Karrie Drobnick, Chief Operating Officer at Verve, a Credit Union, has earned a spot on the American Banker’s inaugural Most Powerful Women in Credit Unions list. Honoring 25 women nationwide, the list celebrates the extraordinary efforts, achievements, and stories of women in the credit union industry, specifically those whose leadership and creativity have bolstered stability and growth in these uniquely challenging economic times.
As Chief Operating Officer, Drobnick is responsible for maintaining Verve’s strategic approach to day-to-day operations and overall member experience, including branch network, sales and service, and marketing.
“Karrie is an energetic leader whose vision and skills take Verve’s business, brand, and culture to the next level,” said Kevin J. Ralofsky, President and CEO at Verve. “Incredibly hard working, genuinely passionate, and unequivocally devoted to her team and our members, this award validates what we have known all along—that Karrie is not only a key player in our organization, but a distinguished industry leader. We are fortunate to have her steady and innovative voice at Verve’s strategy table.”
Drobnick joined Verve as VP of Marketing in 2014, was promoted to Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer in 2017, and has served as Chief Operating Officer since April 2022. In that time, Drobnick has been a key driver in developing Verve’s name, brand, and growth strategy. She helped orchestrate the first three‐way merger in the state of Wisconsin, coordinate the acquisition of South Central Bank, and successfully implement an organization-wide, member-impacting technology upgrade. In addition to expanding Verve’s footprint into the Chicago market, these moves resulted in more than 279% growth in assets for the credit union—from $395M to $1.5B.
“It’s an honor to be on this list,” said Drobnick. “At Verve, we intentionally cultivate an environment where everyone can use their power and influence to create a great place to work and a great experience for our members. Using our unique talents in service of others is a hallmark of our culture, and I believe this award is a celebration of the empowerment we share.”
Nominations for American Banker’s Most Powerful Women in Credit Unions list were open to women leaders primarily employed at a credit union. A committee of American Banker staff then read the nominations and selected honorees based on organizational achievements and personal qualities such as leadership, teamwork, and initiative. The full list of profiles for each honoree can be found here.
Founded in 1937, Verve, a Credit Union, is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative with more than $1.5 billion in assets and serves close to 65,000 members at 20 locations. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, or worships in 23 counties throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota and to employees of Kimberly-Clark Corp., Fox River Paper Co., the medical services industry, and the immediate family of any current member, or statewide to anyone in Wisconsin, Illinois, or Minnesota through ACC membership. Federally insured by NCUA.
