DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Credit Union League honored six credit union representatives with more than 175 years of experience between them during its annual convention here.
The awards and the recipients were:
Heritage Award: Larry Ketelsen, board member, Ascentra Credit Union, Bettendorf
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 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.
Professional Cooperative Spirit Award: Gregg Liddle, former executive vice president, risk management and chief security officer, Dupaco Community Credit Union, Dubuque
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.
Professional Cooperative Spirit Award: Helen Pearce, president/CEO, Cedar Falls Community Credit Union
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.”
Volunteer Cooperative Spirit Award: Gene Haigh, board member, Polk County Schools Employees Credit Union, Urbandale
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.
Volunteer Cooperative Spirit Award: Tom DeLong, board member, Veridian Credit Union, Waterloo
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.
Young Professional of the Year Award: Matt Bailey, director of compliance, Linn Area Credit Union, Cedar Rapids
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.
Separately, the Iowa league has elected its new board of directors. The results were announced during its annual meeting here.
"On behalf of the Iowa Credit Union League, I would like to congratulate these individuals for being elected to the ICUL board of directors," said Patrick S. Jury, president/CEO, ICUL. "We sincerely appreciate their willingness to lead our trade association, and the entire credit union industry, in fulfilling our long-term strategic vision. I look forward to working with them in the future."
Dave Cale, CEO of Financial Plus Credit Union in West Des Moines, will serve the second year of a two-year term as the 2015-16 chair of the ICUL Board. Brent Helin, CEO of Des Moines Metro Credit Union, will serve the second year of a two-year term as the 2015-16 vice chair.
The board members are:
$0-28 Million Asset Category
- Gary Key, Cornerstone Community Credit Union, Des Moines
- Jonathon Miller, IntegrUS Credit Union, Dubuque
- Denny Siemers, Town and Country Credit Union, Harlan
$28-$138 Million Asset Category
- Tim Chapman, Members Community Credit Union, Muscatine
- Jeff Hayes, North Star Community Credit Union, Cherokee
- Helen Pearce, Cedar Falls Community Credit Union, Cedar Falls
$138 Million and Above Asset Category
- Jim Hagerman, Linn Area Credit Union, Cedar Rapids
- Matthew Dodds, Dupaco Community Credit Union, Dubuque
- Dale Owen, Ascentra Credit Union, Bettendorf
At-Large Category
- Dave Cale—Chair, Financial Plus Credit Union, West Des Moines
- Brent Helin—Vice chair, Des Moines Metro Credit Union, Des Moines