CREDIT UNION BUILDER AWARD
The Minnesota Credit Union Foundation created the Credit Union Builder Award in 2008 to allow credit unions and organizations to make contributions in honor of or in memory of a significant individual who has been instrumental in their success. Contributions are typically made at a special time of significance – i.e. upon retirement or upon the individual’s passing – to acknowledge their contributions to credit unions.
The name of the recipient and the donating credit union are permanently displayed in lobby of the state trade association, the Minnesota Credit Union Network, as a tribute to those who have dedicated time and energy to building the credit union movement.
The honorees (or their families, in the case of a memoriam contribution) receive acknowledgement from the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation, and donors are also listed online and in the Foundation’s annual report. A minimum $1,000 contribution is required for the Credit Union Builder Award. The Minnesota Credit Union Foundation, Inc., St. Paul, Minn., is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. For tax purposes, contributions may be tax-deductible.
Contribute now! (Or click here for a printable contribution form.)
With questions, please feel free to contact us!
FOUNDATION CREDIT UNION BUILDER
| 2013 | |
| Roger McClure | honorarium contribution made by Postal Credit Union |
| After 36 years of service, Roger McClure has retired from the PCU Board of Directors. During his tenure Roger played a significant role in guiding the credit union to the successful organization it is today. When he was first elected to the board in 1977, PCU had one office in the main post office. Five offices now exist, and PCU has become a full-service financial partner for more than 45,000 members. Roger has served on a variety of board committees and as committee chair throughout his volunteer career at PCU. Roger is a strong advocate for the credit union movement and has spent countless hours lobbying state and national lawmakers on issues of importance to the industry and PCU. His dedication and commitment is greatly appreciated. | |
| 2012 | |
| Walter Noreen | memoriam contribution made by Postal Credit Union |
| Walter Noreen devoted his life to helping others and embodied the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.” An Assistant Postmaster, Walter was first elected to the Board of Directors of St. Paul Postal Employees Credit Union (now d/b/a Postal Credit Union) in 1967. Among his many affiliations, Walter served as District Governor of Lions International, and was an active member of the St. Paul Park/Newport Lions Club. He helped found the St. Croix Lions and helped create Camp New Hope. Walter took an active role in politics and was a strong advocate for the credit union movement and greater good of all. After over two decades of volunteer service, he retired from the board in 1990. | |
| James Pierce | memoriam contribution made by Postal Credit Union |
| James Pierce was first elected to the Credit Committee at St. Paul Postal Employees Credit Union (d/b/a Postal Credit Union) in 1976, and served as its chairman from 1977-1978. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 1982, and elected board secretary in 1988. Jim was a tireless supporter of Postal Credit Union and the credit union movement. He was the first recipient of the Minnesota League of Credit Union’s “Outstanding Credit Union Volunteer of the Year” award in 1995. After over two decades of volunteer service, he retired from the board in 2002. Jim was an avid golfer and proud PCU member. | |
| Michael Hoey | honorarium contribution made by Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union |
| Michael Hoey is a great figure in the Minnesota credit union movement. As a Board Member at Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union for 18 years – including two terms as Chairman – Michael never saw barriers to any opportunities to do more for credit union members. Michael is an entrepreneur with incredible drive and is always striving to help people. Humble and innovative, he is a long-time advocate for credit unions, always putting the member first. During his tenure with Affinity Plus, the credit union’s assets grew from $150 million to more than $2.5 billion and membership quadrupled. In Michael’s primary role as an entrepreneur, he is the founder of six medical products companies. A former faculty member at the University of Minnesota and Hamline University, he currently serves as a guest lecturer and business strategy advisor for medical companies. He also serves on boards for other national companies and – despite his busy schedule – never wavered in his commitment to Affinity Plus and the credit union industry. | |
| Carl Long | honorarium contribution made by US Federal Credit Union |
| For 34 years, Carl Long served as a volunteer Director and Committee Member for US Federal Credit Union. From the late 1970s to his retirement from the US FCU Board of Directors in 2012, Carl volunteered thousands of hours to hundreds of committees, meetings, and strategic planning sessions. During his tenure he saw the credit union grow from $20 million to nearly $900 million in assets, serving tens of thousands of new members along the way. Carl’s commitment to the cooperative movement is a testament to US Federal Credit Union’s Promise of Service, Value and Experience our Members Can Trust, Every Time. | |
| Russ Plunkett | honorarium contribution made by Postal Credit Union |
| Russ Plunkett is a well-respected, passionate member of the credit union movement. He served as a past board member of the Minnesota League and Minnesota Credit Union Network and is a former MnCUN Chair. He has been a River Cities Chapter Chairman, CUNA Mutual Policy Owner Representative, MnCUN’s Political Involvement Committee member and held positions on CUNA’s Governmental Affairs, Bylaw Review, and Cooperative Alliances Committees. During his tenure at PCU, Russ has overseen a revolutionary expansion of service offerings, including technology enhancements like online banking, bill pay, e-statements, online loan approval and more. Under Russ’ leadership, PCU’s Mortgage department has expanded to include loan origination, complete closing and title services, and mortgage servicing. The CU also added Business Services to its full line of financial solutions. Russ has overseen the opening of three PCU offices and assets have grown from $22.9 million in 1981 to $511 million in 2011. | |
| 2011 | |
| Marv Folkestad | memoriam contribution made by Richfield Bloomington Credit Union |
| Marv was involved in the Bloomington Schools Credit Union from 1964 until 1991 as a board member and board president. Upon the merger with Richfield Schools Credit Union in 1991, he served as a board member until his death in 2009. Marv was always a champion for our credit union and, as a former educator, a champion for financial literacy. He was instrumental in adding seven scholarships donated by RBCU to our local high school and college students. He advocated strongly for ALL members and adhered to the people helping people philosophy. His contributions to credit unions as a President and Board Member will always be remembered. | |
| Quentin Johnson | honorarium contribution made by Richfield Bloomington Credit Union |
| As a RBCU board member for 44 years, Quentin was involved in many major strategic decisions in the credit union’s 54 year history. He retired from the board in 2011 after many successful years of growth at RBCU. Quentin served as board chair for 25 years, overseeing the addition of new services, new buildings, credit union mergers, and the successful conversion to a community credit union. Quentin saw the credit union move from the basement of the CEO’s home to a newly-constructed building in 1991, faced three mergers, and experienced membership growth of from less than 1,000 to over 16,000. He oversaw RBCU’s expansion into three communities in 2004 to ensure the credit union’s longevity and viability for years to come. | |
| Lynn Kothe | honorarium contribution made by North Memorial Federal Credit Union |
| Lynn became the President of North Memorial FCU in 1978, growing the organization from $369,000 in assets to $32 million before her retirement in 2012. During her years in the movement, she was actively involved in politics at the local, state and national levels. Lynn served on countless boards and committees both within Minnesota and beyond, providing support to the Minnesota Credit Union Network, Credit Union National Association, Minnesota Item Processing Board and the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation. Lynn has a passion for credit unions, the movement’s “people helping people” philosophy, and has a strong desire for everyone to experience the credit union difference. | |
| John E. Larson | memoriam contribution made by Liz Larson & Minnco Credit Union |
| John Larson was dedicated to the members of Minnco Credit Union. He served as a volunteer for 28 years, serving 10 years on the credit committee and 18 on the board of directors - 17 of which were as board chairman. John played an active role in the credit union movement, attending many events, chapter meetings, seminars and conferences in an effort to stay current with the industry. Being knowledgeable about industry trends and what legislative, regulatory and economic factors were affecting Minnco helped John to better serve the credit union and its members. John was also active in the community, as well as his church. His life was a great example of service to others. John will be missed, not only as a great credit union supporter, but also as a friend. | |
| 2010 | |
| Pat DeHaan | memoriam contribution made by Minnesota Item Processing Corporation |
| When MnIPC was formed as a corporation in 1994, the management of United Educators Credit Union felt strongly in the service MnIPC was developing and purchased ownership shares in the company. Believing in MnIPC’s philosophy to provide credit unions a quality cost-effective check processing alternative, United Educators Credit Union Executive Vice President Pat DeHaan was quick to volunteer for the position. Over the years, Pat’s extensive financial background and understanding of operations helped make MnIPC the technically-savvy and viable company it is today. Pat stepped down as a MnIPC board member in 2010, and her service contributions will be always be remembered. | |
| 2008 | |
| Bill Brooks | memoriam contribution made by US Federal Credit Union |
| Bill Brooks was an advocate of credit unions for most of his life, and served the industry for nearly four decades in a variety of capabilities. He lobbied 25 years for credit unions at the Minnesota Legislature and in Congress. He was the former President of Lawyers Credit Union, and he served on the US Federal Credit Union Board of Directors (including a Chair position) from 1995 until his death in 2008. Bill’s career demonstrates a tireless energy and enthusiasm for the credit union cause of “People Helping People.” Bill didn’t just believe in that philosophy – he put it into action every day. | |
| Dean Nelson | honorarium contribution made by CU Companies |
| Dean was one of the founding fathers of CU Companies. In 1987, he and two other credit union executives had a vision to build economies of scale and offer a competitive mortgage solution to their members. Dean and his colleagues realized that by embracing the credit union philosophy of cooperation, they could deliver a better product together than they could on their own. With Dean’s assistance, the three credit unions formed a multi-owned credit union service organization, CU Mortgage Services. As time went on, other credit unions realized the benefits and purchased stock or partnered with CU Companies, allowing the organization to expand its services to Realty, Title Services, Preferred Investments, Business Lending, and Correspondent Lending. | |
| Carl Sandburg | memoriam contribution made by Novation Credit Union |
| Carl was a charter board member of Novation. He served on the board for more than 30 years, many times as the board chair. Carl spent his 36-year professional career as a polymer chemist for 3M Company and in 1983 was inducted into the prestigious Carlton Society at 3M. He was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, he and wife Ruth raised their family and made their home in St. Paul. Carl embodied the credit union spirit of democracy; he was an advocate for members always ensuring that Novation fulfilled its mission of providing value and remaining safe and sound | |
| Sen. David H. Senjem | honorarium contribution made by Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union |
| Sen. Senjem is a long-time member of the Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union, serving as a volunteer on the Board of Directors and Credit Committee for a combined 23 years. During his time with the credit union, he held positions of Board Chair for seven years and Board Secretary for eight. Sen. Senjem began his career in the Minnesota Senate in 2002, and has served as both Senate Majority Leader and Senate Minority Leader. He has been a long-time friend, supporter and champion for the Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union since the beginning of his career at Mayo Clinic and continues to openly support credit unions at the State Capitol. | |