Patrick La Pine Departs LSCU, Others Take ‘Elevated’ Roles
La Pine distributes an email to colleagues concerning his exit, while LSCU & Affiliates has no comment.
For more than 14 years, Patrick La Pine led the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates (LSCU & Affiliates) as CEO. On Monday, LSCU’s Board of Directors announced a series of changes in the leadership structure of the League, its Affiliated Consolidated Services and LEVERAGE. Included in the leadership changes was one sentence that had no additional information: “CEO Patrick La Pine will depart the organization, effective April 30.”
CU Times reached out to LSCU & Affiliates and La Pine for comment and explanation concerning his departure. In an email, a spokesperson for LSCU & Affiliates wrote, “We have no comment” concerning the question of La Pine’s sudden exit.
La Pine distributed an email to CU Times and many other of his colleagues Monday afternoon from his personal email account. He wrote, “The last 15 years as CEO of LSCU & Affiliates has been a life-changing experience both for me and my family. Coming off arguably our most successful year ever, passing public deposit legislation in Florida during Q1 2024, it’s time for new leadership. I’ve done what I came here to accomplish back in the summer of 2009. In the short run, I plan to take some time off and then look for other ways to be engaged with credit unions and the industry that aligns with my personal and professional interests at this point in my career.”
La Pine’s tenure at LSCU & Affiliates began in 2009 when he joined the League after serving for more than a decade at the Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates as EVP.
The focus of the changes announced by the LSCU & Affiliates Board of Directors on Monday concerned Samantha Beeler and Steve Willis. Beeler will continue as president of LSCU and its Foundation, while Willis will continue in his role as president of the League’s Affiliated Consolidated Services and LEVERAGE, the for-profit arm of the League.
In what is being called a “dual-executive leadership role,” both Beeler and Willis will now directly report to the Board of Directors, according to Monday’s statement.
Beeler has served in her role for more than two years. Willis has held his position for more than four years.
Of the leadership changes, the chairman of the League’s Board of Directors, Hank Halter, said, “This is an exciting moment for our association and the credit union industry as a whole. Under this new, collaborative leadership structure, we are doubling down on our commitment to trusted advocacy, exceptional service, and attention and support to our member credit unions. There has never been a better time for the League and our members to accelerate our efforts to help credit unions grow and succeed for the benefit of their member shareholders. We commend Samantha and Steve for their leadership to date, and for their enthusiasm as we look forward to the success of their work together for the League.”
LSCU & Affiliates represent nearly 300 credit unions in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Affiliated Consolidated Services and LEVERAGE are made up of 12 companies and provide products and services for more than 600 credit unions around the country.