I haven't had a true belly laugh in a while and I have to thank CU Times and its creative 25th anniversary Final Four Championship for providing that to me. I was struck by five things in reading about this celebratory effort.

1. Congratulations to CU Times on its 25th Anniversary. That's a big deal.

2. Thanks to the readers for voting.

3. It's October. The World Series is around the corner. Hockey season has started. Go Mets. Go Caps. Who is even remotely thinking about March and the Final Four?

4. Mr. Rudy Hanley is the essence of a modern day credit union pioneer. In his leadership roles within the credit union community, he has always promoted collaboration and member-centricity. He is one of the most articulate, inspiring and humble men I have ever met. When Rudy speaks, you listen. He is a mentor and friend. Me vs. Rudy? Uh, thanks for pairing me against a credit union system icon! Hah!

5. The competition is premised on pitting leaders against one another and choosing one among the 64 who has made the "greatest contribution" to the credit union system since 1990. What is it about our society and the fascination of pitting people against one another or reality TV, for that matter? Many, though not all, of the leaders mentioned are known as leaders because they are true collaborators and cooperators. They believe that cooperation doesn't mean competition. It means collaboration. I wish CU Times had demonstrated how these leaders, working synergistically, have brought the credit union system to where it is today.

—Gigi Hyland, Executive Director, National Credit Union Foundation