PALM DESERT, Calif. (11/12/15)--The California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues honored credit union leaders with individual awards during the leagues’ REACH Conference in Palm Desert, Calif.

First Entertainment CU President/CEO Charles Bruen received the Leo H. Shapiro Award. Bruen was cited for more than 30 years of service, and being a strong advocate of the credit union movement. During his tenure as the California League board chair in 1998, the Credit Union Membership Access Act (HR 1151) was passed and signed into law.

Other awards included:

• 2015 Distinguished Service Award--George Poitou, chief operating officer of SCE FCU, Irwindale, Calif. Among his many accomplishments, Poirtou led the effort for SCE FCU to become certified as a community development financial institution; a fitting cap to the years of work he and SCE FCU have performed in low-income communities.

• 2015 Distinguished Service Award--Wayne Tew, retired president/CEO of Clark County CU, Las Vegas. He was recognized for many accomplishments, including developing an advanced in-service program to help train and prepare staff for leadership roles, and his involvement in political advocacy.

• 2015 J. Alvin George Outstanding Volunteer Award--Eric Day, board member of Credit Union of Southern of California, Anaheim, Calif. He was recognized for exemplifying exceptional volunteerism, particularly his collaboration with the California league earlier this year to form a board advocacy council aimed at increasing volunteer participation in legislative advocacy.

• 2015 Tomorrow’s Star Award--Brandi Stankovic, human resources consultant for Boulder Dam CU, Boulder City, Nev. She was honored for her passion for financial literacy that led her to create a successful program for teens at Boulder Dam.

• 2015 Kim Bannan Eternal Flame Award (individual)--Patrick Redo, CEO of allU.S. CU, Salinas, Calif., was honored for his long-standing and strong support of smaller credit unions.

• 2015 Kim Bannan Eternal Flame Award (organization)--Long Beach City Employees FCU, Signal Hill, Calif., and its CEO, Kathleen O’Connell were recognized for assisting VA Desert Pacific, Long Beach, Calif., when it faced a forced relocation.