BATON ROUGE, La. — The Luminate Foundation has named Jeffrey K. Conrad and Sharlene Begnaud as recipients of its 2026 Legends Award, recognizing their decades of leadership and contributions to Louisiana’s credit union movement.
The Legends Award is the foundation’s highest honor and recognizes individuals whose dedication, vision and service have advanced the credit union philosophy of “people helping people” while helping shape the industry’s future through leadership, collaboration and advocacy, according to Luminate, which is the state association for credit unions in Louisiana.
“Jeffrey K. Conrad and Sharlene Begnaud each embody the heart and purpose of the credit union movement,” Juan Fernandez, president and CEO of Luminate, said in a statement. “Their leadership has strengthened organizations, empowered communities, and inspired countless individuals across Louisiana and beyond. Their legacies reflect a lifelong commitment to service, innovation, and developing others, and we are proud to recognize them as recipients of the 2026 Legends Award.”
Nearly 4 Decades of Service
Conrad is being recognized for nearly 38 years of service to Pelican Credit Union, including 29 years as president and CEO. During his tenure, Pelican grew into the largest state-chartered credit union in Louisiana, serving more than 80,000 members nationwide and surpassing $800 million in assets, according to Luminate.
The organization said Conrad’s leadership focused on balancing growth and innovation with member service and community engagement.
Among the accomplishments cited by Luminate:
- Modernizing Pelican’s operations and expanding 24/7 digital banking access.
- Introducing technology and services designed to improve convenience while maintaining personalized member service.
- Supporting financial education and community outreach initiatives.
- Helping launch and expand programs such as Dollars for A’s, Pelican Pays Your Debt and the School Pride Debit Card program.
‘Enduring Impact’
Luminate said Conrad also became a respected advocate for the credit union movement and invested heavily in mentorship and leadership development, helping prepare future leaders both within Pelican and throughout the industry.
“His enduring impact is reflected not only in organizational growth, but in the culture he created, the people he mentored, and the lives strengthened through his leadership,” the organization said.
Nearly Three Decades of Service
Sharlene Begnaud was honored for more than three decades of service to the credit union industry through leadership roles at the Louisiana Credit Union League and Ascension Credit Union.
According to Luminate, Begnaud played a key role in the development and expansion of shared branching networks across Louisiana and Mississippi, helping improve member access to financial services while strengthening cooperation among credit unions.
The organization credited Begnaud with:
- Helping implement and expand shared branching throughout Louisiana and Mississippi.
- Improving member access to financial services by reducing traditional barriers to service.
- Strengthening operational collaboration among credit unions.
- Helping establish shared branching as a critical service model for the industry.
Luminate also highlighted her contributions to the growth of Ascension Credit Union, where she helped the organization double its assets and increase membership by 35%.
‘Culture Focused on Trust’
Beyond financial performance, Begnaud helped cultivate a culture focused on trust, service and community engagement, according to the foundation.
Luminate said Begnaud has long been regarded as a mentor and leader within the credit union movement, helping develop and encourage future generations of industry professionals.
“Her legacy is not only measured in accomplishments, but in the countless individuals she has inspired and empowered throughout her decades of service,” the organization said.
Conrad and Begnaud will be formally recognized during the 2026 Luminate Awards Ceremony on June 23,
