HARRISBURG, Penn/HIGHTSTOWN, N.J.–The CrossState Credit Union Association has named the winners of the 2020 William W. Pratt Professional of the Year, as well as the Calvin H. Jackson Volunteer of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Edwin Williams, president and CEO of Discovery FCU in Wyomissing, Penn., has been named the recipient of the William W. Pratt Professional of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award. Williams has served as president & CEO of Discovery FCU since 1997, served on the CUNA board from 2008-2017, and the National Credit Union Foundation’s board from 2004-2017.
In addition to his Discovery FCU and national duties, Williams was a member of the Pennsylvania Credit Union Foundation board for eight years, the Pennsylvania Credit Union Foundation Grants Committee Chair for six, has served as the Awards Committee chair for 15, and was a Credit Union Council member from 2003-2008.
According to the CrossState CU Association, among his many achievements in the credit union movement, Williams testified before the House Financial Services Committee on Internet Gambling Legislation in 2010, participated in a number of Hike the Hill events, and has attended GAC for 20 consecutive years.
Williams has also been dedicated to promoting financial literacy in his community. Discovery hosts “Dollar Dog Savings” at a local elementary school, donates financial literacy programs and materials to local schools, and commits to credit union Reality Fairs.
“Williams is more than deserving of this award, overseeing Discovery FCU’s growth from $50 million in assets to a near $150 million in assets over the past 23 years,” the CrossState CU Association said.
Volunteer Winner
Gary Chizmadia has been named the recipient of the Calvin H. Jackson Volunteer of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as chairman for the Credit Union of New Jersey since 2015 and was director of the credit union for nine years before that. He also serves as the South-Central New Jersey Chapter president, and has been involved in the credit union movement since 1977, when he first served as director for The State Credit Union.
According to the association, Chizmadia is a regular at Association and national credit union conferences, notably, the World Council of Credit Unions’ Annual Conference, the International Policy Governance Association Annual Conference, the former NJCUL Annual Convention, among others. Chizmadia is a graduate of CUNA Schools and has earned both his CUDE and CCUB designations.
“In addition to the 43 years Chizmadia has dedicated to the credit union movement, he has been an active member of his community as an American Red Cross — Princeton Chapter president, and Bucks County Chapter before that, as well as a member of the Middletown Township Finance Panel,” the association said.
The award winners will be honored at the 2020 CrossState Annual Convention on Oct. 25-27 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.