McGowean brings a track record of creating and executing successful growth strategies for companies that include Citigroup, GE Consumer Finance

and United Airlines, says Alliant Senior Vice President Frank Weidner.

"Joe McGowean's talents and experience in strategic planning, profit and loss management and new product development are extremely helpful to Alliant as we move forward, providing and communicating our outstanding financial products and customer service to an ever-expanding membership," said Weidner.

In addition to his professional experience, McGowean has a Masters Degree in Advertising from Northwestern University.

EMSBLA Credit Union Becomes Empower CU

MILWAUKEE — EMSBLA Credit Union has joined the growing list of credit unions closing out 2007 with a new name.

The $134 million credit union has unveiled its new name — Empower Credit Union.

Great Wisconsin CU Member Drives Away a Winner

PORTAGE, Wis. — Lucky member Nissa Lind is the winner of the Great Wisconsin CU Summer Giveaway.

Lind, a member of the credit union since 2002, became eligible for the 2007 Toyota Prius giveaway when she took out a loan at the Great Wisconsin CU Portage Branch, for a used 2000 truck in July. She had a one in 2,260 chance that her name would be drawn.

Lind will use the car to commute to work and her son, Tom, 16, will occasionally drive it to high school.

The new car was the top prize in a summer campaign, which also included a kayak and a mountain bike as prizes.

New Marketing Services Division at William Mills Agency

ATLANTA — William Mills Agency, a local public relations firm serving the financial services industry, is expanding its horizons.

The new division, WMA Marketing Services, offers agency clients the expertise and services to create and execute marketing programs that build awareness and leads for an organization's products and services.

Headed by Vice President Jerry Goldstein, the group provides support for a broad set of marketing programs including corporate identity design, print and online advertising, Web site design and development, search engine optimization and search engine marketing capabilities.

Goldstein is an experienced marketing executive who has managed more than 25 company and product launches as both a marketing executive and consultant within technology and services industries.

""As our client base has grown, so have their marketing needs. Our decision to expand our service offering is a direct response to our existing clients, who have asked us for support of their broader marketing objectives," said CEO William Mills III.

One of the new organization's first projects has been the launch of a new William Mills Agency Web site to better communicate the agency's expanded service offering.

The new Web site, www.williammills.com, provides information on the agency's processes as well as a list of new marketing services.

Carolina Postal CU Launches The Hoopty Campaign

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — At Carolina Postal Credit Union the Hoopty is cause for celebration.

Defined as a vehicle in poor condition, large often boatlike and aided by duct tape or bungee cords, the Hoopty is something that at some point everyone has needed whether for a second job, a rural route or a teenager's first car says CPCU Marketing Vice President Deb McClean.

Dubbing it part of a stealth marketing strategy, McClean says it is not about providing "bad" loans or even titled car loans but about finding ways to meet member needs.

"We're having a lot of fun and getting a lot of attention with this campaign," said McClean. "This is another way to open up a dialogue with our members about what their needs are and how Carolina Postal can meet those needs."

As part of the unique campaign CPCU has launched an I Love My Hoopty Contest in search of everything from "Ugliest Color Hoopty", to the "Best Utilization of Duct Tape on a Hoopty." Winners will receive a CPCU Emergency Car Kit containing jumper cables, fix-a-flat, flares and a roll of duct tape. All entries will receive an "I Love My Hoopty" bumper sticker.

"The idea for the campaign came out of a training meeting with our staff, they mentioned that members were always jokingly asking for a loan for a 'Hoopty;" said Carolina Postal CU CEO Joy Watts. "We serve United States Postal Service employees and many of the rural letter carriers drive their own personal cars for their route. They often prefer to drive a "beat-up" second car for their route–their hoopty."

McClean says by just providing what members really need and want opens doors to deepen relationships.

"Let's say they are buying the Hoopty for the teen's first car, we ask if their teen also needs a checking account and debit card. Do we need to set the parent up with a financial advisor about college costs or a home equity loan to pay college tuition? The conversation just grows from there."

Members can enter the contest from the CPCU Web site at www.CPCUonline.com via a banner link to the I Love My Hoopty blog, where they'll find a Hoopty rap, a YouTube video entitled the "Ragged Ride Blues", contest participant blogs about their personal Hoopty experience and Hoopty photos.