Weber Marketing Group welcomed over 150 credit union marketing professionals to the Marketing Association of Credit Union’s 2007 annual conference, May 23-25. The three-day event was held at the Sheraton Hotel, only a mile from Weber Marketing Group’s headquarters in downtown Seattle.

Kicking Things Off

As registration opened, attendees stopped by the “Marketing Buzz Café” for free espressos served fresh from Weber Marketing’s own custom branded espresso cart. Credit union marketers and exhibitors alike enjoyed mochas, lattes and cappuccinos made by baristas Jeffry Pilcher, Weber Marketing Group’s creative director, and Savoy Brewster, a project manager.

Learning from Experience

As the conference got underway, over 40 attendees packed into the Sheraton’s Aspen Room to learn how to avoid the “Seven Deadly Mistakes of Community Charter Marketing.” Randy Schultz, VP of Marketing at Weber, and Jane Ronnefelt, VP of Marketing at Numerica Credit Union, told the crowd that credit unions looking to maximize a community charter often have to be ready to make bold strategic decisions.

“Many credit unions try adding the word ‘Community’ to their name, and try telling people that ‘membership is now open to everyone,’” Schultz said. “But it just isn’t enough.”

Weber Rocks the Boat

Wednesday evening, after the welcome reception, Weber Marketing Group bused over 80 MAC attendees down to Pier 55 for a three-hour sunset cruise around the Puget Sound. Music from Seattle band The Pop Offs rocked the 98’ boat as credit union professionals formed conga lines and (yes…it’s true) even a mosh pit! The cruise was co-sponsored by Captive Indoor Media, who shared exhibit space with Weber Marketing Group during the conference, along with strategic partners Member Research and L9.

Click here to view photos from the cruise.

Click here to view Argosy Cruise dock portraits.

And the Winner Is…

At Thursday evening’s MAC awards banquet, Weber Marketing Group and its clients were the big winners. Out of more than 350 entries in 25 different categories, 16 different Weber clients were honored with awards, and Weber Marketing won 14 awards itself:

• American Eagle FCU (East Hartford, CT), Branch Merchandising, Silver
• Arizona State CU (Glendale, AZ), Brochures, Silver
• Arizona State CU (Glendale, AZ), Name Change & Brand Launch, Gold
• Los Angeles Firemen’s CU (Pasadena, CA), Logo, Gold
• Neighborhood CU (Dallas, TX), Branch Merchandising, Bronze
• nuVision Financial FCU (Huntington Beach, CA), Logo, Bronze
• OnPoint Community CU (Portland, OR), Brand Development, Bronze
• OnPoint Community CU (Portland, OR), Outdoor, Bronze
• Onpoint Community CU (Portland, OR), Logo, Silver
• Orange County Teachers’ CU (Santa Ana, CA), Branch Merchandising, Bronze
• Plus4 CU (Houston, TX), Plastics, Gold
• Plus4 CU (Houston, TX), Branch Merchandising, Bronze
• TruGrocer CU (Boise, ID), Brand, Silver
• USA FCU (San Diego, CA), Annual Report, Bronze

Weber’s work for Arizona State Credit Union was also a finalist for the 2007 MACQUEE award. Paul Stull, Senior VP of Marketing for Arizona State Credit Union, gave a 15-minute presentation to all attendees about the success of their rebranding and renaming effort. He attributed Arizona State’s recent double-digit growth to the strength of the credit union’s brand, saying that a real brand is "something that you can truly utilize, not just something that’s pretty and sits on a shelf.

In total, Weber Marketing Group won over 35 credit union marketing awards this year, including CUES Golden Mirrors, CUNA Diamond Awards and MAC awards.