FARGO, N.D.–Two credit union professionals have been inducted into the Credit Union Association of the Dakotas (CUAD) Hall of Fame, while the CUAD has also named its Professional of the Year.
The inductions took place during the CUAD’s recent Annual Awards Banquet.
The Hall of Fame gives recognition to individuals who have shown exceptional dedication and have given outstanding service to the credit union movement in the Dakotas. It is the most prestigious honor that CUAD bestows, and celebrates an individual’s career contributions. Honored this year were Tim Brown and Marney Krese.
According to the CUAD, Brown’s long credit union career has spanned 22 years at several credit unions in both North and South Dakota. In 1992, Brown began working at Dakota Plains Federal Credit Union in Lemmon, S.D., which he managed for eight years and became involved on the South Dakota League board as the Old West Chapter representative. In 1998, he accepted the CEO position of Dakota Plains Credit Union in Edgeley, N.D., where he spent the next 13 years working in the communities they served.
“He also became involved with the North Dakota League, and eventually served as Board Chair. Tim was the North Dakota Board Chair when the two states’ leagues united and merged in 2007, forming the Credit Union Association of the Dakotas,” the CUAD said. “In addition, Tim chaired the Dakota League Service Corp for several years, chaired the North Dakota Governmental Affairs Committee, and served as the North Dakota Trustee for Credit Union Political Action Committee. He also served on several committees for the Credit Union National Association, including the Small Credit Union Committee and the Awards Committee. Following his retirement from Dakota Plains Credit Union, Tim spent one year working at Northern Hills FCU in Sturgis, South Dakota, before moving into his own credit union consulting work with North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana credit unions.”
North Dakota’s Kresel Honored
Separately, Kresel’s credit union roots began in 1984 when she was asked to open a home office for the Grand Forks Telco FCU in Grand Forks, N.D., and serve as the manager.
“She ran the little credit union from her home for four years,” the CUAD said. “In 1991, she was hired as the Account Technician for University Federal Credit Union, also in Grand Forks. In 1998, she was promoted to Assistant Manager, and then assumed the CEO title in 2000. Under her leadership and vision, the credit union expanded their charter to include students of the University of North Dakota. She also obtained a low-income designation for the credit union, making them eligible for financial education grants to promote financial wellness around the campus. She held the CEO post until her retirement in 2016, serving the University FCU membership for 25 faithful years. However, she did not retire from the credit union movement. She was elected as Secretary of the Maurie C. Byrne Chapter of Credit Unions, and has held this position since January 2016. Even in retirement, she continues to give generously of her time and talents.”
Professional of the Year
In addition, Stephanie Finck, chief operations officer at First Community Credit Union in Jamestown, N.D., has been named the Credit Union Professional of the Year by the CUAD.
The Credit Union Professional of the Year Award recognizes a credit union employee from North Dakota or South Dakota who deserves commendation for their contributions to advance the credit union movement in their state and the nation. The award also acknowledges their efforts to help craft an environment that allows credit unions to grow and prosper in order to better serve their members.
Credit Union Builders Honored in Minnesota
Separately, during its annual conference the Minnesota Credit Union Network honored two credit union professionals and one volunteer as Credit Union Builders through the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation (MnCUF). Joyce Kalbakdalen of Soo Select Credit Union, Bridget Peterson of SPIRE Credit Union and Leonard Luoma of Centricity Credit Union were each honored for their dedication to the credit union movement.
Here’s what the MnCUN said about each of the honorees:
- Wings Financial Credit Union honored Joyce Kalbakdalen with a CU Builder Award. Kalbakdalen, who is retiring, has served as CEO of Soo Select Credit Union for 27 years. In late 2018, Soo Select members voted to merge with Wings Financial. Soo Select Credit Union was founded in 1953 to serve employees of the Soo Line Railroad in the Thief River Falls, Minnesota area. Soo Select grew to $15 million in assets and 2,800 members under her leadership. “On behalf of the Board, staff and members of both Soo Select and Wings Financial Credit Unions, we thank Joyce for her years of dedicated service to the Minnesota credit union movement,” said Gregg Higgins, Senior Vice President of Wings Financial.
- Bridget Petersen, Market VP of Community Outreach, joined SPIRE Credit Union through a merger with Greater MN CU in 2015, where she held the position of VP of HR and Training. In her current role, Petersen oversees SPIRE's philanthropy, public and media functions and financial literacy efforts upholding the credit union’s values and mission. “Bridget’s career has truly been one of a Credit Union Builder. On behalf of the Board, staff and members of SPIRE Credit Union, we thank Bridget for her dedicated commitment to Minnesota’s Credit Unions,” said Dan Stoltz, President and CEO of SPIRE Credit Union.
- Leonard Luoma served Centricity Credit Union on the Board of Directors for the past 43 years. Luoma recently stepped down as Board Chair and has now taken on an advisory role to the board. “On behalf of the board members, staff and members of Centricity Credit Union, we thank Leonard for his years of dedicated service and leadership,” said Doug Ralston of Centricity Credit Union.
About The Award
Created in 2008, the Credit Union Builder Award honors an individual’s dedication to the success, growth, and vitality of the not-for-profit financial movement in Minnesota. Dedications are typically made at a special time of significance to acknowledge an individual’s contributions to credit unions.
In total, 66 individuals have been designated as Credit Union Builders over the past nine years, according to the MnCUN. The names of the recipients and the contributing credit unions are permanently displayed in the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s lobby as a tribute to those who have dedicated time and energy to building the credit union movement.