Cooperative Spirt Awards

The Cooperative Spirit Awards are held each year at The League's Annual Convention to formally recognize and celebrate the many notable accomplishments of The Wisconsin Credit Union Movement.

In 2026, the following credit unions and individuals are honored:

Governor's Financial Literacy Awards

Altra Federal Credit Union received an award in the organization category for their "Youth in Foster Care Financial Education Program." This program provides financial education, sole account ownership, resources, incentives, and mentorship to those in foster care and those who have recently aged out of the foster care system in the La Crosse area. By completing the program, participants receive a maximum of $500 in a checking account. The course has proven to increase knowledge by over 15% on average when comparing pre- and post-test scores.

Community First Credit Union received an award in the legacy category for their long-standing dedication to financial literacy effort, including launching a multilingual financial education program for immigrant and refugee adults, partnering with 26 schools across their region to support financial learning tailored to educator objectives, and maintaining a team of certified financial counselors at their branches.

Credit Union House Hall of Leaders

America's Credit Unions Diamond Award Winners

From standout campaigns to bold storytelling and meaningful member engagement, these award-winning projects showcase what’s possible when purpose and creativity align.

Altra Federal Credit Union

• Annual Reports -Altra’s 2024 Annual Report celebrates a successful year in 2024 with a fun “24” number-scramble motif that appears in each spread throughout the publication.   The cover of the report showcases our Altra Gives Back Day employee photo, masked behind the “24” typography design theme.The layout design utilizes full spread layouts rather than single pages, allowing elements to guide the eye across both pages, creating cohesion and flow.  At the top of each spread, there are wayfinding content bars, much like a menu bar at the top of a website, helping readers find their way throughout the report. Attention-grabbing infographics are found throughout the report, featuring statistics on our financials, assets, membership, volunteer hours, and more.  The report uses a fun, hand-painted typeface from Adobe Fonts called “Marker Aid” that pairs well with the playful “24” motif found throughout the pages. This reflects Altra’s fun-loving culture.
  
  
• Social Short-Form Video - Mortgage Monday was produced as a recurring social media video series, featuring short, easy-to-follow episodes focused on one mortgage topic at a time. Topics included common questions, misconceptions, and practical tips, delivered in a conversational, approachable tone.  Videos were branded consistently and optimized for digital viewing, allowing viewers to quickly understand the topic and value of each episode. The series format created familiarity and reliability, encouraging repeat viewing and long-term engagement rather than one-time clicks.

Capital Credit Union

• Community Partnerships or Endorsements - The Romeo Doubs Toy Drive was a heartfelt holiday marketing campaign featuring Green Bay Packer wide receiver Romeo Doubs, centered around an in-branch toy drive benefitting Toys for Tots. The campaign aimed to foster a genuine connection between the audience and the organization’s mission, showcasing Capital Credit Union’s deep commitment to community and shared success. Through cohesive and compelling campaign assets, the initiative inspired widespread engagement, resulting in over 10,000 organic social media views, 11 media stories, and enthusiastic participation across all branches. Together, the community donated more than 2,500 toys, bringing joy to local children and families while strengthening the bond between the credit union, its members, and broader audiences. This campaign not only highlighted the real impact of generosity but also reaffirmed Capital Credit Union’s role as a trusted partner, inspiring loyalty and active involvement through meaningful initiatives.
  
  

Fox Communities Credit Union 

• Direct Mail - Fox Communities Credit Union launched its first-ever virtual membership acquisition pilot, a bold, integrated campaign anchored by an eye-catching direct mail piece that broke through the clutter, expanded our reach into new markets without branches, and set the stage for a scalable growth strategy.
  
  
• New Event - Toppling Hunger turned a simple cereal drive into a creative, community-wide movement. By adding a fun domino topple twist and connecting donations to Feeding America’s “Healthy Kids, Healthy Summer” program, we transformed giving into an experience that sparked excitement and engagement Our key takeaway? Creativity amplifies impact. The cereal-domino videos created shareable content that drove social engagement and media coverage, while partnerships with local nonprofits and media outlets extended our reach. The campaign exceeded expectations—collecting 5,396 boxes of cereal, enough to provide 54,000 breakfast meals for kids in need. We learned that when philanthropy is paired with fun and visibility, participation soars, brand trust deepens, and community pride grows. Toppling Hunger wasn’t just a food drive; it was a statement that Fox Communities Credit Union is committed to knocking out hunger, one box at a time.
  
  
• Ongoing Event - Bike to the Beat is where community, music, and purpose come together. Since 2016, this event has grown into a cornerstone of Fox Communities’ engagement strategy, attracting thousands of riders annually and raising over $568,000 for the Fox Cares Foundation. Our key takeaway? Experiences matter. By creating a free, family-friendly event that blends biking, live music, and local food, we’ve built lasting relationships without aggressive promotion. In 2025, we introduced a VIP experience for members, reinforcing loyalty and sparking interest among non-members. The event’s success proves that authentic, experience-driven marketing can outperform traditional tactics—strengthening brand visibility, driving engagement, and delivering measurable community impact. Bike to the Beat isn’t just a ride; it’s a movement that reflects our mission: people helping people.
  
  

Simplicity Credit Union

• Annual Reports - Simplicity Credit Union’s Annual Report was designed to do more than report numbers—it told a story. Our goal was to celebrate the year’s achievements while bringing our people-first culture to life in a way that felt modern, transparent, and authentic. By using bold design, vibrant mixed media, and real imagery of our team and members, we connected financial performance to the human impact behind it. The key takeaway was that an annual report can be both informative and emotionally engaging when it reflects who you truly are. This medium allowed us to blend accountability with storytelling, making the content approachable for members, partners, employees, and regulators alike.  The result exceeded our objectives by strengthening trust, reinforcing our brand differentiation in a crowded financial market, and clearly demonstrating how Simplicity helps people achieve financial freedom—through numbers, stories, and culture working together.
  
  
• Multifaceted & Social Media (Category's Best) - The New Branch Coloring Contest transformed a traditional branch opening into a creative, community-driven experience. By inviting kids and families to engage with the new branch through art, Simplicity Credit Union built awareness and goodwill before the doors even opened. The key takeaway was that meaningful engagement doesn’t require complex technology—simple, interactive ideas can deliver outsized impact when executed across multiple channels. Using the coloring page as a unifying visual allowed the campaign to scale seamlessly across billboards, digital ads, social media, in-branch signage, and print, creating consistent recognition and excitement. This approach exceeded our goals by driving participation, sparking organic social sharing, and positioning the new branch as friendly, approachable, and people-focused. The campaign reinforced that when marketing invites the community to take part—rather than just observe—it creates stronger connections and lasting brand impressions. 

Royal Credit Union

• Social Short-Form Video: Royal Credit Union partnered with Team Hebert Curling to create an authentic, community-driven campaign that blends financial education with the strategy and excitement of Olympic-level sport. By connecting curling’s core principles—strategy, precision, and teamwork—with smart money management, we delivered financial tips in a fun, memorable, and relatable way. Through short-form reels, behind-the-scenes content, and athlete testimonials, the campaign showcased how managing money requires the same thoughtful approach athletes use in competition. A mix of Reels, Instagram collaborations, and curling-themed trivia expanded our reach and strengthened engagement across social platforms. Each piece positioned Royal as a trusted partner supporting real people as they pursue their personal goals, financial wellbeing, and dreams beyond the ice. This campaign elevated brand awareness, highlighted key Royal products, and reinforced our commitment to creative, community-focused financial education.

Legends of The Movement Inductees

Janet Behnke 
TITLE, WISCUB Service Center Operations

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Lora Benrud
TITLE, WESTconsin Credit Union

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Sally Dischler
TITLE, Heartland Credit Union

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John “Jack” Edgerton
TITLE, Sentry Credit Union

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John Engel
TITLE, The Wisconsin Credit Union League

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Joyce Harris
TITLE, Heartland Credit Union

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Anne Heggelund
TITLE, Marathon County Employees Credit Union 

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Kevin Nitka
TITLE, Guardian Credit Union

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David Stark
TITLE, Bull’s Eye Credit Union

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Milestones

• 90 Years: Cloverbelt Credit Union, Heartland Credit Union, Madison Credit Union, Oshkosh Community Credit Union, School Employees Credit Union, Tri-County Credit Union
• 75 Years: Taylor Credit Union
• 70 Years: Air Tech Credit Union
• 25 Years: LCO Federal Credit Union

Anniversaries & Retirements

• Brad Grant, President & CEO, Premier Financial Credit Union
• Kevin Nitka, President & CEO, Guardian Credit Union
• Tammy Pelletier, COO, UnitedOne Credit Union
• Kim Rooney, CEO, UnitedOne Credit Union
• Rob Schulz, President, First Choice Credit Union

• Charlie Zanayed, CoVantage Credit Union

   

• Jayne Abraham, Secretary, Governmental Employees Credit Union
• Alan Berg, Westby Co-op Credit Union
• Sarah Mani, Westby Co-op Credit Union
• Bill Marohl, Westby Co-op Credit Union
• James Nickerson, former Board Chair, Sentry Credit Union
• Harry Rice, former Board Secretary, Sentry Credit Union
• John Schultz, UnitedOne Credit Union
• Kelsi Seubert, Treasurer, Connexus Credit Union