Brightstar Credit Union President/CEO, Ralph Crockett, Receives 2008 Sistrunk Outstanding Achievement Award

Sunrise, FL – February 25, 2008 – Credit union executive Raffael “Ralph” Crockett, President and Chief Executive Officer of BrightStar Credit Union, one of the largest credit unions in South Florida with more than 37,000 members, has received the 2008 Sistrunk Outstanding Achievement Award.
“Ralph Crockett is an outstanding community leader and corporate citizen,” said Denise Rodgers-Foster, Executive Director of the Sistrunk Historical Festival, Inc., organizers of the award. “This is a well deserved recognition for Ralph and for BrightStar Credit Union who have done so much for teachers and for the community at large.”

Crockett was honored for his achievements at BrightStar Credit Union and in the Broward County community. With more than 20 years experience in the credit union and banking industries in south Florida, he has served as BrightStar Credit Union’s President and CEO for the past six years. Under Crockett’s leadership, BrightStar Credit Union has developed a reputation in the community for offering a variety of products and services and as an industry leader in customer service and innovative marketing and promotional campaigns. Each credit union member literally receives ‘guaranteed great service’ whether it is a checking, savings or money market account or a mortgage loan or line of credit.

Crockett is an active leader in the community and is dedicated to youth-related causes and to organizations that inspire youth to better themselves. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Florida Credit Union Shared Services, Inc. and volunteers in numerous events involving Broward County Public Schools. In June 2007, Crockett was elected to the Board of Directors of the SECC Southeast Corporate Credit Union (SECC), which is comprised of credit union CEOs from across the southeastern U.S.

BrightStar Credit Union is the title sponsor and actively supports the Sistrunk Historical Festival, an African American and Caribbean American celebration held annually in Ft. Lauderdale. Renamed the BrightStar Credit Union Sistrunk Historical Festival, it is the largest African American festival in south Florida and has been held for 26 years. A resident of Pembroke Pines, Crockett graduated magna cum laude, with a degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Rust College.
Helping Broward Schools recognize excellence in school administrators, teachers, students, mentors and volunteers is BrightStar Credit Union’s mission.  BrightStar Credit Union was named 2006 District Partner of the Year by Broward County Public Schools for their dedication to the faculty, students, and families in Broward County Public Schools.

BrightStar Credit Union is a non-profit, member-owned cooperative with more than 37,000 members in South Florida.  With a total of six branch locations in Broward County, BrightStar offers a variety of financial services including checking and savings accounts, personal, home equity and mortgage loans and investments and insurance. For more information, visit www.bscu.org.