Ray Lancaster, living the credit union ideal
b'Ray Lancaster began his career as a credit union volunteer. But looking back it seems inevitable Lancaster would become a credit union CEO one day. Lancaster embodies the credit union spirit. As CEO of $167 million asset Pyramid Federal Credit Union in Tucson, Ariz., he\\u2019s always looking for a way to help others. One of his greatest inspirations was the National Credit Union Foundation\\u2019s Development Education (DE) Program. It was during the Foundation\\u2019s DE training in 2014 that Lancaster realized how many Americans are one misstep away from financial disaster. \\u201cThe DE program just resonated in my heart,\\u201d Lancaster says in this episode of the CUNA News Podcast. \\u201cIt just provided me with a higher realization of why we're here and the meaning of credit union life: how we should be the best deal for our members.\\u201d That epiphany served as the catalyst for many of the programs that are in place at Pyramid Federal today. In a true reflection of Lancaster\\u2019s leadership, there\\u2019s not a level of the credit union that doesn\\u2019t in some way better people\\u2019s lives. Lancaster was named a 2019 Credit Union Rock Star by Credit Union Magazine.'