Manitoba Credit Union Order of Merit award winner for 2015 is Dave Omichinski, president of the Portage Credit Union. He describes his initial reaction upon hearing the news.

"When I found out that my board was nominating me for this, I mean that guess when the initial reaction in terms of feeling really really proud -- just kind of humbled. I'm involved in a lot of stuff. I do it for the personal satisfaction, not for the recognition. So, I was very pleased."

When asked if the award helps him see he's on the right track, he replies, "There's no question, when you get recognized, especially for something like this... This award has been around since 2003, and there's only been about twenty people that have been inducted with the Order of Merit. So, when you look at it from a credit union perspective, and the names I'm now associated with from the Order of Merit, it makes me feel very proud."

Omichinski started his career here in Portage, and after 18 months went to Winnipeg for 20 years of work with credit unions and provincial level work. He notes he wanted to hone his skills, and return and be CEO here. he came back in '92, and saw 24 years of year-over-year success, making him feel incredibly proud of those accomplishments.

He notes Portage Credit Union has a highly held reputation in the province. Omichinski says they're known as being squeaky clean and very successful, and they always get compliments. He explains they have a third party that does an internal audit, who have recommended credit unions to contact them see how they do things in certain areas. It's called having best practice. So, he notes, he's proud of their organization, both on the board level and staff. Omichinski says the staff e all work together and head in the same direction, causing him to love going to their AGM every year.

Omichinski and the credit union have both been awarded with best business awards a couple of times. He says he was shocked in 2013 when he was named Citizen of the Year, seeing as it was something that never entered his mind. he adds his staff in 2000 were recognized at a provincial level from the Volunteer Centre of Manitoba for the work they do in the community. The credit union was recognized in 2014 for Outstanding Contribution. Omichinski says a big factor behind that was what their staff do for the community outside of the work of the credit union.

He adds working with the community is important because the credit union is member owned with over 10,000 members. From a market share penetration, he notes most people in Portage deal with them. Omichinski says whether it's what they do corporately in being involved in various community projects from a sponsorship donation side of things, or at the staff level in terms of being directly involved in that, it's who they are -- that's their core value.