ST. PAUL, Minn. – Stan Hollen, president/CEO of Co-op Financial Services, was presented the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation’s Credit Union Builder Award by CO-OP Shared Branching in recognition of his career accomplishments.
The award was presented at the Minnesota Credit Union Network Annual Conference, and celebrated Hollen’s retirement and long-time connection to the state’s credit union industry.
“Stan Hollen is unquestionably a true giant” among inspired credit union leaders and bold visionaries,” said Bill Raker, chairman of the CO-OP Shared Branching board and president/CEO of Firefly Credit Union. “Stan’s championship for the uniqueness and value of credit unions has been unwavering. After a noteworthy 45-year career in credit unions, Stan leaves a legacy that will long be appreciated and celebrated by those fortunate to be among the many who have enjoyed the privilege and opportunity to know and work with him.”
Hollen joins 38 other individuals who have been honored since 2008 with the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation’s Credit Union Builder Award. The names of the recipients and the contributing credit unions are permanently displayed in the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s lobby as a tribute to their accomplishments.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Credit Union Network presented its most prestigious awards – The Simon Hellermann Award for Excellence in Philanthropy, Outstanding Credit Union Volunteer of the Year, and Outstanding Credit Union Professional of the Year – to three people here as part of the MnCUN 2016 Annual Meeting & Convention.
These awards are given to those who have demonstrated excellence and leadership, and who also embody the credit union mission.
- The Simon Hellermann Award, last awarded in 2006, recognizes demonstrated excellence in credit union philanthropy and contributions to the credit union movement in Minnesota. The award was established in 1999 as a tribute to Minnesota credit union philanthropist Simon Hellermann, and honors those outstanding contributions by an individual, credit union, or group to a humanitarian cause. This year, the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s honoree for the Simon Hellermann Award is Hiway Federal Credit Union, for its longstanding commitment and contributions to Credit Unions for Kids and Gillette Children’s Hospital. Hiway Federal Credit Union has supported Minnesota’s Credit Union for Kids chapter since its inception, and was recently recognized for raising over $410,000 since 1997.
- The Volunteer of the Year Award is given to a credit union volunteer who best represents the credit union spirit through dedication to, and belief in, the credit union movement. Recipients are chosen based on their involvement with credit unions at the local and state levels, along with participation in activities that better their communities. This year’s Outstanding Credit Union Volunteer of the Year Award honor is awarded to Keith Hauge, board chairman of Ideal Credit Union. Hauge has been a volunteer with Ideal for 35 years.
- The 2016 Outstanding Professional of the Year Award is given to a remarkable person who truly stands behind the “people helping people” credit union philosophy. This year, the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s honoree for Outstanding Credit Union Professional of the Year Award goes to Kelly McDonough, president of First Alliance Credit Union. McDonough has served as president of First Alliance Credit Union in Rochester for the last 13 years, and is a true advocate for the credit union industry.
“The Minnesota Credit Union Network is pleased to honor Hiway Federal Credit Union, Keith Hauge, and Kelly McDonough, for their tremendous contributions to their credit unions and the credit union movement,” said Mark Cummins, MnCUN president and CEO. “Their dedication is inspiring, and the Network is proud to have people like them working on behalf of all credit unions. I congratulate them on receiving these well-deserved awards.”