Georgia Credit Union Affiliates has been named one of the state’s top Business or Trade Associations, landing at No. 8 in James Magazine’sOctober “Top Lobbyist” issue. GCUA moved up from the No. 14 spot it held in 2015. Brandee Bickle, Senior Advocacy Officer for GCUA, earned the No. 5 spot on the list of top female lobbyists, moving up from No. 19 the previous year.

The Top 10 Business and Trade Associations in Georgia were:

1. Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

2. Georgia Chamber of Commerce

3. Georgia Poultry Federation

4. Georgia Hospital Association

5. Association of County Commissioners of Georgia

6. Georgia Beverage Association

7. Georgia Association of Realtors

8. Georgia Credit Union Affiliates

9. Home Builders Association of Georgia

10. Georgia Bankers Association

“The political and regulatory landscape definitely impacts Georgia credit unions, and it’s critical that we have strong advocates who can clearly articulate the mission and values of credit unions to our legislators,” said Barry Heape, CEO of DOCO Credit Union based in Albany, and Board Chair of the Georgia Credit Union League. “The advocacy staff at the Georgia Credit Union Affiliates is known for representing us with honesty and integrity. Our industry enjoys a high profile at the state house, and every credit union benefits from that. As our Senior Advocacy Officer, Brandee Bickle exemplifies that determination to help credit unions succeed. We are fortunate to have her working on our behalf, and her recognition as one of the top lobbyists in the state is well deserved.”

The rankings are compiled annually by James Magazine through polling various business and political leaders from across the state of Georgia. The publication’s audience includes top corporate, professional, government and political leaders, and writers and reporters from other media outlets around the state with content including stories, rankings, polls and commentary. Its sister publications include Insider Advantage.com and Washington D.C.’s oldest continuously published political newsletter, the Southern Political Report.