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AACUC announces Michael Hale, Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Award recipient
SNELLVILLE, GA (March 11, 2015) — The African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC), announced that Michael Hale is the 2015 Recipient of the AACUC’s Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Award. Hale is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, over Cards, Collections and Fraud Mitigation at Arizona Federal Credit Union. Hale, a U.S. Army veteran and a Bronze Star Recipient, has been devoted to the credit union movement since 1975. His hard work and dedication lead to the advancement of numerous credit unions as well as the AACUC.
Hale’s leadership skills and hard work lead to the legal formation of the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC) in 1999. He previously served as the President and CEO of Andrews Federal Credit Union for over 12 years. A sampling of Hale’s additional credit union related accomplishments include being the Founding Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC), service on the National Federation of Community Development Credit Union\’s Capitalization Program Committee, the National Association of Federal Credit Unions Regulatory Affairs Committee, and the Arizona Credit Union League Board of Directors. He was also a member of the Filene Research Institute Council and a Board Member of the Credit Union Executives Society.
As an active volunteer, Hale has donated his time to numerous community organizations, including serving as chairman of the Mentorship Education Network At Risk Youth Program, vice chairman of the 100 Black Men of Phoenix, director of the Glendale Boys & Girls Club and chairman of the Greater Phoenix Urban League. The 100 Black Men of Phoenix created the Michael Hale Scholarship named in his honor. Hale will be presented with the Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Award during the 17th Annual AACUC Conference in Philadelphia, PA on August 7, 2015. Pete Crear Lifetime Acheivement Award History This prestigious award is presented annually recognizing a credit union professional or volunteer whose career best embodies the African-American Credit Union Coalition’s mission to increase the strength of the global credit union community. Sustained excellence is a hallmark of the recipients. The recipient will have demonstrated support for the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People.” Organized and/or provided significant assistance to credit unions in need. Has constructively impacted the infrastructure, growth, legislative, regulatory, image and/or service delivery capacity of the Credit Union Movement. In August 2003, Pete Crear received the inaugural African-American Credit Union Lifetime Achievement Award and was further honored by having the award named after him and a college scholarship established in his name. Crear is retired and the past President and Chief Executive Officer of The World Council of Credit Unions, Inc. (WOCCU). Crear is considered a credit union pioneer.