Melia Heimbuck, Esq.
The Credit Union Association of New Mexico (CUANM) has selected Melia Heimbuck as its next president/CEO, according to an announcement by its board of directors. The appointment camw just two days after Juan Fernandez Ceballos, who led CUANM since 2021, was tapped to lead the Louisiana Credit Union League.
According to Wednesday's announcement from the Albuquerque, N.M.-based CUANM, board members unanimously voted for Heimbuck to become the organization's leader. Heimbuck currently serves as CUANM's SVP, advocacy and general counsel and will take over the leadership position later in June.
"We are delighted to announce the promotion of Melia Heimbuck, a highly skilled member of our team, to the position of president and CEO," Association Board President Karen Griffo said. "Melia's selection for this role is a testament to the exceptional talent we have brought in, and her extensive experience and unwavering passion for credit unions in New Mexico make her ideal for this challenge. We have great confidence in Melia's abilities and are excited about the prospects of this transition. We look forward to the valuable contributions she will make in her new role and the growth and success she will bring to The Credit Union Association of New Mexico."
CUANM stated Heimbuck has been with the organization since 2021 and is a licensed attorney in New Mexico. Heimbuck has worked in the credit union industry for nearly 25 years.
"I have been fortunate to work alongside Juan since coming to New Mexico. His fearless leadership, award-winning endeavors and the bold strategic direction of the Association Board have created an exciting buzz in New Mexico's credit unions," Heimbuck said. "I am honored to continue what has been started and carry forward the mantra of 'great things are happening in New Mexico!'"
Griffo added, "The association extends its warmest wishes to Juan. During his tenure with us, he was instrumental in breathing life back into the association, setting us on a new path that we are eager to pursue alongside our outstanding team. Juan is a shining star in our industry, and we feel fortunate to have had him with us. We look forward to seeing him thrive in his future endeavors!"
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Michael Ogden
Editor-in-Chief at CU Times. To connect, email at [email protected]. As Editor-in-Chief of CU Times since 2016, Michael Ogden has led the editorial team in all aspects of content strategy and execution, including the creation of the publication’s exclusive and proprietary research database of the credit union industry’s economic landscape. Under Michael’s leadership, CU Times has successfully shifted to an all-digital editorial product with new focuses on the payments, fraud, lending and regulatory beats. Most recently, he introduced a data-focused editorial product for subscribers that breaks down credit union issues into hard data, allowing for a deeper and more factual narrative for readers. In 2024, he launched the "Shared Accounts With CU Times" podcast, which offers a fresh, inside-the-newsroom perspective through interviews with leaders from the credit union industry and the regulatory world. He dives into pressing credit union issues, while revealing the personalities working behind-the-scenes to push the credit union world forward. His background includes years as a radio and TV anchor/reporter and a public relations and digital/social media manager, where he covered the food and music industries, as well as cooperatives and credit unions. Over the years, he has launched numerous exclusive video and podcast series, including a successful series of interactive backstage interviews with musicians at music festivals, showcasing his social media and live streaming production skills.
