FIRST ENTERTAINMENT CREDIT UNION CEO CHUCK BRUEN RECEIVES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Charles Bruen, president and CEO of First Entertainment Credit Union in Hollywood, recently received the Leo H. Shapiro Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, the Ontario, CA-state trade association for credit unions in the two states.

Bruen was recognized during the Leagues’ REACH Conference, held Nov. 4-6 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs in Palm Desert, CA.

The Leo Shapiro Award recognizes excellence in credit union philosophy and a lifetime of contributions to the credit union industry. It is named after Leo H. Shapiro, father of the California credit union movement and founder of the League.

Bruen was recognized for his more than 30 years of service, including more than 26 years with First Entertainment, and being such a strong advocate of the credit union movement.

In accepting his award, Bruen talked about one of the reasons for the success of his credit union—which has grown from $28 million in assets when he became CEO in 1987 to about $1.2 billion today—“we continue to focus on our entertainment members.” And one of the ways it has done is by spotlighting a member in the monthly newsletters. He shared one particularly story of a member spotlight that not only brought awareness to the disease affecting the member’s life, but had the potential to save the lives of other afflicted with the same disease.

“It reminded me that credit unions haven’t changed that much,” he said. “In the end we’re all about “People Helping People”.”

That commitment to the credit union philosophy has been demonstrated by Bruen in many ways. As board chairman of ClearPoint Financial Solutions, he has committed himself to finding ways to help consumers achieve financial success through debt and financial counseling. In addition, the former Marine has supported the U.S. Marine Corp Toys for Tots program for many years.

He has been recognized over the years as being an innovator in finding new ways to utilize technology to serve his members more quickly and more conveniently. He was an early adopter of emerging technology, establishing one of the first credit union blogs. First Entertainment also was one of the first credit unions to establish a website.

Bruen has been a strong advocate for credit unions in both Sacramento and Washington D.C. During his tenure as the California League board chairman in 1998, the Credit Union Membership Access Act (HR 1151) was passed and signed into law. This legislation gave birth to the development of credit unions as full-service organizations and has helped the industry grow to more than 100 million memberships.

“While he certainly did not accomplish this alone, it was his leadership during a critical moment in our history which most clearly demonstrates his incredible accomplishments as an advocate for credit unions,” said his son, Desert Valleys Federal Credit Union President and CEO Eric Bruen.

PHOTO CAPTION:

Charles Bruen, president and CEO of First Entertainment CU and 2015 Leo H. Shapiro Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, with California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues President and CEO Diana Dykstra.