The League of Southeastern Credit Unions, the trade association for Alabama and Florida credit unions, recently held its third annual convention and exposition.
The top regional CUs of the year were announced at the meeting, as well as other honorary awards.
The seven awards presented were: distinguished service (Jimmy Lankford, Alabama Credit Union, Tuscaloosa, Ala.), professional of the year (Rich Helber, Tropical Financial Credit Union, Miramar, Fla.), volunteer of the year (Martha Frasier, Space Coast Credit Union, Melbourne, Fla.), credit union of the year (up to $100 million in assets; $100-$500 million in assets; and $500 million or more in assets), and an award for “brother’s keeper.”
The LSCU said it was impressed by the exponential growth of each credit union named credit union of the year, including Monroe County Teachers FCU, Alabama CU, and Army Aviation FCU, respectively.
The “brother’s keeper” award was given to Pen Air FCU for lending its mobile branch to Community Credit Union of Gadsden, Ala., after a tornado destroyed its Rainsville branch, said the LSCU.
Following the annual meeting, the LSCU announced that Mary Ott Wood, president/CEO of Florida West Coast CU in Brandon, Fla., would succeed Joe McGee, president/CEO of Legacy Community FCU of Birmingham, Ala., as chairman of the league.
Additionally, the terms of three board members (John Hirabayashi of Community First CU of Florida, Jacksonville, Fla.; Greg Olmsted of North Alabama Educators CU, Huntsville, Ala.; and Deb Seymour of Darden Employees FCU, Orlando, Fla.) expired and they have been replaced by Leianne Harden of Florida Customs FCU, Tampa, Fla.; Jeanette Keller of Blue Flame CU, Mobile, Ala.; and Steven Nazaruk of Tallahassee FCU, Tallahassee, Fla.
More than 1,000 people attended the convention, held June 13-16 in Orlando, the LSCU said.
