New Chief Operating Officer at Credit Union 1
Credit Union 1
Credit Union 1 (CU1) selected Erika Smith as its next Chief Operating Officer. As the COO, Smith oversees branch operations, the e-services and call centers, and the facilities and branch expansion teams.
Smith joined the CU1 team in November 2022 as Chief Retail Officer, bringing nearly seventeen years of financial industry leadership experience with her.
“Since Erika joined CU1, she has embraced our mission and displayed hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm in her role. Erika embodies everything CU1 values in our next generation of leaders, and we couldn’t be more thrilled that she is continuing her career with us,” says Steve Cavin, chairman of the board of directors.
Current Issue
September 2026
Smith was raised on the Kenai Peninsula and now lives in Anchorage. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education and teaching from Southwestern Assemblies of God University. She can regularly be found on a pair of cross-country skis or wading the banks of the Kenai River with a fly rod in hand.
“As an Alaskan through and through, she understands the unique needs of the communities we serve,” says CU1 President and CEO Mark Burgess. “Her dedication and care for our employees and members make her the kind of leader we need as CU1 continues to grow.”
What happens when a city with fewer than 300 residents becomes a major freight and tourism hub, despite being accessible only by boat, plane, or a one-lane highway/railroad tunnel managed on a strict schedule?
If you’re in the City of Whittier, you get busy. The city has two separate transportation planning efforts underway, including a safety action plan under the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All initiative, which focuses on improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and emergency responders. The second is Whittier Moves, the city’s transportation master plan, which serves as the long-term roadmap for growth.