Several Recognition Awards will be presented to New York credit union professionals and volunteers during the New York Credit Union Association’s 2018 Annual Meeting & Convention. Today’s featured award is the Outstanding Professional Award, which honors professionals who have a true passion for credit unions and who inspire others with their hard work, dedication and success.

The Association’s Awards Committee has selected William J. Sweeney, CEO of CORE FCU, as this year’s Outstanding Professional.

Sweeney has served at the East Syracuse credit union since 1999. During that time, he has established CORE FCU as a community leader in the greater Syracuse-area.

CORE FCU currently operates nine elementary bank-at-school programs, as well as three student-run credit unions. Sweeney is a visible presence at all the credit union’s financial education initiatives, and he works directly with the boards of directors for the student-run branches to ensure they have the tools and skills needed to excel in their functions.

In addition to student financial education, Sweeney also oversees a number of other member-focused initiatives at the credit union, including:

• Funds for Fuel, which helps members of the credit union’s select employer groups offset heating costs;
• the Madison County Grant Program, which gives small grants to not-for-profit organizations in CORE FCU’s underserved market-area of Madison County; and
• Block Blitz, which provides hands–on lessons in home ownership to students.

Additionally, Sweeney has served on the Education Credit Union Council board of directors for the past eight years, and has previously served as the organization’s president. The group is made up of credit unions with educational ties, and it provides its members with opportunities to connect and network with peers from similar institutions.