Canning named ACCU's new executive director

WASHINGTON – CUNA has found a replacement for Gigi Hyland, the former executive director of the Association of Corporate CUs who left to take a legal position with Empire Corporate FCU. Michael F. Canning, 41, is the new ACCU executive director and vice president of corporate credit union relations for CUNA effective Nov. 11. Canning was most recently with the Americans for Consumer Education and Competition, serving as founding executive director. “Mike has the wide ranging talent and experience that will help advance the interests of corporate credit unions on many fronts,” said CUNA President/CEO Dan Mica. Like Hyland, Canning also has a legal background. He founded his own law firm in 1995 that specializes in federal government regulation, public utility issues, and government relations. Before that he was an associate attorney with Fossett & Brugger (`91 – `95), a firm in suburban Maryland whose major clients are land use companies. Canning holds a Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami and a Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Maryland. In the mid ’80′s, before going to law school, he worked in mortgage banking at a firm serving the Maryland and DC area. While serving as president for Americans for Consumer Education and Competition, he also did legislative consulting work for the National Troopers Coalition (which represents national police organizations). A major issue was adequate funding for first responders to domestic attacks. He’s been a consultant to the Coalition for Federal Financial Accountability (a national business coalition comprised of high-tech CEOs.). That group was focused on preserving the GSA technology procurement schedule. He’s a native of Maryland, from the Annapolis area. Bruce Fahnestock, ACCU’s Chairman and president/CEO of VolCorp, said the board thinks Canning, despite his lack of knowledge on corporates, can come in and do a good job right off the bat. “We laid out a real good groundwork in the interview process for what we wanted. His coalition building in the past in positions he’s had before and his familiarization with legislative folks on the Hill as well as regulators he’s worked with before are what we liked,” said Fahnestock. He said Canning has big shoes to fill. “If Gigi didn’t do anything else, she certainly made ACCU into a strong organization. What she did in the back-office was as important as what she did in public view. Gigi was never a `yes’ person, she looked underneath the covers. You can’t say enough about her,” said Fahnestock. [email protected]