* 56 years old * CEO of SECU since 1979 * Self-proclaimed credit union fanatic * Majored in Russian History in college. Flunked out of UNC Chapel Hill MBA program in early `70s, but later went back to school for an MBA from Duke. * His first job at SECU was as a loan officer, which he was referred to from a state employment agency. * Married to Jean for 31 years. The couple has five children – Jim, Eleanor, Sarah, Thomas and Mary. * Hobbies: Working on his farm, raising daffodils, anything to do with credit unions. * A telling story: Tired of being told by accountants what to do, Blaine one day decided to take the CPA exam – he passed. “When the CPAs are saying you have to do this and that, you want to make sure you have a good solid support of your arguments.” * Grew up in the Chapel Hill area surrounded by colleges. His father was a college economics professor and his mother a school teacher. “It (the education background) absolutely did not take on me.” (Though SECU employees would argue differently. Some said they expected him to become a lawyer so he can better understand legal arguments.)