Steven Stapp, chair of the World Council of Credit Unions (Woccu), has been presented with an Ambassador Award for making a positive impact in the US state of Oregon.
Mr Stapp, who is also union president/CEO of Unitus Community Credit Union, received the award from Oregon Consular Corps, a non-profit organisation comprising members who represent or have represented governments of other nations in Oregon.
The organisation is dedicated to improving relations, communications, trade, travel, and assisting and protecting foreign nationals living or traveling within the state.
The Ambassador Award is handed out annually to an organisation or individual who excels at creating family wage jobs in Oregon and strengthens the state’s standing as a leader in international trade and investment. Mr Stapp received the award almost a year after being elected chair of the Woccu board of directors.
A designated steering committee selected the credit union leader to receive the award at this year’s Celebrate Trade Gala, which was held during Oregon’s World Trade Week.
The event honours outstanding local leaders and organisations making a positive impact in the state, and raises funds for the Oregon Consular Corps Scholarship Fund, which grants scholarships to students at four Oregon universities.
Mr Stapp said: “With all the exciting activity going on at home, it can be easy to forget that most of the world’s consumers live outside the United States. We are fortunate enough to be able to provide vital products and services that make life better for people throughout the world.
“The global work we do at Unitus reflects the need for today’s leaders to expand our cultural awareness, learn about the challenges others are facing and help share the hard-won solutions we’ve discovered to improve life worldwide.”
