CUES Honors Executive of the Year, Future Leader

LAS VEGAS – North Island Credit Union President/CEO Mike Maslak has walked away from this year’s CUES CEO Network as the 2005 Executive of the Year. Kinecta Federal Credit Union Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications Teresa Y. Freeborn was also honored as the first recipient of the CUES Future Leader award. Recipients of the CUES Executive of the Year award must show exceptional leadership skills, be committed to professional development, contribute successfully to their credit union, CUES and its Councils, and actively participate in civic and community affairs. A CUES member for more than 20 years, Maslak has served North Island CU since 1987. Under his guidance, the credit union has grown from $300 million to $1.5 billion. North Island CU’s people-focused culture has helped it earn a reputation as a premier employer in the San Diego region and in 2005, the credit union was named one of the “Top 25 Medium Sized Companies to Work for in America” by the Society of Human Resource Management and the Best Places to Work Institute. CUES Future Leader nominees are evaluated on their accomplishments within their credit union and the movement in general; contributions made to CUES and its Councils; level of professional development and education; a letter of recommendation from his/her CEO; and community contributions. In addition, judges review the details of a single problem-solving plan, which was developed, led and put into action by the nominee. Freeborn has been with CUES and Kinecta-formerly Hughes Aircraft Employees FCU-since 2000, and previously had 27 years experience in the Canadian credit union system. One of Freeborn’s first achievements with Kinecta was to transform the diverse audiences of Hughes Aircraft and unite them behind the new name, brand and vision of Kinecta. Additionally, Freeborn has developed and implemented comprehensive public advocacy campaigns to educate the public about credit unions, in Canada, and again in California as a member of the California Credit Union League’s Ad Hoc Public Advocacy Committee and chair of its Media Oversight Subcommittee.