EIU Media Relations

EIU Business Alumnus to Share Expertise w/ Students, Community

An Eastern Illinois University alumnus plans to return to his alma mater to talk about what he knows most - credit unions.

More specifically, Stanley Hollen, chief executive officer of CO-OP Network, will speak on "Credit Unions and the Evolving Payments System" at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, in Lumpkin Hall's Roberson Auditorium. Admission is free and open to the public.

Hollen will be visiting Eastern as one of this year's three executives-in-residence. The School of Business ' Executive-In-Residence Program primarily serves as a student motivational tool. But it also provides opportunity for individuals and firms to discuss their "fit" in the world of business, what their business expects from its professional employees, and what tools and skill sets prospective employees are expected to have.

In order for students to gain an understanding of the concepts and processes fundamental to productive business activity, executives-in-residence discuss the scope of activity and responsibilities of their positions, how activity within their areas is linked to other areas within the organization, and the personal background needed to develop the skills necessary for the position they hold.

Hollen has dedicated his entire professional career to the credit union movement. For 33 years, beginning when he was elected to a credit union board of directors at the age of 19, he has crafted a career - both on the state and national levels - in which he's focused on developing innovative products and services to help credit unions serve their members and compete in the financial services market.

Born in Illinois, Hollen attended Eastern, where he received his bachelor's and master's degrees, the latter in business administration.

After more than a decade as a vice president with the Construction Equipment Federal Credit Union (1973-84) in Peoria, he moved west to become president and CEO of The Golden 1 Credit Union. During his tenure (1984-2002), the Sacramento, Calif., organization blossomed from $295 million in assets and nine branches to $4 billion in assets and 65 branches. By the time he left The Golden 1, the credit union ranked number one in California and number five nationally; 13 executives from his management team had become credit union CEOs around the country.

In September 2002, Hollen was named president and CEO of Liberty, a leading provider of a credit union-focused check printing, payment systems, marketing and technology solution provider. The Mounds View, Minn., company, which partners with more than 5,000 credit unions, was purchased by the Harland Company in early 2005.

Following more than three decades in the credit union world, Hollen assumed the CEO/president role with CO-OP Network in June 2005.