Everything Co-op has dedicated the Month of September to interview the 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees. Induction into the Cooperative Hall of Fame is the highest honor that the U.S. cooperative community bestows on the extraordinary men and women who have made genuinely heroic contributions in support of the cooperative form of enterprise. The first interview to kick off this tribute was with Maurice Smith, Attorney and Counselor at Law, and retired CEO of Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU) . Maurice and Vernon discussed his co-op journey, and projections about the future of the cooperative movement.
As the retired CEO of Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU), the fourth largest credit union in North Carolina, Maurice has led expansion of the institution at an industry-leading pace—16-fold organic growth rate to current $3.8B in assets—while creating an enduring brand for 400,000 members. Maurice has accomplished this with his agile style of leadership, based on co-op principles and values, and staying focused on maximizing member value. He leverages quantitative financial acumen and qualitative leadership traits in creating cultures of collaboration and engagement.
Maurice has been the CUNA Board Chair, CUNA CEO Council Executive Committee Chair, National Cooperative Bank Board Chair, and Filene Administrative Board Chair. He has served on critical board committees including audit, governance, and nominating. Since retiring, Maurice practices law for organizations whose values reflects his own.
The 2023 Everything Co-op List: Vernon Oakes’ Picks for Heart, Mind, Body, Soul, and Community
For nearly 10 years, Vernon Oakes, Everything Co-op’s founder and host, has dedicated himself and the show to promoting the cooperative model to build economic resilience, expand employment, and provide dignity of work and home. It does this by highlighting and amplifying the work, products, and services of cooperatives, their members, and their allies.
This year we are proud to expand those efforts by offering a thought-fully curated list of products and services from the cooperative community centered around five categories, each mirroring Vernon’s interests – Heart, Mind, Body, Soul, and Community. These categories embrace a wide variety of items that reflect the cooperative ethos of mutual support, sustainability, and community welfare.
We’re inviting the community to help select these products and services. If you provide a product or service that you would like to highlight or if you are a customer of a product or service, please feel free to submit them. (Submit Link)
