FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
March 16, 2022
Washington, DC

Award winners were honored for their achievements in marketing and business development during the CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council Conference, March 9-12, 2022. The winners and their accomplishments will be featured in an upcoming issue of Credit Union Magazine.

“These awards recognize professionals who are impassioned to create superlative campaigns highlighting their credit unions,” said Lynn Heider, Recognition Awards chair and vice president, communications & public affairs, Northwest Credit Union Association. “Through their efforts, communities around the country continue to learn about how important credit unions are.”

Recognition Award Winners:

• 2022 Top Community Contributor Award: Marc Buchanan, Chief Marketing Officer, LOC Federal Credit Union, Farmington, MI
• 2022 Volunteer of the Year Award: Michael Murdoch, Marketing Manager, Wauna Federal Credit Union, Clatskanie, OR
• 2022 Rising Star Award: Jenny Miller, Director, Communications, Northwest Credit Union Association, Seatac, WA
• 2022 Community Outreach Professional of the Year Award (new this year): Lorrell Walter, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Member Experience, Western Vista Credit Union, Cheyenne, WY

• 2022 Marketing Professional of the Year Award: Cynthia Colón, Assistant Vice President, Multicultural Inclusion Strategy, GTE Financial, Tampa, FL
• 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award: Deb Schroeder, Vice President, Community Outreach & Education, Dupaco Community Credit Union, Dubuque, IA
   

Excellence in Marketing & Business Development Award Winners:

• Business Development (assets $500M or greater): Workers Credit Union, Littleton, MA for their entry titled “Workers Credit Union Workers Way at Work - Workers Way as an Employee Benefit”
  
  Workers Credit Union is ahead of the curve on the next great frontier of employee benefits – financial wellness coaching. Their Workers Way at Work^TM program goes beyond the financial literacy information and webinars some employers offer their workers. Trained Workers Way^TM financial coaches meet with employees one-on-one to listen without judging, to answer questions, and to provide the tools and support that empower people to make good decisions, no matter what stage of life they may be in.
• Community Outreach and/or Political Advocacy (assets under $500M): Electro Savings Credit Union, St. Louis, MO for their entry titled “Be You”
  
  As an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, Electro could no longer stand silently by as people faced employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in Missouri. So, we spoke up because Allyship isn’t silent. No person should fear being fired for being themselves. You should always Be You.
• Community Outreach and/or Political Advocacy (assets $500M or greater): First Commerce Credit Union, Tallahassee, FL for their entry titled “Flocking Together in the Fight Against Breast Cancer”
  
  In the midst of the pandemic, community events to raise funds for breast cancer patients and important research were cancelled. First Commerce stepped in to fill the gap. With the help of hundreds of pink yard flamingos and a fun social media campaign, they partnered with local hospitals to launch the #PinkPOWER #FlamingoChallenge during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The community flocked together and raised more than $75,000 to provide life-saving treatments for local patients battling breast cancer.
• Multifaceted (assets $500M or greater): LAFCU, Lansing, MI, for their entry titled “LAFCU DEI”
  
  The LAFCU DEI Internal Communication Campaign was a four-week outreach effort to educate and engage employees about LAFCU’s DEI program. It introduced and reinforced the DEI logo, tagline, mission statement and core principles using eblasts, videos and employee giveaways, including a fun “share your flowerpot shot” and a “Show us you know us!” quiz.
• Strategic Planning (assets under $500M): CSE Federal Credit Union, Lake Charles, LA, for their entry titled “The Magic of Youth Month”
  
  The Magic of Youth Month program offered a $25 bonus deposit to new members opening a share account UTMA and $100 bonus deposit to teens opening a teen checking account. CSE partnered with restaurant Pizza Artista to host two outdoor events with music, face painting and youth month inspired giveaways. This was the first event CSE was able to host since the pandemic. The Magic of Youth Month’s goal was to increase UTMA accounts by 60 and Teen Checking Accounts by 30. By the end of April, CSE surpassed its goal and opened 228 youth accounts and 83 teen checking accounts, the best Youth Month performance CSE has had in years.

“These award recipients provide all of our Council members the seeds of innovation which can be planted and grown at their local credit unions,” said Heider. “We applaud and thank them for their inspirational work.”

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About CUNA:           
Credit Union National Association (CUNA) is the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America’s credit unions, which are owned by 120 million consumer members. CUNA, along with its network of affiliated state credit union leagues, delivers unwavering advocacy, continuous professional growth and operational confidence to protect the best interests of all credit unions. For more information about CUNA, visit cuna.org. To find your nearest credit union, visit YourMoneyFurther.com.

About CUNA Councils:  
CUNA Councils is a member-led, collaborative community of credit union leaders providing vibrant peer interaction, new ideas and innovation to foster professional development for our members while advocating for the overall success of the credit union movement. There are eight CUNA Councils with a network of more than 7,300 credit union professionals. For more information, visit cunacouncils.org.

CONTACT:          
Deshundra Jefferson 
CUNA Communications 
(202) 809-4081