Whoever is nominated and confirmed to replace departing boardmember Gigi Hyland will have some big shoes to fill when it comesto her credit union experience, industry leaders say.

Kathy Garner, president/CEO of the $2.7 billion CatalystCorporate FCU in Plano, Texas, said Hyland's corporate experiencehelped her understand the value corporates bring to theindustry.

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Her perspective “probably helped the NCUA put a plan into placethat saved the corporates,” Garner said, and had Hyland not been onthe board, corporates may have experienced a different outcome.

Additionally, Garner said Hyland's credit union background gaveher a passion for the position that doesn't normally come with apolitical appointee.

Former ACCU Executive Director and former Southeast Corporate FCU President/CEO Brad Miller also laudedHyland's credit union background.

“Her leadership was instrumental in dealing with the systemimpacts resulting from the financial crisis, the corporatestabilization remedies and many other critical issues,” hesaid.

Washington-based Miller recently launched his own consultingfirm, BLM Strategy Consulting, which provides strategic planningfor financial services firms. His Florida corporate was merged intoOhio-based Corporate One this summer.

Matz said the Federal Credit Union Act states a board member canbe from the industry, but having one board member with credit unionexperience on his or her resume isn't required.

Hyland was executive director for the Association of CorporateCredit Unions from 1997 to 2002, and then served as senior vicepresident, general counsel for Empire Corporate FCU in Albany,N.Y.

Matz also has credit union experience, serving as executive vicepresident and chief operating officer at the $900 million AndrewsFCU for a few years.

NAFCU President/CEO Fred Becker said a number of CEOs over theyears have asked why a former credit union CEO hasn't beenappointed to the board.

“I always ask them to raise their hand,” he said.

California Credit Union League President/CEO Diana Dykstra saidCUNA and its affiliated leagues are considering compiling a wishlist of credit union representatives from both parties that couldfill open board positions.

The Oval Office has a tough time finding industry candidates,she said, and the banking industry maintains a list of possiblecandidates that could join the FDIC board.

But will credit union CEOs volunteer for what lobbyist andconsultant John McKechnie called a hard, thankless job?

“While there is a lot of talent in the credit union world,people will think long and hard before offering themselves up inthat capacity,” he said.

Matz, however, said while the position is challenging anddifficult “because the people you regulate usually don't appreciatewhat you're doing,” it's also very fulfilling.

“If you really care about the industry, it's a way to shapepolicy and make sure credit unions have the tools they need tosurvive into the future,” she said.