The Ascentra Credit Union marketing team has netted three Diamond Awards for achievement including one for a building dedication event honoring the late Dale Owen, the Bettendorf-based financial institution’s former president and CEO.
The Credit Union National Association (CUNA) awards recognize outstanding marketing and business development achievements in the credit union industry.
The Ascentra team’s awards, earned in each of the three categories entered, included two Best of Class awards.
The categories and campaigns submitted were:
- One-Time Event: Ascentra won the Category’s Best for its home office building dedication event held in honor of the late Mr. Owen in July 2021. Ascentra’s former president and CEO lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in November 2020.
- Complete Campaign: Ascentra won a Diamond for an Elf Holiday Campaign that was themed around the holiday movie favorite “Elf.” The campaign featured creative content for in-branch signage, printed materials, social media, website, and video marketing.
- Ongoing Event: Ascentra won Category’s Best for its foundation’s annual golf outing. The outing previously known as the Paul Lensmeyer Golf Outing now has been renamed the Paul & Dale Hack N’ Give Back Golf Outing. It is an annual celebration of the two past presidents and CEOs, Mr. Lensmeyer and Mr. Owen. The event is the largest fundraising event for the Ascentra Credit Union Foundation each year.
“This year’s awards hold a special place in the hearts of Ascentra’s staff,” said Jennifer Naeve, Ascentra’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “Two of these awards were earned from events dedicated to our past and beloved CEOs, two people who made a significant difference in the lives of family, friends and the credit union’s members and staff. We are honored to bring home these awards for them.”
The awards were presented by the CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council, a national network of more than 1,200 credit union marketing and business development professionals. There are eight CUNA Councils with a network of more than 7,300 credit union professionals. For more information, visit cunacouncils.org.
Judges evaluated entries based on strategy, design, production, creative concept, copy, communications, and results. This year’s competition received 1,195 entries and awards were given in each of 35 categories.
“Diamond Awards are the gold standard of achievement in credit union marketing and business development,” said Marella Nardotti, chair, Diamond Awards, and vice president of marketing, NextMark Credit Union. “Inventiveness in effectively achieving and exceeding objectives is what awards honor.”
