Recipients of the 23rd Annual Wegner Awards |
Lifetime Achievement |  Rudy Hanley
President and CEO
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union
He has been described as a visionary, consensus builder, and a respected voice for all in the credit union industry. In recognition of his 30 years of credit union service, Rudy Hanley, President and CEO of SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union in Santa Ana, California, is the winner of the 2011 Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Hanley’s early career was teaching high school math and being a tax and small business consultant. It was joining the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) to develop a white paper to retain tax-exempt status for credit unions that set him on his ultimate career path. “I decided the ‘people helping people’ philosophy on which credit unions are built was a perfect match for me,” said Hanley in an interview for the UCI alumni paper.
After his CUNA experience, he returned to California, joining the California Credit Union League as head of the league’s Research and Information department, providing compliance and operational guidance to credit unions, before taking the helm of SchoolsFirst FCU (formerly known as Orange County Teachers FCU) in 1982.
Today, SchoolsFirst FCU is the largest educational credit union and the fifth largest credit union in the country. It has steadily grown to over $8 billion in assets, serving nearly a half a million members through 33 branch locations. “The credit union is acknowledged as a training-ground for future system leaders,” wrote John Annaloro, President and CEO, Washington Credit Union League. “His stewardship is respectfully modeled by other CEOs.”
The success of the credit union comes from his deep commitment to providing quality services to SchoolsFirst’s FCU members. He has a reputation for spending hours with every new hire during their credit union orientation to ensure every single employee knows the meaning of the credit union difference. “In doing so he spreads the system’s philosophical objective and economic improvement for all,” said Annaloro.
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Individual Achievement |  Daniel A. "Dan" Mica
Former President and CEO
Credit Union National Association
“I am deeply humbled by and immensely appreciative of this great honor,” Mica said. “Throughout my tenure as CUNA CEO, I gave my entire heart and soul to the movement, as I became true believer in credit unions – and I will remain so the rest of my life.”
In conferring the honor on Mica, the NCUF cited his efforts to preserve credit union access for millions of consumers, safeguard an independent federal credit union regulator and system, protect credit unions’ federal tax exemption, spearhead a successful challenge to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over unrelated business income tax (UBIT), garner unprecedented national positive press for credit unions, moved credit unions to the forefront of financial literacy, raised credit union political involvement to the highest levels, and a host of additional achievements.
“The most significant thing about Dan is that he took credit union people into his heart,” said CUNA Vice Chairman and Georgia Credit Union Affiliates President and CEO Mike Mercer. “He could have exercised commendable leadership from the stage and from his perch on Pennsylvania Avenue. But, something happened to Dan that I don’t think he anticipated. He became genuinely attracted to the philosophy and good deeds that he encountered in the credit union world. When he was defending credit union issues on the Hill or in the press, he was speaking with genuine emotion for what he believed to be right.” |
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Outstanding Organization |  National Youth Involvement Board (NYIB)
Columbia, South Carolina
For 38 years, the National Youth Involvement Board (NYIB) and its volunteer network of credit union youth advocates have consistently led the charge to bring financial education and understanding of credit unions to America’s young people. In recognition of this dedication and commitment to the next generation of credit union members, the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) is pleased to recognize NYIB as the winner of the 2011 Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Outstanding Organization.
“The NYIB volunteers have every reason to be proud of their work in bringing financial education to the youth of the nation and planting the seeds of credit union membership in the minds and hearts of our future members,” said NCUF Awards & Recognition Committee Chairman Bob Schumacher. “This award not only recognizes those efforts, but is also an acknowledgement of the value the credit union movement sees in the legions of dedicated youth outreach and education professionals in our credit unions.”
In just 38 years, over 100 volunteers have led the NYIB network of more than 700 strong, all passionate advocates for financial literacy and services for younger members and who are devoted to youth outreach and education. NYIB is itself a cooperative democracy, led by a seven-member, volunteer executive committee elected by credit union league designated delegates chosen from the network. Each committee member is committed to serving as their region’s primary contact, dedicated to upholding and encouraging greater activity in classrooms and communities. NYIB provides the support and tools credit union professionals need to bring the next generation of members into their credit unions. |
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