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Falcon Heights, MN -- Blaze Credit Union’s Assistant Vice President of Financial Empowerment, Tina Jones, was recently named the 2024 Outstanding Friend of Minnesota Association of Family and Consumer Science (MAFCS). Minnesota AAFCS awards an Outstanding Friend honoree each year to recognize an individual or organization who is not a member of MAFCS but who shows continued support to the profession. Tina was nominated for her work in the Family and Consumer Science classes at St. Paul Johnson High School. “We are extremely proud of the work that Tina has done and continues to do for our community, including our partnership with the St. Paul School District. Tina runs our four high school student branches as financial empowerment centers within these schools. She is a trusted advisor to students and staff alike,” said Blaze Chief Project and Learning Officer and Blaze Foundation Board Chair, Christine Cordell. “Her-can-do attitude is infections, and she has played a critical role in building a strong, positive relations with our schools, allowing us to better respond to the needs of our students and communities.” Blaze Credit Union operates four school branches in St. Paul high schools (Como Park, Harding, Highland Park, and Johnson). Tina oversees the hiring and training of the student tellers at these branches and works alongside them. In addition, she has served as a personal finance advocate conducting countless classroom presentations and interactive reality fairs throughout the schools, teaching and advising students on financial matters such as budgeting, savings, and investing. Tina also serves as the Vice Chair of the Blaze Credit Union Foundation, which provides teaching grants for school projects and programs that fall outside of the normal budget, as well as student scholarships for post-secondary education. In addition to her role with Blaze, Tina is involved in several other community initiatives and programs, including: Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy National Youth Involvement Board Sub-committee member for the City of Saint Paul’s CSA Accounts Chair for the Saint Paul Schools, CTE Academy of Finance Best Prep Ambassador, Best Prep, Volunteer Engagement Committee In her over 20 years of service in the credit union industry, Tina has earned several awards and honors for her extraordinary dedication and commitment to community involvement. In 2020, she was named Minnesota Credit Union Network’s Outstanding Credit Union Professional. She has earned a Service Award from the Minnesota Federal Executive Board for dedication serving federal employees and was honored by Junior Achievement as the High School Volunteer of the Year, as well as by the Minnesota Association for Career and Technical Administrators as the Advisory Board Member of the Year. About Blaze Credit Union Born in 2024 out of a merger-of-equals between Hiway Credit Union and SPIRE Credit Union, Blaze is a full-service financial institution, proudly serving Minnesota and Wisconsin residents with Depression-era roots dating back to 1931. Blaze serves nearly than 250,000 members in Minnesota and beyond, registers $4.0B in assets, and serves 26 branch communities. Blaze is here to help members Go for it, whatever their “it” may be, providing guidance along life’s twists and turns along the way. Driven by Midwestern values like community, integrity, and plain old hard work, Blaze Credit Union is committed to providing smart financial products, great rates, and top-tier service as it lives its mission of improving lives. For more information, please visit blazecu.com.
Falcon Heights, MN -- Blaze Credit Union’s Assistant Vice President of Financial Empowerment, Tina Jones, was recently named the 2024 Outstanding Friend of Minnesota Association of Family and Consumer Science (MAFCS).
Minnesota AAFCS awards an Outstanding Friend honoree each year to recognize an individual or organization who is not a member of MAFCS but who shows continued support to the profession. Tina was nominated for her work in the Family and Consumer Science classes at St. Paul Johnson High School.
“We are extremely proud of the work that Tina has done and continues to do for our community, including our partnership with the St. Paul School District. Tina runs our four high school student branches as financial empowerment centers within these schools. She is a trusted advisor to students and staff alike,” said Blaze Chief Project and Learning Officer and Blaze Foundation Board Chair, Christine Cordell. “Her-can-do attitude is infections, and she has played a critical role in building a strong, positive relations with our schools, allowing us to better respond to the needs of our students and communities.”
Blaze Credit Union operates four school branches in St. Paul high schools (Como Park, Harding, Highland Park, and Johnson). Tina oversees the hiring and training of the student tellers at these branches and works alongside them. In addition, she has served as a personal finance advocate conducting countless classroom presentations and interactive reality fairs throughout the schools, teaching and advising students on financial matters such as budgeting, savings, and investing. Tina also serves as the Vice Chair of the Blaze Credit Union Foundation, which provides teaching grants for school projects and programs that fall outside of the normal budget, as well as student scholarships for post-secondary education.
In addition to her role with Blaze, Tina is involved in several other community initiatives and programs, including:
In her over 20 years of service in the credit union industry, Tina has earned several awards and honors for her extraordinary dedication and commitment to community involvement. In 2020, she was named Minnesota Credit Union Network’s Outstanding Credit Union Professional. She has earned a Service Award from the Minnesota Federal Executive Board for dedication serving federal employees and was honored by Junior Achievement as the High School Volunteer of the Year, as well as by the Minnesota Association for Career and Technical Administrators as the Advisory Board Member of the Year.
About Blaze Credit Union
Born in 2024 out of a merger-of-equals between Hiway Credit Union and SPIRE Credit Union, Blaze is a full-service financial institution, proudly serving Minnesota and Wisconsin residents with Depression-era roots dating back to 1931. Blaze serves nearly than 250,000 members in Minnesota and beyond, registers $4.0B in assets, and serves 26 branch communities. Blaze is here to help members Go for it, whatever their “it” may be, providing guidance along life’s twists and turns along the way. Driven by Midwestern values like community, integrity, and plain old hard work, Blaze Credit Union is committed to providing smart financial products, great rates, and top-tier service as it lives its mission of improving lives. For more information, please visit blazecu.com.