Working Together at MACU

Marketing is not a solitary game. It's a team sport, where players achieve their personal best through collective brainstorming and creative collaboration. The Marketing Association for Credit Unions provides these opportunities, and many more, to credit union marketers across Canada.

MACU's board of directors are hard at work collaborating on ideas to provide MACU members with opportunities to network with credit union marketers from coast to coast. Facilitating the exchange of ideas between credit union marketers is a key function of MACU. By creating learning opportunities through conferences which feature marketing experts and leading industry speakers, all members of MACU will become better informed and more able to respond to an ever-changing marketing landscape.

How is MACU governed?

A board of directors consisting of 11 members, elected annually by the membership, is responsible for governing MACU. Current board members represent a cross section of credit unions from provinces across Canada including British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick.

They are committed to helping credit union marketers achieve success for their credit unions by providing educational forums and networking opportunities. Directors also play a supportive liaison role by facilitating the exchange of information and idea sharing between MACU Members.

In addition, MACU directors plan and host various MACU events, and call upon the membership to celebrate together the many successes enjoyed by credit unions today.

Directors play an important role in MACU, and new board members are elected every fall. Anyone interested in more information about the benefits and responsibilities of becoming a MACU director please contact us by email, or telephone. Meet the current MACU board of directors

Paul McAfee, Vice Chair
Vice President, Service - North Peace Savings and Credit Union
Paul’s career spans over 25 years and has been dedicated to the Credit Union system. After 15 years of experience at Servus Credit Union (Capital City Savings) in Alberta where his career began, he left his position as Branch Manager of their downtown (Edmonton) location to move to beautiful B.C. (Vancouver Island) where he became Regional Branch Manager for Island Savings Credit Union’s Mill Bay, Shawnigan and Valley View branches. In 2003, he joined their corporate offices as the Manager, Sales and Services followed by his present position of Manager, Product and Customer Development in which his contributions to strategic marketing campaign development, product innovation, and research have been corporately recognized. His dedication to the community has also spanned his career which has included Capital City Savings’ Chinese and Vietnamese Community Councils and the South Cowichan Chamber of Commerce of which he was President. He is currently the MACU Vice Chair and is thrilled to have the opportunity to continue to connect with Credit Union marketing professionals from across Canada.
Tel: 250-794-3760 Email: pmcafee@npscu.ca

Vanessa Foster, Director
Director, Marketing - Sunova Credit Union
While still in high school, Vanessa applied for the Creative Communications program at Red River College on a whim. After a grueling entrance exam, assignments and interview, she was selected as one of 50 students (and one of just a small handful of students just coming out of high school) accepted to the intense, two-year program. Vanessa specialized in public relations and with still a few months left of school was offered her first job with the Canadian Diabetes Association.
A year later, after seeing an ad in the paper, she applied for the Manager, Marketing & Communications position with Sunova (formerly South Interlake) Credit Union. Vanessa has been with Sunova Credit Union ever since, and has grown the marketing department from one to three full-time staff. In addition, the department now manages all marketing and communications for the organization. Absolutely everything, including design and brand management, is managed in-house by the Sunova Marketing Department.
Vanessa lives on a farm with her husband and fur-babies in Manitoba's Interlake. She currently commutes / telecommutes to her job in Selkirk.
Tel: 204-785-7627 Email: vfoster@sunovacu.ca

Deb Melnyk, Director
Manager, Advertising & Communications
Kootenay Savings Credit Union
Tel: 250-368-2674
deb.melnyk@kscu.com

Janice Van Dolah, Director
Marketing Manager - Integris Credit Union
Tel: 250 612 3407 Email: jvandolah@integriscu.ca

Shawna Miller, Director
Vice President, Marketing - Affinity Credit Union
Shawna is a Financial Services and Marketing professional with over 23 years’ experience in the credit union system. As a Certified Financial Planner, she spent several years working as an Investment Specialist, before making a move into Marketing where she found her niche specializing in marketing and business development. Today, she leads the development of Affinity’s brand strategy and guides its promotion through the use of public relations, product marketing, creative services, advertising, and online marketing. She is actively involved in developing community partnerships and has represented Affinity Credit Union on several community boards/voluntary organizations. She has attended MACU conferences over the years and is really looking forward to her first year as a MACU Director in 2010!
Tel: 306.946.3522 Email: shawna.miller@affinitycu.ca

Kent Jesse, Treasurer
EVP of People and Innovation, Innovation Credit Union
Tel: 306-446-9256 Email: kent.jesse@innovationcu.ca

Tom Hewlett, Director
President, Signature Group of Companies
Tel: 705.688.1989 Email: thewlett@signaturegroupinc.com

Tom Hewlett is the Owner and President of Signature Group of Companies, an integrated consulting and creative design firm whose strength lies in adding consistency, continuity and overall impact to corporate brand image and marketing programs.
Tom created the company in 1989, and twenty years later, his work continues to assist companies and organizations enhance the way they are perceived by developing effective creative strategies and producing attractive marketing campaigns, creative materials, trade shows, conferences and events, thereby leaving the signature of their clients prominently displayed in the marketplace. Signature Group has worked extensively within the Credit Union Family since 1996 and has an in-depth understanding of CU challenges and opportunities as they relate to responding to increased competition within the marketplace.

Tracy Kelly, Director
Vice President, Marketing, Mountain View Credit Union Limited
Tel: 403.556.3306 Email: tracy.kelly@alberta-cu.com

Rachel Milan, Director
VP of Business Development, CU Marketing
Tel: (403) 381-1360 Email: rmilan@cumarketing.ca

For more information about MACU, contact our MACU Coordinator, Rachel Cleland.

Working Together at MACU

How is MACU governed?

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