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Sign-InColorado Springs, Colorado (September 25, 2020) Serving as an active member for over 50 years,
Michael Fansler, Aventa Credit Union’s former Chairman of the Board of Directors has retired.
His relationship with Aventa Credit Union, at the time known as Colorado Springs Credit Union, started in 1961 when his dad opened an account for him when he was 15 years old. His journey onto the Board began while employed by Colorado Springs Utilities, when his supervisor suggested that being on the credit union board would not only open the doors for other opportunities, but give him the opportunity to do bigger and better things.
Mr. Fansler was elected onto the Board in 1968 and in 2000 served as Chairman of the Board and served in that position for 19 years. In those five decades, he has dedicated himself to his fellow Board members, Aventa Credit Union associates and thousands of Credit Union Members.
During his 50+ year tenure at Aventa Credit Union, starting on February 7, 1966 as a 20-year old serving on the Supervisory Committee, he has held the positions of Treasurer, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Fansler has also served on the Board of Directors for the Colorado State League, as well as various other credit union related organizations.
In 2017, Mr. Fansler received the 2017 Volunteer of the Year Award from the Mountain West Credit Union Association. This award recognized a credit union volunteer from Arizona, Colorado and Wyoming who selflessly contributed their time, effort and talent to the development of their community, their credit union and the credit union movement.
During his service, Michael Fansler has been involved in some of the most pivotal changes in the financial services industry and in Aventa Credit Union. He has seen the credit union go from recording transactions by hand in a general ledger to shifting to computer technology to automate the manual processing. He has been involved with six computer conversions and has seen products and services evolve from a time where there were no ATMs and debit cards to electronic payment systems. He has experienced the increase in regulatory requirements to the challenges of cybersecurity. He has gone from communicating with board and management with typed memos to texting and zoom meetings.
During his service, the Credit Union has seen significant growth with the opening of multiple branches, the merger of two credit unions, and a charter amendment expanding membership to nine Colorado counties. He has experienced the credit union milestones of reaching $1.0 million in assets in 1973 to $200.0 million in 2019.
“There are not enough words to describe how honored and proud Aventa has been to have Mr. Fansler serve on our board for more than five decades. He has never failed to understand the importance of the work we do and the positive influence it has on our community. Mr. Fansler holds a very special place in the heart of the Credit Union. We are so grateful for his dedication and passion over the past 50 years. He has been instrumental in supporting the development of many important strategic initiatives that have positioned Aventa to effectively support the rapidly evolving needs of the credit union. He will always be a part of Aventa’s past and future. The entire board joins me in thanking him for his dedication and service to the credit union. We wish him and his family nothing but the best as he retires from the board,” said Gregory J. Mills, President and CEO of Aventa Credit Union.
Photo: Michael Fansler, Aventa Credit Union Board of Directors
About Aventa
Aventa Credit Union was founded in 1957 by the Colorado Springs Utilities Department. Today, Aventa has grown to more than 30,000 members and $239 million in assets. The credit union offers a wide variety of financial products and services throughout the nine counties they now serve. Membership is open to anyone that lives, works, worships or attends school in Alamosa, Chaffee, Custer, El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Pueblo, Saguache and Teller Counties.