GeoVista Credit Union announced that its Board of Directors has named Vanessa McGarry as chief executive officer, effective August 8, succeeding longtime CEO Elaine Tuten, who is retiring from the role after an extraordinary 52-year tenure.
The transition marks a significant milestone for the $247 million credit union, celebrating Tuten’s remarkable legacy while elevating a leader who has spent her entire 40-year career helping build and strengthen GeoVista.
“Elaine and Vanessa represent the very best of the credit union movement—a deep commitment to members, a belief in service and an understanding that leadership is ultimately about people,” said Susan Ammons, chair of the GeoVista Credit Union Board of Directors. “Elaine’s impact on Geo-Vista over the past 52 years is impossible to overstate. At the same time, the Board could not be more confident in Vanessa’s ability to lead GeoVista into its next chapter. Her experience, institutional knowledge and genuine passion for our members make her uniquely qualified to carry forward GeoVista’s legacy while positioning the credit union for the future.”
Tuten joined GeoVista in February 1974 as bookkeeper and assistant manager, when the credit union had approximately $2 million in assets, one branch and five employees. Within approximately six months, she was promoted to manager, with her title evolving to president and ultimately CEO as the organization grew.
In 1984, Tuten became the first person in Georgia to earn the Certified Credit Union Executive designation.
Under Tuten’s leadership, GeoVista grew from that $2 million institution into a $247 million credit union serving 21,683 members and employing 81 people. Through decades of change in financial services, technology and the communities GeoVista serves, her leadership helped establish the foundation and culture that define the credit union today.
“It has been the privilege of my life to serve GeoVista, our members and the people who have worked alongside me throughout these years,” Tuten said. “What makes this transition especially meaningful is knowing the organization will be led by someone who understands GeoVista from the inside out. I have watched Vanessa grow as a professional and as a leader for four decades, and I have tremendous confidence in her and in GeoVista’s future.”
McGarry’s appointment represents an extraordinary example of leadership development from within. She began her GeoVista career in August 1986 as a part-time collections assistant before advancing through positions in bookkeeping, share draft operations, accounting, human resources and executive leadership.
She became vice president of accounting in 2002 and served as chief financial officer from January 2008 until February 2026, when she was named executive vice president.
McGarry graduated with high honors from CUNA Management School in 2021, earning the Certified Credit Union Executive (CCUE) designation. She also holds the Certified Credit Union Investments Professional (CCUIP) designation, earned in 2018. Her commitment to the credit union movement extends beyond GeoVista. McGarry serves on the boards of the Georgia Credit Union Executives Association and Members Core Alliance. She has also served in leadership and volunteer roles with the Defense Credit Union Council and The League, including involvement in credit union advocacy and CU4Kids initiatives.
“GeoVista has been such an important part of my life, and I am deeply honored by the trust the Board has placed in me,” she said. “I have had the extraordinary opportunity to learn from Elaine and work alongside talented people who care deeply about our members. As we look ahead, my commitment is to build upon that foundation — to honor what has made Geo-Vista special while continuing to evolve so we can meet the changing needs of our members and communities.”
While retiring as CEO, Tuten will continue serving as president of GeoVista for the time being to help ensure a successful leadership transition. Her continued involvement will allow the organization to benefit from her extensive experience and institutional knowledge while Mc-Garry assumes responsibility for leading the credit union as CEO.
Together, Tuten and McGarry have dedicated approximately 92 years of service to GeoVista Credit Union, making the transition a distinctive moment in the organization’s history and a testament to its tradition of developing leaders from within.
“Few organizations have the opportunity to celebrate a leadership transition like this,” Ammons added. “This is both a moment to honor an extraordinary legacy and an opportunity to look confidently toward the future. On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Elaine for a lifetime of service to GeoVista and congratulate Vanessa as she begins this new chapter of leadership.”
