SEATAC, Wash. — The Northwest Credit Union Association honored its member credit unions during its gala awards banquet, closing out the Association’s annual MAXX Convention.
The NWCUA also paid an emotional tribute to the late Terry Belcoe, former president/CEO of Bellingham, Wash.-based North Coast Credit Union, who was selected as the Washington Credit Union Advocate of the Year. Belcoe passed away from cancer Sept. 23—less than three weeks before the honor could be presented.
“Belcoe lived his entire life in the Bellingham area and had close ties to community organizations. He was known for forging partnerships to improve the community and raise credit union movement awareness,” the NWCUA said in a statement. “For decades he mentored credit union employees to understand and overcome their fears of advocacy.”
Others who were honored included:
- Oregon Credit Union Advocate of the Year: Scott Burgess, president/CEO of Rivermark Community Credit Union in Beaverton. “Burgess is ever-present at the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference and advocacy days in Salem, Ore.,” the NWCUA said. “He maintains a good relationship with his area’s elected officials, and has successfully called his membership to action, generating thousands of signatures in support of credit union initiatives.”
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Larry Hoff, CEO of Fibre Federal Credit Union in Longview, Wash. “Before joining Fibre, Hoff worked at Columbia Community Credit Union and Electra Credit Union, now Advantis in the Portland, Ore. metropolitan area,” the NWCUA said. “He is also known for his tireless advocacy work, and for being an early and constant supporter of Credit Unions for Kids since it was founded in the Northwest in 1986. Hoff was nominated for the honors by dozens of industry colleagues.
- Innovation & Impact Award: Amy Nelson, CEO of Portland-based Point West Credit Union. Nelson was recognized “for her work guiding the credit union through harsh economic times and helping it serve its diverse and underserved population,” the NWCUA said. “The credit union recently received Juntos Avanzamos designation for service to Hispanic and immigrant consumers. Nelson was recently appointed to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s national Credit Union Advisory Council.”
- Young Credit Union Professional Award: Michael Murdoch, marketing specialist at NW Priority Credit Union. “Murdoch has increased his credit union’s involvement with Credit Unions for Kids, managed social media for the credit union and represented the credit union in community service with a diverse group of local nonprofits,” the NWCUA said.