Alex Manella, Creative Director at Michael Walters Advertising, has been selected for the Credit Union Times 2025 Luminaries Awards, recognizing top professionals and organizations transforming the cooperative financial services industry. The award highlights individuals and entities that have significantly improved the not-for-profit financial cooperative landscape by raising standards and inspiring industry-wide progress.
The selection process involved a panel of esteemed judges evaluating nominees based on goal achievement, impact of work, dedication to modernization and humanization in credit union business, and commitment to ethical standards and service excellence. Credit Union Times Editor-in-Chief Michael Ogden emphasized the awards' purpose: "We adore the creative ways these individuals and credit union-serving groups approach solving financial issues for members, creating better communities across our country."
Manella expressed honor in contributing to the credit union mission, stating, "I take great pride in working with our clients to connect their values to their brand to achieve record growth." His work includes significant initiatives such as America Saves Week, Military Saves Month, CCUA (Cooperative Credit Union Association), and International Credit Union Day, all driven by the "people helping people" principle to promote financial well-being and independence globally.
Michael Walters Advertising, where Manella serves as Creative Director, is a full-service agency partnering with major brands including Chicago Cubs, Morton's The Steakhouse, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana. The agency specializes in marketing strategy, brand development, digital marketing, and media planning, supporting financial industry leaders in achieving growth through values-driven branding. For more information, visit www.mwachicago.com.
This recognition underscores the importance of creative leadership in enhancing financial cooperatives' impact, demonstrating how strategic marketing and ethical commitment can drive industry modernization and community benefits, ultimately fostering greater financial inclusion and member service excellence.
