Heather Wood
Heather Wood is a dynamic keynote speaker, storyteller, and strategic leader with over two decades of experience in the credit union and financial services industry. She is also the Founder of Stupendous Love, a purpose-driven motivational brand and movement rooted in inspiration, servant leadership, and human connection. As Assistant Vice President of Innovation Delivery at AmeriCU Credit Union, she has built a career centered on strategic growth, innovation, and people-first leadership. Known for her ability to connect people, ideas, and purpose, Heather brings a powerful blend of operational expertise and authentic storytelling to every space she enters, whether leading organizational initiatives or speaking on stage.
After spending 23 years building a well-established career in financial services, Heather experienced a tragedy that profoundly changed the course of her life. Approximately three years ago, her daughter Ava was tragically killed by her father, Heather’s husband, who then took his own life. In the aftermath of this unimaginable loss, Heather found the courage to step beyond her comfort zone and build something deeply purposeful. In November 2025, she officially launched Stupendous Love, a motivational brand and movement dedicated to inspiring people to live boldly, love stupendously, and embrace a life they truly love. The organization serves as a living tribute to Ava, reflecting her vibrant, intentional, kind, and joyful spirit. Stupendous Love includes multiple initiatives: a merchandise and apparel line designed as wearable reminders of positivity and connection, an inspirational keynote speaking platform that partners with conferences and summits, and a Servant Leadership program that brings humanity and heart into leadership development. The movement also includes a growing charitable arm with three scholarships established in Ava’s name—two local and one national that received more than 3,000 applicants this year—as well as ongoing efforts to expand fundraising for mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and educational access.
Today, Heather’s work is rooted in both purpose and impact as she nurtures each of these verticals while engaging with leaders across Central New York and beyond. Her daily mission is to create meaningful connections, foster collaboration, and contribute to something greater than herself. What she values most is witnessing moments of genuine transformation—seeing a “light bulb” go off in others, sharing authentic laughter, and experiencing the continued presence of her daughter’s spirit through the lives she touches.
• Ten Habits of Great Problem-Solvers
• Leadership: Practical Skills
• Bank Operations Diploma
• Consumer Lending Diploma
• General Banking Diploma
• Sports Psychology (incomplete)
• Business Degree (in progress
• Approximately halfway complete)
• 40 Under Forty
• Outstanding Young Professional
• CNY Women's Network
• Leadership Greater Syracuse
• Exploring involvement with The Bear House (domestic violence organization)
• Mental health and suicide awareness fundraising
• American Heart Association | American Stroke Association
• Three Scholarship in Ava's Name
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to resilience, purpose-driven leadership, and the ability to transform profound personal loss into meaningful impact. After 23 years in financial services, I faced the devastating tragedy of losing my daughter, Ava, in a family loss that also included the death of her father, my husband, who took his own life. In the aftermath, I chose not only to rebuild but to redirect my life toward service and legacy-building, which led me to found Stupendous Love in November 2025. Through this motivational brand and movement, I work to honor Ava’s vibrant, intentional, and compassionate spirit by inspiring others through keynote speaking, a servant leadership program for organizations, apparel and merchandise that promotes positivity, and a growing charitable initiative that includes scholarships in her name. I take pride in having stepped away from a long-established career without a traditional safety net in order to pursue work that creates lasting value for others, including expanding scholarship opportunities and advancing mental health and suicide prevention efforts. What fulfills me most is witnessing moments of genuine connection—when people experience a shift in perspective, share laughter, and carry forward a part of Ava’s spirit in ways that positively shape their own lives.
Locations
Stupendous Love
Baldwinsville, NY 13027