ALBANY, N.Y. – Empire Corporate FCU is becoming quite the familiar face on Capitol Hill. The corporate conducted its fourth annual Hike-the-Hill recently. As usual, it partners with league personnel on the visit. Accompanying Empire's senior management and some of its directors were Michael Lanotte, SVP and General Counsel for the New York State Credit Union League; Amy Kramer, Director of Governmental Affairs for the New York League; Thomas Shaughnessy, President/CEO for the New Jersey Credit Union League; Evan Childs, Director of Governmental Affairs for the New Jersey League; and Michael Canning, Executive Director for The Association of Corporate Credit Unions. Congress' knowledge of corporates is still not as great as credit unions themselves. It's an issue corporates have been battling in recent years with increased visits to the Hill. "As a credit union CEO and corporate board member, I feel it is my duty to help legislators understand the value and important role credit unions hold in today's consumer financial marketplace," said Gary Furtado, Empire Corporate board member and President/CEO of Credit Union Central Falls in Rhode Island. "It's very valuable for legislators to understand the connection between the consumer, credit union, and corporate credit union. "Our goals for this fourth visit were two-fold," said Joseph P. Herbst, President/CEO of Empire Corporate. "We wanted to continue educating lawmakers about Empire Corporate, as well as the role all corporates play in providing innovative and affordable products and services to credit unions that ultimately benefit their members, the consumers." During this year's three-day Hike-the-Hill, participants were scheduled to meet with 32 legislators from New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island.