ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In an effort to build awareness of the roll of mentors, Card Services for Credit Unions has awarded a prize to a credit union CEO for the best account of how mentors have helped them.

Card Services for Credit Unions is the association of credit unions which process their card transactions with Fidelity National Information Services.

The first 100 submissions won a free Odyssey White Steel 2-Ball Putter, according to the association, and Henry Wirz, President of SAFE Credit Union in North Highlands, California won the grand prize overall for his account of Robert White, SAFE's previous CEO and his mentor.

“Bob White was a self-taught CEO,” CSCU quoted Wirz's entry. “Bob was a leader who led the transition from the mom and pop back-office credit union era to the modern era…. Bob was someone who made sure that everything at the credit union was done accurately and professionally…. Bob White built a credit union that was a leader in member service, technology, employee relations, and in innovation…. The most important thing I learned from Bob White is that a credit union is a professional organization whose mission is to improve members' financial well being. That mission still guides SAFE today.”

Wirz's grand prize entry won the PGA TOUR Academy and PGA TOUR Player Experience at TPC Sawgrass at Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., hosted by Konnie Werner, CSCU chairman and CEO/president of Team One CU, and Robert Hackney, president of CSCU.

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