United Solutions Company is committed to helping credit unions become stronger, more efficient, and profitable. The Credit Union Rescue Team was created based on the philosophy of credit unions helping credit unions. Designed as a mentorship program, there is no charge to offer mentorship or receive a mentor! Learn all about our program at CreditUnionRescueTeam.com.
This week our CU Rescue Team mentors were asked the question “What kept you in the credit union industry?” Below is the response from some of our Mentors.
Terence Field:
What kept me at the Credit Union was the opportunity to learn many new things. I was very fortunate to work for a CEO who gave me the chance to manage many different aspects of the Credit Union. Throughout my career at the Credit Union, I have always managed the finance function. As I got more comfortable and efficient with the finance responsibilities, the CEO moved other areas of operations under me. At first, I found this frustrating. I couldn’t understand why I was having to manage functions with which I was not familiar. It forced me out of my comfort zone of finance to learn unfamiliar functions and manage a more diverse group of employees. By the time I got comfortable managing the non-finance function, the CEO would transfer it to another manager and I would be assigned yet again another operation to learn. When an operation was moved away from me, I felt like I was being punished for not doing a good job. I have realized over the years that I was not being punished, but rather rewarded. The CEO was exposing me to as many areas has he felt I could handle to build my depth and breadth of knowledge. I never had a chance to get bored managing just one area. For that, I was very fortunate.
Sherman K Louis:
I really believe in the value of Credit Unions. Credit unions are not-for-profit organizations that exist to serve their members. As member-owned and cooperative institutions, credit unions provide a safe place to save and borrow at reasonable rates. To me, the service to members is always the main priority which has kept me in the Credit Union industry.
Brian Smith-Vansergriff:
I grew up in a family that always valued their relationship with credit unions and we have at least four generations of credit union members today. As a child, I never gave much thought to the idea of being a credit union member and how that could impact my life. That all changed when I was 13 and my family lost our home in a devasting fire. Our primary credit union stepped up immediately and ensured that our family had the funds needed for necessities while the insurance process unfolded. I am honored to currently serve as the Chairman of the Board of that same credit union. My hope is that my professional and volunteer work with credit unions will continue to build institutions that can be as impactful on their members as my home credit union has been on my family.
Do you have a question to ask our trusted group of mentors? Email USC-Marketing@unitedsolutions.coop with your questions and check back at USC’s blog to see your answers! Have a question about our mentorship program? Email info@unitedsolutions.coop.
Get to know our mentors and sign up for our program at CreditUnionRescueTeam.com!