Small Credit Union CEO Roundtable

Wendy K. Baumann

DFI Secretary | Department of Financial Institutions

Governor Tony Evers appointed  Wendy K . Baumann to serve as the secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, effective February 17, 2025.  

Prior to her appointment, Baumann was the president and chief visionary officer for the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiatives Corporation (WWBIC), a position she held since 1994. Baumann spent the past three decades leading WWBIC and uplifting Wisconsin businesses owned by women, people of color, and low-to-moderate-income individuals across the state.  

Prior to her role at WWBIC, Baumann served as the director of small business development at the Milwaukee Enterprise Center, executive director of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Wisconsin, director of development and research for the Council for the Spanish Speaking Inc., and as a program coordinator for Goodwill Industries of Greater Milwaukee.  

Baumann’s knowledge of economic and financial institutions has allowed her to serve in notable positions on several local and national boards and commissions, including the Association for Enterprise Opportunity, the Association of Women’s Business Centers, the Consumer Federation of America - America Saves Initiative, and as chair of the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy and Capability. 

Baumann earned a bachelor’s degree from The George Washington University and the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Milwaukee and later earned a master’s degree in Exceptional Education from UW-Milwaukee.

Sarah Wainscott

President & CEO | The League

For fifteen years, Sarah has served The League through various advocacy roles, culminating in the start of her tenure as President & CEO in January 2025. Her experience and expertise include lobbying, grassroots advocacy, political fundraising, and serving as Wisconsin credit unions' spokesperson on policy with legislators and regulators in Madison & Washington, D.C.  

In Sarah's time at The League, she has established reliable and strategic key relationships with influential policymakers that have helped elevate credit unions' impact. She has helped pass bills updating credit union statutes, requiring financial literacy credits for high school graduation, and permitting prize-linked-savings programs while also preventing the introduction or serious consideration of harmful proposals. Notably, she also developed the annual Wisconsin Credit Union Scorecard into a preeminent and persuasive resource on the power of The Credit Union Movement in Wisconsin. As a result of these tireless advocacy efforts, public support for Wisconsin's credit unions has grown by 19% since 2010.

Sarah is an Association of Wisconsin Lobbyists' board member and serves on the Inaugural Advocacy Committee for the American Association of Credit Union Leagues. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and communication arts and a master's degree in public affairs from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Josh Roberts

Vice President of System Collaboration & Development | The League

Josh is responsible for promoting credit union service and outreach and fostering opportunities for credit union growth. You can also find Josh helping Wisconsin's small credit unions with operational consulting, provides strategy assistance by facilitating Strategic Planning Sessions, and providing various training for credit union leaders, staff, and boards. Additionally, Josh spearheads diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for The League and its member credit unions and is also the League Liaison for the Wisconsin Credit Union Foundation and oversees its operations.

Josh has nearly 20 years of experience in the financial industry, having served credit unions as a vice president, controller, and compliance officer.  He is a graduate of CUNA Management School, where he served as Class President, and a 2016 graduate of the Credit Union Development Educators (CUDE) program.  

Josh currently serves on the Executive Committee of the CUNA Lending Council and is Vice-Chair of CUNA Lending Council’s Member Resources Committee and Vice-Chair of the Engagement Committee. In addition, he is engaged in the community, serving as Board Chair for the Milwaukee Area Technical College Accounting Advisory Board, and as a member of the Milwaukee Area Technical College Banking and Finance Advisory Board. He has previously held positions and volunteered with local neighborhood associations, the American Red Cross, and local environmental organizations.

Laura Nelson

Director of Compliance Specialists | The League

Laura finds solutions for credit union’s complex compliance challenges through leading The League’s Compliance Specialist Program. Laura assists credit unions with their compliance needs, overseeing a talented team of compliance professionals and ensuring they have the necessary resources to provide outstanding compliance assistance to credit unions. 
 
In total, Laura has worked in the financial industry for over 25 years with experiences ranging from branch customer service, branch management, lending, education, auditing, and compliance. In addition, Laura has several years of experience in the insurance industry and risk management. 
 
Laura holds several accredited certifications and has served on several national payments-related committees, including her current service on Nacha’s Arbitration Panel. She earned an associate degree in Marketing and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Cardinal Stritch University

Eric Earle

Executive Benefits Specialist | TruStage

Eric Earle is a registered representative of LPL Financial, offering products and services as part of the executive benefit plans at TruStageTM, a company that specializes in the design, implementation, financing and ongoing administrative support of supplemental executive benefit programs (SERPs) specifically tailored to credit unions. He is located in Oregon, Wisconsin. He brings to the organization his experience in the financial services industry since 2005. Eric joined TruStage in 2008 as a retirement and investment specialist and was promoted in 2010. Prior to joining the organization, he worked as a financial advisor at AXA Advisors, from 2005-2008. Eric holds a Bachelor’s of Science in finance and a Bachelor’s of Art in economics from St. Cloud State University. He is FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registered with LPL Financial, and holds life, accident and health insurance licenses.