After 41 years in the credit union industry, Kevin Lukey is ready to retire.
Lukey is stepping down from his Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position with Cornerstone Credit Union and entering the world of retirement. He has held the position for 26 years.
鈥淚t was time for me to move on,鈥� he said.
Lukey鈥檚 long tenure with the company will come to a close on Oct. 20. He will pass the CEO reins to Doug Jones, who will begin his new role on Oct. 23.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a privilege and an honour,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very excited.鈥�
Lukey informed Cornerstone about his intentions to retire over a year ago. The company conducted a rigorous recruiting process, finally settling on Jones.聽
Larry Malinowski, Board of Directors President for Cornerstone, pointed to Jones鈥� knowledge and skillset as to why he was chosen.
鈥淸Jones] has worked his way up from the bottom,鈥� he said.
鈥淸Jones] has the background experience,鈥� Lukey said.
Jones wants to help Cornerstone continue to grow by focusing on its members.
鈥淥ur members are our owners,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 our number-one priority.鈥�
Lukey has been helping Jones transition into his new role.
鈥淸Lukey鈥檚] had tremendous success,鈥� Jones said.
Lukey鈥檚 career began forty-one years ago, when he entered the credit union industry right out of high school in 1976. He worked around Saskatchewan for decades before being offered the Cornerstone CEO position in Yorkton in 1996.
鈥淚 had the experience they were looking for,鈥� he said.
Lukey is proud of his tenure with the company. He鈥檚 watched it grow into the fifth-largest credit union in the province with over $1 billion in assets. But he鈥檚 most pleased with his relationship with his employees.
鈥淢aking our culture a great place to work,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 most proud of that.
鈥淸Co-workers] have been like family.鈥�
鈥淸Lukey] surrounded himself with strong people,鈥� Malinowski said. 鈥淸He鈥檚] well respected.鈥�
Lukey is leaving his job, but he鈥檚 staying in his adopted home.
鈥淲e aren鈥檛 planning on leaving Yorkton,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e love the community.鈥�
