MADISON, Wis.–The CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council has announced the winners of its 2020 Diamond Awards, with a credit union from Guam taking top honors.
The Council also announced the names of those recognized for individual accomplishment, as well as the results of its recent elections.
The winning credit unions include:
Business Development:
- First Heritage FCU in Painted Post, N.Y., for their “Business Development from the Inside Out” entry (assets < $500 million)
- Educators CU in Mt. Pleasant, Wis., for their “Concierge Service” entry (assets ≥ $500 million)
Community Outreach and/or Political Advocacy:
- Community CU in Lewiston, Maine, for their “Bridging the Financial Gap for our Neighbors | Outreach to Immigrants and those in Poverty” entry (assets < $500 million)
- SPIRE CU in Falcon Heights, Minn., for their “SPIRE – New Freedom Partnership” entry (assets ≥ $500 million)
Excellence for Strategic Planning:
- Louisiana FCU in LaPlace, La., for their “Louisiana FCU 3-year Strategic Plan” entry (assets < $500 million)
- Tropical Financial CU in Miramar, Fla., for their “Get Beyond Money” entry (assets ≥ $500 million)
Multifaceted:
- Strata CU in Bakersfield, Calif., for their “Re-brand and Corporate Identity Roll Out” entry (assets < $500 million)
- SAFE CU in Folsom, Calif., for their “SAFE Credit YOUnion” entry (assets ≥ $500 million)
The professionals that were recognized with awards for their individual contributions included:
- 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award: Jon Reske, vice president of marketing, UMassFive College FCU in Hadley, Mass.
- 2020 Marketing Professional of the Year Award: Marella Nardotti, vice president of marketing, Next Mark CU in Fairfax, Va.
- 2020 Rising Star Award: Kassandra Martin, brand & digital marketing manager, Direct FCU, in Needham, Mass.
- 2020 Volunteer of the Year Award: Tansley Stearns, chief marketing & strategy officer, Canvas CU in Lone Tree, Colo.
- 2020 Top Community Contributor Award: Deborah Wright, product & service strategist, FedChoice FCU in Lanham, Md.
This year’s best-of-show award winners are listed below. Click here for a full list of this year’s award winners and save the date for 2021 CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council Conference, March 21-24, in Los Angeles, Calif. at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites.
Best of Show Winners
The Best of Show winners include:
Color Award for Brilliant Use of Art
Greater than $1 billion
GECU, El Paso, Texas, for its “Adair Margo GECU Visit”
Cut Award for Most Edgy
Greater than $1 billion
BECU, Tukwila, Wash., for its “Crop Art Celebrates School Partnership Expansion Campaign”
Clarity Award for Most Sentimental
$250 million – $499 million
Strata Credit Union, Bakersfield, Calif., for its “Strata's 70 Wishes – Community Giving Campaign”
Carat Award for Greatest Impact
Greater than $1 billion
GECU, El Paso, Texas, for its “El Paso Strong – Community Outreach Campaign”
Best Use of Humor Award
$250 million – $499 million
Envista Credit Union, Topeka, Kan. for its “Kasasa – Real Testimonials Exaggerated for your Entertainment Campaign”
Diamond Best of Show Award
$250 million – $499 million
Coast360 Federal Credit Union, Maite, Guam, for their “Coast360's Youth Banking Program”
Virtual Presentations
Chair Jason Lindstrom noted that while this year’s conference was postponed, the Council will be offering selected sessions virtually as part of CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council Conference Collection.
Lindstrom also reminded members to save the date for 2021 CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council Conference, March 21-24, in Los Angeles at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites.
Executive Committee Elections
The Council also announced results of their recent elections. Marella Nardotti, VP of marketing at NextMark CU in Fairfax, Va., was newly elected to the executive committee filling the seat of Mia Perez, CAO, Louisiana FCU, La Place, La., who termed out from the committee.
Incumbents who were re-elected to the executive committee include: Madeline Anderson-Balmer, marketing manager, MIT Federal Credit Union, Cambridge, Mass.; Paris Chevalier, chief experience officer at USE Credit Union, San Diego, Calif.; Amy McGraw, VP marketing/chief experience officer, Tropical Financial Credit Union, Miramar, Fla.; and Michelle Shelton, chief experience officer SCE Federal Credit Union, Irwindale, Calif.
Jason Lindstrom, president & CEO of Evergreen CU in Portland, Maine, continues as chair of the executive committee; Brian Grytdal, VP-marketing at Horizon CU in Spokane Valley, Wash., is vice chair, and Michelle Shelton, is second vice chair.