SAN DIEGO – For its positive work environment, North Island Credit Union presented the "Excellence in the Workplace" award to Inter@ctivate, Inc. at the recent 2006 San Diego Small Business Awards luncheon.

The $1.5 billion CU was a presenting sponsor of the event, hosted by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and the San Diego Daily Transcript, to recognize and honor the small business elite for their creativity, efforts and contributions to the region.

Inter@ctivate allows small and medium sized businesses to create and send e-mail campaigns, track leads, automate sales force and manage customer relationships on one interactive Web site. The firm, founded in 1996 by Jack Abbott, chief client advocate and CEO, was recognized for promoting a work environment that encourages entrepreneurial attitudes and rewards employees with increasing levels of recognition and responsibility, the CU said. "We place value on every employee as an individual, and provide each with a career rather than just a job," said Michael Maslak, CEO, North Island CU. "The Excellence in the Workplace award recognizes businesses like Inter@ctivate that go beyond the basics and are an inspiration to other companies to do the same." The 2006 "Excellence in Work Environment" award marks the fourth year of North Island CU's sponsorship of the Chamber's Small Business Annual Awards luncheon. North Island honored ProfitLine for workplace excellence in 2003, Sullivan International Group in 2004 and Althea Technologies in 2005.