LAFCU recognized for innovation, executive team member named Young Professional of the Year by Michigan Credit Union League

LAFCU’s innovation acknowledged for fifth time in eight years

LAFCU was recognized at the Michigan Credit Union League’s annual conferencewith the Innovation Award for its internal cybersecurity awareness campaign. MCUL bestows this award on one organization annually, and this marks the fifth time in eight years that LAFCU has been honoredfor its innovative thinking, action, and community involvement.

LAFCU’s Ryan Larson was named the MCUL Young Professional of the Year and was recognized for his dedication and leadership to LAFCU, where he serves as the credit union’s governmentaffairs representative and leads its professional services department. Larson was also acknowledged for his work to create positive change in the credit union industry by serving on a variety of boards and committees, including the Capital Area Chapter of Credit Unions, MCUL Political Action Committee, Mid-Michigan Treatment Courts Foundation, and South Lansing/Holt Rotary.

“While I will always be a work in progress, being recognized for this achievement means the world to me,” said Larson. “I wouldn’t be standing here today if it weren’t for my LAFCU family and their support of my journey as a leader in our organization.”

The federal government's Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency inspired LAFCU’saward-winning Shields Up! campaign. The 12-week campaign included weekly educational and engaging videos and eblasts featuring LAFCU team members, notably two of its IT professionals, who addressedwhat to look out for regarding cybercrime and how to keep the credit union and its members safe from cyberthreats. The campaign was developed in partnership with Publicom, a full-service marketing communications firm in Okemos.

Other LAFCU programs earning MCUL Innovation Awards in the past eight years include:  

• LAFCU Love & Equality Art Initiative: A graphic depiction of 10 healing words by Michigan artists, reaching 1.5 million people in 2021. The initiative was shared through billboards and digital channels, with support from Eaton Theatre in Charlotte. The initiative reflected LAFCU's commitment to community involvement and enriched lives for residents.

• LAFCU Incredibles: An employee group that became internal cheerleaders as LAFCU pushed the envelope in providing superior member service.

• LAFCU-Perry community partnership: A financial literacy program in the schools that led to, among other things, locating an interactive teller machine (ITM) in a grocery store to fill a financial service need.

• “Down to the Letter” marketing campaign: Advertisements that used the visual of a teamconstructing 6-foot-tall promotional letters to represent LAFCU’s 80-year history of building strength and integrity.