BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Credit union professionals and volunteers in Minnesota and the Dakotas have been honored.
The Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN) presented the Outstanding Credit Union Volunteer of the Year and Outstanding Credit Union Professional of the Year awards at a ceremony held during the MnCUN 2017 Annual Meeting & Convention.
The MnCUN said the Volunteer of the Year Award is given to a credit union volunteer who best represents the credit union spirit through dedication to, and belief in, the credit union movement. Recipients are chosen based on their involvement with credit unions at the local and state levels, along with participation in activities that better their communities.
The Outstanding Credit Union Volunteer of the Year Award honor was awarded to Fred Sulzbach of TruStone Financial Federal Credit Union. Fred is currently the board treasurer, and has been a volunteer for 50 years of uninterrupted service to the credit union.
The Outstanding Professional of the Year Award is given to a remarkable person who truly stands behind the “people helping people” credit union philosophy. This year, the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s honoree for Outstanding Credit Union Professional of the Year Award goes to Mary Hansen, President of Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union. Mary has been President of Mayo Employees Credit Union in Rochester since 2001, and her career in financial institutions spans 36 years.
“The Minnesota Credit Union Network is pleased to honor Fred Sulzbach and Mary Hansen for their tremendous contributions to their credit unions,” said MnCUN President and CEO Mark Cummins. “Fred and Mary are deserving recipients of these awards and we are thankful for their years of service to the credit union movement.”
Video tributes to both winners can be found on the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s website.
In North Dakota, meanwhile, Nick Woodard, CEO of United Savings CU in Fargo has been named the Credit Union Professional of the Year by the Credit Union Association of the Dakotas, while Deb Gallagher of Capital CU was inducted into the CUAD Hall of Fame.
The Credit Union Professional of the Year Award recognizes a credit union professional from each North Dakota and South Dakota that deserves recognition for their contribution 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.
At age 36, Woodard is one of the youngest CEOs in the Dakota credit union network. He has been the CEO of United Savings CU for the past four years. In that time, the credit union has nearly doubled in asset size, as they added many different products and services that made the smaller credit union more relevant in the community. At a time when many small credit unions are losing members, United Savings CU continues to show tremendous net member growth. Woodard also serves on the board of directors for CUAD and MASC (Mid America Service Corp), and was recently named first vice-chair on the CUAD board.
United Savings CU has three locations (Fargo, N.D., Amber Valley, N.D., and Dillworth, Minn.) with 17 employees. Woodard says he loves to see the credit union members succeed financially. “Seeing the happiness that they are experiencing, whether it’s to open a young saver’s first account, the first car loan, first house loan, or anything in between, and to be able to share in that, is very rewarding,” remarked Woodard.
Deb Gallagher, CEO of Capital Credit Union, was inducted into the Credit Union Association of the Dakotas (CUAD) Hall of Fame at the Awards Banquet.
Gallagher has been the CEO of Capital CU for 23 years, since earning the title in 1994. Prior to being named CEO, she had 20 years of experience in various positions at the credit union, starting as a teller and secretary, working her way through the ranks to head teller, visa coordinator, operations manager, and vice president, before taking over as CEO.
In 2016, Gallagher was appointed by North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple to a five-year term on the North Dakota State Credit Union Board. She is a member of the Credit Union Executive Society and served as a director for the Midwest Corporate Federal Credit Union for fifteen years.
“I offer my sincere and heartfelt congratulations to Deb Gallagher on her induction into the Credit Union Association of the Dakotas Hall of Fame,” said Olson. “For many years, Deb has proven herself as a strong and successful leader in our movement, and she has been a mentor to many. Her dedication to the credit union philosophy, her passion in leading and growing her credit union, as well as her generosity and commitment in serving on numerous boards and committees is a reflection of her great character and leadership skills. She has been and continues to be an inspiration to many young credit union professionals in the Dakotas,” he added.
CUAD staff put together a video that includes comments from some of Gallagher’s closest work associates, and her acceptance speech at the Awards Banquet, which you can see here.
The Hall of Fame Award is the highest honor that one can receive from the Credit Union Association of the Dakotas. This prestigious award gives recognition to individuals who have shown exceptional dedication and have given outstanding service to the credit union movement in the Dakotas.