A 52-year succession.
Vanessa McGarry takes over as CEO of GeoVista Credit Union after spending four decades at the Hinesville institution alongside retiring leader Elaine Tuten.
After 52 years at the helm of GeoVista Credit Union, Elaine Tuten is stepping down as chief executive, handing leadership of the $247 million institution to Vanessa McGarry, a longtime colleague who has spent her entire 40-year career at the Georgia credit union.
McGarry became CEO on Aug. 8, marking a rare succession in which the incoming and outgoing leaders have together spent roughly 92 years at the same financial institution. Tuten will remain GeoVista’s president for the time being to help with the transition.
The change closes one of the longest leadership chapters in the credit union’s history. Tuten joined GeoVista in February 1974 as a bookkeeper and assistant manager, when the institution had about $2 million in assets, one branch and five employees. She became manager roughly six months later and eventually served as president and CEO as the credit union expanded.
Today, GeoVista has $247 million in assets, 21,683 members and 81 employees. It earned $703,000 in the first six months of 2026, up from $409,000 during the same period a year earlier, according to NCUA call report data.
“Elaine’s impact on GeoVista over the past 52 years is impossible to overstate,” Susan Ammons, chair of the credit union’s board, said. “At the same time, the Board could not be more confident in Vanessa’s ability to lead GeoVista into its next chapter.”
Tuten’s tenure spanned major changes in financial services, technology and the communities GeoVista serves. In 1984, she became the first person in Georgia to earn the Certified Credit Union Executive designation.
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“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.
Her successor has been moving through GeoVista’s ranks for nearly as long. McGarry joined in August 1986 as a part-time collections assistant and went on to work in bookkeeping, share draft operations, accounting and human resources before moving into executive leadership.
She became vice president of accounting in 2002 and served as chief financial officer from 2008 until February 2026, when she was named executive vice president. She earned the Certified Credit Union Executive designation from CUNA Management School in 2021 and holds a Certified Credit Union Investments Professional designation.
McGarry also has held leadership and volunteer roles outside GeoVista, including board positions with the Georgia Credit Union Executives Association and Members Core Alliance, as well as roles with the Defense Credit Union Council and The League.
“GeoVista has been such an important part of my life, and I am deeply honored by the trust the board has placed in me,” McGarry said.
The transition comes as GeoVista enters its next phase with a leader who has been closely involved in its financial and operational growth. McGarry’s challenge will be to preserve the institution’s culture while adapting to the changing needs of its members and communities.
For now, Tuten’s continued role as president gives the Hinesville-based credit union an unusual measure of continuity as its longtime chief executive gives way to the person who has worked beside her for four decades.
“As we look ahead, my commitment is to build upon that foundation — to honor what has made GeoVista special while continuing to evolve.”
– Vanessa McGarry
Incoming CEO
GeoVista Credit Union
Ken McCarthy is manager of marketing communications at Tyfone, where he monitors the credit union industry and contributes to conversations shaping its future. He previously covered credit unions and community banking for American Banker and S&P Global Market Intelligence. He holds a journalism degree from Point Park University and has more than 15 years of experience covering financial services. He is also the author of three literary fiction novels.
