Six Credit Union Leaders honored at 2015 Iowa Credit Union Convention
DES MOINES, IA (September 22, 2015) — The Iowa Credit Union League (ICUL) honored six credit union representatives, with more than 175 years of experience between them, at the Iowa Credit Union Convention on September 16-18 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines.
Heritage Award: Larry Ketelsen, volunteer board member, Ascentra Credit Union, Bettendorf
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Larry Ketelsen received the 2015 Heritage Award for demonstrating extraordinary commitment, service and leadership in the credit union movement. Nearly 50 years ago, Ketelsen joined the Clinco Credit Union Board of Directors and he has remained committed to the credit union movement ever since. As a board member, he has provided leadership on a number of different committees helping to guide Clinco through its name change to Members Choice Community Credit Union and subsequent merger with Ascentra. The retired lab technician, who worked for Clinton Corn and Sethness Products, routinely volunteers at his church and Habitat for Humanity. (Photo from L to R: Patrick S. Jury, President/CEO, Iowa Credit Union League; Larry Ketelsen, Board Member, Ascentra Credit Union; and Dave Cale, Chairman, Iowa Credit Union League.)
Professional Cooperative Spirit Award: Gregg Liddle, former Executive Vice President, Risk Management and Chief Security Officer, Dupaco Community Credit Union, Dubuque
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Gregg Liddle was presented with the 2015 Professional Cooperative Spirit Award in recognition of his outstanding service, commitment and leadership in the credit union movement. Throughout his 41-year career, Liddle has been a significant influence within the local, federal and grassroots credit union movement. He joined Dupaco Community Credit Union 1974 as a loan officer with nine other employees. As the credit union grew, Liddle took on a number of roles including teller, marketing, branch manager and security officer before serving as the executive vice president for 25 years. He now serves as Dupaco’s facilities manager. Liddle is a Vietnam veteran and is a recognized leader within the Dubuque community serving on the Board of Directors of the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce and on numerous committees including the Discover it in Dubuqe Media Committee and Attractions Development Committee. Liddle is also the past Chair of the Chamber Corporate Challenge Committee.
(Photo from L to R: Patrick S. Jury, President/CEO, Iowa Credit Union League, Greg Liddle, Facilities Manager, Dupaco Community Credit Union and Dave Cale, Chairman, Iowa Credit Union League.)
Professional Cooperative Spirit Award: Helen Pearce, President/CEO, Cedar Falls Community Credit Union
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Helen Pearce was presented with the 2015 Professional Cooperative Spirit Award in recognition of her outstanding service, commitment and leadership in the credit union movement. Pearce has served the members of Cedar Falls Community Credit Union in just about every capacity – from teller to loan officer to her current position as CEO. She is heavily involved in the credit union movement, having served as president of Iowa’s Black Hawk Chapter of credit unions, a member of the ICUL Board of Directors and as Vice President of the Iowa Credit Union Foundation Board of Directors. She lives and breathes the credit union movement so much so that her vanity license plates say “LOVE CU.”
(Photo from L to R: Patrick S. Jury, President/CEO, Iowa Credit Union League, Helen Pearce, President/CEO, Cedar Falls Community Credit Union; and Dave Cale, Chairman, Iowa Credit Union League.)
Volunteer Cooperative Spirit Award: Gene Haigh, Board Member, Polk County Schools Employees Credit Union, Urbandale
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Gene Haigh was awarded the 2015 Volunteer Cooperative Spirit Award for exemplifying the spirit of the credit union industry and the communities they serve. Haigh has served as a volunteer member of the Polk County Schools Employees Credit Union Board of Directors for 30 years. The former principal and teacher in the West Des Moines and Saydel School Districts, has repeatedly answered his credit union’s call as chairman, vice-chair, membership officer and the leader and member of multiple committees.
Photo from L to R: Patrick S. Jury, President/CEO, Iowa Credit Union League, Gene Haigh, Board Member, Polk County Schools Employees Credit Union and Dave Cale, Chairman, Iowa Credit Union League.)
Volunteer Cooperative Spirit Award: Tom DeLong, Board Member, Veridian Credit Union, Waterloo
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Tom DeLong was awarded the 2015 Volunteer Cooperative Spirit Award for exemplifying the spirit of the credit union industry and the communities they serve. DeLong has served as a volunteer member of the Veridian Board of Directors for 26 years. During his time he has provided leadership in multiple positions including two years as Chair and two years Chief Financial Officer. DeLong, the former mayor of Dunkerton and a current member of the community’s city council, was presented the state of Iowa’s betterment award in recognition of unselfish sharing of his time and knowledge for the benefit of community development activities in the state. (Photo from L to R: Patrick S. Jury, President/CEO, Iowa Credit Union League; Tom DeLong, Board Member, Veridian Credit Union; and Dave Cale, Chairman, Iowa Credit Union League.)
Young Professional of the Year Award: Matt Bailey, Director of Compliance, Linn Area Credit Union, Cedar Rapids
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The 2015 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. Matt Bailey 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. Bailey joined Linn Area Credit Union in 2008 as a Member Service Specialist. By 2013 he was promoted to Director of Compliance where he has been instrumental in implementing a number of in-depth and complicated projects to help Linn Area meet the ever growing and evolving regulatory burden. He is considered a rising star and a quick learner by many at Linn Area and an important part of the team.
About Iowa Credit Union League
The Iowa Credit Union League is the trade association that represents the interests of Iowa credit unions and their 1.6+ 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, visit www.IowaCreditUnions.com. For information on Iowa credit unions, visit www.IowaCreditUnions.com. Follow ICUL on Twitter at www.twitter.com/icul or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iowacreditunions.
