AACUL Honors Patty Corkery with its Highest Distinction, the 2025 Eagle Award
The American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL) proudly announces that Patty Corkery, President/CEO of the Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL) and CUSG, has been selected as the 26th recipient of the Eagle Award, AACUL’s highest recognition for league leadership excellence.
First awarded in 1981, the Eagle Award recognizes a credit union league/association president who displays an outstanding record of achievement, demonstrates leadership beyond the league level, is willing to speak out and take a stand on important challenges and opportunities and shows innovation in implementing new ideas.
“Patty is not only an exceptional leader, she’s an exceptional person,” said AACUL President Brad Miller. “I’ve had the privilege of calling her a friend, and her integrity, impact and unwavering commitment to our movement are evident in everything she does. Patty leads with vision, courage and a genuine care for people, which is exactly what sets great leaders apart. The impact she’s had in Michigan and across our system is extraordinary, and this honor couldn’t be more well-deserved.”
Corkery joined MCUL in 2018 and has served as President/CEO since 2021, later assuming the joint CEO role of MCUL and CUSG in 2024. Under Corkery’s leadership, MCUL has become one of the strongest and most engaged leagues in the country.
“Among the many reasons Patty is so well-deserving of this award is her substantial advocacy impact. She drives significant advocacy momentum at both the state and federal levels,” shared AACUL Chair and CrossState Credit Union Association President Pat Conway. “Patty and her team mobilized tens of thousands of grassroots messages during this year’s tax status battle and is elevating Michigan’s national presence through strong Hike the Hill and GAC engagement.”
MCUL has maintained exceptionally high membership affiliation and delivered record participation at its annual conference and exposition (ACE), while also advancing major community impact through partnerships such as Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN). In recognition of her impact, Corkery was recently honored with a 2025 CU Times Luminaries Award in the League/Trade Association Executive Leadership category, reinforcing her national reputation as one of the movement’s most influential and forward-looking executives.
“I’m truly humbled to receive the Eagle Award,” said Corkery. “This recognition means so much and I sincerely thank my league president colleagues for this honor. This recognition reflects the work of an incredible team that shows up every day with passion for this movement. I am so lucky to work with such an amazing team. It is my honor to represent the Michigan credit union community and I will continue to work with the broader credit union system as we are stronger and more impactful, together.”
Corkery’s national and international leadership has further distinguished her among league executives. She serves on several influential boards shaping the movement’s future, including the America’s Credit Unions Board of Directors, the AACUL Board, the Credit Union House and multiple CUSO partner organizations. In 2025, she led a landmark collaboration with the Bahamas Co-Operative League Limited, helping establish the framework for a new national CUSO and strengthening cooperative relationships with credit unions, regulators and system leaders across the Caribbean. This work reflects her belief that cooperation among cooperatives is not only a principle but a responsibility extending beyond borders.
Corkery has championed innovation across the Michigan system, most notably through CU Spark Tank — a statewide platform that elevates young professionals, surfaces new ideas and encourages credit unions to adopt member-focused solutions. She is also known for her direct, accessible communication style. Through her blog Patty’s Desk and her podcast Credit Unions, Coffee & Conversation, she speaks openly about issues such as the credit union tax status, generational financial pressures, DEI and the rise of AI. Her willingness to address complex topics with clarity and purpose has made her a trusted voice across the movement.
At the core of her leadership is a deep, values-driven dedication to cooperative principles and the credit union purpose. Corkery is known for elevating stories of community impact, championing long-term system health and mobilizing leaders at every level to engage in meaningful advocacy. She is continually looking ahead, seeking ways to move the Michigan credit union movement forward and anticipating challenges and opportunities rather than reacting to them. Her work reflects her belief that credit unions are uniquely positioned to be the best financial partners for the people and communities they serve.
About the Eagle Award
The Eagle Award is AACUL’s highest honor, created in 1981 and conferred only when a candidate meets the elevated standards established for the recognition. It honors a league president who demonstrates exceptional achievement at the league level, leadership beyond their state, courage on critical and controversial issues, innovation in turning ideas into action, and a steadfast commitment to credit union principles. Past recipients include Scott Simpson (2024), Tom Kane (2023) and Tracie Kenyon (2022).
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