ARLINGTON, Va. – Whether on a bicycle or a plane, David Frankil, the new president of NAFCU Services Corporation, will push for that extra mile. At 48, Frankil is an avid cyclist, frequently going on 60 to 70 mile treks. He recently rode from Washington, D.C. to Bethany Beach, Del.-about 190 miles-over three days. Travel is something Frankil enjoys though his recent trip to China required more than a bicycle. He fully expects travel to be a big part of his new post and welcomes it. "There's no substitute for direct interaction," Frankil said. While he served as director of congressional and regulatory affairs with American Furniture Manufacturers Association from 1985-1989 he spent a lot of time in the field at the factories, talking to the employees. He commented that there can be a "temptation to apply theories you've learned here and there" but those do not always equate in the real world. Visiting the people in the trenches everyday provides "invaluable experience." Frankil also invited anyone interested to come introduce themselves to him at NAFCU's Annual Conference being held this week in Toronto, demonstrating his commitment to travel for NSC. He explained he has a "complete open-door policy" and looked forward to meeting people there. "I'm still learning a lot about the industry. It's fascinating," he said of credit unions. As managing director of the Washington Region at Gates and Company, a management consulting and investment banking firm in Wilmington, Del., as well as other positions he has held, Frankil said, "each has its own attributes." He explained that he has helped develop marketing, management, and capital strategies for companies from pre-revenue all the way up to DuPont focused on businesses as diverse as software to solid surface countertops. When you focus on the basics, his new job as of July 6 will not be that different, he said. "A lot of activities come down to fundamentals.What do customers want? What do members want?" according to Frankil, who holds an M.B.A. from the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania and a dual bachelor's degree in political science and economics from George Washington University. "I'm going to try to keep things simple because basically, it's all about building values," he stressed. Between his business experience at Gates and forming his own regulatory compliance software firm, Virtual Compliance, in addition to his association roots at the furniture manufacturers and others, Frankil has a good foundation for his new venture at NSC. "I'll have one foot in both worlds, in equal parts helping to serve associations.and helping vendors serve members," he said. To start with, Frankil just wants to listen to the customers and "identify what's been working and do more of that." He also wants to cut loose what has not been working so well. He plans to test this through surveys and ad hoc discussion. "I believe that you will find David to have strong leadership abilities, an entrepreneurial spirit, a keen insight into business and strategic alliance development, a strategic mindset, and an ability to execute," NSC Chairman Brad Beal, president and CEO of Nevada Federal Credit Union, said. "In particular, we believe that he will be able to work closely with our partners to deliver value-added products and services to the credit union community and NAFCU's member credit unions." Outside the office, Frankil enjoys the rhythm of cycling, an activity he has participated in for about 15 years. Prior to that, he had been into running but his knees could not continue taking that kind of abuse. He is single right now, but has a "wonderful" significant other, Allison, who is a CBS executive. Since 1975, NSC has been the for-profit arm of NAFCU, providing preferred partnerships to members now with 21 of the top vendors in the business. [email protected]