Cornerstone announces staff changes and promotions

Karen Hart

After 41 years at the Cornerstone League, Karen Hart, EVP, CFO, and CAO, announced her retirement in April 2021. In addition to being the “Hart” of Cornerstone, she has been instrumental in taking the helm on complex projects such as the consolidation of nearly 10 organizations into three in 2013. She has dedicated her entire career to serving credit unions. Hart started her career in June 1979 with the Members Insurance Group then took over accounting for the Texas Credit Union League, now Cornerstone League. She spent most of her career in an accounting role until becoming the first woman named as a C-suite executive at Cornerstone in the early 2000s.

Most recently, Hart’s responsibilities include the day-to-day management of the organization’s activities including Experience & Events, Asset Liability Management, CU Development, the Foundation, Field Staff, Small CU Development, Accounting, Technology, Board Governance, Legal, and Research. And although Hart will ride her Harley into the sunset, so to speak, she will continue to impact the credit union industry as the chairman of the board and the supervisory audit committee and board of directors for Resource One Credit Union.

Jim Phelps

Cornerstone’s Advocacy efforts are at the center of member offerings, and because of this, it was a natural choice to promote Chief Government Relations Officer Jim Phelps to the EVP post. As the senior-most Advocacy officer, Phelps will add membership value oversight to his purview of responsibilities. Having been involved in trade associations, government relations, and financial services for more than 22 years, he is a proven leader with expertise in business operations, revenue enhancements, and the streamlining of systems.

Miranda Gibson

Cornerstone League also recently announced the promotion of Miranda Gibson to operations consultant & data analyst in the Small Credit Union department. Gibson joined the League two years ago as transaction resources coordinator in Remote Transaction Resources/Shared Branching. She has worked in the financial sector for 10 years, with most of that time in credit unions.

In her new role, Gibson will serve as a direct liaison to Cornerstone small credit unions and will support the ALM department as well as other engagement-related activities.