Kerry Fearn has been the President/CEO of Area Educational Credit Union since 2008. She has been in the credit union movement for almost 30 years. Kerry has served on the R. W. Boyle Chapter in various positions including IYIC Representative, Secretary and Chairman. She has been on the League Board since 2009. Kerry earned a B.S. and M.S. from Eastern Illinois University.
Joe Kregul is the President/CEO of HealthCare Associates Credit Union in Naperville Illinois. Prior to joining the credit union arena, he was always involved with financial services including leasing, banking, and even the regulator space via the RTC (Resolution Trust Corporation) and the FDIC. Joe is an alumnus of Lewis University with degrees in accounting and business administration and holds the Credit Union Executive Society CSE and CCE designations. Locally and outside of the credit union focus, he serves as board chair of the Project SEARCH business advisory council.
Michael Abraham has been CEO of First Financial Credit Union in Skokie, IL since 2015. He has been in financial services for 17 years, with significant experience in the management of mortgage and consumer lending prior to joining the credit union in 2014. Michael received his MBA in Finance from Keller Graduate School of Management and a B.A. from DePaul University. Michael holds the Certified Credit Union Executive designation from CUNA and is an Adjunct Professor of Finance at North Park University in Chicago.
Jose Garcia joined Northwest Community Credit Union as President/CEO in 2012. With over 30 years of financial experience; 19 of which have been in the credit union industry, Jose has applied his expertise to assist both consumers and businesses. A strong advocate of financial literacy, Jose was instrumental in developing an on campus, student run credit union at Saint Xavier University. Recently recognized as one of Chicago’s Business Leaders of Color, Jose sits on numerous boards where he champions the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People.”
Deborah Fears has been President/CEO of Chicago Post Office Employees Credit Union since 2020. She has worked in the credit union movement over 13 years, focused in financial management. Prior to joining the industry, she spent several years working in human resources. Deborah received a B.S. in Finance with minor studies in Japanese from DePaul University. She holds credit union designations of CUDE and CCUFC. Deborah serves on various credit union committees, including CUNA’s Small Credit Union Committee, and the ICUL’s Chicago Metro Chapter (Chairperson), among others.
Steve Gorrie has worked in the insurance and financial services industry for more than 30 years. He currently serves as the President and CEO for State Farm Federal Credit Union, where he joined in 2009 and formerly held the role of Chief Operations Officer (COO) ) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Steve earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois and his Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation from the Credit Union Executive Society.
Doug Patterson is the CEO of Streator Onized Credit Union. Prior to joining SOCU in 2021, he spent 23 years in community banking with an emphasis on lending and underwriting. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the University of Illinois, later completing the Graduate School of Banking program at Madison, WI. Doug has served on boards and committees for a number of community groups throughout the North Central Illinois region.
Mary Ann E Pusateri has been the CEO of Partnership Financial Credit Union in Morton Grove since 1988. Prior to joining PFCU, she was a Credit Union Examiner with the IDFPR for two years. Mary Ann is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a degree in Finance and holds the Certified Chief Executive designation from the Credit Union Executive Society.
Danita Swanson started with 2 Rivers Area CU in 1985 and has been the CEO of 2 Rivers Area CU since 1996. Danita is currently serving as Chairman of the Kankakee Chapter and has been on the Chapter Board since 1996. As a teenager she volunteered at St. Martins CU where her Mom was the Manager.
