Daniel Souers, CEO of Gulf Winds Credit Union

Daniel Souers is an experienced executive with an avid passion for results and innovation. He earned both his undergraduate degree in Marketing Management at University of South Alabama as well as a certificate in Data-Driven Marketing from Cornell University; additionally, Daniel graduated with honors from Southwest CUNA Management School.

Souers is currently the Chief Experience Officer at Gulf Winds Credit Union in Pensacola, Florida, with duties including overseeing marketing, contact center operations, professional development programs for staff and professional oversight of marketing materials.

Early Life and Education

Souers previously served as marketing manager of Gulf Winds Credit Union in Alabama. His extensive marketing knowledge, combined with his background in market research, enabled him to lead with a members-first mentality. Within his first few months as CEO, Souers visited all branches across Florida, Alabama, and Georgia on an intensive listening tour so as to understand more about their employees and members.

Souers is a graduate of Leadership Stark County’s 26th class and has served on various learning day committees, the YStark steering committee and United Way Young Leaders Society. Additionally, Souers has led Malone University students on service learning trips to France’s Taize Monastery; during these trips he led service learning trips & led multiple service learning trips for Malone students there as well. Souers has received multiple accolades including Canton Public Educators Association Layperson of the Year as well as Malone’s Young Alumni Award from Malone.

Professional Career

Daniel Souers has held several roles during his career, such as marketing and professional development management at First Service Credit Union. Additionally, he served on the boards for both eCU Technology and Houston Chapter of Credit Unions as an officer member. Daniel earned both his bachelor’s degree in marketing management from University of South Alabama as well as data-driven marketing certificate from Cornell University.

At Herndon’s $4 billion-asset Northwest Federal Credit Union, Souers is working on creating an integrated customer experience strategy across all departments. His aim is to ensure that members’ needs drive all decisions – be they branch visits, mobile apps or call center interactions.

Souers was recently selected to the Corporate One Board of Directors, consisting of nine members elected by credit unions and by general consent. His three-year term began on April 20, 2023.

Achievement and Honors

Souers has served as President and CEO of Gulf Winds Credit Union since 2022, where he leads his team with a member-first mentality. With more than two decades of experience in marketing, leadership and product development from working at First Service and MAX Credit Unions as the Chief Marketing Officer – as well as holding various other marketing roles at both institutions – Souers holds both a bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management from University of South Alabama as well as a data-driven marketing certificate from Cornell University; additionally he actively participates in several credit union service organizations and industry associations such as eCU Technology and Houston Chapter Credit Unions Advisory Board memberships.

Personal Life

Although Washington DC was very different than New Orleans, Souers’s experience in politics and business would help him thrive there. He knew some powerful figures already such as James V Forrestal of Piggly Wiggly fame as well as Joseph H Himes from Piggly Wiggly co-director Joseph Himes’ company Piggly Wiggly.

His assignment with the Tenth Naval District, headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico gave him an unparalleled view of the Caribbean – an area in which German ships could potentially travel in search of war materials.

Souers currently serves as chief experience officer at Gulf Winds Credit Union in Pensacola, Florida. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing management from University of South Alabama as well as a data-driven marketing certificate from Cornell. Furthermore, Souers is involved with multiple credit union service organizations and advisory boards including eCU Technology.

Net Worth

Souers finds great joy in leading Gulf Winds Credit Union with an unwavering commitment to serving others and driving growth. His success as CEO stems from putting members first while employing his expertise in community outreach, marketing, leadership and product development to provide an exceptional member-centric perspective. Upon taking office as CEO he visited all thirteen of its branches so he could hear directly from both employees and members alike.

Sidney Souers deserves to be better-known than he currently is. As Director of Naval Intelligence he helped centralize America’s intelligence apparatus and was an essential member of its national security establishment. With connections to influential figures including submarine designer Carl Baer and former president Harry S Truman – as well as 16 hours of paid volunteer service each year through local charitable endeavors – Sidney Souers made himself widely recognized across society.