Hampton VA Federal Credit Union's Kenny Davis Honored by Virginia's Credit Unions

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Kenneth R. Davis (pictured left), CEO of the $8.6 million Hampton V.A. Federal Credit Union, was honored by Virginia's credit unions recently. Presenting the award is Rick Pillow.

HAMPTON, VA (05/25/2012)(readMedia)-- Kenneth R. Davis, CEO of the $8.6 million Hampton V.A. Federal Credit Union, was honored by Virginia's credit unions with the 2012 Eugene H. Farley Jr. Award of Excellence. The Award is given to credit union professionals and volunteers in recognition of extraordinary service by the recipient to their credit union or to the credit union system.

Davis was recognized for his efforts in aiding his former employer, Portsmouth VA City Employees Federal Credit Union, while transitioning to his new job leading Hampton V.A. Federal Credit Union. He spent nights and weekends working to ensure Portsmouth VA City Employees Federal Credit Union, a $3.5 million credit union, could continue to operate, while looking for a new manager. Portsmouth VA employs only a manager, one full-time teller, and a part-time teller.

"Small credit unions seem to draw people blessed with limitless optimism and determination," says Virginia Credit Union League President Rick Pillow. "Kenny truly is the personification of the dedicated small credit union manager, and his passion for the movement and for the members at every credit union with which he's been associated, are a testament to the fact that he lives and breathes our 'People Helping People' philosophy."

"The Board at Hampton V.A. was incredibly understanding and Wanda Bach, the retiring CEO at Hampton V.A., stayed on to help while I spent time lending a hand at Portsmouth City," says Davis.

Two weeks into his new job at Hampton V.A., Portsmouth City hired a new manager and Davis would spend the next two months on nights and weekends training and assisting his replacement.

"Managing a small credit union is a calling, of sorts," says Davis, "and unfortunately, my successor at Portsmouth City left in November, so we were back to square one. I've been in small credit unions long enough to know it's filled with long hours and hard work, and I don't think I could have managed the transition to a new job and continued to help Portsmouth City without the incredible support of Hampton V.A. and Wanda Bach."

Portsmouth City hired a new manager in December 2011 and the process began again, says Davis, as he worked to train Portsmouth City's new manager, while continuing to learn the ropes at Hampton V.A.

"What struck me about all this was the commitment and understanding of so many people. I was getting help from my predecessor at Hampton V.A. while I helped the new manager at Portsmouth City. The manager hired in December at Portsmouth City came from another small credit union, so she continued to work with her former employer to ensure that credit union, another two-person shop, could continue to operate. I've never been in the 'banking' world, but I wonder if that sort of thing ever happens with banks."

Davis has been a long-time champion of small credit unions, having led or been involved in various initiatives dedicated to aiding small credit unions.

"For someone who sort of fell into the credit union world, I've really developed a passion for what we do and our mission to serve members," says Davis, who retired from the Portsmouth Police Department in 1999 after 24 years.

While employed at the police department, he was appointed to the Supervisory Committee of the Portsmouth Police Credit Union in 1985.

He would transition to running that credit union as treasurer from 1990 until 1999, when he moved to managing the Portsmouth City Credit Union. He continued to serve as an Assistant Treasurer at the Portsmouth Police Credit Union until 2011.

"For all the many challenges faced by small credit unions, from the fact that we face much of the same regulatory burden as large credit unions to the tremendous level of competition in financial services, I know we can survive, because of dedicated, devoted people," says Davis. "Credit unions are like family. All of us are in this together and we all want to see one another succeed."

The Eugene H. Farley Jr. Award of Excellence is given annually to a credit union professional or volunteer official in recognition of his or her outstanding contributions to an individual credit union or to the credit union movement. In particular, the award seeks to recognize achievements that exemplify credit unions' 'People Helping People' philosophy. It is named in honor of retired League President Gene Farley, who served the League and Virginia's credit unions for more than 40 years until his retirement in 1999.