Catawba College alumnus Steve Harkins '77 has been named as one of the Top 20 Most Influential Leaders in Upstate South Carolina by the Greenville Spartanburg Area's readership. Harkins, who lives in Greenville, S.C., and chairs the Board of Visitors at Catawba College, is President/CEO of SC Telco Federal Credit Union.
He was one of more than 100 nominees chosen by GSA's readership as part of the 2015 Power Event Series presented by GSA Business Group. Harkins and the other Top 20 nominees will be spotlighted in the Dec. 28th issue of GSA Business NewsMakers: The Year in Review.
Harkins became President/CEO of SC Telco Federal Credit Union in January 1993 after serving as Vice President for six years. As President/CEO, Harkins leads the strategic direction of the organization, and under his leadership, SC Telco Federal Credit Union was named a 2014 Best Places to Work in a statewide competition by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.
Founded in 1935, with the mission of "improving the financial lives of its members," SC Telco Federal Credit Union is now one of South Carolina's oldest and largest credit unions, boasting a membership of nearly 50,000 and assets totaling $300 million.
Harkins is an advocate for SC Telco Federal Credit Union's culture of charitable giving and volunteerism that includes support for The Salvation Army, United Way and Habitat for Humanity. He recently participated in the 2015 Habitat for Humanity CEO Build.
Harkins has served on several trade association boards. He serves as Treasurer of the Kiwanis Club of Greenville Foundation and is a former distinguished president of the club. He has also been active in other community organizations.
A native of Pennsylvania, Harkins matriculated to Catawba College and earned bachelor's degrees in business administration and economics. He holds the Certified Credit Union Executive (CCUE) designation. Harkins is married to Cindy Sharber Harkins, formerly of Elizabeth City, N.C., and they have two adult sons, Andrew and Aaron.
