More than 525 people attended Mountain West Credit Union Association's annual convention inPhoenix, Ariz. earlier this month when the MWCUA board of directorselected Robert Ramirez, president/CEO of the $1.1 billion Vantage West Credit Union in Tucson, as the new chair of theboard.

The board also elected Susan Frank, president/CEO of the $3.1billion Desert Schools Federal Credit Union in Phoenix, Ariz., asvice chair of the board, John Uchida, president/CEO of the $102million Space Age Federal Credit Union in Aurora, Colo., astreasurer, and Jim Yates, president/CEO of the $47 million FirstEducation Federal Credit Union in Cheyenne, Wyo., as secretary.

Other re-elected board members were Dan Desmond, president/CEOof the $791 million TruWest Credit Union in Scottsdale, Ariz., andWalt Marx, president/CEO of the $43 million College Credit Union inGreeley, Colo. Newly elected board members were Doug Ferraro,president/CEO of the $2.4 billion Bellco Credit Union in GreenwoodVillage, Colo., and Dan Kester, president/CEO of the $265 millionSooper Credit Union in Denver, Colo.

Mike Williams, president/CEO of the $108 million Colorado CreditUnion in Littleton, completed his term as MWCUA chair and wasrecognized for his accomplishments.

“I want to thank Mike for his steadfast leadership and guidinghand,” said Scott Earl, MWCUA president/CEO. “He was the rightperson at the right time to put the association together. “I willalways be grateful for all his hard work and I am especiallygrateful for his friendship.”

At the convention's annual awards dinner, MWCUA presented itsVolunteer of the Year award to Dale Rutt, board member and pastchair of Sooper Credit Union, for his service and belief in thecredit union movement. The second award, the 2013 Professional ofthe Year, was presented to Mark Lau, president/CEO of the $126million Denver Fire Federal Credit Union. This award recognizes anindividual whose leadership and accomplishments have madesignificant contributions to their credit union, the credit unionmovement and the communities they serve.

Advocacy awards were presented to Colorado Credit Union as theAdvocacy Team of the Year. Ana Corona, branch manager of the$231 million A.E.A Federal Credit Union in Yuma, Ariz., was awardedthe Legislative & Political Coordinator of the Year forMWCA. She also won the Arizona LPC of the Year award. TheColorado LPC of the Year went to Eva Gaudio, senior vicepresident of Governmental and Student Relations at the $1.2 billionElevations Credit Union in Boulder, Colo. Steve Higginson,president/CEO of the $102 million Reliant Federal CreditUnion in Casper, Wyoming, received the Wyoming LPC of the Yearaward.

For the second year, a group of young professionals participatedin the conference. This year's young professional program wassponsored by the Arizona Youth Involvement Network and the MWCUA.Eighteen young professionals participated in all of the conventionFriday's activities and attended extra mentor sessions.

The convention's Children's Miracle Network breakfast featured aspecial guest, Miss Arizona, Piper Stoeckel,who presented credit unions with recognition awards for theirfundraising efforts. Top fundraising credit unions recognized werethe $19 million Alhambra Credit Union in Phoenix, Ariz., the $168million Altier Credit Union in Tempe, Ariz., the $397 millionArizona Central Credit Union in Phoenix, and the $552million Credit Union of Denver in Lakewood, Colo.