On Tuesday, Feb. 28, guests gathered at the Renaissance Washington during CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference for CU Times' 12th Annual Trailblazer Awards reception to honor the shining stars of the credit union industry. This year, CU Times honored five executives, one volunteer and two credit unions for their outstanding service and leadership.
CU Times Executive Editor Michael Ogden poses with Paul Phillips, president/CEO of Freedom First Credit Union, who accepted the Lending Officer of the Year award for winner Misty Lester Reed.
Steve Pagenstecher, vice president of member experience for Point West Credit Union, shows off the credit union's award for Outstanding Service to the Underserved. CU Times Managing Editor Natasha Chilingerian is at right.
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CU Times Executive Editor Michael Ogden poses with Linda McFadden, president/CEO for XCEL Federal Credit Union. XCEL took home the award for Outstanding Political Action.
CU Times Executive Editor Michael Ogden, left, congratulates Marketing Executive of the Year Alan Bergstrom, chief marketing officer for Community Choice Credit Union.
CU Times Managing Editor Natasha Chilingerian congratulates Blue Federal Credit Union President/CEO Stephanie Teubner, who took home the award for CEO of the Year.
CU Times Managing Editor Natasha Chilingerian poses with XCEL Federal Credit Union Board Director Stacey Walker, who received the award for Volunteer of the Year.
Brian Daskalovitz, right, CFO for Fairfax County Federal Credit Union, received the honor of CFO of the Year. CU Times Executive Editor Michael Ogden is at left.
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Natasha Chilingerian
Natasha Chilingerian has been immersed in the credit union industry for over a decade. She first joined CU Times in 2011 as a freelance writer, and following a two-year hiatus from 2013-2015, during which time she served as a communications specialist for Xceed Financial Credit Union (now Kinecta Federal Credit Union), she re-joined the CU Times team full-time as managing editor. She was promoted to executive editor in 2019. In the earlier days of her career, Chilingerian focused on news and lifestyle journalism, serving as a writer and editor for numerous regional publications in Oregon, Louisiana, South Carolina and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, she holds experience in marketing copywriting for companies in the finance and technology space. At CU Times, she covers People and Community news, cybersecurity, fintech partnerships, marketing, workplace culture, leadership, DEI, branch strategies, digital banking and more. She currently works remotely and splits her time between Southern California and Portland, Ore.
