MADISON, Wis. – Filene Research Institute, has announced two personnel moves, one involving a name well-known to credit unions.
Filene has appointed Stephen Arnold as chief strategy & enterprise development officer. In this executive leadership role, Arnold will be responsible for translating enterprise priorities into action, stewarding growth of Filene’s Advisory Services, and advancing Filene’s data and digital strategy to enhance impact, reach, and relevance, Filene said.
“Arnold brings leadership experience spanning financial services, insurance, and technology. He is a proven strategist and growth leader recognized for forging strong partnerships, developing talent, and aligning business execution with organizational priorities,” Filene said.
Most recently, Arnold led 2901 Consulting Group, a firm he founded to help credit union organizations accelerate strategic growth and program execution. Prior to that, he served as VP of partner management at TruStage (formerly CUNA Mutual Group), where he oversaw strategic partnerships focused on providing financial services to consumers and credit union members. His earlier career includes leadership roles at Liberty Mutual, Huron Consulting Group, and Epic Systems, where he consistently delivered measurable results through data-driven decision making, operational excellence, and empowered teams.
“We are thrilled to welcome Stephen to Filene’s Executive Leadership Team. His strategic vision, proven record of execution, and deep understanding of the credit union system make him the ideal leader to advance our priorities and expand our impact,” President and CEO Mark Meyer said in a statement.
Arnold holds an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He is also a Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) and has served on multiple public and community boards, including the Wisconsin Employee Trust Fund Board and Madison College’s Business Management Advisory Board.
“I’m honored to join Filene at such a pivotal time for the credit union movement,” said Arnold in a statement. “Filene’s commitment to driving innovation and turning insight into action deeply resonates with me. I look forward to collaborating with our members and partners to accelerate growth, strengthen strategic alignment, and expand Filene’s impact across cooperative finance.”
Mike Schenk Joins as Advisor
Separately, Filene Research Institute has named Mike Schenk as strategic advisor. In this role, Schenk will support Filene by providing strategic direction to research projects, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, and conducting thorough reviews of content for coherence and relevance to credit unions, the organization said.
Schenk brings more than 40 years of experience in the financial services industry, with deep expertise in economic analysis, credit union operations, and cooperative finance. He recently retired from his role as chief economist for America’s Credit Unions, where for more than three decades he led economic research, informed public relations and advocacy strategies, and regularly contributed insights to national and industry media.
‘Strengthen Our Work’
“We are excited to welcome Mike as Strategic Advisor. His decades of experience, leadership in economic analysis, and extensive understanding of credit union financial performance will significantly strengthen our work and the impact we deliver to our Filene members,” Filene EVP Christie Kimbell said in a statement.
A long-time supporter of Filene’s mission, Schenk previously served on the Filene Research Institute board. He also serves on the board of Summit Credit Union in Madison, Wis. – a $6.2 billion financial cooperative with more than 240,000 members – where he has held leadership roles including board chair and chair of the Asset-Liability Management and Risk Management/Internal Audit Committees.
‘Leading Insight’
“Filene has long been a source of leading insight and innovation for the credit union movement,” said Schenk. “I’m honored to return in this advisory capacity to help shape research that advances cooperative finance and strengthens the ability of credit unions to improve their members’ financial well-being.”
