WASHINGTON–Four people with diverse stories and backgrounds were honored here for sharing one thing in common: their contributions to the credit union community.
The National Credit Union Foundation hosted its 30th annual Herb Wegner Memorial Awards Dinner here recognizing four individuals with Lifetime Achievement Awards. Recognized were: Angel V. Castro, president of Castro y Asociados; Bill Hampel, former chief policy officer for CUNA; Susan Mitchell, CEO of Mitchell, Stankovic & Associates; and Chuck Purvis, president/CEO of Coastal Credit Union. Details on each winner can be found on CUToday.info by searching the winner’s last name.
Here is a little of what each winner had to say as they accepted their respective awards:
The ‘Magnitude’ of Contributions
This award has much significance to me, as Herb and I collaborated together for many years, commencing in 1966,” said Castro. “We engaged in several pioneering international credit union development projects in the late 1960s and 1970s.”
Castro said the “magnitude” of the contributions made by CUNA, CUNA Mutual, US AID and other organizations, as well as that of the American people to the worldwide credit union movement is “immeasurable.”
“The assistance provided has helped millions of people around the world to improve their living conditions,” said Castro. “I encourage you and future generations of credit union leaders to continue supporting such a worthy endeavor. Many people will benefit.”
The Elevator Pitch
“I sometimes had the suspicion that these Wegner Awards were just handed out to people who had just stuck around for a long time,” laughed Hampel. “And I thought my suspicions were justified until I heard of the other three awardees tonight, as well as the other winners from the previous 29 years. That left me with a problem of what have I ever done to distinguish me. My distinction is that I actually knew Herb Wegner. It wasn’t that deep a relationship. For my first couple of months at CUNA in 1978 I overlapped with Herb’s time and his much more distinguished career there. He set in motion the modernization of the credit unions system. I did have a conversation with him once. I rode the elevator with him—in the two-story Filene building. It wasn’t a long conversation, but I did know Herb Wegner.”
On a more serious note, Hampel added, “I do understand that this is a really big deal and a really serious award and I am really grateful to the folks at CUNA for having nominated me and for having awarded me.”
Hampel thanked former CUNA CEO Dan Mica as the main mentor in the second half of my career, who Hampel said taught him “the importance of being a gentleman and a leader at the same time.”
In parting, the former CUNA economist offered this advice: “if every credit union would commit to operate with a five basis point lower capital ratio than you otherwise would have, all your members would love you for it. “
Shout from The Mountaintops
Noting he had attended every Wegner dinner since his first in 1993, Chuck Purvis said he was humbled to be one of the 93 people since the creation of the Herb Wegner Award.
“To be included on the list of 93 individuals who receive this award is beyond anything I could imagine,” he said.
Purvis, who began his credit union career in 1981 at the North Carolina Credit Union League, said, “My parents were people of modest means; the kinds of people credit unions were created to serve. My mother wanted me to be a CPA, but I think she would still be proud.”
Purvis extolled the value of the National CU Foundation’s Development Education program, noting Coastal CU has 22 DEs on staff, including the entire executive management team. Moreover, in March 80 non-management staff members will be taken to a two-day off-site “immersion in credit union philosophy. That’s how we keep the flame burning at Coastal.”
“America needs credit unions more than ever,” he said. “We are the honest compassionate innovative sector of financial services. Let’s continue to make the difference and shout our story from the mountaintops.”
‘There but for the Grace of God Go I’
Mitchell shared her story of being a child growing up in a poor family that lived paycheck to paycheck, and of a mother who refused to ever accept charity.
“We moved 11 times in those years, and at four years old my mother insisted I become a majorette,” said Mitchell. “I asked my mom, why baton twirling, and she said no matter how displaced you were we always wanted you to be out front leading the way and marching to your own tune. I stand on a stage as a tribute to my parents.”
Mitchell’s career has been marked by leading the way even if it was a struggle to achieve “empowerment,” she said. Her first job was in technology where she was the only woman among 19 men.
“Every step was a struggle to earn respect. I learned to stand up for myself,” she related.
In 1983, she was able to start her own company with her husband, Mike Stankovic, thanks to a loan from Boulder Dam Credit Union.
“We invested in our community, our industry, and 5,000 credit unions became our extended family,” she said, adding her commitment remains strong as she strives to honor the legacy of past leaders and to inspire a new generation.
In 2009 Mitchell was asked by World Council of Credit Unions’ President Brian Branch to become the founding chair of what has grown into the Global Women’s Leadership Network.
“We dug deep and asked many of you in this room to donate time, money and passion to get us started,” said Mitchell. “We began globally, but local impact was necessary to make a real difference. From the fields of Ventura County to remote villages of Nepal, credit unions are changing lives.”
“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t say it to myself ‘There but for the grace of God go I,’” continued Mitchell. “Why was I born in the U.S., how was I so lucky to have a family that loves me. How can I give back?
“Now I have five grandchildren,” Mitchell said, as those grandchildren appeared on the stage. “So, I am asking you to stand up for the future. For diversity. For what is right. To stand up against violence, hate and destruction. To stand up for the credit union purpose. It is our obligation to our society and to our children.”