BILLINGS, Mont. — A Labor Day awareness campaign linked to discounted gas provided a bonanza of publicity and public good will for the $73 million Billings Federal Credit Union.
Thousands of motorists lined up before dawn to take advantage of a four-hour special price of $1.81 a gallon at a Billings convenience store.
"We got front-page coverage in our local newspaper, and we had TV remotes all morning," said Kevin Rookhuizen, vice president of sales and marketing. The CU planned the event for weeks after reading about a similar gas promo by a Massachusetts CU.
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Gas prices have obviously been a hot topic for months "and so we wanted to conduct a campaign that would help spread the good word about credit unions and how we invest in the community where we live and work," said Rookhuizen.
A total of 4,000 gallons was dispensed as Billings FCU employees wearing pit crew T-shirts handed out CU literature, bags of goodies, pens and tire gauges and also washed car windows of those in the waiting line in addition to helping them fill the bank.
"It really was an incredible response, and we're glad we did it," said Rookhuizen.
Billings FCU was looking for a way to give back to the community, Rookhuizen said, when the idea of supplemented gas came up. The price was established to serve the most people possible at a cheaper-than-usual price.
News accounts of the promotion noted that according to the U.S. Department of Energy, regular unleaded gasoline hasn't been around the $1.80 mark in the Rocky Mountain region since January 2005. The last time the national average price was that cheap was May 2004, according to the department.
Theresa Jenkins, president of Kwik Way, said she was glad two community-based businesses could work together. "It's a beautiful day with friendly people and a great deal. What else can you ask for?"
MaPS CU President/CEO Dan Penn Has Set His Retirement for Year-End
SALEM, Ore. — After nearly 30 years serving MaPS Credit Union, President/CEO Dan Penn will retire at the end of 2008.
Under Penn's leadership MaPS has grown to an asset size of more than $270 million and a membership of 37,000. In addition, the credit union has embraced technological tools such as online banking and bill pay, while introducing new products and services, including Credit Union wireless, which offers low-cost mobile phone service to credit union members, and the Willamette Business Group, allowing credit unions in the Willamette Valley to better serve their business members.
Penn also has been active in the credit union movement, advocating for credit unions with state and national legislators and supporting the Credit Union Association of Oregon. The association has honored Penn with various awards, including a medal of honor, the Heideman Scholar Award and a distinguished service award. He has served the local business community through the Salem Chamber of Commerce and the former Salem Downtown Association.
Board President Joe Phillippay said, "We have been lucky to have such a vibrant and dedicated CEO. We are sorry to see Dan Penn leave, but we are excited for him to begin this new phase of his life. The successes we have seen at MaPS over the years are due in no small part to Dan's commitment to excellence and willingness to embrace change."
Penn's successor will be current chief operations officer and MaPS service agency CEO Mark Zook.
Zook, who joined MaPS in 1992, has been actively involved in the credit union movement, currently serving on the board of directors of the Credit Union Association of Oregon. He holds an MBA from Southern Oregon University, a master's in educational leadership from the University of Oregon and a bachelor's in business administration from Western Oregon University.
"Dan Penn has been a great leader and a great mentor. I hope to continue to build on the legacy he created and lead the credit union to new levels of success," said Zook.
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