ONTARIO, CA (November 15, 2018) — Three individuals, two credit unions, and CUNA Mutual Group were honored at this year’s California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues’ REACH Conference, held Nov. 6-9 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, CA, for their exemplary advocacy efforts. They are:
California Advocate of the Year: Jeff Napper, president and CEO of LBS Financial Credit Union in Long Beach, CA. Napper has devoted time and resources by hosting fundraisers and local meeting at his branches. He is always the first to assist with political efforts, by either contributing or supporting our advocacy work.
Nevada Advocate of the Year: Rick Schmidt, president and CEO of WestStar Credit Union in Las Vegas, NV. Schmidt has been a crucial component to the Nevada Credit Union League, serving board chairman as well as chairing the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection’s Credit Union Advisory Council. He helped PAC Committee members hand-deliver checks to candidates and hosted more than 20 southern Nevada candidate interviews in his office.
California Nevada Credit Union Advocate of the Year: Orange County’s Credit Union. The Santa Ana-based credit union (with support from CEO Shruti Miyashiro) has organized and managed to participate as a full-spectrum advocacy team. This includes instilling the value and importance of participating in local, state, and federal government affairs. In addition, it increased its participation in payroll deduction and in local grassroots advocacy.
Nevada Credit Union Advocate of the Year: Boulder Dam Credit Union. The Boulder Dam, NV-based credit union and its CEO, Eric Estes (a member of the Nevada League’s Government Relations Committee) has spent many hours reviewing the potential impact legislation could have on Nevada credit unions. In addition, Estes has devoted significant time in the expansion of staff resources for full-time advocacy and developing relationships with various elected officials across the state.
Supplier of the Year: CUNA Mutual Group. The Madison, WI-based company has been an integral part of the League’s fight at the end of the California session to obtain a Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act (GLBA) exemption from California’s new privacy protection law. CUNA Mutual spent time on phone calls and emails working through the bill and issues with the League’s advocacy team. Successfully obtaining the GLBA exemption was a huge win for credit unions this year.
Political Professional of the Year: Marvel Ford from California Credit Union in Glendale, CA. Ford is the leader and organizer of the highly successful annual Multi Chapter PAC Golf Tournament held in Valencia, CA. This year, especially, she helped chapters break records when it came to fundraising goals. Additionally, she’s taken on a broader role in advocacy efforts with her participation at Hike the Hill events, CUNA’s Governmental Affairs Conference, and the California Government Relations Rally.
Jeff Napper, president and CEO of LBS Financial Credit Union in Long Beach, CA, received the California Advocate of the Year Award from the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues for his outstanding advocacy work.
Headquartered in Ontario, California, the Leagues exist to help credit unions change people’s lives by supporting their operations, guidance, strategy and philosophy. Our trade association helps local credit unions in California serve more than 13.5 million members and those in Nevada serve nearly 400,000 members. Credit unions are for people, not profit!
Karla Davis
Vice President of Communications and Marketing
California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues
karlad@ccul.org
