Rep. Jackie Walorski
CUNA and the Indiana Credit Union League released statements Wednesday following the tragic death of Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) in Elkhart County, Ind., noting her commitment to supporting credit unions since she began serving in Congress in 2013.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) confirmed her death in a tweet Wednesday afternoon, stating, "Dean Swihart, Jackie's husband, was just informed by the Elkhart County Sheriff's office that Jackie was killed in a car accident this afternoon." According to multiple news reports, the Elkhart County Sheriff's office stated that Walorski, 58, was traveling with two staff members, Zachery Potts, 27, and Emma Thomson, 28, when a head-on collision occurred. Potts and Thomson also died in the crash.
"Rep. Walorski was a champion for the credit union difference since her time in the Indiana House of Representatives and remained a friend throughout her time in the U.S. Congress, including her sponsorship of the Credit Union Board Modernization Act," CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle stated. "We are also sad to learn that two of her staff members have also passed away. Our thoughts go out to their respective families, friends and colleagues in the wake of this terrible tragedy."
Indiana League President John McKenzie issued the following statement on Walorski's death:
"Indiana's credit unions are deeply saddened by the news of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski's tragic death in a vehicle accident. Jackie was a tremendous leader and a wonderful person. She worked tirelessly to represent the people in her district and was a staunch supporter of credit unions. A true friend to credit unions, she enthusiastically met with us every opportunity she had whether in Washington, D.C., or at home. She was a close friend of some Indiana credit union CEOs. Jackie was one of a kind and we are going to miss her. Our hearts and prayers go out to her family and friends and also to the families of Zachery Potts and Emma Thompson who worked so hard to serve the people in Jackie's district."
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Natasha Chilingerian
Natasha Chilingerian has been immersed in the credit union industry for over a decade. She first joined CU Times in 2011 as a freelance writer, and following a two-year hiatus from 2013-2015, during which time she served as a communications specialist for Xceed Financial Credit Union (now Kinecta Federal Credit Union), she re-joined the CU Times team full-time as managing editor. She was promoted to executive editor in 2019. In the earlier days of her career, Chilingerian focused on news and lifestyle journalism, serving as a writer and editor for numerous regional publications in Oregon, Louisiana, South Carolina and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, she holds experience in marketing copywriting for companies in the finance and technology space. At CU Times, she covers People and Community news, cybersecurity, fintech partnerships, marketing, workplace culture, leadership, DEI, branch strategies, digital banking and more. She currently works remotely and splits her time between Southern California and Portland, Ore.
