Rick Brandsma, president/CEO of the $1 billion Sound Credit Union in Tacoma, Wash., received the LifetimeAchievement Summit Award from the Northwest Credit UnionAssociation.

Brandsma and other credit union professionals were recognizedfor their achievements and contributions at NWCUA's Summit AwardsGala held in Portland, Ore., last week.

During his tenure, Brandsma oversaw 14 successful mergershelping Sound CU grow to $1 billion in assets with 230 employeesand a 21 branch network. When he joined Sound CU as itspresident/CEO in 1981, then called Tacoma Telco Federal CreditUnion, the cooperative had one branch, 26 employees and $18.9million in assets.

Rick Hein, president/CEO of the$818 million O.S.U. FederalCredit Union in Corvallis, Ore., received NWCUA's Summit Award forInnovation and Impact.

Hein is a nationally recognized advocate who created aninnovative program that matched staff political fund contributionswith a donation to Credit Unions for Kids, the NWCUA said. He alsoleads mentoring programs for 140 young adults. Hein also enableshis staff to reach thousands of students and adults annuallythrough financial education outreach.

Jill Nowacki, vice president of development at the of the $470million Marion and Polk Schools Credit Union in Salem, Ore., receivedNWCUA's Summit Award for Young Credit Union Professional of theYear. She was recognized for outstanding advocacy, marketing,strategic communications and community outreach.

Winning the Washington Professional Advocate of the Year wasLarry Hoff, president/CEO of the $749 million Fibre Federal Credit Union in Longview, Wash. Winning Oregon'sProfessional Advocate of the Year was Brooke Van Vleet,president/CEO of the $171 million St. Helens Community Credit Union in St. Helens, Ore.