HARRISBURG, Penn.–The CrossState Credit Union Association has recognized its Professional of the Year and Volunteer of the Year, as well as selecting its Credit Union Ambassador.
Professional of the Year
George Nahodil, president & CEO of Members 1st FCU, has been recognized with the William W. Pratt Lifetime Achievement Award for the 2021 Credit Union Professional of the Year. Nahodil accepted the award at the association's 2nd Annual Convention, conducted virtually.
Nahodil has served as president/CEO at Members 1st since 2017, after previously serving as EVP-retail, PR, and marketing for 16 years.
In addition to his duties at Members 1st, Nahodil served on the PCUA Foundation Board from 2008 to 2014, and also served as the Foundation’s Fundraising chair. He has been an iBelong Campaign Committee member since 2006 and served on the inaugural Credit Union Awareness Task Force that was responsible for designing the cooperative iBelong campaign.
“Nahodil has demonstrated outstanding dedication and commitment to his Mechanicsburg, Penn. community by volunteering for numerous organizations, overseeing countless fundraising events, and encouraging all credit union associates to, in turn, become involved in their local communities,” the association said. “These efforts reached a new high this year when Members 1st launched its Foundation to further support local non-profits.”
“I think so much of George not only because he’s a great friend, but because he’s a tireless promoter of the credit union movement,” said Sun East FCU CEO Mike Kaczenski. “He cares about the members, his staff, and other credit union leaders. I want to thank George for being who he is and what he’s done for the credit union movement. He’s done everything he could to earn this Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Professional of the Year Award is presented in memory of William W. Pratt, who for more than three decades worked on behalf of credit unions. When Pratt began working at the Association in 1942, there were 550 credit unions in Pennsylvania – when he retired in 1965, there were nearly 1,300 credit unions in the Commonwealth.
Volunteer of the Year
The CrossState Credit Union Association posthumously awarded Paul Camella, former Pinnacle FCU Board Chair, the Calvin H. Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award for the 2021 Credit Union Volunteer of the Award. Camella’s family accepted at the association's 2nd Annual Convention.
Camella served as a board director for Pinnacle FCU from 200-2017, before being named vice chair and eventually chairman of the board in 2018. He was also very dedicated to his community, where he volunteered much of his time and wisdom to various state and national seminars and conferences, the association said.
“In addition to his dedication to the credit union movement, Paul was an active member of the Tara Knights, Gaelic Society, Delta Lambda Kappa Fraternity, and received the ‘Good Guy’ award for his work on the Student Government while in college. When living in Bergenfield, NJ, Paul was a member of the local chapter of Lions Club International,” the association said.
After moving to Woodcliff Lake, Camella was elected to the Borough Council, served as fire commissioner, and was past president of Woodcliff Lake UNICO, an Italian American Service Organization. Additionally, he was a member and past president of the Woodcliff Lake Educational Foundation, which honored him as the WCLEF Person of the Year in 2008.
‘Really Important’
“Paul was one of those rare volunteers that really gave his time and participated at the Hike the Hill events,” said Aspire FCU President & CEO Tom O’Shea. “He showed the perspective of a volunteer with our politicians, which was really important. Because typically it’s paid professionals that are at these events. But when somebody like Paul is there and actually shares what the credit union industry means to himself and to our members, it’s very powerful in the eyes of our politicians. He spoke from the heart and was one of the unsung heroes that really contributed greatly to our movement over the years.”
The Volunteer of the Year Award is named in memory of Calvin H. Jackson, an outstanding citizen and credit union volunteer for St. James A.M.E. Church Credit Union. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a volunteer who has selflessly given time, effort, and talent to the betterment of the movement with little or no monetary compensation.
2021 Credit Union Ambassador
American Heritage FCU’s Holly Benedetto, a virtual contestant representing the Philadelphia Region, was named the 2021 Credit Union Ambassador by the CrossState Credit Union Association.
The annual contest, which draws applicants from across New Jersey and Pennsylvania, had the winner announced during CrossState’s Second Annual Convention.
Benedetto is the digital marketing content eeveloper at American Heritage and will represent CrossState at association events for the next year.
The runner-up was awarded to Tiffany Lawson. Lawson is a Learning Specialist II at TruMark Financial Credit Union. She represents the Montgomery County Chapter of Credit Unions.
The additional contestants were:
- Northwest Susquehanna Chapter — Ali Munshower, Members Choice Financial Credit Union
- York Chapter — Anna Hartman, First Capital FCU
- Northeast PA Chapter — Jessica Berlew, Cross Valley FCU
- Harrisburg Chapter — Kayla Whitmoyer, Members 1st FCU
- Marya Mazzeo, Members 1st of New Jersey (virtual contestant)
The CrossState Credit Union Association said it conducts the contest to attract young professionals to credit unions and prepare them for leadership roles. Credit union members or employees between ages 21 and 30 and are sponsored by the Association’s chapters. The contestants are judged on their knowledge of credit unions and their ability to communicate that knowledge.