Elevations Credit Union, Boulder, Colo., saidthat the Colorado Green Building Guild presented the credit unionwith its pioneer award at the build's annual meeting. Elevationsreceived this award for its energy loan program which provides homeand business owners the ability to make their properties moreenergy efficient while saving money in the process. The pioneeraward honors people or businesses who have demonstrated acommitment to building green and whose actions have made adifference to advance the craft of green building in the local andbroader community.  In 2012, Elevations in conjunctionwith Boulders Energy Smart program and the Denver Energy Challengelaunched a suite of low-interest energy efficiency loans availableto both businesses and homeowners. Energy loans are used for a widerange of energy efficiency upgrades including insulation, airsealing, heating, cooling, water heating, windows, roofing andsolar PV. The program launched in August of 2012 and throughyearend it generated $1 million in energy loans. 

First Tech Federal Credit Union, Mountain View,Calif., announced that the Credit Union Executive Society recentlyhonored John Weidert, First Tech FCU chairman ofthe board, with the Volunteer Hall of Fame 2012 award. Weidert, amember of the credit union's board for more than 25 years, hascontributed to the growth of the organization from 32,000 membersto more than 365,000 during his tenure. The Volunteer Hall of Famerecognizes individuals who have shown dedication toself-development, encouragement of full board development and whohave provided ideas for the advancement of all credit union boards.As a board volunteer for 28 years, Weidert has advocated for bothpersonal and organizational growth by encouraging board members toattend conferences and industry events that help them stayup-to-date with current events, trends and matters relevant to thecredit union industry. Weidert had a long career at HewlettPackard, where he led the Integrated Systems Division. Hepreviously served on the board of the Hewlett Packard RetirementClub and is currently serving as its membership chairman. 

Holy Rosary Credit Union, Rochester, N.H.,announced Christopher Volpe, a senior at SpauldingHigh School and teller at the credit union, was recently awardedthe school's DAR Good Citizen award by the National Society of theDaughters of the American Revolution.  Volpe, who isSpaulding's lone award recipient, was elected to receive the honorby his teachers and peers based on the qualities of dependability,service, leadership and patriotism he has demonstrated in thecommunity and in the classroom. Volpe is now eligible to enter theDAR Good Citizens Scholarship Contest for the opportunity toreceive a cash award in the amount of at least $250 (or a savingsbond) and a special State DAR Good Citizens pin and certificate. Ifchosen as a national winner, he will be invited to Washington,D.C., in April to attend the DAR Continental Congress and will beawarded a $3,000 scholarship.

Mountain America Credit Union, West Jordan,Utah, announced that senior wealth adviser MichaelBlackham has been named one of the top 50 bank advisers inthe United States by Bank Investment Consultant magazine. The listrecognizes a small and distinguished group of bank and credit unionadvisors from across the country who have excelled in a variety ofkey investment management areas. Blackham's honor follows MountainAmerica being named LPL Financial's Program of the Year in 2011,recognizing the credit union as having the best of 750 investmentprograms. With Mountain America since 2007, Blackham began hiscareer with JPMorgan Chase & Co., gaining experience as both aprivate banker and a wealth manager. He holds a bachelor's degreein economics, having attended Brigham Young University and theUniversity of Utah.

Navy Federal Credit Union, Vienna, Va.,announced that Fortune magazine named the credit union to its 2013list of “100 Best Companies to Work For.” This marks Navy Federal'sthird appearance on the list, having first been recognized in 2008and again in 2012. Navy Federal remains the only credit union everselected for the list. “This is an important honor for us. Ibelieve it recognizes the enthusiasm and dedication our employeeshave for our mission to serve the men and women of the Departmentof Defense and their families,” said Cutler Dawson,president/CEO. In 2012, the Navy Federal workforce grew toover 10,000 employees on its three campuses–Vienna, Va.,Winchester, Va. and Pensacola, Fl.–and 229 branchesworldwide.  “We value employees who want to be part of awinning team and will embrace our corporate culture,” continuedDawson. “We return that dedication by providing outstandingtraining, opportunities for career advancement and excellentbenefits.”  

Notre Dame Federal Credit Union, Notre Dame,Ind., announced that two of the credit union's investment adviserswere recognized for their 2012 achievements at Exemplar FinancialNetwork's annual mid-winter conference in Chicago. The certificateof excellence honor, awarded by the Exemplar Financial NetworkOffice of Supervisory Jurisdiction Team, was presented toBill Bollinger. Bollinger's  achievementsearned him the opportunity to share ideas and sit on Exemplar'sStories of Success representative panel at this year's Conference.Another Notre Dame FCU standout, Cory Marlow,received the rising star award. This award is given torepresentatives who are newer to Exemplar's region.  Inorder to receive this award, advisers must be nominated byExemplar's regional staff.  Both Bollinger and Marlowexcel in their Investment Services positions at Notre Dame FCU andare committed to building long-term relationships and providingunbiased, intelligent guidance that consider individual memberneeds and objectives. 

Royal Credit Union, Eau Claire, Wis., announcedthat 32 members were recently awarded the lifetime volunteer award.Together, these thirty-two volunteers have given over 24,500 hoursof their time to our communities. To become a lifetime volunteer, atotal of 240 hours and 5 years of service must to be given to ourcommunities. The new lifetime volunteers honored this year were:Jason Bischel, Lorraine Boos, Gloria Brietzke, PhyllisCarney, Gilbert Clausen, Kathy Fandel, Harold Freid, Sandra Genett,Joe Girard, Cathy Hemenway, Marnie Hersrud, Andrea Hillerud,Cecilia Ihlenfeld, Charles Ivey, Muriel Magadance, Lew Mallow,Karen McDonnell, William McDonnell, David Mecikalski, Darcy Parr,Buddy Parr, Kitty Pille, Fred Rieper, Marlys Root, DeWayneSchlewitz, Kristina Schwartz, Marian Solomakos, Jo Stolp, JanetSylte, Joan Wallin, Gladys Webb, and Lloyd Ziebell. RCUnow has a total of 288 Lifetime Volunteers. They continue todedicate their time to volunteering and deserve to be commended forthe work they do for our communities.

Telhio Credit Union, Columbus, Ohio, announcedthat Daniel Jurcich, a business lender at thecredit union, received the lender of the year award from the OhioStatewide Development Corp. The OSDC is certified by the SmallBusiness Administration and authorized by the Ohio DevelopmentServices Agency to provide small business loans under theirprograms. OSDC works in partnership with area lenders to providelong-term, fixed rate, low down payment financing for expandingsmall businesses.  Jurcich was chosen as lender of theyear based on the two highest dollar amounts of SBA 504 loans thatwere approved through the OSDC.  Jurcich has been abusiness lender with Telhio Credit Union since 2011.

Ventura County Credit Union, Ventura, Calif.,announced that the  California and Nevada Credit UnionLeagues recently named Ventura County Credit Union President/CEOJoe Schroeder as recipient of the unsung heroaward. The award honors deserving individuals within the creditunion industry with at least 20 years of service who also have madesignificant contributions in the community. Schroeder was selectedby the 2012 league awards committee for the honor for his two-plusdecades of credit union leadership experience, including serving aspresident/CEO at three of Southern California's largest creditunions. He has served on the board of CO-OP Financial Services andthe audit committee of Financial Service Centers Cooperative Inc.(now part of CO-OP Shared Branching). Schroeder was a foundingmember of the Marketing Association of California (now MarketingAssociation of Credit Unions), and served as president. He iscurrently a member of the leagues' government affairs committee andhas served on CUNA's consumer protection subcommittee. He wasrecently added to the board of Member Business Lending out of SaltLake City. He is also the vice chair of FOODShare, Ventura County'slocal food bank.