June 1st, 2026017LAKE MARY, Fla. -- The Addition Financial Foundation is expanding its Renovate to Educate program in 2026, selecting five Central Florida public schools to receive newly designed or renovated “needs spaces” that support students and families facing hardship.
Now entering its second year focused on transforming needs spaces in public schools, the program will expand into Volusia County for the first time, bringing the total number of participating school districts to five across Central Florida.
The 2026 Renovate to Educate program recipients are:
Meadowbrook Middle School (Orange County Public Schools)
9th Grade Center at...
May 29th, 2026011Pensacola, Florida – In celebration of Older Americans Month, Gulf Winds made a $5,000 donation to the Escambia County Area Agency on Aging in Atmore, Alabama. Through this donation, Gulf Winds is proud to support the agency’s commitment to helping local seniors stay connected, nourished, and supported with services that make an impactful difference in their every day.
The Escambia County Area Agency on Aging serves older adults and caregivers across the region by connecting them with programs and resources that promote independence, well-being, and quality of life. Through nutrition programs, caregiver support, and community outreach...
May 26th, 2026013Pensacola, Florida – The Gulf Winds Foundation is proud to announce that it recently awarded up to $45,000 in scholarships to five outstanding student members: Myiah Alverson, Ellie Nissim, Sarah Schultz, Colton Rollin, and Emma Grayce Fuqua. Each recipient will receive a renewable scholarship, including four awards of up to $10,000 and one award of up to $5,000, to support their educational pursuits and aspirations.
This year Gulf Winds received 62 completed applications for the program from a diverse group of students. Open to members of Gulf Winds Credit Union, recipients were selected through a competitive process that evaluated each...
May 21st, 2026020LAKE MARY, Fla. (May 21, 2026) – The Addition Financial Foundation is celebrating 20 years of investing in student success by awarding scholarships to 10 outstanding students through its 2026 Joseph A. Melbourne Jr. Annual Scholarship Program -- its largest group of recipients to date.
Named in honor of Addition Financial Credit Union’s former President and CEO, the program provides financial assistance to students pursuing higher education. This year, the Foundation expanded the program to reach more students than ever before, awarding eight scholarships to high school seniors and two to graduate-level students. Each recipient will...
May 21st, 2026021Pensacola, Florida (May 20, 2025) – As part of its continued leadership evolution, Gulf Winds Credit Union is proud to announce two senior leadership promotions that further align the organization around responsible growth, operational excellence, and exceptional member service.
Haley Murph has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Technology. In this position, Murph will bring together our Business Transformation team, Enterprise Technology team, and Cybersecurity team. Uniting these teams will allow for more seamless work across departments to deliver an even better, more modern banking experience for the members and communities...
May 20th, 2026017Pensacola, Florida (May 18, 2025) – Gulf Winds Credit Union is pleased to announce the promotion of Walt Stepnowski to Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer. In this expanded role, Stepnowski will continue to lead Gulf Wind’s enterprise strategy, innovation, and technology efforts while assuming responsibility for accounting and finance as well as marketing. This alignment will drive greater collaboration and advancement across the organization, accelerating execution, and ensuring member-focused growth.
“Walt has been a driving force in the recent growth of Gulf Winds” said Daniel Souers, President and...
May 18th, 2026015JACKSONVILLE, FL - Fraud and identity theft continue to impact millions of Americans each year, often beginning with personal information that was improperly discarded or left exposed. That risk can lead to financial loss, identity theft, and long-term stress for individuals and families.
To help communities stay protected, VyStar Credit Union is hosting free “Shred to Protect Day” events across Florida and Georgia, giving residents a safe and secure way to dispose sensitive documents before they can be used for fraud.
“Fraud prevention works best when communities stay informed and proactive,” said a Chuck Meredith, VyStar Vice...
May 15th, 2026023Pensacola, Florida (May 14, 2026) – Gulf Winds Credit Union is pleased to announce that Pete Lauter has joined the leadership team as Vice President of Wealth Management. In this strategic role, Lauter will act as program manager for the Raymond James Financial Services advisors located at Gulf Winds and will oversee all wealth management services, expand the market presence, and develop a high-performing team of financial advisors dedicated to delivering exceptional results for members.
“We are excited to welcome Pete and continue enhancing the personalized wealth management experience for our members,” said Daniel Souers, President...
May 13th, 2026015Panama City, FL (May 13, 2026) – Innovations Financial Credit Union is proud to announce that Kristie McLane, Director of Community Business Development, graduated from Leadership Northwest Florida Class IV on May 8, 2026.
McLane was one of just 25 leaders selected by the Florida’s Great Northwest (FGNW) Foundation to participate in this prestigious program, which focuses on strengthening regional collaboration through community, content, and connection.
Over the course of seven months, Class IV participants engaged in an immersive educational experience alongside leaders from across Northwest Florida, representing a wide range of...
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