Board of Directors recognizes former president and CEO for her contributions to the credit union

TULLAHOMA, Tenn., Nov. 8, 2023 – Ascend Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in Middle Tennessee, announced today that its corporate headquarters building in Tullahoma has been named in honor of former President and CEO Caren Gabriel.

Ascend’s Board of Directors recently adopted a resolution to recognize Gabriel by naming the Ascend Federal Credit Union corporate headquarters facility the Caren Carden Gabriel Building. The unveiling ceremony and reception for the naming dedication was held Oct. 31 with board members and employees in attendance.

“The Board of Directors is grateful to Caren and wanted to recognize her contributions to the credit union, its employees and its members,” said Ascend Board of Directors Chairman Mark Rigney. “Caren was an exceptional leader at Ascend and her significant achievements will now be permanently honored in Tullahoma and remembered across Middle Tennessee.”

“Caren’s vision for Ascend resulted in many successful accomplishments, including one of her most treasured, the build of this headquarters facility in 2010,” said Ascend President and CEO Matt Jernigan. “Caren realized the need for a modernized facility, knowing it would be key to attracting and retaining talent. She created a long-lasting legacy at Ascend, which will be apparent to future Ascend employees and members.”

Gabriel joined Ascend as staff attorney in 1985 and later transitioned to the role of general counsel and executive vice president. She became president and CEO of Ascend from January 2004 until her retirement in 2023. Under Gabriel’s leadership, Ascend grew from having $960.3 million in assets, 12 branches and 117,000 members to over $4 billion in assets, 27 branches and more than 240,000 members.

“I have been, and continue to be, honored to serve Middle Tennessee’s largest credit union, its members, employees and our community,” said Gabriel. “This building dedication is a testament to the collective efforts of the incredible team I had the privilege to work with. I’m immensely grateful to Ascend and its Board of Directors for this lasting recognition.”

About Ascend Federal Credit Union

With more than 237,000 members and more than $4.1 billion in assets, Ascend Federal Credit Union is the largest credit union in Middle Tennessee and one of the largest federally chartered credit unions in the United States. Based in Tullahoma, Tenn., the member-owned financial institution offers banking, loan, retirement and investment services from its 27 branches, more than 55,000 free ATMs worldwide, online banking portal, and mobile app. The credit union’s mission is to serve by offering financial literacy education and giving back to its community in a variety of ways. Ascend is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. For more information, visit ascend.org.

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