently, CU Times announced the finalists for the renowned Luminaries Awards. Four Tennessee credit unions were recognized as Luminaries Award finalists. The winners will be announced during the CU Times Luminaries Awards Gala in early November.
“We are excited to learn that four Tennessee credit unions were selected as CU Times Luminaries Award finalists,” said Fred Robinson, president and CEO of the Tennessee Credit Union League. “We commend these credit unions for their dedication to advancing the credit union movement and congratulate them on this well-earned achievement.”
Congratulations to the following Tennessee credit unions and leaders!
Community Impact – Credit Union ($4B & Up)
ORNL Federal Credit Union – Oak Ridge, Tenn.
ORNL Federal Credit Union stands out as a leader in community impact through bold, heartfelt initiatives that have tangibly improved the lives of individuals and families across East Tennessee. Among its most powerful efforts this past year was the Auto Title Giveaway, in which the credit union paid off 10 auto loans and provided one year of mortgage payments for two additional members.
Excellence in Marketing – Credit Union ($4B & Up)
ORNL Federal Credit Union – Oak Ridge, Tenn.
In 2024, ORNL Federal Credit Union underwent a strategic, comprehensive initiative to fundamentally shift the way it returned value to members. The credit union chose to stop the once-per-year special dividend based on loan and deposit balances and instead, return value to all members throughout the year based on their services. They introduced a high yield, no hoops checking account, increased debit card rewards, and dramatically lowered overdraft and other fees.
Excellence in Marketing – Credit Union ($1B-$4B)
Y-12 Credit Union – Oak Ridge, Tenn.
As vice president of marketing at Y-12 Credit Union, Amber Price has been instrumental in transforming the Credit Union’s marketing strategy into a mission-driven engine for growth, engagement, and community impact. With a keen ability to blend creativity, strategy, and authenticity, she has elevated Y-12 Credit Union’s brand to reflect its deep-rooted commitment to “People Helping People.” Most notably, Amber played a key role in leading external communications surrounding the successful acquisition of First State Bank of the Southeast. The thoughtful approach to messaging and branding ensured consistency, minimized disruption and helped unify two cultures under a shared purpose.
Executive Leadership – Credit Union CEO ($1B & Below)
Ron Smith – Enbright Credit Union – Nashville, Tenn.
Ron Smith is a standout leader whose vision, compassion and innovation are transforming the credit union landscape. In the past year, Smith has adopted and launched the Cancer Care Debt Relief Program, an initiative designed to support members facing the financial strain of cancer treatment. The initiative has not only made life-changing differences for members but has also inspired other credit unions across the state of Tennessee to explore or implement similar models. Under his leadership, Enbright has enhanced digital services, improved internal operations and strengthened member and employee engagement. His approach to leadership blends strategic growth with a people-first mindset, ensuring that every innovation is grounded in the needs of the community.
Executive Leadership – Credit Union C-Suite
Lisa Rodgers – UT Federal Credit Union – Knoxville, Tenn.
CU Times is staggering the release of detailed finalist descriptions. We are still awaiting the release of the Credit Union C-Suite category. We’ll post as soon as information is unveiled!
Innovation in Tech – CTO/CIO of the Year
Dawn Brummett – ORNL Federal Credit Union – Oak Ridge, Tenn.
CU Times is staggering the release of detailed finalist descriptions. We are still awaiting the release of the CTO/CIO of the Year category. We’ll post as soon as information is unveiled!
Full Announcement
Read the full finalist announcement from CU Times and here’s the full coverage on the Luminaries Awards.
