DUBUQUE, IA (September 24, 2014) -- The Iowa Credit Union League (ICUL) honored six credit union representatives at the Iowa Credit Union Convention held September 17-19 at the Grand River Center in Dubuque.
Heritage Award: Warren Mueller, retired CEO, MEMBERS1st Community Credit Union, Marshalltown
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Warren Mueller received the 2014 Heritage Award for demonstrating extraordinary commitment, service and leadership in the credit union movement. Warren began working for credit unions in 1981, and has provided extensive leadership to the credit union industry throughout his career. Beyond his leadership at MEMBERS1st, he was a founding board member for the Iowa Credit Union Foundation and Community Business Lenders, and served on the Iowa Corporate Central Credit Union board as risk management committee, audit committee, credit committee and executive committee. (Photo from L to R: Patrick S. Jury, CEO/President, Iowa Credit Union League, Warren Mueller, Retired CEO, MEMBERS1st Community Credit Union and Tim Chapman, Chairman, Iowa Credit Union League.)
Heritage Award: Lorraine Groves, Manager, The Municipal Credit Union, Sioux City
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Lorraine Groves also received the 2014 Heritage Award for demonstrating extraordinary commitment, service and leadership in the credit union movement. As the Manager of The Municipal Credit Union, Lorraine has been a driving force helping to serve the credit union’s members for the past 36 years. She volunteers extensively in the Sioux City community, and goes above and beyond to make sure employees have the training and knowledge needed to best serve their members. She has served as treasurer, secretary, vice president and president of the Northwest Chapter. She served two years on the Board of Directors for the Iowa Credit Union League and has been a leader in grassroots advocacy, serving as a CUPAC Trustee since 1992. (Photo from L to R: Patrick S. Jury, CEO/President, Iowa Credit Union League, Lorraine Groves, Manager, The Municipal Credit Union and Tim Chapman, Chairman, Iowa Credit Union League.)
Professional Cooperative Spirit Award: Pat Drennen, CEO, 1st Gateway Credit Union, Camanche
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Pat Drennen was presented with the 2014 Professional Cooperative Spirit Award in recognition of his outstanding service, commitment and leadership in the credit union movement. Pat’s reliability and selflessness within the credit union industry have set him apart as a relentless credit union champion and leader. From being named CEO of 1st Gateway in 1992 to serving as a board member and board chair for the Iowa Credit Union League, Pat has continued to have a significant impact on credit unions statewide. He served on the ICUL board of directors for 23 years, which included an unprecedented three-year term as Board Chairman from 2007-2010. He has played an integral role for CUPAC for many years—nine of them as Chairman of the board of trustees. Pat is a reliable advocate and lobbyist for the credit union movement and helped transform CUPAC fundraising efforts helping it become one of the largest PACs in the state. (Photo from L to R: Patrick S. Jury, CEO/President, Iowa Credit Union League, Pat Drennen, CEO, 1st Gateway Credit Union and Tim Chapman, Chairman, Iowa Credit Union League.)
Volunteer Cooperative Spirit Award: Richard Burgmeier, Board Member, Dupaco Community Credit Union, Dubuque
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Richard (Dick) Burgmeier was awarded the 2014 Volunteer Cooperative Spirit Award for exemplifying the spirit of the credit union industry and the communities they serve. Since joining the credit union movement in the 1980s, Dick has been one of the most influential leaders on the Dupaco Community Credit Union Board of Directors and in the Dubuque community, volunteering his services as Board Secretary, Vice Chairman and Chairman. Dick also played an instrumental role in the formation of Dupaco Financial Services and Dupaco Insurance Services, as well as leading the transition from retired CEO Bob Hoefer to current CEO Joe Hearn. Photo from L to R: Patrick S. Jury, CEO/President, Iowa Credit Union League, Richard Burgmeier, Board Member, Dupaco Community Credit Union and Tim Chapman, Chairman, Iowa Credit Union League.)
Volunteer Cooperative Spirit Award: Larry Ridenour, Board Member, Ascentra Credit Union, Bettendorf
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Larry Ridenour was also awarded the 2014 Volunteer Cooperative Spirit Award for exemplifying the spirit of the credit union industry and the communities they serve. Larry has served as a board member for Ascentra Credit Union for 23 years. During this time, he has served as chairperson, vice-chairperson and has chaired a number of committees. He also led the credit union in forming the Ascentra Credit Union Foundation. Larry was the embodiment of the credit union philosophy following the unexpected passing of Ascentra’s late CEO, Paul Lensmeyer. Larry spent countless hours going above and beyond to assist the management team and making sure the staff had what it needed to be successful, while successfully transitioning current CEO Dale Owen into leadership at a very difficult time. (Photo from L to R: Patrick S. Jury, CEO/President, Iowa Credit Union League, Larry Ridenour, Board Member, Ascentra Credit Union and Tim Chapman, Chairman, Iowa Credit Union League.)
Young Professional of the Year Award: Nikki Nelson, Branch Manager, IntegrUS Credit Union, Dubuque
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The 2014 Young Professional of the Year Award was created to further inspire young Iowa credit union leaders who are working to build a strong future for the credit union movement. The award recognizes one outstanding young credit union professional in Iowa who is 35 years or younger. Nikki Nelson is the recipient of this year’s award for demonstrating the credit union philosophy of “people helping people” every day through hard work, dedication and volunteerism. Nikki has tackled the creation of a credit union branch and coffee shop for IntegrUS called “Caisse Café” with the same vigor and dedication as she has approached her three years as an active participant in the credit union movement. She is always eager to pursue educational opportunities such as participating in CUNA’s Management School program and Filene’s Big. Bright. Minds. Program, as well as give back to her local community. (Photo: LtoR: Murray Williams, COO, Iowa Credit Union League and Nikki Nelson, Branch Manager, IntegrUS Credit Union.)
About the Iowa Credit Union League
The Iowa Credit Union League is the trade association that represents the interests of Iowa credit unions and their more than one million members. Credit unions are not-for-profit, financial cooperatives owned and operated by their members. Iowans use their credit union membership to receive higher interest rates on savings and lower interest rates on loans. For more information on ICUL and Iowa credit unions, visit www.IowaCreditUnions.com. Follow ICUL on Twitter at www.twitter.com/icul or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iowacreditunions.To learn more about credit unions, visit www.ASmarterChoice.org.