'It's Been an Incredible Ride": Todd Marksberry on His CU Career

When Todd Marksberry announced his retirement from Canvas Credit Union in a video message he recorded last Friday and posted to LinkedIn, he anticipated that some of his colleagues and friends might be surprised.

But he’s been thinking about bowing out and moving on to the next chapter of his life.

“I recently talked with my board and let them know that I’m retiring from Canvas, and they accepted my retirement. And that will probably catch some of you off guard. You might think, Todd’s 40 – no, you’d never think that,” he said, smiling. “But I’m about ready to turn 59 years old. Most of you know I have four adult kids, three of whom are married, and also three grandkids, the oldest of which, Frankie Todd, named after Papa, turned five years old today. And so it’s one of those times I’ve been thinking about it, been praying about it, and I really feel like the good Lord above has something that’s a next for me. I’ve had an incredible nine years, almost nine years at Canvas.”

Canvas said in a prepared statement that Marksberry resigned on April 16. The board of directors named Colleen Knoll, the credit union’s CFO since 2012, as interim CEO.

Marksberry was appointed CEO in June 2015. During his tenure, the Lone Tree, Colo.-based credit union increased assets from $1.5 billion to its current assets of $4.3 billion, while loans grew from $1 billion to $3.9 billion, and membership expanded from 170,945 to more than 293,000.

Canvas is the third largest credit union in Colorado, according to DepositAccounts.com.

“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Todd for his dedicated leadership and service, and outstanding contributions to the success of Canvas Credit Union,” Canvas Board Chair Tom Lash said in a prepared statement. “Throughout Todd’s nearly nine years of leadership, he played an integral role in fostering the credit union’s growth and deepening its commitment to serving the community.”

In its prepared statement, the board did not say whether it will search for a new, permanent CEO.

In his video message, Marksberry did not say what may be next for him.

“The video I’m sharing is what I sent to over 50 close friends within the credit union industry, with whom I’ve had the honor to serve alongside for 31 years. I consider them family. The brightest, most kind-hearted and selfless folks I’ve ever known.”

Marksberry joined the credit union movement in 1993 following an eight-year run as a professional singer, dancer, actor, director and choreographer for numerous productions in more than 40 countries.

Beginning in 1985, Marksberry performed on shows for companies such as Fox Network, American Movies Classics, Turner Network Television, Paramount Parks, Toyota, General Mills, the International Red Cross and cruise ship companies, to name a few, according to his LinkedIn page.

He also worked as a recording artist for bands and did background vocals on various recordings, sang with touring and house bands, and performed in touring shows for Pop, Broadway and Vegas Review Shows.

In 1993 he joined the $966 million Tropical Financial Credit Union and worked as its business development officer for nearly three years. After that, Marksberry became a regional director for Georgia Credit Union Affiliates and later served as COO at the $8.6 billion Delta Community Credit Union in Atlanta for 16 years.

After serving as an SVP for SavvyMoney for a couple of years, he joined Canvas.

“It’s [Canvas] the greatest place in my 32 years of credit union service that I’ve ever been,” Marksberry said in his video message. “[I] couldn’t ask for a more incredibly supportive board of directors who are engaged. They’re phenomenal, and lifelong friends, and [the] leadership team who are just the best I believe – no offense to your teams – and also just 750 Canvas family members who serve every day our members, and our Canvas family, one another, and our communities. It’s been an incredible ride.”