Michael has been in the financial services industry for over 24 years, beginning his career at a community bank before moving into broader roles at progressively larger institutions at regional banks and later serving as a loan department lead for one of the largest financial institutions in the country. Across those years, he developed experience spanning retail banking, lending, operations, mortgage-related work, and executive leadership. He joined the credit union industry in 2014 and was named President/CEO at First Financial in 2015. FFCU grew over 300% under his leadership and he helped develop a unique Network Credit Union Model under the encurage brand in 2022. In 2024, he led a joint process to merge with Great Lakes Credit Union and was named the Chief Strategy Officer at GLCU following the transaction. As CSO he oversees numerous initiatives in areas of business development, strategic planning, mergers, and external growth. In his role as CSO he is also the CEO of GLCU Holdings, CEO of Mortgage Forward, and CEO of GLCU Insurance, all closely held CUSOs of GLCU.
Michael serves on the Board of Directors on various industry entities serving as the Chairman of Envisant, Chairman of Services Credit Union, and Chairman of the National Credit Union Insurance Alliance as well as the Board of Directors for Bank Social, Let Me Do It and Aviary AI. He is also an advisor on various investment and other ventures both as a volunteer and in support of other businesses that advocate for GLCU or the CU Industry. Recently in April, he was named as Chairman of the Illinois Credit Union League after an 8 year nominating and succession process and is one of the youngest to achieve the Chairman role.
Beyond the four walls of finance, he helps to serve as a Board member of Synergies Seed Fund a first of its kind non-profit assisting those with disabilities in their entrepreneurial aspirations. Through this role, he has developed a GLCU Foundation partnership in support of underserved and underbanked disabled individuals nationwide.
Past experience includes roles on the Board of Xtend in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Treasurer at Resources for Community Living in Rolling Meadows, IL. Michael has also been an Adjunct Faculty Member teaching classes in Finance and Management in the MBA program at North Park University, a role he has held in various stints since 2018.
Michael received a BA from DePaul University in 2007 and an MBA in Finance in 2012 as well as his CCUE designation from CUNA’s Credit Union Management School at the University of Wisconsin in 2016.
Since joining GLCU, Michael has helped source and lead several initiatives cultivating growth through strategic acquisition with EFNCU, CMECU, And ECFCU. Additionally he now manages the advisory boards of CMECU, S&C, Leaders Network and C&NW Proviso to assist in a feedback loop among leaders of the former credit unios these groups represent.
