Mountain West Credit Union Foundation Announces 2013 Executive Leadership Scholars

DENVER - March 25, 2014 - PRLog -- DENVER, Co. (March 24, 2014) – The Mountain West Credit Union Foundation has selected three Executive Leadership Scholars for 2013. Lisett Olsen, Business Development and Loan Officer at Alahambra Credit Union in Phoenix Arizona;  Choua Ly, AVP of Lending at Partner Colorado Credit Union in Arvada Colorado; and Angel Phillips, Director of Marketing at Reliant Federal Credit Union in Casper Wyoming have all received scholarships for comprehensive credit union leadership training programs.

“These candidates represent the best and the brightest new leaders from our credit union community in all three states,” said Dr. Dan Santangelo, Executive Director of the Mountain West Credit Union Foundation. “We are thrilled to invest in both their futures and the future of our industry, which they are each very passionate about.” The Foundation supports credit unions in the states of Arizona, Colorado and Wyoming, which are served by the Mountain West Credit Union Association.

The candidates’ scholarships allows them to participate in a five-year training program that includes: attendance at the Western Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Management School, the Mountain West Credit Union Association’s Leadership Institute, the National Credit Union Foundation’s Development Educator Program, professional executive coaching and participation in a mentorship program.  The Foundation provides approximately $20,000 per recipient in funding through the scholarships.

About the winners:

Lisett Olsen, Business Development and Loan Officer at Alhambra Credit Union in Phoenix, Arizona. Lisett is a 14-year credit union veteran specializing in small credit union operations.  She has earned the Development Educator designation from the National Credit Union Foundation and serves her community as chair of the Red Striders a committee of the American Diabetes Association where she organizes fundraising events.  She is also a member of the Arizona Credit Unions 4 Kids steering committee raising funds for Children’s’ Hospitals.  Lisett was also elected to serve on the Arizona Youth Involvement Network (AYIN) Steering Committee, focused on developing young credit union professionals.  She has also received Employee of the Quarter, Employee of the Month, and recognition from the American Diabetes Association.

Choua Ly, AVP of Lending at Partner Colorado Credit Union in Arvada Colorado. Choua is a 12-year credit union veteran.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in business and finance, a Series 7/General Security license and management and supervisory training.  Choua has received Partner Credit Union’s Top Performer award, and Employee of the Month Award while working at Charles Schwab.  Her volunteer work includes acting at Treasure of the Hmong American Association and Treasure of Lee Family of Colorado.

Angel Phillips, Director of Marketing at Reliant Federal Credit Union in Casper Wyoming. Angel is a five-year credit union veteran.  Currently seeking an associate degree in business, she is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, a nominee for Student of the Year at Casper College, and 2013 recipient of the Mountain West Credit Union Association HOPE Award.  In Angel’s role as Director of Marketing, she is charged with promoting and growing the credit union.  Her volunteer work includes Meals on Wheels and Natrona County Schools implementation of a financial literacy/civic responsibility program.

The Mountain West Credit Union Foundation’s Executive Leadership Program was created to provide an intensive and complete five-year curriculum built to develop leaders specifically for the credit union industry.

Candidates are nominated by their credit union’s leadership, submit applications, complete leadership-potential assessments, are interviewed and selected by a sub-committee of the Mountain West Credit Union Foundation Board Directors and Management including: Robert Hoel, Ph.D.—Senior Scholar, Filene Research Institute, Dan Santangelo, Ed.D.—Executive Director Mountain West Credit Union Foundation, and Tyler Valentine, CUDE—CEO of Laramie Plains Community Credit Union.

More information about the Mountain West Credit Union Foundation can be found at www.mwcua.com.