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Emma Pierce
The credit union industry’s largest advocacy event—the 2025 Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC)—is just a few weeks away, and once again, a group of emerging leaders has been selected to “crash” the meeting.
Emma Pierce, Communications Specialist at Evergreen CU, has been chosen to represent Maine as part of the Cooperative Trust’s Crash the GAC program. Pierce will join other credit union young professionals from across the country at the special event in Washington, DC, to network, learn, and hear how the credit union industry is making a difference.
“I’m really excited to connect with driven, hardworking young professionals in the credit union movement,” shared Pierce about her selection as this year’s Crasher from Maine. “The opportunity to spend several days with current and future leaders who not only want to connect with other likeminded industry professionals but learn about the credit union movement at large is a rare opportunity. It feels like a ‘pinch-me’ moment to represent the state I love through my work with Evergreen CU.”
To be selected as a Crasher, interested young professionals needed to apply and include a 60-second video explaining why they should be selected to represent their credit union and state at the GAC.
“Evergreen CU’s leadership, including our CEO and VP – Marketing, were incredibly instrumental in influencing me to apply to Crash the GAC,” added Pierce. “They know firsthand the lifechanging experience GAC provides, and Crashing is a way to explore it at a whole other level.”
The Crasher program began 16 years ago to help credit union emerging leaders take their careers to the next level. In addition to attending the GAC, the program aims to highlight the meaningful work credit unions are doing to improve the financial well-being of their members and communities.
“It is so important to have young leaders getting involved in credit union advocacy,” said Robert Caverly, League Vice President of Advocacy. “Programs like Crash the GAC provide a great opportunity for young rising stars to learn more about the credit union difference and the importance of sharing our credit union story. I know Emma is going to have a great experience, and I encourage senior leaders to have their rising star apply next year.”
As part of the GAC experience, Pierce will join League staff and credit union advocates from Maine at events like the Congressional Breakfast with Maine’s delegation. While she won’t have much free time, she hopes to have a chance to dine at one of DC’s many emerging restaurants.
“Washington is my favorite city to travel to and I wish I could see everything,” shared Pierce. “The food scene there is very underrated, so I hope to try new foods with friends I make through the Crash GAC program.”
Congratulations, Emma!