WASHINGTON – NAFCU selected four credit union representatives and two credit unions as winners in its 2002 Awards Competition, "Visions of Success." The winners will be recognized during NAFCU's Annual Conference this July in Seattle. Duke University Federal Credit Union was named Federal Credit Union of the Year for member federal credit unions under $100 million in assets. Duke University was awarded for its "innovative.planning, but traditional in its philosophy," according to NAFCU. Addison Avenue Federal Credit Union was chosen for Federal Credit Union of the Year in the asset category of $100 million and over. The federal credit union took the task of addressing interest rate risk head on by developing a hedging program, and becoming one of the first credit unions to enroll in the financial derivatives program developed by WesCorp. Addison Avenue became one of the first to enter into an interest rate swap transaction early in 2002. Addison Avenue was formerly HP Employees Federal Credit Union prior to a name change in April. James Wisnieski, president and CEO of XCEL Federal Credit Union, was named Professional of the Year in the less than $100 million in assets category. XCEL headquarters were housed inside the World Trade Center that was destroyed in the terrorist attacks September 11, but Wisnieski pulled staff together and restored operations in under nine hours. He also met daily with management to ensure coordination of efforts between vendors and staff, created transportation pools for staff to operate the remaining branches on extended hours, and to provide counseling for staff traumatized by the events of September 11. William Eckhardt, CEO of Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, was named Professional of the Year in the asset category of $100 million or more. He led the way in opening six new branches, establishing a corporate university, developing new employee incentive and benefit programs, and a 35% reduction in staff turnover. Eckhardt also keeps in continuous contact with each member of Alaska's congressional delegation and is active in the regulatory process. Volunteer of the Year in the under $100 million in assets category was awarded to Christopher Volatile, supervisory committee chair at Census Federal Credit Union. He served as an efficiency guru, receiving permission from the Census Bureau to utilize the Census e-mail network and successfully negotiated the ability to implement uninterrupted power sources for the credit union's audio response and ATMs. Coastal Federal Credit Union Chair A. Richard Bloom, age 71, was named Volunteer of the Year in the asset category of $100 million or more. Under his chairmanship, the credit union has grown to serve nearly 110,000 members and asset growth continues at 15.7%. [email protected]