PHOENIX — During the CUES 2006 Directors Conference here, BMI Federal Credit Union Board Director L. Ben Freudenreich has been named the 2006 CUES Directors Educational Forum Director of the Year.

Freudenreich has served the credit union for some 25 years and helped bring board process improvements by supporting the use of consent agendas and policy governance. From 2003-2005, he also chaired the BMI Federal Credit Union Jack Deibert Memorial scholarship program. Freudenreich's generous volunteer spirit extends to other parts of the community as well. He has chaired the Friends of Grandview Library quarterly book sales since 1994 and serves on the Greater Columbus Habitat for Humanity as president. On a recent joint Central Ohio Chapter of Credit Unions and Habitat for Humanity project, Freudenreich trained and supervised other credit union volunteers to help complete construction of a Habitat house this past October.

The DEF Director of the Year award recognizes board members who raise the bar of excellence in credit union volunteerism. In recognition of the award, CUES will donate $250 to a charitable organization on Freudenreich's behalf.