Exec Wins for Buy Local Campaign
Credit Union Times | By Myriam Digiovanni
Amanda Brenneman, business development officer at Salem, Ore.-based Maps Credit Union has been named the 2013 CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec.
Brenneman’s presentation of the $460 million credit union’s “Buy Local” project, which supports local economic growth by providing free advertising for local businesses and exclusive discounts for Maps members who pay with their debit or credit cards, won over judges and attendees alike at CUES’ CEO/ Executive Team Network held in San Diego.
As part of its Featured Partner offers, every two weeks, the credit union highlights a specific buy local partner that provides a freebie to both anyone who visits the website and downloads the featured coupon. Maps then reimburses the local small business for every coupon redeemed for the free item. A Buy Local mobile app with geo locating, geo fencing alerts, and abilities to post offers on various social media outlets has been released and a rewards program for Maps Visa card holders who shop with local partners is in the works. The project has been testing successfully in the Salem area, and plans are underway to expand nationally.
She was one of five finalists who presented their projects to the live audience, which included Rob Carabelli, senior marketing strategist, McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union, East Windsor, N.J.; Chad Huseby, branch manager, Servus Credit Union, Delburne, Alberta, Canada; Zac King, AVP/card payment systems, Redstone Federal Credit Union, Huntsville, Ala.; and Bryce Roth, director/marketing and social strategy, CitizensFirst Credit Union, Oshkosh, Wis.
In addition to the Next Top Credit Union Exec bragging rights, Brenneman has won a $20,000 educational prize package that includes registration, accommodation and economy airfare to any two of CUES’ CEO Institutes and two remote coaching sessions from CUES Supplier member, partner and NTCUE sponsor DDJ Myers Ltd.
CUES once again joined forces with Currency Marketing to manage the annual competition.