ONTARIO, Calif.–Seven credit union leaders in California and Nevada have been named as winners of the highest honors presented by the California and Nevada leagues.
The honorees, who will be recognized at the leagues’ REACH Conference in November, have been selected for awards that include the Leo H. Shapiro Lifetime Achievement, Distinguished Service, Outstanding Volunteer, Tomorrow’s Star, as well as Kim Bannan Eternal Flame awards.
The 2016 honorees are:
Leo H. Shapiro Lifetime Achievement Award: retired California Coast Credit Union CEO Marla Shepard.
This is the League’s highest honor, recognizing excellence in credit union philosophy and a lifetime of contributions to the California credit union movement. It is named after Leo H. Shapiro, father of the California credit union movement and founder of the League. Marla Shepard is being recognized for her more than 40 years of service, including serving as president and CEO of California Coast from 2007 until her retirement in 2015, and for being such a strong advocate of the credit union movement, according to the leagues. She created and chaired the first regional Political Action Committee for credit unions in California, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years and served as the bellwether model for credit unions in other regions to emulate. Shepard started as a teller at Santel Credit Union in 1972 and moved up the ladder becoming CEO in 2001. In 2008, she put together one of the largest mergers “of equals”—merging two large, financially sound credit unions: First Future with California Coast Credit Union. This resulted in Shepard overseeing a merged entity of $1.85 billion in assets with 20 branches in San Diego Count, the leagues said.
Distinguished Service Award: SMW 104 Federal Credit Union President and CEO Rick Hanan.
Recipients of the League’s Distinguished Service Award are honored for service to the credit union community outside the usual scope of employment at a credit union, and beyond the scope of their chapter. Hanan is a second-generation credit union CEO. His father, Dale Hanan, was CEO of Stanford FCU and Operating Engineers Local Union #3 FCU. In 1991, he became CEO of SMW 104 FCU. During his tenure, the credit union has grown from $9 million to more than $85 million in assets. He believes in giving back to the movement by serving on numerous boards, councils, committees, and chapters, the leagues said.
J. Alvin George Outstanding Volunteer Award: Jerry Gaines, South Bay Credit Union, Lloyd Jones of Mattel Federal Credit Union, and Ron Seaman, SAFE Credit Union. This award honors significant contributions by people who serve credit unions in volunteer capacities, such as a director or committee member. It was renamed in 2013 in honor of the long-time credit union volunteer, J. Alvin George, who passed away that same year.
Gaines is being honored for his many years with the South Bay CU board (where he now serves as chairman). Whether the focus is on youth, fostering new job related skills for employment, or addressing senior aging economic issues, he believes that the credit union industry should, and can play, a vital role to the specific needs of each client or member category.
Jones is known to his credit union, Mattel FCU, as a “living legend,” providing leadership throughout his 52 years of service as a volunteer. Jones served the majority of these years as board chairman. He co-founded the credit union in 1964, and has repeatedly convinced Mattel, Inc. management of the importance of sponsoring the credit union to continue providing financial services to its employees.
Seaman volunteers a significant amount of personal time to champion credit unions and initiatives that impact the credit union industry at the local, state, and national level. This involves, but is not limited to, serving as the advocacy chairperson of the Sacramento Valley Chapter, attending the Leagues’ GRR in Sacramento and GAC in Washington D.C., and serving on the CUNA Volunteer Leadership Committee from 2011 to 2015.
Tomorrow’s Star Award: Desert Valley Federal Credit Union Vice President of Operations Dana Griffin. The League’s Tomorrow’s Star Award recognizes the achievements by young credit union professionals age 35 and under.
Griffin started with Desert Valleys as a teller in 2006, and is now the vice president of operations. She has overseen 12 new product or service offerings in the last 24 months. A 2015 WCMS graduate, Griffin is committed to youth education in her community, helping to implement youth programs, an employee foundation, organizing community events including Bite of Reality, and coordinating multiple credit union campaigns to great success.
Kim Bannan Eternal Flame Awards: McKesson Employees Federal Credit Union President and CEO Christopher Bruno (individual), Hanin Federal Credit Union (credit union/organization). These awards recognize efforts that contribute to the success and future of Shapiro Group credit unions, and are named after the league’s late vice president of credit union development and research and information.
According to the leagues, the 2016 recipients in the individual category, Bruno, and in the company/credit union category, HaninFederal Credit Union, will be honored for their strong support of Shapiro-sized (smaller) credit unions. Bruno recognizes the importance and greatness of small credit unions and truly believes Shapiro credit unions do a great service for its members. Under his leadership, McKesson EFCU has grown and become stronger and more competitive, offering the members many great products and services. He also led the credit union to a much stronger financial position.
Hanin FCU, its board of directors, and Board Chairman Choon Hyung Jhoun will be recognized for their support of the Shapiro Group. In honor of the credit union’s 20th anniversary, Hanin FCU donated $10,000 to the Shapiro Group as a thank you for the group’s past support. Hanin wanted to make a contribution that would help other small credit unions.