Larry Blanchard serves as Public Affairs Consultant for CUNA Mutual Group.  He is also CUNA Mutual Group’s representative on the Cooperative Development Foundation where he serves on its board of directors and finance committee.  In 2012 he received CFA’s Esther Peterson Consumer Service Award. Among other recognitions, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the National Cooperative Business Association, received the National Credit Union Foundation’s Herb Wegner Lifetime Achievement Award, CUNA Mutual Group’s Leadership Award, and Credit Union Development Educators Award for Outstanding Service. In 1992, Mr. Blanchard volunteered with President-elect Clinton’s transition team and continued to serve in the White House communications office during the early phase of the administration’s launch.  He joined CUNA Mutual Group in Madison, WI to lead the company’s public relations and communications department. In 1996 CUNA Mutual Group “loaned” Blanchard to head the critically successful Credit Union Campaign for Consumer Choice. Upon returning to Madison in 1998 he established and led CUNA Mutual Group’s Corporate and Legislative Affairs office.  He served as chairman of the credit union system-wide Unrelated Business Income Tax Steering Committee, and chaired the cooperative movement’s task force on co-op capital.