Empower Federal Credit Union Names Interim CEO
Brenda Carhart succeeds John Wakefield, who plans to retire following 23 years of service.
The board of directors for Empower Federal Credit Union in Syracuse, N.Y., named Brenda Carhart as interim president/CEO last week to succeed John Wakefield, who announced his retirement following 23 years of service.
During his CEO tenure, Empower’s assets grew from $177 million in 1999 to its current assets of $2.9 billion, while membership expanded from 20,211 in the first quarter of 1999 to 237,071 at the end of last year, according to NCUA Call Reports.
“John has been a great leader, who was instrumental in the merger of Power and Empire Federal Credit Union in 2007 and many outstanding achievements since that time,” Empower Board Chair Robert Cummings said in a prepared statement. “The credit union has experienced tremendous growth, which allows us to better serve our members and communities. We are thankful for his service to the credit union and wish him and his family well as he begins this new chapter.”
Carhart joined Empower in 1985 and most recently served as its SVP and chief lending officer.
Empower is New York’s 10th largest financial cooperative by assets, according to a DepositAccounts.com listing.
The credit union’s 598 employees operate 29 branches and a corporate office, its NCUA Call and Profile Reports showed.