FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn.–Dan Stoltz, president and CEO of SPIRE Credit Union, received the 2017 Outstanding Marketing Executive of the Year Award at the recent DECA State Conference Grand Awards Ceremony. Stoltz now joins a distinguished group of past award recipients who include Curtis L. Carlson, Carl Pohlad, Marvin Schwann, Rudy Boschwitz, Leeann Chin, Skip Humphrey, Governor Ventura, Lorie Line, Dave Winfield and Kirby Puckett.
Stoltz was honored because of SPIRE’s participation with Elk River High School (ERHS) on the Future Finance Academy program.
“In a collaborative effort between ERHS DECA students and SPIRE staff, an event was developed to educate high school students, on the brink of entering adulthood, on how to become financially literate,” the credit union said. “The results of this program were astounding. On day 1, where students completed the pre-test, an average of 38% of the 72 students answered the questions correctly. On day 4, this number increased to 90.93% of students answering correctly; a 190.93% increase in financial knowledge.”
“I am absolutely honored to receive the award for Marketing Excellence and incredibly humbled to join this group of Minnesota heroes,” said Stoltz, “I appreciate DECA’s contributions in developing future leaders, and I am ever-grateful for being recognized by this prestigious organization.”
At right, Dan Stoltz, President/CEO of SPIRE Credit Union, pictured with Sonja Weiler, Elk River High School Business Teacher & DECA Program Coordinator
Separately, sponsored KS95 Team Moon and Staci at the 2017 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Nearly 31,000 people participated in the walk, with 800-plus on the KS95 team. More than $1 million was raised this year, and nearly $17 million in cancer research grants have been awarded throughout the past 25 years of this event.
Lisa Lehman (shown below) and her family supported this event on behalf of SPIRE, “Unfortunately we all know someone who is affected by cancer. Raising money to help find a cure is a great thing to be a part of!”