Robert Baron, director of marketing at the $40 millionTechnicolor Federal Credit Union in Burbank, Calif., was adjudgedthe winner of CO-OP THINK Prize 13 for his idea for a virtualteller system.

The top prize was $10,000 and the winner was chosen from amongthree finalists by judges, online voters and attendees of the THINK13 conference in Chicago, which concluded with a gala on Thursdaynight at the Museum of Science and Industry.

Baron's business plan described a virtual teller system thatwould allow members to video-conference with their credit unionfrom a computer or mobile device.

The other two finalists were Andree Kirk, online servicesadministrator at the $832 million San Francisco FCU for herproposed shared member application platform and Deborah Larson,branch manager for the $58 million Dakota Plains Credit Union inEnderlin, N.C., for a proposed switch kit app.

The $10,000 award to Baron was presented by CO-OP FinancialServices and CO-OP THINK Prize 13 sponsor MasterCard.

“Our goal with the CO-OP THINK Prize is to promote and inspirecreative thinking on industry issues, and each of the three finalbusiness plans were wonderful displays of that,” said Stan Hollen,president/CEO of CO-OP in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Also from THINK 13:

• The Great Change Debate
• THINK 13 on Wednesday: SlideShow
• Starring on Google+
• Mayor Booker Keynotes on Change
• Innovation That MaintainsIdentity
• Innovation Needs Controls
• THINK 13 on Tuesday: Slide Show
• Self-Assessment First Step inInnovation
• Leaders Should Talk Last
• CO-OP Rebrands ATM, BranchingNetworks
• Chicago Confab Kicks Off