CUNA News
  • LOG IN
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • LOG IN
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • Topics
    • Community Service
    • Compliance
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Credit Union System
    • Directors
    • Human Resources
    • Leadership
    • Lending
    • Marketing
    • Operations
    • Policy & Issues
    • Sales & Service
    • Technology
  • Credit Union Magazine
    • Buyers' Guide
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Edition
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Awards
    • Nominate Credit Union Hero
    • Nominate Credit Union Rock Star
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Jobs
  • Contact

News

Home » Seize opportunity, collaborate, connect, repeat
Leadership

Seize opportunity, collaborate, connect, repeat

Stephanie Teubner explains her path to the helm of a large credit union.

March 8, 2021
Marilyn Melia
One Comment
Seize-opportunity_Teubner-Stephanie_119167

As CEO of $1.4 billion asset Blue Federal Credit Union, Cheyenne, Wyo., Stephanie Teubner is a member of a small club.

“I know most of the women who are [CEOs of credit unions] over $1 billion in assets,” she says.

While women hold the top spot at more than 50% of credit unions, the ranks thin considerably as asset size grows.

One of the best paths to large-scale leadership, Teubner believes, is starting at small organizations and working up in size.

Teubner graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1994 with a business degree and began her career in retail management before returning to the bank where she worked part time during college. She moved to $5 million asset Energy West Credit Union in Casper, Wyo., shortly after.

“I didn’t know about credit unions,” Teubner says. “I was a member of one through my dad but I didn’t understand the philosophy of it.”

As a single-employer credit union, Teubner says Energy West was “like a family. I got attached to so many of the members.”

She also became attached to the business itself, joining credit union trade groups. “Connecting myself to people at other credit unions has been invaluable.”

‘Connecting myself to people at other credit unions has been invaluable.’
Stephanie Teubner

Typically, many credit union leagues offer “emerging leader programs for all levels of employees,” and Teubner recommends those opportunities to anyone pursuing a credit union career.

Industry involvement and education is a career-long strategy for Teubner. She serves on the board of directors for CUNA and the Western CUNA Management School, and earned her MBA in 2014 from the University of Wyoming while working at Blue Federal.

Collaboration with co-workers is equally vital.

She encourages all employees to join teams working on how Blue Federal can be more “purpose-driven.” Teubner believes this involvement should keep employees motivated and growing within the credit union.

CUNA CEO Council

CUNA CEO Council

Her own close collaboration with Maureen Tebo Wilkinson has helped propel her career. Wilkinson was the CEO of Warren Federal Credit Union, which Teubner joined after Energy West.

“She hired me, and I learned a ton from her,” says Teubner, who took over as Warren Federal CEO in 2005 when Wilkinson left.

A series of small and deliberate steps led Teubner into the billion-dollar CEO circle.

Blue Federal was established in 2016 after a merger between Warren Federal and Community Financial Credit Union. Organic growth, new branches, and acquisitions contributed to Blue Federal’s expansion. 

With a purpose-driven strategy, Teubner looks for continued growth for Blue Federal, its staff, and her own professional development.

KEYWORDS Women's History Month

Post a comment to this article

Report Abusive Comment

Credit Union Magazine: Winter 2022

Winter 2022

Credit Union Magazine’s Winter 2022 issue highlights data-driven marketing, the board’s role in cybersecurity, elder abuse scams, credit unions’ auto lending advantage, and more.
Digital Edition •  Subscribe

Trending

  • House passes CUNA, League-led board modernization bill

  • Reps introduce bipartisan Credit Union Board Modernization Act

  • CFPB issues CUNA-opposed proposal on credit card late fees

Tweets by CUNA_News

Polls

Vote for the 2023 CU Hero of the Year

View Results
More

Champion for the Credit Union Movement

Credit Union National Association is the most influential financial services trade association and the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America's credit unions. We work tirelessly to protect your best interests in Washington and all 50 states. We fuel your professional growth at every level and champion the credit union story at every turn.

More CUNA

  • Membership
  • Contact Us
  • Careers

Resources for

  • Credit Union Advocates
  • Leagues
  • Press
  • Providers

Our Affiliates

  • American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL)
  • Credit Union Awareness
  • Credit Union House
  • CUNA Strategic Services
  • National Credit Union Foundation
GET CUNA UPDATES
© 2023 Credit Union National Association | ADA Compliance Notice & Legal
Email Us