Credit Union Times is pleased to announce the 2014Trailblazer Award winners.

Competition was tough: many credit unions experienced reboundyears in 2014, driven by auto lending, a stronger real estatemarket and technological innovations that improved service andefficiencies.

Join us in congratulating our winners, listed below. Click onthe links to read each winner's story.

Trailblazer CEO of the Year: Joe Thomas, Jr.,president/CEO of the $277 million Fairfax County Federal CreditUnion, led his Virginia credit union to 50% loan growth in 2014despite a headquarters fire that destroyed its computer room.

Trailblazer CFO of the Year: Jeff Merry, CFOof the $1.2 billion Volunteer Corporate Credit Union, has taken hiscorporate beyond Solvent Five status to become a mergersurviving and financially thriving cooperative.

Trailblazer IT Executive of theYear: Nicole Bowen, vice president of informationtechnology at Fairfax County FCU, got the credit union back onlineand on track after a fire destroyed the computer room.

Trailblazer Marketing Executive of theYear: Willard Ross, chief retail officer at the$2.2 billion Coastal Federal Credit Union, used video tellers toboost his credit union's profile while streamlining operations.

Trailblazer Lending Executive of theYear: Corey Miller, consumer loan manager at the$831 million Northwest Community Credit Union, grew consumer loansby almost 20% last year.

Trailblazer Volunteer of the Year: RogerMark Hall, chairman of the $12 million Greater Abbeyville FederalCredit Union, has always been driven by service to others.

Trailblazer Outstanding Service to theUnderserved: The $61 million Lower Valley Credit Unionuses auto loans to provide opportunities for the underserved.

Trailblazer Outstanding Political Action: The$822 million Credit Union ONE fought ATM skimmers by spearheadingnew state legislation.