LAS VEGAS - North Island Credit Union President/CEO Mike Maslakhas walked away from this year's CUES CEO Network as the 2005Executive of the Year. Kinecta Federal Credit Union Senior VicePresident of Marketing and Communications Teresa Y. Freeborn wasalso honored as the first recipient of the CUES Future Leaderaward. Recipients of the CUES Executive of the Year award must showexceptional leadership skills, be committed to professionaldevelopment, contribute successfully to their credit union, CUESand its Councils, and actively participate in civic and communityaffairs. A CUES member for more than 20 years, Maslak has servedNorth Island CU since 1987. Under his guidance, the credit unionhas grown from $300 million to $1.5 billion. North Island CU'speople-focused culture has helped it earn a reputation as a premieremployer in the San Diego region and in 2005, the credit union wasnamed one of the "Top 25 Medium Sized Companies to Work for inAmerica" by the Society of Human Resource Management and the BestPlaces to Work Institute. CUES Future Leader nominees are evaluatedon their accomplishments within their credit union and the movementin general; contributions made to CUES and its Councils; level ofprofessional development and education; a letter of recommendationfrom his/her CEO; and community contributions. In addition, judgesreview the details of a single problem-solving plan, which wasdeveloped, led and put into action by the nominee. Freeborn hasbeen with CUES and Kinecta-formerly Hughes Aircraft EmployeesFCU-since 2000, and previously had 27 years experience in theCanadian credit union system. One of Freeborn's first achievementswith Kinecta was to transform the diverse audiences of HughesAircraft and unite them behind the new name, brand and vision ofKinecta. Additionally, Freeborn has developed and implementedcomprehensive public advocacy campaigns to educate the public aboutcredit unions, in Canada, and again in California as a member ofthe California Credit Union League's Ad Hoc Public AdvocacyCommittee and chair of its Media Oversight Subcommittee.