WASHINGTON (Sept. 11, 2009) -- Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Chairman Kris Mecham today announced the formation of a search committee to begin the process of finding a successor to outgoing CUNA President and CEO Dan Mica.

The action comes after Mica informed the CUNA board on Aug. 27 that he plans to step down as CUNA CEO in January 2011 after serving in the position for 13 years.

“Dan Mica has been an outstanding leader for CUNA,” said Mecham, who is also CEO of Deseret First Credit Union, Salt Lake City, Utah. “To say he leaves big shoes to fill would be a vast understatement. But the committee I am appointing today is up to the challenge of finding a successor who will build on Dan’s accomplishments and take CUNA to the next level.”

The search committee consists of a chairman and four representatives from each of the four classes of CUNA directors: Class A (CUs with fewer than 20,000 members); Class B (20,000 to 73,999); Class C (74,000 and above) and Class D (state league presidents). Additionally there is one at-large member.

Serving on the committee are:

• Harriet May, CEO, GECU, El Paso, Texas (Chairman)
• Patricia Wesenberg, CEO, Central City CU, Stevens Point, WI (Class A)
• Eugene Foley, CEO, Harvard University Employees CU, Cambridge, MA (Class B)
• Tom Dorety, CEO, Suncoast Schools FCU, Tampa, FL (Class C)
• Brett Thompson, CEO, Wisconsin Credit Union League (Class D)
• Rudy Hanley, CEO, Schools First FCU, Santa Ana, CA (At-Large)

Also, Kris Mecham as CUNA chairman will serve ex officio on the committee; Dan Mica will also be an ex officio member and will serve as the committee’s liaison to CUNA management.

“I have directed the search committee to begin its work immediately; its first task will be to select an executive search firm,” Mecham added.