Cornerstone staffer Debbie Rightmire celebrates 40th anniversary

Debbie Rightmire, ALM & Financial Analysis director, celebrated her 40^th anniversary with the Cornerstone Credit Union League on July 10. She joined the organization in 1979 as a League consultant serving about 200 credit unions in North and Northeast Texas.

According to Rightmire, “While I was in this position, the League launched the ALM Service. It was a huge success in a short period, and the developer, Dr. Charles Idol, quickly found himself overwhelmed. He walked up to my desk one day, asked if I could ‘help’ him, and the rest is history. That started my ALM career.”  

Mike Delker, Cornerstone Credit Union League CU Relations SVP, and Caroline Willard, Cornerstone Credit Union League president/CEO, present Debbie Rightmire (center), ALM & Financial Analysis director, with a plaque commemorating her 40 years of service.

“Debbie has touched so many lives,” said Cornerstone Credit Union League President/CEO Caroline Willard. “She has made our credit unions stronger and been a part of our brand and our value proposition for 40 years. We appreciate her tremendous dedication and service.”

The ALM Service grew to become a department in 1987. Rightmire managed the department, providing ALM training and consulting, and this led Rightmire to her role as a senior faculty member of Southwest CUNA Management School.

When asked about what she likes best about her job, Rightmire responded by saying, “While I spend a lot of time behind a desk doing analysis and developing presentations, the thrill of my job is being out in the field working with credit unions in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and around the U.S. directly. Whether by phone, on-site, at Southwest CUNA Management School, at conferences—the one-on-one interaction is what I love!”

Her students appreciate all the time and energy she invests in the SCMS. “Thank you for dedicating and investing your career with us and our credit union,” said third-year student Stephanie Miller with Communication Federal Credit Union. “We are grateful for your expertise and all the time you spent teaching us ALM. I have grown my knowledge in the financial realm of the credit union because of you. And in doing so, look forward to where I will be able to go within my credit union and the industry. Debbie, I have treasured our journey together.”

Pictured from left are Cornerstone Credit Union employees Janine McBee, Experiences & Events director, Debbie Rightmire, and Vicki Harris, ALM Financial analyst. 

Another SCMS student and Award of Excellence recipient Shelli Shroeder, SVP, chief operations officer, Oklahoma Central Credit Union, described Rightmire as having the “innate ability to communicate and teach a class of broad skill sets. She is kind, professional, and truly has the best interest of her students in mind. Debbie is the superwoman of financial ratios and ALM!”

During a retirement celebration at the League, Rightmire was presented with a plaque, commemorating her 40 years of service. Employees shared their thoughts on her contributions and service. Comments included, “She’s engaged with credit unions from the CEO and CFOs to the board and millennials;” “She’s a legend;” and “Debbie has the respect of our movement and our industry.”

She said her greatest challenge was learning ALM. “I sat in my first ALM session knowing that I needed to find another job quickly because I would never grasp what ROA, spread, and GAP were. Slowly but surely, I found I loved the challenge of helping credit unions address their financial concerns and providing education to board and staff members, allowing them to contribute more to the decision-making process. What began as my nemesis became my greatest passion.”

“I am grateful for the opportunities afforded me in my 40 years with the League,” said Rightmire. “My life has been truly blessed by the people I have worked with and served.”