Insiders Say Stang Will Fill Empty NCUA Board Slot

WASHINGTON – Sources close to the NCUA Board nominating process have said Troy Stang, Texas Credit Union League Vice President of Public Relations, will likely be nominated for the vacant NCUA Board seat. Stang has made several trips to Washington, D.C. since his name came up for the job. Others whose names have been floated for the position include Missouri Credit Union Association CEO Rosie Holub and former Robins Federal Credit Union CEO Buck Levins. Stang began his career in the credit union movement more than 10 years ago at a small, rural, faith-based credit union in Minnesota, which converted to a community charter and became strong in agricultural and business loans. He was in the trenches, establishing this new credit union while managing teller services, operations, new accounts, and consumer, real estate, member business, and agricultural lending. From there, Stang moved on to a larger local credit union where he worked on diversifying the institution’s field of membership and adding select employee groups. His responsibilities also included monitoring regulatory and government relations, as well as community relations and partnerships. Next, Stang managed an investment and real estate titling services credit union service organization. Finally, he joined the Texas Credit Union League in 2003, where he handles many of the public relations communications aspects of the association. He has specifically taken a leadership role in Hispanic Outreach and Community Development initiatives. Stang earned his master’s degree from the College of St. Scholastica, St. Paul, where he also served as an adjunct organizational development and marketing instructor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational management and business communication from Concordia University, St. Paul, in addition to an associate degree in credit and finance from St. Cloud Technical College, St. Cloud, Minn. Whoever the final nominee is, they will have to be confirmed by the Senate, which could be difficult. Right now Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has put a hold on all non-defense and judicial nominations until the candidate he backs for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seated. Otherwise, the president may choose to use his recess appointment authority to appoint someone, but that would only last through the end of the congressional session this year unless the Senate approved him or her. In any case, the nomination and confirmation process is known to take months. Additionally, the presidential election could impact the outcome, particularly if the Democrats think they might win back the White House. If President George W. Bush wins his re-election bid, then things at NCUA and the nomination process should continue pretty much as is. But if presumptive Democratic nominee Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) wins the election, NCUA Chairman JoAnn Johnson, a Republican, is not likely to continue in that position and the new president would probably begin the nomination process anew. The NCUA Board is composed of three members, including one from the opposite party of the president. Typically, the president takes advice from the Senate leader of that party in those situations, like when Board Member Debbie Matz (D) was nominated by President George W. Bush. The board has been operating with just two members for the last six weeks since NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar resigned his seat a year after his term officially ended. [email protected]