The 2008 Marketing Professional of the Year Award was Kelley Parks, vice president of marketing and business development for Call FCU. After reaching 90% of its potential membership, Call FCU opted to serve several large underserved areas. Prior to launching the expansion, it went through a rebranding that involved defining the organization and creating a new image. The marketing department set and exceeded four rebranding goals tied to the business plan for new loans, community involvement, member education and survey ratings.

Parks also helped create the Office Hero Campaign–a free-spirited marketing campaign to recruit potential SEGs. In this guerrilla-style campaign, credit union staffers dressed as superheroes flew into area businesses and radio stations seeking out potential members.

Sean McDonald, director of business development and marketing for Liberty Savings FCU took home the Business Development Professional of the Year Award. Among his many noteworthy achievements, McDonald introduced new financial services and acquired 100 new employer groups for Liberty in two years. He also created an ambassador program and a formal marketing department, and he conducts trainings and community events to educate others about financial, personal and professional growth issues.

The CUNA Marketing and Business Development Council is a member-led organization composed of nearly 1,000 credit union professionals from across the United States. The council strives to provide superior educational and networking opportunities to help its members be recognized in the credit union industry as the premier experts in credit union marketing, business development and related disciplines.