News Release: 2008 Election Year Prompts Legislative Voters’ Guide for NY CUs

(September 22 - Albany, NY) –The Credit Union Association is pleased to announce that Alison Levine, president of Daredevil Strategies; Rodney E. Hood, vice chairman of NCUA; and Jill Kelly, co-founder, Hunter’s Hope Foundation, will be guest speakers at the Association’s Annual Convention, Tuesday, October 7. This year’s event will take place at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, NY from October 6-8, 2008.

Levine is a renowned adventurer who has achieved great professional success. Her 18-year business career, which encompasses healthcare, technology and finance, started after she earned her MBA from Duke University and went to work at Goldman Sachs, a top investment bank on Wall Street. She left that position in 2003 to serve as deputy finance director for Arnold Schwarzenegger in his successful bid to become Governor of California. Now, as founder and president of Daredevil Strategies, Levine specializes in organizational effectiveness, leadership development and team dynamics.

Drawing on parallels between staying alive and thriving in a fast-paced business world, Levine—who was born with a life-threatening heart condition, suffers from Raynaud’s Disease, climbed six of the highest peaks in the world, and was team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition in 2002—will speak about leadership, teamwork, overcoming odds, tackling fear, taking responsible risks and dealing with changing environments.

Appointed by President George W. Bush to a seat on the board of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) in November of 2005, Rodney E. Hood serves as the board’s vice chairman. He will be presenting a general issues update to New York’s credit unionists at the convention.

Prior to joining NCUA, Hood served in the Bush administration at the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the association administrator of the Rural Housing Service. In that position, he addressed the housing needs of rural America and helped administer a $43 billion dollar mortgage portfolio.

Jill Kelly, wife of former Buffalo Bills quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Jim Kelly, will impart information about Hunter’s Hope, a foundation she and her husband established in 1997 after their infant son, Hunter, was diagnosed with Krabbe Disease.

Through the Foundation, Kelly strives to support and encourage those afflicted and their families as they struggle to cope with the demands of this fatal illness. Broadening public awareness of the disease to increase the probability of early detection and treatment, and funding efforts to find new treatments, therapies and hopefully, a cure for the disease are also part of the organization’s goals.

“The theme of this year’s convention is ‘harness the power’ and each of these individuals has done just that in their life, for credit unions and for the human spirit, respectively,” said William J. Mellin, president and CEO of the Association. “We’re extremely honored that they will be sharing their insights with us in Niagara Falls at this year’s event.”

The Credit Union Association of New York has served as the trade association for the state’s credit unions for 91 years. It is the fifth largest league in the country. New York credit unions have assets of more than $40 billion and 4.2 million members. To learn more about the Association, visit www.cuany.org

Alison Levine
Founder & President
Daredevil Strategies

Rodney E. Hood
Vice Chairman
National Credit Union Administration