Brian Turner has left his job as chief strategist at Catalyst Strategic Solutions in Plano, Texas, to form Meridian Alliance LLC, an independent firm designed to provide strategic assessment and counsel to credit unions.
Turner left Catalyst, part of Catalyst Corporate Federal Credit Union, Aug. 27 after 15 years of service. Starting a new business wasn't part of the economist's original plan, he said.
"I had intended to enter a semi-retired state, but have since been contacted by too many people requesting I continue to provide strategic assessment," Turner said. "I have decided to establish a nonprofit that will do just that."
Turner will assume the role of top executive and chief strategist for Meridian Alliance.
He said he aims to be a resource for credit unions – especially smaller credit unions – looking for real world assessment and counsel of the same nature he provided through Catalyst Corporate.
"Over my 15 years of services in the credit union industry, I have felt that more should be done for credit unions, especially smaller credit unions that account for close to 75% of the industry," Turner said. "At the urging of industry friends, I established Meridian Alliance with the intention to become a resource for credit unions on critical issues to the industry."
The firm's website will offer the latest economic releases, industry reports and commentary on key credit union issues. Peer data and monthly rate surveys are already available and include not only raw data but critical trend analyses and market assessments. Website visitors can ask questions, request special strategic assessments of the market or their credit union and review strategic options specific to their credit union. All of this will be available to any credit union at no cost.
"I want to continue to be a resources for the smaller credit unions," Turner said. "My mantra has been there is a difference to managing your risk exposure and not the risk metrics. I have found a way to create what I believe what not only will be a valuable resource but also give credit unions the ability to establish in-house expertise at a fraction of the cost of hiring full-time professionals or dealing with vendors."
An Oklahoma native, Turner has spent 35 years in the credit union, thrift and banking industries and served in various executive capacities at financial institutions in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
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