Corporate Leadership Moving the Central Valley Forward

With more than 600 employees who live and work in the Central Valley and 400,000 members, EECU is committed to investing in the communities it serves. Through partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and community organizations, EECU strives to make a difference in the lives of Valley residents.

In a region as vast and varied as the Central Valley, progress happens when people and institutions choose to move in the same direction. Recognizing the momentum this type of collaboration creates, the Central Valley Community Foundation created the Council of Business Sponsors (CBS), a growing network of companies united by a shared commitment to building a stronger, more prosperous Central Valley. 

For one of the CBS’ founding members, Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU), this type of commitment is part of its DNA. Founded in 1934 by nine Fresno‑area educators, EECU has spent almost a century investing in the people and places that shaped it. Today, with more than 400,000 members and 600 employees living, working and raising families across the Valley, the credit union sees its own success as inseparable from the strength of the region it calls home.

“Being part of the Council of Business Sponsors allows us to learn from one another and coordinate efforts more effectively,” said Mark Perez, Senior Vice President at EECU.   

EECU joined the Council of Business Sponsors in 2021, recognizing the opportunity to collaborate with peers who share a similar vision for the Valley’s future. The Council’s quarterly convenings offer a forum for business leaders to exchange insights, learn from one another and coordinate efforts to address the region’s most pressing challenges. For EECU, these conversations deepen understanding of emerging needs, spark new ideas and illuminate opportunities to collaborate or support the work of fellow members, including Adventist Health, Ameriprise, Chevron, Citi, Community West Bank, E&G Farming, Lifelong Learning, Microsoft, OK Produce, Producers Dairy, Saint Agnes Medical Center, T-Mobile, The Wonderful Company, Valley Children’s Hospital and Wells Fargo.

CVCF CEO Ashley Swearngin presents during a Council of Business Sponsors (CBS) meeting. CBS meets quarterly to engage with peers, share insights and help shape solutions to the region’s most pressing challenges. These sessions serve as a space for collaboration, innovation and action, bringing together businesses that share a deep commitment to the well-being of our community.

EECU brings to CBS a strong history of community investment and a deep commitment to the Central Valley’s future. The credit union’s free financial education workshops help families build stability and confidence. Its Student Grant Program—now surpassing $2 million awarded since 2003—makes higher education more accessible for members pursuing college or career training. Excellence in Education sponsorships across six counties honor outstanding educators and school employees, celebrating the individuals who shape the Valley’s future every day.

Through CBS, these efforts connect to broader regional initiatives led by CVCF, which partners closely with members to understand their business and community priorities, then helps advance them through strategic partnerships, investment opportunities and visibility across the region. 

Whether helping a student pursue higher education, supporting a local nonprofit or contributing to regional initiatives, EECU’s goal remains constant: to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people it serves.

EECU supports programs that help educators and students throughout the Central Valley. Earlier this year, EECU partnered with the Foundation for Sanger Schools to provide each first-year Sanger Unified School District teacher a $150 grant to help with classroom supplies and other expenses.

Together, CBS members are demonstrating what business leadership looks like in the Central Valley: not just supporting projects, but shaping the region’s future. By investing in people, strengthening systems and working at scale, they are driving lasting change—showing that when businesses reinvest in the communities that sustain them, the entire Valley moves forward.

To learn how your company can get involved in the Council of Business Sponsors, contact Kristina Solberg at kristina@centralvalleycf.org.

This story is part of the Central Valley Community Foundation’s “Sixty Stories That Shaped Us” initiative to help mark 60 years since our founding. Join us in celebrating this milestone and the special place we call home. To learn more, visit centralvalleycf.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @centralvalleycf.