Amplify Board of Directors Announce Kendel Martin As New Chair

AUSTIN, Texas — Today, for the first time in more than two decades, Amplify has a new board chair. The Board of Directors at Amplify formally announced that existing director Kendel Martin has succeeded Willie Everett as board chair for the organization. This decision comes after a vote during Amplify’s annual board organizational meeting earlier this month, and at the beginning of the financial institution’s new 10-year strategic plan.

“Working with Amplify leadership on our 10-year plan made it clear that this was the perfect time for this transition,” Everett said. “Kendel is uniquely suited to help Amplify grasp the opportunities that lie ahead. She is a phenomenal choice, and I look forward to working with her closely.”

Everett first joined the board of directors in 1989 when Amplify was called the IBM Texas Employees Federal Credit Union. Everett was elected chair shortly thereafter. Starting with approximately $65M in assets, his tenure oversaw multiple charter conversions and the exponential growth that created the $3B+ organization Amplify is today.

In 2022, Everett spearheaded a board leadership succession planning process and as part of that, recommended inviting another director to step into the role as chair. Accordingly, Director Kendel Martin was unanimously elected chair, joining continuing executive board leadership Samuel Robertson as vice chair and Joyce Smith as secretary.

“Amplify is in an advantageous position to bring about lasting financial change to Central Texas,” Martin said. “So much of that is owed to Willie Everett’s stewardship over the past three decades. I am grateful for the opportunity to build on that legacy and help Amplify serve the next generation of Texans.”

Amplify noted that Everett will remain on the board and continue his service to the credit union.

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About Kendel Martin

Kendel Martin is an accomplished executive in accounting and finance and a distinguished community volunteer. Her previous professional roles include the Luminex Corporation, where she served as the Vice President of Accounting, and a 13-year tenure at Ernst & Young. Martin has been a member of the Amplify Board of Directors since 2019 and is active in other community endeavors as well, including serving many years on the Board of Directors of Communities in Schools of Central Texas and her ongoing work with women-led giving collective Impact Austin.  

About Amplify Credit Union

Amplify Credit Union offers fee-free banking and award-winning lending throughout the state of Texas. In 1967, the organization was founded as the credit union for IBM employees in Austin. Today, it provides digital-first banking and lending services to 60,000 members, including home loans, checking & savings accounts, commercial lending, and more. In addition, Amplify has been named a Top Workplace in Austin for three years in a row, and this year was named a Top 50 Workplace in the USA. The organization is rooted in its mission to improve the financial lives of its members and uses the proceeds from that to provide a safe place to call home for those without. Join us at www.goamplify.com.