HARRISBURG, Penn.–The Pennsylvania CU Association has named its Professional and Volunteer of the Year.
Raymond Brunner, president and CEO of WEST-AIRCOMM FCU, has received the William Pratt Professional of the Year Award, while Chip Yates, Secretary of the Monongahela Valley Chapter, has been given the Joseph A. Moore Volunteer of the Year Award.
According to the PCUA, Brunner has been a key member of WEST-AIRCOMM FCU’s management structure since becoming the president and CEO in 1985. When he joined, the credit union was in conservatorship. Under Brunner’s leadership, WEST-AIRCOMM has grown to over $200 million in assets, and the growth hasn’t stopped there.
“His involvement in the Association cannot be overlooked, either. He served on the association’s board of directors from 1995 to 2015, was the chairman of the foundation from 2011 to 2013, and has served on numerous committees and task forces over the years,” the PCUA said. “Brunner has also been a dedicated member of the credit union movement, serving as former president and director of the Beaver Valley Chapter of Credit Unions since 1985. In that time, he has influenced and mentored many in the credit union’s movement.”
Brunner also serves on the board of directors of both the United Way of Beaver County, since 2001, and Housing Opportunities of Beaver County, since 2005.
“Ray has always been a shining example of involvement in credit union activities locally, throughout the state, and nationally by his involvement with the association, the Beaver Valley Chapter, and local charities,” said Lynn Stephenson, VP of Lending at WEST-AIRCOMM FCU.
John (Chip) Yates has served as secretary of the Monongahela Valley (Mon Valley) Chapter of Credit Unions and employee of Frick Tri-County FCU.
“At Frick Tri-County FCU, Chip has served many different roles, from loan officer of the credit committee to secretary of the board of directors,” the PCUA said. “He has served in these capacities since he joined Frick Tri-County FCU in 1976. A frequent attendee of statewide credit union conferences and conventions, Chip never misses a chance get involved and learn more so that he may pass this information on to his fellow Mon Valley Chapter members.”
The PCUA said that the past 27 years Yates has been best known in the Mon Valley area for bringing vendors, credit union professionals, and volunteers together for the annual Mon Valley Chapter Golf Outing. His efforts in the organization of this event have been crucial to raising the nearly $50,000 that the event has donated for ARC, a private nonprofit corporation that provides services to individuals with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. Most recently, he was instrumental in bringing the first-ever Financial Reality Fair to the Mon Valley.
“Chip Yates, the pied piper of the Monongahela Valley Chapter, has been bringing people together in the credit union movement for 40 years,” said Phillip Facchine, CEO of Frick Tri-County FCU. “Chip is known statewide for his knowledge of credit unions and his willingness to share his knowledge with others.”
The Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented during the closing luncheon at the association’s annual convention in May.