Attending 2002 CUNA Diamond Awards:

      Six of Georgia's own credit unions were recently honored for their marketing and business development endeavors at the Credit Union National Association's (CUNA) 2002 Marketing and Business Development Conference in Washington, D.C., April 3 - 6, "Strategize, Capitalize, Revolutionize." The Marketing Council Diamond Awards are distributed annually to recognize marketing and business development excellence and achievement in credit union organizations. The CUNA Marketing Council awarded 258 Diamond, Awards of Merit, Best of and Best Practice Awards at the conference.

A repeated name heard during the awards ceremony was that of The Coca Cola Company Family Federal Credit Union out of Atlanta, as the marketing department earned four separate accolades for their marketing and business development pieces. The marketing department earned the Diamond Award for Best Annual Report (year 2000) as well as the Diamond Award for Best Direct Mail Piece (Single) out of those credit unions with assets less than $100M. The marketing department also received recognition and Awards of Merit for the Best Plastic Access Card Design (Credit, Debit, ATM, smart or phone cards) and Best Miscellaneous Item.

Delta Employees Credit Union of Atlanta was another big winner, bringing home an Award of Merit and a Diamond Award. The Diamond Award rewarded this credit union's marketing department for the creation of Best Print Ad (Series) out of those credit unions with assets at $500M+. The credit union also received an Award of Merit for their Business/SEG Development strategies specifically intended to increase penetration with existing SEGs or acquire new SEGs.

Lockheed Georgia Employees Federal Credit Union of Marietta also earned two separate awards for their creativity in credit union marketing and business development. Kelly Garmon accepted the Award of Merit for Community/PR Events (described as activities or materials related to a single or ongoing community project) and the Diamond Award for Internal Marketing Recognition (a single event that enhances external marketing efforts by recognizing internal staff) out of those credit unions with assets between $250M and $499M.

Yet another Georgia winner was Atlanta Postal Credit Union. Dianne Yost accepted the credit union's Award of Merit for Best Direct Mail Piece (Series) out of those credit unions with assets of $500M+.

Jill Kelley of Emory Federal Credit Union of Decatur received an Award of Merit for her efforts in the Audiovisual Category of credit unions with assets less than $100M. The audiovisual category includes any A/V presentation directed toward members or potential members.

Susan Miller (left), named Manager of Business Development for Georgia Federal Credit Union in Atlanta after only two years, earned the new title of CUNA's 2002 Business Development Professional of the Year. Due to Miller's relentless efforts, Georgia Federal Credit Union opened a record 13,387 new accounts and added its largest SEG ever, a group composed of 18,000 employees. In addition, Miller has instituted new standards and procedures that have significantly improved member service to the credit union's SEGs.

Congratulations to all of Georgia's Diamond Award recipients! For more information on the conference or the nationwide Diamond Award winners, please visit www.cuna.org.