MADISON, Wis. -
She is Carol Schillios, and she has won one of credit union land's highest honors: the 2007 Herb Wegner Award for Individual Achievement.
"During her over three decades in credit union work, Carol Schillios has achieved what many of us have only dreamed about," wrote Bruce Rouillard, President Emeritus, Washington Credit Union League. "Carol has a true comprehension of the uniqueness of credit unions, developed through an ongoing understanding of our roots, our reason for being, our purpose, then applying these fundamentals in her profession."
In letters to the National Credit Union Foundation, a long line of supporters agreed that Schillios, president and founder of Schillios Consulting Group and Fabric of Life Foundation, deserves the honor that will be bestowed upon her at the Wegner Awards Reception in Washington this week.
"Carol Schillios is an icon within the worldwide cooperative credit and economic development field," wrote John Annalaro, CEO, Washington Credit Union League. "Her career highlights include CUNA, leagues and the corporate system; eventually moving into hands-on, direct credit union development across the globe. The work is inspirational. The results tell a story of human dignity and the quest for economic democracy."
Schillios told the CU Journal that the award humbled her.
"It's like the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Awards in the sense that it's from the jury of your peers," she said. "I was overwhelmed and really moved."
Schillios, who described herself as a normal human being doing small things, said she is hopeful that this award will draw attention to her work and inspire other people to do even bigger things to impact the world.
In his five-page nomination letter to NCUF, Annalaro said that Schillios, a 20-year credit union consultant, has spanned the globe to teach micro-credit development, sustainable self-sufficiency, health care, strategic planning, management and philosophy.
"As a teacher and mentor, Carol has worked to change our CU world through philosophy-centered consulting services via her companies-Schillios Consulting Group, The Trainer's Institute and Schillios Development Foundation," he said. "She believes effective training changes both thinking and behaviors. It works. So much so that many credit unions now license Carol's materials, then have their own in-house trainers teach their new employees in Carol's style."
Schillios' business ties span the globe: locally, with the former Washington Corporate Central Credit Union, the Washington Credit Union League, and as one of that state's original Development Educators; nationally, with the national Credit Union Roundtable and the former CUNA Foundation.
International connections include the World Council of Credit Unions, which has included creating the Schillios Development Foundation to assist African credit unions and cooperatives.
WOCCU has given her three silver awards for her work in developing countries.
"She seemingly never tires, and always manages her activities to achieve humanistic missions, rather than for her own personal financial gain," Annalaro said.
Schillios lives in Edmonds, Wash., but spends about 60% of her time in places such as Mali, Senegal; Zimbabwe, Africa, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where she is, in part, teaching young women about self-esteem and independence.
"Before Carol's teaching, their livelihood depended on begging in the streets for money," wrote Earlene Fantz, CEO of American Lake Credit Union in Tacoma, Wash., and board member of the Washington Credit Union Foundation. "In a matter of 18 months, Carol was able to teach dozens of young women how to own and manage successful cooperative businesses to support themselves and their families."
Friend and colleague Mary T. Olson, VP Marketing, Delta Community CU, Atlanta, Ga., confided, "I know first hand . . . that much of the seed money in both Mail and Zimbabwe was funded by Carol personally."
Michael J. Mercer, CEO of Georgia Credit Union Affiliates said that Schillios is a leader by example.
"While the highly visible leaders in our midst converge on places like Rome and Dublin to wax philosophy, Ms. Schillios is at work in West Africa-literally and personally-teaching people of extremely modest means how to provide for themselves. One does not engage in this kind of behavior unless there is a profound belief in the notion that people have the desire and capacity to help themselves."
Heather H. Harris, Director of Community Development, Isabella Community Credit Union, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., said Schillios is her "professional motivator, mentor, friend and fellow credit union colleague.
"She is also a powerful and positive humanitarian (who) literally makes a world of difference in the lives of everyone she touches," Harris said.
Kathy Trammell, Senior Training Administrator-Instructional Designer, Harborstone CU, said she's had the pleasure of working with Schillios on several occasions.
"Carol lives her beliefs," Trammell wrote. "As a consultant and teacher, she promotes the credit union movement in everything she does. I have seen her offer her expertise, at no cost, in situations where the recipients could not afford the training."
