PALM DESERT, Calif.–Javier Velasquez, director of branches for SCEFCU, was named as the first place winner during a first-ever, Shark Tank-style competition here called “The Pitch.”
The competition took place during the California and Nevada CU Leagues’ REACH Conference, with Velasquez winning $10,000 after presenting his idea before a live audience and a panel of judges.
Velasquez unanimously won votes from all four of the judges, as well as a plurality of the audience vote (48%).
He announced plans to use the $10,000 check awarded by Leagues President and CEO Diana Dykstra to kickstart his “Amigos” community hub, an “innovative concept that has the potential to be blueprinted at SCE FCU and replicated as a fun, unique, philanthropic model for other credit unions across California, Nevada, and the nation.”
“I am honored to receive these funds to jumpstart ‘Amigos,’ and I’m inspired to be up here representing passionate ideas with my fellow colleagues to make a difference in each of the communities we serve,” Velasquez said. “We all want to inspire every individual in credit unions to move beyond thinking, to be brave, be courageous, to share your ideas with your team and your credit union — and most importantly, to make change happen.”
The $10,000 prize was provided by the National Credit Union Foundation.
‘Inspirational’ 90 Minutes
“In the months leading into this inspirational hour-and-a-half on-stage production, credit unions small, medium and large were asked to encourage dedicated credit union movement employees to submit their ‘pitches’,” the leagues said. “All submissions were reviewed to pick the top contestants who would travel to REACH to make their case.”
Others who presented their ideas as part of the Pitch included:
- Kinecta FCU Human Resources Analyst Kie McCann and Compliance Analyst Johanna Laos (Combating Homeless Youth presentation)
- AltaOne FCU Brand Manager Chris Lowe and CEO Stephanie Sievers (Community Nonprofit Workshop Development Kit presentation).
Celebrating ‘Visionaries’
“Congratulations to all of you,” said Dykstra, who also applauded Kinecta FCU and AltaOne FCU participants and pledged $1,000 toward their inspirational concepts for their best-efforts. “Today, we celebrate all of these ‘Visionaries.’ We want to inspire others to do great things for their local communities and members through their amazing ideas and commitment to our movement’s values and shared vision. You are an inspiration to all of us.”
The judges included
- Tony Boutelle, CEO of ORIGENCE
- Todd Clark, CEO of Co-op Solutions
- Danielle Brown, engagement director for the National Credit Union Foundation
- Mike de Vere, CEO of Zest AI
‘Energetic Momentum’
According to the leagues, Velasquez’s “Amigos” concept is “poised to have energetic momentum as he works on putting the idea into play.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the economy, commerce and travel, credit unions adapted across California and Nevada to still provide essential financial services. However, many credit unions to this day still aren’t using their entire headquarters, office, or branch space to their full capacities as they did before the pandemic, the leagues said.
“That’s where Velasquez sees a huge opportunity. These empty spaces — as well as computer/monitor infrastructure, internet access, tables, chairs, meeting spaces, office supplies, and other study-work materials — could be offered to credit union members, neighborhood members of the community, and even local schools to foster a quality and comfortable environment for meeting up, working on projects, studying, and even receiving financial education and advice from the credit union or community nonprofits on various life-management, household, and community services topics,” the leagues continued.
A ’Nerve Center’
“The ‘Amigos’ hub would function as a nerve-center, connecting working individuals, residents, kids and parents with free credit union activities, advice, and valuable assistance from local nonprofit organizations that are also mission-driven. The credit union’s staff would maintain any needed operations to serve members and the community while they are utilizing the space, with employee time, the actual space, and any infrastructure or materials either partially or fully donated by the credit union ongoing.”
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