Kurt Johnson joined Gesa as Chief Financial Officer in May 2024, overseeing Business Intelligence, Finance and Accounting, Communications, Learning and Development, Credit Risk, and Enterprise Planning.
More than 30 years in financial services taught Kurt what sustainable growth actually requires: clean data, disciplined risk management, and the operational infrastructure to scale without breaking. He spent the first half of his career in public accounting, working with financial institutions, then applied those insights as CFO at Heartland Credit Union in Madison, Wisconsin, and later as CFO and Chief Risk Officer at Educators Credit Union in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
At Gesa, Kurt focuses on strengthening the balance sheet while implementing the data governance frameworks that enable faster, smarter decisions. His expertise spans accounting, finance, vendor management, and internal auditing, positioning him to navigate the complex integration work that comes with organizational growth.
Kurt’s path from accounting to credit union leadership reflects a commitment to building institutions through data-driven decision-making and sound financial stewardship. He earned his Accounting degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is a Certified Public Accountant.
He also serves on Gesa’s Advocacy Committee, where leaders actively participate in advocacy efforts in the Pacific Northwest and Washington, D.C., promoting the credit union movement of “people helping people” and serving as the voice for Gesa on legislative issues that may impact the organization and its members.