ATHENS, Ga. – Southeastern Regional Credit Union Schools (SRCUS) announced that Brad Ballentine of SAFE Federal Credit Union (based in Sumter, SC) has been awarded the 2024 Hugh Watson Award.
Selected by vote of his classmates, Ballentine accepted the award on June 21 during this year’s session of the Southeast Management School in Athens, GA. The award recognizes the exceptional contributions he has made to the class over the course of the three-year program and his outstanding leadership skills.
Ballentine currently serves as vice president controller at SAFE FCU. He got his start in the credit union movement at the Carolinas Credit Union League, serving for ten years in various roles for PLR Credit Union Accounting where he provided back-office accounting services for several client credit unions. Following his time at the League, he went on to serve as controller for Caro Federal Credit Union, overseeing the accounting department.
“To my classmates, this is all your fault,” Ballentine jokingly said. “I’ve always heard you improve when you’re surrounded by people who are better than you. The person you see in front of you today is a result of this as you have all poured into me over these three years.”