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Colleen Manley, who started her career as a teller and rose to become the president/CEO of Washington State's Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union, which served more than 13,000 members, died unexpectedly Monday from natural causes, according to a prepared statement from the $4.6 billion STCU in Spokane.
Manley launched her career at CDFCU in 1979. She became president/CEO in 2008. Under her executive leadership, the credit union's assets increased from $67 million to nearly $195 million last year when the credit union merged with STCU.
STCU retained Manley as regional president, leaning heavily on her knowledge to continue meeting the needs of the communities in Okanogan, Ferry, Douglas and Lincoln counties.
Colleen Manley STCU President/CEO Ezra Eckhardt called Manley "an exceptional mentor and champion," noting that she often started the workday at 5 a.m.
"It was a privilege and an honor to work closely with Colleen over the past 15 months," Eckhardt said. "Her leadership was instrumental in guiding CDFCU through the Great Recession, a core technology conversion, the pandemic and a full merger. She was the epitome of a selfless servant, always looking to empower employees, take care of members and serve the greater community. We will all miss her amazing positive attitude, kind soul and caring approach."
A staunch advocate for the communities served by CDFCU, Manley was particularly concerned about the post-merger continuation of a scholarship program for high school seniors. STCU announced last year that it has been endowed, and it will continue in perpetuity. She was involved in Rotary and other community activities.
Colleen grew up in Coulee Dam and graduated from Coulee Dam High School. Early in her education, she attended the historic school that later became the CDFCU headquarters, which is now STCU's Coulee Dam Branch. She was a graduate of CUNA Management School in Madison, Wis.
"She was a hard-worker who was never above any task," said Vanessa Marcolin, who started her CDFCU career in 1994 and was vice president of marketing and education at the time of the merger. She now serves as a senior product marketing specialist at STCU.
"She loved the credit union and what it stood for, and what it meant to the community and staff," Marcolin said. "She was an amazing mentor, coworker and supervisor. Most of all she was an amazing friend who will be missed beyond measure."
Colleen was preceded in death by her husband, John Manley, and is survived by a daughter, son-in-law and four grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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