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David Ellings, a former student and director for Western CUNA Management School (WCMS) and former chief lending officer for South Bay Credit Union in Redondo Beach, Calif., has passed away, according to a joint announcement from WCMS and the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues Monday.
David Ellings After graduating from WCMS in 1989 as part of the Lambda Class, Ellings began serving as the school's director of campus activities in 1990. In that role, he was responsible for coordinating the non-academic side of campus life for WCMS, working closely with each class and each year's graduate assistants in planning events and activities, chairing the student council, and overseeing many aspects of WCMS campus life each summer at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., according to the announcement. He also served as a graduate assistant to WCMS' 1990 Mu and 1991 Nu classes.
"When I started at WCMS, David was graduating – and the next year he was my class graduate assistant," Diana Dykstra, who is president/CEO of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, president of WCMS and a 1992 WCMS graduate, stated. "The rest is history as he returned each year to support all students in achieving success."
"For over 30 years, David shared his energy, comedy, brilliance, experience, leadership and heart with generations of WCMS students," Dr. Michael Steinberger, dean and chief academic officer of WCMS, stated. "His focus on supporting students to go back to their credit unions and give back to their members was an inspiration not just to me, but thousands of our alumni, faculty and staff."
Ellings started his career as a teller and assistant branch manager for USLIFE/Imperial Savings & Loan. He then spent 40 years working for the $151 million South Bay, most recently as chief lending officer. Upon his retirement from South Bay, the credit union worked with WCMS to name a scholarship after him.
His other notable accomplishments included receiving the California Credit Union League's Unsung Hero Award in 2007, serving on the League's Beach Cities and Southwest Chapter board of governors for 22 years, chairing the steering committee for the League's Palm Tree Conference in 1991, and spending six years as district delegate for the Southwest Chapter of the League.
Dykstra added, "We are grateful and honored he was a part of our lives as we move forward with our school's principles that he was so committed to. We will always remember the impact he made on our school and the lives of our alumni."
Ellings is survived by his partner, Doug Bothwell, according to the Leagues and WCMS.
The school encouraged those in the credit union industry who knew Ellings to leave a comment on "David Ellings, WCMS Inspiration," a Kudoboard web page WCMS set up for the late leader. WCMS is also working on additional tributes honoring the impact Ellings left on students, which it plans to share at a future date, the school said.
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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.
