Dale Owen Named as President & CEO of Ascentra Credit Union

Ascentra Credit Union’s Board of Directors announced this week that Dale Owen will be the new President & CEO of the credit union, after serving as Interim CEO for the last 90 days.

“Dale has given more than fourteen years to the credit union as Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer. His succession to CEO was a thoughtful, thorough process by the Board of Directors. We were blessed to have had a great leader in Paul Lensmeyer for the past couple of decades, and now in Dale Owen we’re confident we have another great leader,” Larry Ridenour, Ascentra Board Chair said. “Dale will bring great ideas and support to the Ascentra membership. He is an inspiring innovator and masterful strategist, and strongly believes in community support. He’s been recognized throughout the credit union industry and is well respected by members and his peers. We’re very excited about the future for Ascentra with Dale at the helm.”

With over 25 years of experience, Dale joined the credit union in August of 1999 and served as EVP and Chief Lending Officer. He holds the Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation from the Credit Union Executive Society (CUES).

He has graduated from the CUES CEO Institutes conducted at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University; and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dale also holds a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, and Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill.

Dale is actively involved in the community serving as President of the Iowa Credit Union Foundation, board of directors for Quad City DollarWise, Augustana College Alumni Board and serves on the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) MPF National Advisory Council.

He has served on the CMGMI National Insight Panel, Iowa Credit Union League Payday Lending Task Force, past president and board member of the Great River Chapter of Credit Unions, past treasurer and board member of the Davenport Neighborhood Housing Service and past board member for the Quad City Credit Association.
He has also been involved in the community as a volunteer for The Children’s Miracle Network, Junior Achievement, United Way, the Boys & Girls Club and Bethany for Children & Families.

“Ascentra Credit Union has a treasured, meaningful past and an exciting and bright future,” said Owen. “This is an important time for Ascentra, and I look forward to serving the members of Ascentra as CEO with our same commitment to listening, caring, and doing what’s right.”