Marcus Smith, Board President

Marcus was born in Roswell, New Mexico. As a young boy, he moved with his family to Amarillo where he has thrived. He graduated from West Texas A&M University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He has served as Education Credit Union’s CFO since 2015, and he is currently the President and CEO of the credit union. Marcus serves on the board of 24 Hours in the Canyon, and he is the treasurer of the West Plains High School Band Booster Club. He and his wife, Julie, enjoy traveling with their children and watching all three perform in the high school band.

Adrian Alejandre, Board Vice President

Adrian Alejandre grew up in Hereford, Texas. He graduated from West Texas A&M University in 2009 with a Bachelors in Business Administration – Accounting. He has been in the financial services industry since 2006 and joined Education Credit Union in 2021 as the Senior Vice President of Lending. He also serves as the Treasurer of the Hereford ISD Education Foundation. He has one daughter, Claire, and enjoys watching her play multiple sports.

Linda Purdy, Board Treasurer

Linda Purdy grew up in Fort Worth, Texas where she graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with a degree in mathematics.  She received certification to teach math and Spanish and taught at the secondary level for seven years in Abilene, San Angelo, and Amarillo.  In 1983 she joined the Christian Relief Fund staff serving that charity for 33 years.  She became Executive Director in 1994, working in that capacity until retirement in 2016.  She and her husband, Ira, have two children living in Lubbock, TX and six grandchildren.  Linda and Ira enjoy travel and working with their church in various volunteer activities.  She has served on the Board of Directors of Education Credit Union since 2009.

Tiffany Sharpensteen, Board Director

Tiffany was born and raised in Amarillo, TX. She has an A.S. degree in Mass Communications from Amarillo College, a B.S. degree in Mass Communications from West Texas A&M University, and a M.B.A. from West Texas A&M University. Tiffany is the Marketing Manager for Education Credit Union and has worked in financial institutions for 15 years in different areas from financial education, retail and marketing. Tiffany serves on the board of Amarillo Angels, Arden Road Elementary PTA, Journey Church Children’s Ministry Dream Team and is the Chair of the ECU and WT Alumni Network. She also serves on the Amarillo College Business Leadership Council and the Amarillo College Alumni Association. Tiffany and her husband, AJ, have one son, Bennett, and are also foster parents.

Buddy Stephens, Board Director

Buddy Stephens, a native of Shamrock, Texas, has lived in Amarillo since 1959.  He holds a B.S. and M.A. in speech and language pathology.  He co-founded and served as Executive Director of the Amarillo Speech, Hearing, and Language Center—Amarillo Regional Hearing and Speech Foundation for 50 years.  He has also served as an adjunct professor in Speech Pathology at West Texas A&M University, where there is an endowed chair in his name. Buddy has been a member of Education Credit Union since 1961 and is currently a member of its Board of Directors.  During his career, he has served on numerous local, regional, and state boards, including the Vestry of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, the Board of St. Andrew’s Day School, the Board of the Downtown Rotary Club, and the Bryan Place Homeowners’ Association (President).  He remains active as a board member of the Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation, overseeing the “Texas” musical and the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

Along with his late wife Mikala Faville Stephens, he enjoyed, and continues to enjoy, traveling, attending art shows, collecting art, and spending time with their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and dogs.

Matt Morgan, Executive Director

Matt was born in Amarillo and has called Amarillo home his entire life. Matt graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Behavioral Science in Psychology and Speech Communication. He worked at ECU from 2010-2013 as a Financial Educator and Marketing Specialist. After those years, Matt’s career evolved through the non-profit sector including several years of foundation and grants work. He recently had a homecoming of sorts becoming the Executive Director of the ECU Foundation. Matt enjoys traveling and exploring the outdoors with his wife, Jenny, and their dog, Cooper.