Key Takeaways
- • Denise Ratliff, Senior Vice President of Lending at ValleyStar Credit Union, has completed the three-year Southeastern Regional Credit Union School (SRCUS) program and earned her Certified Credit Union Executive (CCUE) designation.
- • The CCUE credential requires completion of an intensive leadership development program featuring weeklong classroom sessions, online coursework, team projects, examinations, and instruction from University of Georgia faculty and experienced credit union executives.
- • Ratliff's achievement underscores ValleyStar Credit Union's commitment to executive development and strengthening operational and strategic capabilities within its lending division.
- • The completion of rigorous professional certification by senior leadership signals organizational investment in leadership pipeline development and member service quality within the credit union sector.
Summary
ValleyStar Credit Union announced on September 8, 2026, that Denise Ratliff, Senior Vice President of Lending, has successfully graduated from the Southeastern Regional Credit Union School and earned her Certified Credit Union Executive (CCUE) designation. The credential represents completion of a rigorous three-year professional development program designed to enhance operational knowledge, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities among credit union executives.
The SRCUS program is structured as an immersive leadership experience combining multiple learning modalities, including weeklong in-person classroom sessions, online coursework, collaborative team projects, and comprehensive examinations. Instruction is delivered by faculty from the University of Georgia alongside experienced credit union executives, positioning the program as a peer-learning environment for mid-to-senior level professionals in the sector.
Woody Windley, Interim President and CFO of ValleyStar Credit Union, characterized Ratliff's achievement as validation of her professional commitment and organizational value. "Denise's achievement is a reflection of her unwavering commitment to professional growth and to serving our members with excellence," Windley stated. He noted that her demonstrated leadership, dedication, and focus on continuous learning would strengthen the organization's operational capabilities and member service delivery.
Ratliff reflected on the intensity and value of the three-year program, noting that the experience combined rigorous academic challenge with meaningful peer relationship development. "The last three years of SRCUS have been a challenging and wonderful experience. I have gained a wealth of knowledge from incredibly talented professors and instructors while developing relationships with my classmates that will last a lifetime," she said. The executive's completion of the program represents institutional investment in building senior leadership bench strength within ValleyStar's lending division and broader organizational strategy.
The SRCUS program is structured as an immersive leadership experience combining multiple learning modalities, including weeklong in-person classroom sessions, online coursework, collaborative team projects, and comprehensive examinations. Instruction is delivered by faculty from the University of Georgia alongside experienced credit union executives, positioning the program as a peer-learning environment for mid-to-senior level professionals in the sector.
Woody Windley, Interim President and CFO of ValleyStar Credit Union, characterized Ratliff's achievement as validation of her professional commitment and organizational value. "Denise's achievement is a reflection of her unwavering commitment to professional growth and to serving our members with excellence," Windley stated. He noted that her demonstrated leadership, dedication, and focus on continuous learning would strengthen the organization's operational capabilities and member service delivery.
Ratliff reflected on the intensity and value of the three-year program, noting that the experience combined rigorous academic challenge with meaningful peer relationship development. "The last three years of SRCUS have been a challenging and wonderful experience. I have gained a wealth of knowledge from incredibly talented professors and instructors while developing relationships with my classmates that will last a lifetime," she said. The executive's completion of the program represents institutional investment in building senior leadership bench strength within ValleyStar's lending division and broader organizational strategy.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.