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Marcel Gagne poses for a photo with employees from Community CU.
Volunteers are the heart and soul of every credit union. At Community CU, this sentiment is especially true! For 15 years Marcel Gagne has volunteered his time and talent serving on the credit union’s Board of Directors. Over the past five years, he has led the Board as its Chair. Last Friday, Marcel’s hard work and dedication were acknowledged when he received the Alex Ferguson Award at the League’s Convention. This award honors the outstanding credit union volunteer of the year.
As noted by his colleagues, Marcel has an exceptional leadership style. In meetings, he always asks thought-provoking questions and ensures everyone has a chance to be heard. He also inspires others to execute the credit union’s vision to be inclusive and collaborative. As stated in his award nomination form, “Just being able to motivate people is not enough—he knows that to be successful, he needs to be empathetic and connect with people.”
Having worked in the community for over 20 years, Marcel has many contacts that have helped Community CU think more innovatively. Whenever possible, he shares information about the important work the credit union is doing with local organizations. These connections have been helpful in promoting the credit union’s recent certification as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
“One of Marcel’s greatest strengths is his ability to connect with people; this has played to the credit union’s advantage on so many fronts,” said Jen Hogan, President/CEO at Community CU. “He created a lot of excitement about our certification and helped build bridges between organizations to begin a dialog. His approach is refreshing and will serve as a foundation as we look to build our Board in the future.”
When nominating Marcel for his award, the credit union shared, “Marcel’s thoughtful, collaborative, enthusiastic, and innovative approach to his role as a board member demonstrates excellent leadership qualities. He leads by example and always puts people first, keeping the best interests of our members at the forefront of everything we do.”
Congratulations, Marcel on this admirable recognition!