ATLANTA — LEVEL5, a consulting and facilities development firm specializing in financial institutions, has ranked 51st on the 2008 Inc. 500.

The firm also ranked second on both the top 100 businesses in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Ga., lists in the September issue of Inc. magazine and Inc.com.

"If you want to find out which companies are going to change the world, look at the Inc. 500," said Editor Jane Berentson. "These are the most innovative, dynamic, fast-growing companies in the nation–the ones coming up with solutions to some of our knottiest problems, creating systems that let us conduct business faster and easier, and manufacturing products we soon discover we can't live without. The Inc. 500 list is Inc. magazine's tribute to American business ingenuity and ambition."

Founded in 2003, LEVEL5 works exclusively with financial institutions across the U.S. to develop and implement growth strategies. The company is named after its five-step process that includes strategic consulting, real estate, integrated design, construction management and branding to ensure that financial institutions receive the maximum return on investment.

"Just as our end-to-end approach enables financial institutions to efficiently respond to changing conditions, our flexibility and steady growth has powered LEVEL5 to become the company it is today," said J.F. Kassler, president and CEO of LEVEL5. "This achievement of being recognized for our strong growth and success can be attributed to our highly experienced management team, as well as our unwavering commitment to provide clients with strategic, creative projects that meet their individual business goals."

To qualify for the Inc. 500, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by the first week of 2004, be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit and independent–not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies. In addition, revenue in 2004 must have been at least $200,000, and revenue in 2007 must have been at least $2 million.

WSECU Breaks Ground On New Corporate Headquarters Building

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington State Employees Credit Union board members, staff and project partners have broken ground on the credit union's new corporate headquarters.

This marks the $1.4 billion credit union's third building project in its 51-year history. WSECU has outgrown its home for the past 30 years and hopes the new facility will help centralize staffers in one location.

WSECU turned to the development firm of Wright Runstad & Co. to assist with the massive project. Under construction is a five-story office building and a five-level parking garage to be built to leadership in energy and environmental design sustainable environmental standards.

"The start of construction of this building shows how far we've come since our start in 1957," said WSECU Board Chair Rita Koontz. "Our success has always been grown from a foundation of service, and it's so exciting to look across the way and see our future home where we'll be able to build on that success and serve our members even better."

The 130,000-square-foot office building will not only consolidate all corporate departments, but it will also allow for improvements in information technology capacity and other efficiencies.

Anchoring the headquarters will be a new flagship branch.

"The new branch is going to be much larger and allow us to provide greater confidentiality for the members," said WSECU Public Relations Vice President Ann Flannigan. "It's going to be warm and welcoming."

The new building and parking garage are expected to be completed in late summer 2009.

OnPoint Hosts Grand Opening For Wilsonville Branch

PORTLAND, Ore. — OnPoint Community Credit Union recently hosted the grand opening for its new Wilsonville branch.

The week-long celebration included opportunities for members to win summer gear prizes ranging from a family-size tent and outdoor grill package to hiking and camping gear for two and beach camping gear.

Also on hand for the event was KGW NewsChannel 8 as part of OnPoint's sponsorship of the OnPoint Community Credit Union and Fred Meyer school supply drive. The drive aims to equip 5,000 area school children with basic school supplies they couldn't otherwise afford. All attending the OnPoint grand opening were encouraged to make cash donations, donate school supplies or purchase a $25 virtual pack that will supply one student with basic supplies needed for an entire year.

The new 5,000-square-foot branch marks OnPoint's 15th and is located in the Lowrie's Marketplace Shopping. In addition to anchor tenants Albertsons and Starbucks, the center includes retail shops, restaurants and businesses providing various services.

Dignitaries, CU Staff Celebrate Opening

TROY, Ill. — Scott Credit Union has cut the ribbon on its latest Troy branch. About 100 Scott CU staffers, Chamber of Commerce representatives and local dignitaries were on hand to cut the ribbon on the credit union's 14th branch.

"We have looked forward to having a location in Troy for a long time," Scott CU President/CEO Frank Padak said. "We are excited to be here and to be able to serve our members here with even more convenience."

During the ribbon cutting event, Scott CU presented $1,000 to the Troy Grade Schools PTA to support the local organization's drive to fund new playgrounds at the new schools being built in the community.

The full-service location features a 24-hour ATM, three drive-up lanes, a coffee bar and a modern feel with marketing messages displayed on a plasma screen television, while providing all of the traditional offerings of the credit union.

UNCLE Credit Union Opens New Branch

Livermore, Calif. — Uncle Credit Union has opened a new full-service branch in Manteca. The new branch will serve over 64,000 residents of Manteca.

"We're very excited to open our newest office in Manteca. Because UNCLE has many members who already live in Manteca and the surrounding communities, we're pleased to be able to bring our services closer to home for those individuals and families who bank with us. We also encourage anyone who lives or works in the Manteca area to consider banking with us. As a not-for-profit credit union, we're able to offer a full range of banking accounts, loans, and services at free or reduced costs compared to most other financial institutions," said Jim Ott, president/CEO of UNCLE.

UNCLE celebrated the opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

AOD FCU Breaks Ground on New Office

Bynum, Ala. — As part of an ongoing expansion project, AOD Federal Credit Union broke ground on its new Oxford office.

The new office is designed to better serve current members and reach out to new ones. It will include a drive-thru service and ATM. AOD has a grand opening celebration slated for early 2009.

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.