Kirk Kordeleski, President & CEO, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, has been selected by Long Island Press as one of the region's 50 Most Influential Long Islanders of 2011. Now in its 9th year, the Long Island Press Power List reflects Long Island's most powerful and influential figures based on the office they hold and the accomplishments they've achieved, including the considerable influence the figures have over daily life on Long Island. It is the fourth consecutive year that Kordeleski has been named to the Power List that ranks leaders from the fields of business, government, academia, healthcare, not-for-profit, and the public sector.
During the June 14, 2011 reception to honor the Power List recipients, Kordeleski was also awarded the 2011 Long Island MacArthur Airport (LIMA) Take Flight Award, for best representing the future of business on Long Island and for his commitment to helping the Long Island economy Take Flight.
It is a continued honor to be included on the Long Island Press Power List alongside so many significant Long Island community leaders, said Kirk Kordeleski, President and CEO, Bethpage Federal Credit Union. I want to thank Bethpage's members who have continued to help Bethpage grow and remain Long Island's largest community financial institution.
Since Kordeleski's promotion to President and CEO of Bethpage in 2000, Bethpage has tripled in assets and is now is a financial institution with over $4 billion in assets. For two years in a row, Bethpage has surpassed $1 billion in new loans, and for the first quarter of 2011, Bethpage's numbers are equally as strong, with a 5% growth in assets and a membership increase of almost 5,000 for a total of 184,000 members to date.
In awarding Kordeleski the 2011 LIMA Take Flight Award, Long Island Press wrote, Since taking the helm of Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Mr. Kordeleski has proficiently navigated this venerable institution through turbulent economic times with grace and dignity. His dedication to the Long Island community is evident in the extraordinary community outreach of Bethpage and the enthusiasm of its employees.
Bethpage's annual Long Island family event that honors Long Island's rich history in aviation, the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach, was also recently voted Best Annual Event / Festival on Long Island for 2011. Now in its 8th year, this year's Memorial Day weekend event drew in a crowd of over 400,000 and has become Long Island's kick-off to summer.
In 2011, Bethpage was honored with five industry awards from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), including the industry's highest award, the Diamond Award, which recognizes outstanding marketing and business development achievements. Kordeleski has also been honored by institutions and organizations for his regional leadership, including the YMCA of Long Island, which recently recognized Kirk and Bethpage for its strong commitment to the community and ongoing support of the YMCA. Adelphi University, United Way, Education and Assistance Corp., The Mentoring Partnership of Long Island, and Promote Long Island, among others, have also recently honored Kordeleski. In addition to Bethpage consistently named the Best of Long Island among credit unions, Kirk has also been named for four years running as one of Long Island Business News' Top 100 Most Influential Long Islanders.
In his field, Kirk is Chairman of the Board for Open Technology Solutions, LLC, and President of Bethpage Management Services, LLC. As an active supporter of the Long Island community, Kirk Kordeleski is First Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Long Island Association (LIA), he serves on the LIA's Executive Committee. Kirk is also on the Board of Directors of the Long Island Arts Alliance, and he serves as Chairman of the Board of Project GRAD Long Island. He sits on the Council of Advisors for the Community Development Corporation of Long Island and the Council of Overseers for the Tilles Center. In addition, Kirk serves on Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano's Business/Economic Development Group. In 2005, Bethpage took on a leadership role with respect to Workforce Housing initiatives on Long Island - with Kirk appointed Chairman of the Next Generation Housing Committee in partnership with the LIA.
Heading up Long Island's leading community financial institution, Kordeleski's main focus for Bethpage is the consumer retail mid-market, including serving the many underserved communities on Long Island. Kordeleski was the recent recipient of the 2011 John O'Neill Humanitarian Award for his significant contribution to Long Island's underserved communities, including his extensive involvement in education and unwavering support of Project GRAD Long Island, which helps thousands of young students in the underserved communities of Roosevelt and Westbury achieve their dreams of attending college.
In 2010, Kordeleski opened four new branch locations including a Roosevelt branch, which marked the first time a major financial institution launched in this underserved community in more than 20 years. Now in its 8th year, Kordeleski maintains Bethpage's annual Volunteer Tax Assistance Program (VITA), offering free tax return assistance for low to moderate-income households at 10 branch locations each year, including Roosevelt and Hempstead. As Chairman of the Board of Directors of Project GRAD, in 2010 Kordeleski helped Project GRAD receive a Federal grant to benefit Westbury Middle and High School students.
Bethpage Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative, existing solely to serve its members and has experienced rapid growth in recent years to become a strong alternative to banks. Bethpage was approved for the largest federal community charter in the U.S. in 2003 and now is Long Island's largest credit union and leading community financial institution with over 180,000 members, 24 branches and 60 shared service center locations throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. As a financial cooperative, Bethpage offers better rates, lower fees and a full menu of personal and commercial financial services.
Bethpage maintains branch locations in Bay Shore, Bay Shore King Kullen, Bethpage, Central Islip, Commack, Elmont, Farmingdale, Freeport, Glen Cove, Hempstead, Huntington, Islandia King Kullen, Levittown, Lynbrook, Massapequa, Melville, Mineola, North Babylon, Port Jefferson, Riverhead, Seaford, Smithtown, Roosevelt and Westbury with over 350 surcharge-free ATMs in King Kullen, 7-Eleven, Walgreen's and Costco locations throughout Long Island. For more information, call 1-800-628-7070 or visit www.lovebethpage.com.