From Oct. 23-25, approximately 500 attendees from credit unions in Washington State, Oregon, and, for the first time this year, Idaho, gathered in Spokane, Wash., for the Northwest Credit Union Association's 2017 MAXX Convention. In addition to daily keynote and breakout presentations, the NWCUA hosted a Kentucky Derby-theme dinner and auction, "Run for the Roses," where $325,000 was raised for Credit Unions for Kids. The convention closed with the association's annual awards dinner, where STCU President/CEO Tom Johnson was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Click through the slideshow to see scenes from the convention, and check out a full list of the award winners below.

• Innovation and Impact Award: Rogue Credit Union
• Distinguished Director Award: Roger Mauldin, BECU
• Young Credit Union Leader Award: Nick Fugal, Clarity Credit Union

NWCUA honored the following credit union champions as Advocates of the Year:

• Connie Miller, CEO, Icon Credit Union.
• Gene Pelham, President/CEO, Rogue Credit Union.
• Jeff Kennedy, CEO, TwinStar Credit Union.

NWCUA presented the following credit unions with CUNA awards for financial education and social responsibility programs:

• Gesa Credit Union — Alphonse Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award, Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award, and Louise Herring Philosophy in Action Award
• Clackamas Federal Credit Union — Alphonse Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award
• St. Helens Community Credit Union — Alphonse Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award, Alphonse Desjardins Adult Financial Education Award and Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award
• Peninsula Credit Union — Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award
• Our Community Credit Union — Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award
• Mid Oregon Credit Union — Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award
• Unitus Community Credit Union — Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award
• Horizon Credit Union — Louise Herring Philosophy in Action Award
• Rogue Credit Union — Louise Herring Philosophy in Action Award

NWCUA presented its "LEAP" award to the Spokane Chapter of Credit Unions for overall excellence in leadership, education, advocacy and philosophy in action. Honorable mention awards were given to the Southwest Washington Chapter of Credit Unions for educational programming, the Southwest Chapter of Idaho Credit Unions for excellence in leadership, and the Willamette Chapter of Oregon Credit Unions for its work in educational programming and philosophy in action.

Six credit unions from each of the three states the NWCUA represents were presented with "Top of the Hill" honors for consistently excelling in advocacy initiatives. They are:

• Beehive Federal Credit Union, CapEd Credit Union, East Idaho Credit Union, P1FCU and Simplot Employees Credit Union in Idaho;

Central Willamette Community Credit Union, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Oregon State Credit Union, Providence Federal Credit Union, Rivermark Community Credit Union and Rogue Credit Union in Oregon; and

• Fibre Federal Credit Union, Newrizons Federal Credit Union, Numerica Credit Union, Seattle Credit Union, Sound Credit Union and TwinStar Credit Union in Washington. 

Filene Research Institute CEO Mark Meyer discusses changing consumer behaviors in a breakout session. Teenage entrepreneur and inventor Brooke Martin of Spokane motivates the crowd in the opening keynote. CUNA Mutual Group Vice President of Credit Union System Relations Gerry Singleton speaks during the opening keynote session. Guests listen to entertainment at the opening reception Monday evening. Attendees take a lunch break in the exhibit hall. CO-OP Financial Services Chief Marketing and Experience Officer Samantha Paxson speaks about women's leadership opportunities during a Global Women's Leadership breakout session. Leaders of the six Northwest Chapter sister societies of the Global Women's Leadership Network discuss their upcoming plans in a breakout session. CU Times Managing Editor Natasha Chilingerian, second from left, hangs with Whatcom Educational Credit Union employees at the Trade Show reception. From left to right: Marketing Specialist Meagan Southworth, President/CEO Jennifer Kutcher and EVP Jeff Dykstra. Attendees of the Run for the Roses Credit Unions for Kids event Tuesday evening check out the gift baskets available in the silent auction. Attendees pose for a photo at the Kentucky Derby-theme silent and live auction benefitting Credit Unions for Kids. Clockwise from bottom left are: Gesa CU's Brian Griffith, OnPoint Community CU's Kym Sajovic, Clarity CU's Nick Fugal, CU Times' Natasha Chilingerian, Maps CU's Liz Henderson, David Deckelmann and Mitzi Smith, and Point West CU's Stephen Pagenstecher. NWCUA President/CEO Troy Stang's President's address Wednesday morning included the unveiling of a life-size cutout of the CEO wearing a #cuobsessed T-shirt, which all attendees received as a call to action to raise consumer awareness about CUs. Tom Johnson speaks after accepting his Lifetime Achievement Award at the MAXX awards dinner. (Photo credit: NWCUA) NWCUA President/CEO Troy Stang and COO Denise Gabel prepare to enter the MAXX awards dinner. (Photo credit: NWCUA) Photo credit: NWCUA