AWARDS

Hartford Federal Credit Union,Conn., President/CEO Edward Danek, Jr., has received the 2005 Professional Recognition Award from the Connecticut Credit Union Association. The award is presented annually to a Connecticut credit union executive for outstanding contributions to their credit union as well as the credit union movement. Danek also serves on the St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center Foundation board of directors. California Coast Credit Union, San Diego, has received the Union-Tribune Corporate Leadership award from the San Diego Council on Literacy. The credit union was singled out for its continuous support of literacy and education related initiatives. In addition to annual sponsorships, California Coast CU has provided financial assistance to the San Diego Council on Literacy this year by underwriting the cost for 44,000 books to be shipped from South Dakota to San Diego in support of local youth literacy programs. MECU of Baltimore, Inc., Md., was one of eight Baltimore companies that received the Mayor’s Business Recognition Award for commitment to community from the Greater Baltimore Committee. MECU was recognized for its ongoing support of Ft. Worthington Elementary School, including specific projects to refurbish the computer lab and to help improve reading scores. As part of its ongoing support for the school, MECU also sponsored the fifth grade class’ participation in Junior Achievement’s Exchange City. Desert Schools Federal Credit Union, Phoenix, has been recognized as one of the Best Companies to Work in the Valley. This year, Desert Schools moved up six spots to number 19, among companies with more than 250 employees. The results are based on anonymous surveys conducted by Quantum Market Research for program co-founders, The Gredler Group and The Phoenix Business Journal. Aside from the multiple benefits and incentives public recognition for their efforts, volunteer opportunities, and loan discounts Desert Schools’ employees have taken notice of the welcoming friendly environment and the opportunities to grow professionally. U.S. Federal Credit Union, Burnsville, Minn, Executive Vice President/Chief Operations Officer Phil Bachman has been honored by the Archer-Doig Chapter of Credit Unions for his more than 19 years of service to the chapter. First elected as a chapter director in 1986, Bachman diligently served until the end of 2005. During that time he also served as the chapter chairman. Bachman also furthered his dedication to the credit union movement by serving as the Minnesota League Director Legislative Representative to the chapter from 1986 to 1996 and Minnesota League Director for the year following. In addition, he has worked at USFCU for over 20 years. Royal Credit Union, Eau Claire, Wis., President Charles Grossklaus has been honored as Luther Hospitals’ 2005 Good Samaritan of the Year. Grossklaus was chosen for his demonstrated leadership and his contribution to the Eau Claire community and Luther Hospital. As an Eau Claire native, Grossklaus has been giving back to his community for decades. He has been with the credit union since 1971, taking it from a $5 million institution serving Uniroyal employees to what is now a $702 million business serving more than 105,000 members in 18 counties. San Mateo Credit Union, Redwood City, Calif., has been presented the 2005 Ways to Work Lending Partner of the Year Award by the Family Service Agency of San Mateo County (FSA). SMCU was recognized for its outstanding contributions and service in support of FSA’s Ways to Work, a loan program focused on helping low-income families become financially self-sufficient. The program’s mission is to strengthen the capacity of Alliance for Children and Families member organizations to serve their communities. CFE Federal Credit Union, Orlando, Fla., has been voted the Best Credit Union in Central Florida by readers of the Orlando Business Journal. The OBJ’s Annual Readers’ Choice Awards gives readers the opportunity to vote for their favorite businesses, from restaurants to health clubs to financial institutions, by completing a ballot or an online survey. The Readers’ Choice award is the third prestigious recognition CFE has recently received. Earlier in 2005, CEO Joseph Melbourne was selected as Professional of the Year by NAFCU and CFE FCU was named as one of Orlando’s Top 100 Companies for Working Families by the Orlando Sentinel. Colorado Credit Union, Denver, has been presented the Colonel’s Award for Excellence by the Colorado State Patrol (CSP). The award is the CSP’s highest civilian award and recognized CCU’s efforts in enlisting the support of other credit unions including Aurora Schools Federal Credit Union, Arapahoe Credit Union, Colorado Central Credit Union, Boulder Valley Credit Union, St. Vrain Valley Credit Union, Premier Members Federal Credit Union, Coors Credit Union, Safeway Rocky Mountain Federal Credit Union, Denver Public Schools Credit Union and the Colorado State Employees Credit Union. The credit unions support school presentations of Alive at 25, a four-hour defensive driving program administered by the CSP.