Albert O. Horner, Founder of GreenPath Financial Wellness, Dies at 100

Horner launched the organization in 1961 as a credit counseling service under the Michigan Credit Union League. For over three decades, he steered the nonprofit—originally titled Credit Counseling Centers—through its formative years, establishing the compassionate, non-punitive framework that defines its operations today. By the time he retired in 1997, he had cemented a reputation as a pioneer in financial advocacy, insisting that economic hardship should never dictate a person's long-term potential.

His influence remains embedded in the organization's current performance. In 2025 alone, GreenPath facilitated over 121,000 counseling sessions, helping clients retire more than $282 million in collective debt. Current CEO Kristen Holt noted that Horner’s original mission to strip the stigma from financial recovery remains the primary driver of their work. The organization continues to operate from its Farmington Hills headquarters, maintaining the path Horner carved sixty-five years ago.