WestStar Credit Union, a Las Vegas based credit union, announced that Rick Schmidt, the credit union’s President and CEO, has decided to retire effective January 2, 2023. The credit union is currently starting the search process for a new CEO by partnering with Humanidei + O’Rourke.
Schmidt has served in his current role since April 2010. Prior to coming to WestStar, he had over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, including 28 years with credit unions.
During Mr. Schmidt’s tenure as CEO, he played a critical role in helping the credit union survive the great Recession, thrive in the years in between, and helped WestStar’s unique membership base endure through the pandemic. In the process, he served in various roles within the credit union industry such as Chairman of the Nevada Credit Union League Board of Directors, Chair of the Credit Union Advisory Council for the CFPB, and received the Nevada PAC Advocate of the Year award on two different occasions, as well as the Distinguished Service Award from the Nevada Credit Union League.
“I know it wasn’t an easy decision,” says Craig Hawkins, Board Chairman of WestStar Credit Union about Schmidt. “WestStar Credit Union has been his pride and joy...the new CEO will be filling some big shoes”