MADISON, Wis.– The CUNA Operations & Member Experience Council and CUNA Technology Council has recognized its “best and brightest” via 10 awards presented at during their virtual joint annual conference.
The Excellence in Technology Awards recognize credit union technology professionals who have shown outstanding commitment and innovation in their field. This year's winners included:
- Best of Show: Kinecta FCU in Manhattan Beach, Calif., for its “Preapproval of Credit Cards using Machine Learning” entry (assets > $500 Million)
- Mountain America CU in Sandy, Utah, for its “Automated Balance Transfer Payoff Tool” entry (assets > $500 Million)
- GECU in El Paso, Texas, for its “Virtualization of GECU’s On Premise Core Mainframe Processing Infrastructure” entry (assets > $500 Million)
- UFCU in Austin, Texas, for their “Reinventing the Loan Application Experience” entry (assets > $500 Million)
Operations & Member Excellence Award
The Excellence in Operations & Member Experience Awards are likewise awarded to professionals who have facilitated unique, innovative or otherwise outstanding approaches to member service at their credit unions, the Council said.
Th winners included
- Best of Show: Workers CU in Littleton, Mass., for their “Workers PlanIt: Design and technology to enhance personal service and advance member financial wellness” entry (assets > $500 Million) in the Branch Design category
- Capital CU in Fargo, N.D., for the Branch Design category for its “New Veterans Blvd. Branch” entry (assets > $500 Million)
- Carter FCU in Shreveport, LA, won in the Contact Center / E-Support Operations category for its “2020 RDC Growth: How Carter CU Was Prepared to Maintain the Pandemic "Lift" to Volume” entry (assets > $500 Million)
- UNFCU in Long Island City, N.Y., won in the Miscellaneous category for its “Digital Card Access” entry (assets > $500 Million)
Professionals of the Year
The Professional of the Year Award for both the CUNA Operations & Member Experience Council and the CUNA Technology Council recognizes the individuals who exemplify excellence in all aspects of operations and member experience and information technology.
This year's winners include:
- 2021 Operations & Member Experience Professional of the Year: Amy Rodriguez, chief experience officer, New Orleans Firemen's FCU, Metairie, La.
- 2021 Technology Professional of the Year: Stephenie Southard, CISO, BCU, Vernon Hills, Ill.
Top Contributors
The Top Community Contributor Awards recognize the value and expertise shared with peers through collaboration within the CUNA Councils Community.
This year’s winners include:
- 2021 Operations & Member Experience Top Community Contributor Award winner: Joe Corna, branch manager, Honda FCU, Marysville, Ohio
- 2021 Technology Top Community Contributor Award winner: Theresa Fichtner, VP-information technology, NW Preferred FCU, Tigard, Ore.
Vendor Winners
Finally, the Councils said, Vendor Speed Rounds “provided fast-paced, high-impact opportunities for exhibiting vendors to showcase and demonstrate their products and services to conference attendees.”
This year's Best of Show winner is:
- 2021 Speed Rounds – Best of Show winner: interface.ai