NEW YORK, NY (January 23, 2024) — Inclusiv Conference 50 will celebrate our 50th anniversary by honoring three 2024 Annie Vamper Helping Hands Award winners at the Inclusiv 50th Anniversary & Annie Vamper Helping Hands Award Gala on May 8th, 2024 at the Marriott Marquis in New York City.
The award is named for Annie Vamper who dedicated her life to empowering financial inclusion for low-income people through credit unions and recognizes individuals who are making extraordinary contributions to the Community Development Credit Union (CDCU) movement.
This year’s awardees are Melissa Marquez, CEO, Genesee Co-op FCU, Amy Nelson, CEO, Point West CU and Kathya Pierre, CEO, 1199 SEIU FCU. Inclusiv is delighted to honor the legacy of Annie Vamper through these incredible CDCU trailblazers.
Melissa Marquez
Melissa Marquez has worked in the field of grassroots cooperative economics for her entire career. She is currently CEO of Genesee Co-op Federal Credit Union in Rochester, NY, a 42-year-old CDCU and CDFI with $40 million in assets and 4,200 members. She has been working at Genesee Co-op for 20 years. Prior to that she worked for 8 years at a newly chartered CDCU, Progressive Neighborhood FCU. Melissa also served on the Board of Directors of Genesee Co-op for 11 years from 1989 to 2000 and has been a proud member of the credit union since 1985. Melissa is also on the steering committees of the NYS Community Equity Agenda Coalition and Rochester Public Banking Coalition. In addition to being a co-founder of the Greater Rochester Community Reinvestment Coalition, she has served on the boards of Inclusiv, the Institute for Community Economics, Abundance Cooperative Market and City Roots Community Land Trust.
“In reflecting on my 40 years of working in community development, I see more clearly than ever that compassion is a key ingredient, if not the cornerstone of how we approach our work, our interactions with one another and our service to members. At the same time, our feet must remain firmly grounded on the foundation of justice: choosing it when challenged by other options, seeking it out and expecting it in our organizations, our society, in governance and in our governing systems. And as we do our work, hopefully we are surrounded by a beloved community of friends and family, with whom we can laugh, cry, and renew – helping us continue along our path as it bends in the arc towards justice.”
Melissa Marquez, CEO, Genesee Co-op FCU
Amy Nelson
Amy Nelson is CEO of Point West Credit Union, overseeing the $110 million financial institution serving 14 Oregon counties. Amy’s commitment to advancing financial inclusion for historically marginalized communities has transformed Point West into a beacon of positive change for underserved markets. Her initiatives include expanding lending opportunities for ITIN borrowers and microbusiness owners, earning Low Income (LID), Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), and ‘Juntos Avanzamos’ designations, and modernizing the cooperative’s community charter. Amy and Point West received industry awards, including the Innovation and Impact Award (Northwest area); CUHeroes, and more. Beyond Point West, she actively engages in financial empowerment, credit union regulatory and political advocacy through GoWest Credit Union Association and the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS).
“Annie Vamper’s legacy inspires us to continue dedicating our efforts to serving low- and moderate-income individuals,” Nelson says. “True community impact is achieved through the combined strength of passionate teams, supportive credit union and community partners like our local non-profits, Inclusiv and GoWest Association, and our shared commitment to advancing financial wellness for all. This collaborative approach results in a collective impact which unites organizations under the shared mission of community development.”
Amy Nelson, CEO, Point West CU
Kathya Pierre
Kathya Pierre, the “gentle giant,” has been CEO of 1199 SEIU Federal Credit Union since 2015. After joining 1199 SEIU FCU 33 years ago as a Loan Officer, Kathya’s work ethic did not go unnoticed as she climbed the ranks to Assistant Manager and finally CEO. She was also awarded several credit union designations, including Certified Credit Union Executive (CCUE) from CUNA Management School and Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) from CUNA Mutual. In 2018, Kathya was appointed as a Board Trustee of the New York Credit Union Foundation and is currently serving her second term. Kathya, who is of Haitian descent, speaks French/Haitian Creole and is passionate about paving the road for others to follow. Under her leadership, 1199 SEIU Federal Credit Union has experienced substantial growth, new products and services for members, and CDFI and MDI certification.
“Our credit union’s motto of ‘people helping people’ is driven by the importance of community development and services. We believe that by working together towards a common goal, we can improve the quality of life in our under-resourced communities and promote inclusivity and empowerment. We aim to make our communities stronger and more resilient by providing financial education and promoting financial independence. With these tools, we can create a brighter tomorrow.”
Kathya Pierre, CEO, 1199 SEIU FCU
“As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, it is important to recognize all the leaders that have supported Inclusiv on this journey,” said Cathie Mahon, President/CEO, Inclusiv. “Melissa, Amy and Kathya are the embodiment of strength, courage and commitment that have come to symbolize the Annie Vamper Helping Hands Award. We are honored to celebrate these trailblazers in 2024.”
Join us at the Annie Vamper Helping Hands Award dinner during Inclusiv Conference 50 to recognize Melissa, Amy and Kathya’s enduring commitment to increasing financial inclusion for all!
Register to attend Inclusiv Conference 50 here. Separate registration is required for the Annie Vamper Helping Hands Award gala. Learn more about current and previous Annie Vamper Helping Hands awardees here.
Register for the Inclusiv 50th Anniversary & Annie Vamper Helping Hands Award Gala
Melissa Marquez
CEO, Genesee Co-op FCU Rochester, NY
Amy Nelson
CEO, Point West CU
Portland, OR
Kathya Pierre
CEO, 1199 SEIU FCU
New York, NY
Founded in 1974, Inclusiv empowers its member credit unions to advance financial inclusion through advocacy, education, technology, and impact investment. Inclusiv is a certified CDFI intermediary instrumental in driving private and public investment in credit unions to build wealth for individuals, households, businesses, and communities formerly excluded from the financial mainstream.
Neda Arabshahi
Vice President
Inclusiv Center for Resiliency and Clean Energy
(929) 445-2251
Alexis Iwanisziw
SVP Policy & Communications
(332) 282-0985
