Additional Resources Nomination Form Awards home BDPOY Home MPOY 2002 Business Development Professional of the Year Susan Miller Business Development Manager Georgia Federal Credit Union Atlanta, GA

"We definitely believe Susan Miller is the best business development professional in the country," says Kim Wall, vice president of marketing for Georgia Federal Credit Union in Atlanta. Her colleagues say Miller, Georgia Federal's business development manager, is a team player who doesn't like to call attention to her individual accomplishments.

With a long history in the financial services sector, including a period at Georgia Credit Union Affiliates, Miller joined Georgia Federal in 1998. During the H.R. 1151 crises when the credit union was under court injunction, she shifted its focus from "outreach" to "inreach," which meant paying greater attention to increasing penetration of existing select employee groups (SEGs) to gain new accounts for the credit union and conserve its resources. She was promoted to her current position after only two years.

In 2001, Georgia Federal opened a record 13,387 new accounts and added its largest SEG ever—a group consisting of 18,000 employees. "Susan takes personal responsibility for all her member group companies," says Wall. Miller set up new standards and procedures that significantly improved member service to the credit union's SEGs. She's respected throughout the state for her business development expertise and often speaks or does consulting work on the topic.

"Susan always tries to encourage and motivate me-even when she's giving constructive criticism," says Toni Hicks, business development officer for Georgia Federal. "She's very professional, especially when given a problem or asked a difficult question."

Judges for the 2002 Business Development Professional of the Year award were:

• Kristine Kowalski, Kane County Teachers Credit Union
• Becky McCrary, SC Telco Federal Credit Union
• Greg Anderson, University of Illinois Employee Credit Union
• Brad Loebbaka, Desert Schools Federal Credit Union
• Shelly Groves, Deere Harvester Credit Union

—Elizabeth Thompson