Meet the 2026 ELEVATE Crashers

Wed September 16, 2026

Cornerstone League is excited to introduce the 10 young professionals selected to Crash ELEVATE: Credit Union Leadership Summit, Oct. 13–16 in St. Louis. Crashers will connect with established leaders through education, networking, and peer engagement before returning to their credit unions with new perspectives and ideas to put into action.

Meet the 2026 Crashers

Alex Walker

Alexis Winegarner

Anna Ramirez

Ashley Cook

Ashley Deskin

Candiace Forbus

Lindsay Cline

Marissa Williams

Nevada Acheson

Ryan Loveless

  • Alex Walker, member services officer, Allied FC

  • Alexis Winegarner, HR generalist and training coordinator, Quantum CU

  • Anna Ramirez, training and development facilitator, Texans CU

  • Ashley Cook, branch manager, Cotton Belt FCU

  • Ashley Deskin, HR administrator, Brazos Valley Schools CU

  • Candiace Forbus, loan processor, Clearway CU

  • Lindsay Cline, vice president of underwriting, Green Country FCU

  • Marissa Williams, payment services specialist, WeStreet CU

  • Nevada Acheson, strategic marketing and communication specialist, Quantum CU

  • Ryan Loveless, marketing analyst, First Missouri CU

The Crashers were selected for their leadership potential, commitment to the credit union movement, and desire to learn from—and contribute to—the professionals around them.

“I’m a firm believer that investing in our credit union young professionals is not just about the succession plan; it is the foundation of our future,” Deskin said. “Our members trust us to invest their money wisely, and we should think of our talent the same way.”

Cline emphasized the perspective young professionals can bring to established practices. “I think one of the most important things we bring is the willingness to ask, ‘Why do we do it this way?’” she said. “Not that we don’t respect how things have been done, but we want to make sure we’re doing the right thing for members.”

Ramirez echoed that focus on the future: “We’re helping to shape what it looks like, not just today, but what it will be someday. We bring fresh ideas, different perspectives, and an overall genuine desire to help make a difference for our members, our communities, and each other.”

We look forward to seeing the connections these Crashers build at ELEVATE and the ideas they bring back to their credit unions and communities.

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