Alabama CIO has named Redstone Federal Credit Union’s Terri Bentley a 2021 CIO of the Year ORBIE Awards winner. Bentley is the senior executive vice president and chief information officer at Redstone Federal Credit Union.

Terri Bentley RFCU “She breaks down silos, listens intently and respectfully, and combines her staff’s skills, talents and passion into real technological breakthroughs,’’ Redstone President and CEO Joe Newberry said. “I cannot imagine a more deserving person for this very important and meaningful award.’’

Bentley received the Enterprise ORBIE for organizations with more than $350 million in annual revenue. She credits the talented information technology professionals on her team for making this award possible.

“Redstone has always been referred to as an innovative leader in the financial industry. This award further attests to that,’’ Bentley said.

“Receiving this award opens the door for credit unions to be considered by FinTechs and software providers in the industry for various opportunities to build, buy, or partner.”

Bentley’s winning application described how technology brought one of Redstone’s projects to fruition. Its collaboration with Rural King, a national chain of more than 120 farm and home retail stores, challenged Redstone to invest in new technology; hire 30 new employees; provide on-the-spot financing for power equipment loans; launch a new co-branded credit product; and establish a seamless end-to-end digital process in less than six months.

The CIO of the Year ORBIE Awards is the premier technology executive recognition program in the United States. Since inception in 1998, more than 1,500 CIOs have been honored as finalists and more than 350 CIO of the Year winners have received the prestigious ORBIE Award.