Worth Noting

Maine Consumers Prefer CUs

WESTBROOK, Maine-A new survey here shows Maine consumers rate credit unions in outperforming banks other financial institutions in nearly all of the key, consumer categories, in some cases significantly better. The telephone survey, conducted by Critical Insights, a leading, Maine-based strategic marketing research company, interviewed 606 Maine residents, a nearly even split between credit union members and non-members representing every region of the State. The survey also found that consumers rated the quality of credit unions more than 20% higher than the closest other financial institution. A similar survey conducted in 2000 found nearly identical results.

McDonnell Named To Hall of Fame

VIENNA, Va.-Brian McDonnell, CEO of Navy FCU, has been named to the Navy Supply School Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place at the Athens, Ga. School. At the same ceremony, he received his Navy Supply School diploma- more than 30 years after leaving the school. Of the 89,000 Supply Corps School graduates,. McDonnell was the 25th person inducted into the Foundation's Hall of Fame. Other inductees include Roger Staubach, Regis Philbin and J.W. Marriott. Before joining Navy Federal 32 years ago, McDonnell spent four years as a Supply Officer on active Duty in the U.S. Navy, eventually retiring as a captain. Becausee he received his duty assignment and had to ship out before graduation, he never received his actual diploma from the Navy Supply School.

CEO On 'Watch' List For 2003

ST. PAUL, Minn.-Affinity Plus FCU CEO President Kyle Markland has been named one of 30 People to Watch in '03 by Twin Cities Business Monthly in its December 2002 issue. Markland is highlighted as a leader in the credit union community while at Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union for nearly doubling its asset size in less than five years. Also mentioned is Affinity Plus's rise to offer innovative products and services, big-time marketing and advertising opportunities and more. "Big hitters boast that they're really a service-or trying to become a service-orientated company; we've really focused on the employees first," Markland said.