The CUNA HR & Organizational Development Council Awards honor exceptional credit union professionals whose work in human resources and organizational development demonstrates leadership and serves to elevate their profession and the credit union movement. 

“Normally, award winners are honored in person at the annual member luncheon at the CUNA HR & Organizational Development Council Conference,” said Jennifer Huggard, Chair, Awards & Recognition Committee and SVP, Administration & Governance Affairs I, Northwest Credit Union Association. “This year, winners were announced during a virtual membership meeting on June 30, giving peers a chance to honor these dedicated professionals for championing impactful programs and initiatives.”

This year’s award winners:

• Nikki Badje, vice president of human resources, TruWest Credit Union, Tempe, Ariz., has won 2020 Professional of the Year Award. This award distinguishes an individual who consistently excels at creating value for their employer, elevates the HR or organizational development functions within their organization and contributes to the credit union movement.
• Nathan Brock, director of human resources, LincOne Federal Credit Union, Lincoln, Neb., has been named 2020 Rising Star Award Winner, which recognizes an emerging credit union professional in HR or organizational development.
• Sandia Laboratory Federal Credit Union in Albuquerque, N.M., was named Best of Show – Excellence in HR & Organizational Development Awards, Innovative Staff Development (Assets More than $1 billion) for their “Recovering by Leading at the Speed of Trust” program.

Additional 2020 Excellence in HR & Organizational Development Award Winners include:

• Category: Employee Engagement (Less than $499 million)
  • Adventure Credit Union, Grand Rapids, Mich.
  • Winning Entry: Engagement Through Adventure Gives
• Category: Employee Engagement ($500 million – $1 billion)
  • University of Michigan Credit Union, Ann Arbor, Mich.
  • Winning Entry: UMCU Rewards and Recognition Program
• Category: Employee Engagement (More than $1 billion)
  • GTE Financial, Tampa, Fla.
  • Winning Entry: New Card Experience Island
• Category: Management Practices ($500 million – $1 billion)
  • University of Michigan Credit Union, Ann Arbor, Mich.
  • Winning Entry: UMCU Full Court Wellness Program
• Category: Management Practices (More than $1 billion)
  • MSU Federal Credit Union, East Lansing, Mich.
  • Winning Entry: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Category: Innovative Staff Development ($500 million – $1 billion)
  • Credit Union of America, Wichita, Kan.
  • Winning Entry: Multi-Tiered Talent Development Program
• Category: Innovative Staff Development (More than $1 billion)
  • MSU Federal Credit Union, East Lansing, Mich.
  • Winning Entry: MSUFCU Training and Development

For more information about CUNA HR & Organizational Development Council, please visit cunacouncils.org/awards.