Kristin Ryan Director of Learning Events, CUNA

Kristin is the director of learning events for the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). Her responsibilities include designing and developing educational leadership programs for CUNA as well as the strategic operation of the Creating Member Loyalty™ sales culture development system. She also leads the CUNA Young Professionals Committee who has developed offerings for young professionals in the credit union industry. Specifically, Kristin and the team created the National Young Professionals Conference as well as the Emerging Leader Award.

In the interview, Kristin shares tips on how young professionals in the credit union movement can advocate for their personal and career development, especially when budgeting for education is limited.

“You must always stay hungry for education and it is out there,” Kristin exclaims. “Some suggestions I would say are online sessions like [CUNA’s] Emerging Leaders Youth School. Another opportunity is to look in your area—check local. Does your league offer training? Leagues usually have very affordable options. Also check for scholarships.”

Listen to the episode today to hear more of Kristin’s insight on how to grow in the credit union movement, set goals for yourself, and be a greater impact at your own credit union and community.

Jordan Webb, a senior financial services officer with State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU), was named the Piedmont Chapter’s CUaware Protégé on Thursday, December 6, 2018. Webb will go on to the CUaware Protégé Competition finals at the LAUNCH Conference Jan. 31 – Feb. 1, 2019 in Charlotte, NC.

Webb and fellow candidates Darien Bolden (Charlotte Metro FCU), Jasmine Davis (Carolinas Telco FCU), and Ruth Fujino (Family Trust FCU) represented their respective credit unions at the Piedmont Chapter event at Truliant Federal Credit Union in Charlotte, NC. Each contestant made a five-minute presentation in front of a judging panel and credit union professionals in attendance. The contestants were also scored on a one-page essay that they submitted as part of the application process.

Webb joined SECU in 2013 and aspires to “become the best SECU employee possible.” One of his goals is to complete his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation and continue to grow at the credit union. He is a graduate of East Carolina University with a Master of Science in Applied Resource Economics. Some of his other achievements include being an accredited financial counselor and volunteering in the United States Peace Corps.

In his spare time, he enjoys reading, writing, math and participating in competitive running.

He joins Columbia Chapter Protégé Amy Coggins, Lowcountry Chapter Protégé Cierra Faubert, Upstate Chapter Protégé Meaghan King,  and Tarheel Chapter Protégé Barbara Mojica Arzate in the completed lineup of finalists moving forward in the competition.

In the following year, Crosswell thought the timing right to enter the Palmetto Protégé and he would go on to win both the Pee Dee Chapter and the Finals Competition in 2013. Crosswell reflected on his journey in the latest installment of the Protégé & Beyond blog series with Phil Kadzielawski and Sara Portis.

Though he remembers the finals competition being somewhat of a blur at the time, he distinctly remembers "calling an audible" as he approached the podium to make his presentation. "I said, yeah, I'm not going to read this," Crosswell recalled. "I'm just going to go by memory because I had done it so often at that point I think even my wife could recite it back to me."

Having secured the Protégé title, Crosswell shared that for him, the journey was just beginning. He and Dr. Troy Hall (SC Federal) entered into a mentoring relationship in the year that followed. This mentoring relationship was the genesis of the CUaware Protégé Mentor program, which has gone on to become a key professional development opportunity for credit union young professionals and managers across the Carolinas. 

Looking back on that experience, Crosswell notes that the impulse to create the mentor program came from a recognition that there was a wider credit union community that young professionals could benefit from networking into, whether or not they won the competition. "There's some great leaders that were part of the competition that didn't win," he shared. "So it's to still try to find some ways to keep these leaders ... connected to C-level type mentors."

Crosswell said that being mentored by Hall opened some doors and his eyes to what credit unions could offer. "I didn't have that road map before. That's that sweet spot for each of us where our jobs transform into careers." Having recently joined the credit union movement from the political world, discovering this road map was foundational to his future success.  

That road map led Crosswell from Florence up Interstate 95 to Philadelphia, PA where he serves as VP of sales and service for the $650-million Ardent CU. Although time and his credit union journey have transported him away from the Carolinas, he says he still keeps his Palmetto Protégé trophy in his office and it is a proud part of his career story.

Crosswell's advice to current CUaware Protégé Finals Competition participants is to "have a blast" and be yourself. He also points out that by competing, you're no longer a 'future leader'. "If you're stepping forward now, you're a leader," he concludes.

Special Thanks to our Featured Protégé!

Will Crosswell is the vice president of service and sales for Ardent Credit Union in Philadelphia, PA. A graduate of Clemson University, he got his start in the credit union industry working in business development at Palmetto First FCU in 2011. In 2013, Will earned the CUaware Protégé title and later went on to pilot the CUaware Mentor Program.

Cierra Faubert, a member service representative with Heritage Trust Federal Credit Union (HTFCU), was named the Lowcountry Chapter’s CUaware Protégé on Tuesday, October 30, 2018. Faubert will go on to the CUaware Protégé Competition finals at the LAUNCH Conference Jan. 31 – Feb. 1, 2019 in Charlotte, NC.

Faubert and fellow candidate Chelsea King (SC Federal CU) represented their respective credit unions at the Lowcountry Chapter event at the North Charleston Marriott in N. Charleston, SC. Each contestant made a five-minute presentation in front of a judging panel and credit union professionals in attendance. The contestants were also scored on a one-page essay that they submitted as part of the application process.

Faubert joined HTFCU in 2016 and aspires to become a branch manager so she can continue membership growth and employee talent development at the credit union. She is a graduate of Plattsburgh State University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary/Special Ed K-6 and minor in Mathematics. Faubert is a recipient of the credit union’s All-Star Award and is currently enrolled in HTFCU’s Lighthouse University, which provides continuous learning opportunities for all credit union employees.

In her spare time, she enjoys working on community outreach projects for the credit union that make a difference for others and spending quality time with her family.

She joins Columbia Chapter Protégé Amy Coggins, Upstate Chapter Protégé Meaghan King, and Tarheel Chapter Protégé Barbara Mojica Arzate in the lineup of finalists moving forward in the competition, with others to be determined in the weeks ahead. Click here to see the upcoming events.

The CUaware Protégé Mentor program connects professionals with a mentor at another credit union for a period of one year. Through a process that is collaboratively designed by the mentor and protégé, a plan and goals are developed, and a strategy for maintaining regular contact is created.

The program is helpful for young professionals who are charting their credit union careers, as well as established professionals looking to take stock of their career with the assistance of an outside voice. As such, there are no age requirements for mentees.

In 2018, more than 30 professionals of all ages have been paired with a credit union mentor! The 2019 program will get started with a workshop event on January 31 in Charlotte, one day prior to the LAUNCH Conference. 

You may learn more about the program by going to the CUaware Protégé Mentor program. Specific guidelines, application forms and key program dates are available here for mentors and here for mentees. Please contact Jeff Hardin (919-457-9063) if you have any questions.

Coggins and fellow candidate San Booker-Holder (Palmetto Citizens FCU) represented their respective credit unions at the Columbia Chapter event at Seawell's in downtown Columbia. Each contestant made a five-minute presentation in front of the chapter board and credit union professionals in attendance. The contestants were also scored on a one-page essay that they submitted as part of the application process.

Coggins joined SC State CU in 2017 and seeks to learn as much as she can about the credit union movement to advance her career in the industry. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a bachelor or arts in history and minored in religious studies.

Coggins joins Upstate Chapter Protégé Meaghan King and Tarheel Chapter Protégé Barbara Mojica Arzate in the lineup of finalists moving forward in the competition, with others to be determined in the weeks ahead. Click here to see the upcoming events.

Coggins and Holder had a crowd of supporters cheering them on at the Columbia Chapter's CUaware Protégé Competition on Oct. 23.

(Editor's note: Thursday, October 18 is International Credit Union Day. To mark the occasion, CUaware Podcast host Phil Kadzielawski (Coastal CU) and Courtney Jackson (CCUL) interviewed Terri Hendrix (Carolina Foothills FCU) and Dr. Troy Hall (South Carolina Federal CU) about a trip Hall & Hendrix took to Asia recently. The trip was part of a cross-cultural program being piloted by Credit Union Development Educators across the world.)

International Credit Union Day (ICU Day) happens on the third Thursday of October each year. The purpose of ICU Day is to celebrate the spirit of the global credit union movement. The day is recognized to reflect upon the credit union movement's history, promote its achievements, recognize the hard work, and share member experiences.

This purpose is especially meaningful this year for Terri Hendrix (Carolina Foothills FCU VP of business development & community engagement) and Dr. Troy Hall (South Carolina Federal CU chief strategy officer). The pair traveled to Asia in September with Credit Union Development Educators (DEs) as part of a program that promotes cultural learning and international exchange. 

The two-week journey included stops in Bangkok, Thailand, as well as Cebu and Manila in the Philippines. Hall and Hendrix participated in activities that included meetings with fellow cooperators and credit union employees, and visits with people impacted by poverty in order to share food assistance.

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World DE participants received a cross-cultural experience as they traveled from Thailand to the Philippines. Part of the program included visits to historical sites, local marketplaces, and group activities like elephant rides.

The group of a dozen or so DEs also took time out for fun activities aimed at team building and raising cultural awareness. These events were focused on the Bangkok leg of the journey. Hendrix and Hall participated in activities like riding an elephant, snorkeling with whale sharks and visiting a "floating market". 

The emphasis changed in Cebu and Manila, as the group met with credit union staff, and took rice buckets with food supplies to older citizens who live in extreme poverty. Hendrix noted that the slum the group visited was surrounded by a 10-foot cinder block wall topped by concertina wire.

Hendrix had a memorable interaction with one woman in particular, who is 106 years old. "She couldn't really walk," Hendrix recalled. "She did lean up off her pallet. She thanked us, she was grateful for it. We talked with her on a human level about (how) we do care for you, we're here and there are people in this world who care about your well-being."

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During the visit to Cebu, Philippines, World DE participants fulfilled their "Rice Bucket Challenge," an act of charity that provided nutritional kits to those living in impoverished areas of the city.

Another highlight of visiting this part of Cebu was seeing "sari-sari" stores located at the very front of private homes. Common throughout the Philippines, sari-saris are very small stores offering convenience items and are owned by individuals and families. "It's micro-enterprise at its best," Hendrix shared.   

Hall notes that these types of exchanges help him to see common connecting points amid what on the surface may be profound differences in culture. "When we start to understand (what it's like) in someone else's shoes, to understand someone else's path, then we are in a much better place to have a likeness of mind and we might be able to move to a space of peace." 

The space of peace Hall referenced fuels his desire to continue these exchanges abroad, and it reminds him that by connecting "people, purpose and passion," he is also learning valuable lessons to bring back to South Carolina Federal.

Hendrix agreed and cites a key observation she made about a program run by a credit union in the Philippines that she plans to bring back to the Upstate. This credit union had a "saver of the year" program that had successfully engaged parents, children and teachers. Reflecting on this program, Hendrix saw a connection point to a Carolina Foothills in-school branch that has been trying to raise the engagement level of parents.

Hendrix notes in visiting the school and learning about the saver of the year program, she thought "that's something we can try at Cleveland Academy and see if we can't get these kids turned on to the cooperative model, to building their own personal wealth and to breaking the cycle of poverty." 

Hall has a long and successful track record in developing young people at South Carolina Federal and through the CUaware Protégé Mentor program. He notes that his big takeaway from the Philippines trip is further connecting DEs across the world in order to provide educational and human development opportunities. This mentoring project, called DE TEACH global, is underway through the partnership of a credit union employee in the Philippines and Dr. Troy in South Carolina. 

These experiences and opportunities for connection with the credit union movement also remind Hall and Hendrix of a very simple truth: credit union folks care. "If you don't have a passion for helping people, you don't belong in the credit union movement," shared Hall. Hendrix agreed, adding, "We have a deep passion for helping human kind." That reality, or "universal language" as Hendrix put it, connects everyone on International Credit Union Day!

Mojica and fellow candidate Gioia Hackett (Local Government FCU) represented their respective credit unions at the Tarheel Chapter event hosted by LGFCU. Each contestant made five-minute presentations in front of the chapter board and credit union professionals in attendance. The contestants were also scored on a one-page essay that they submitted as part of the application process.

Mojica joined Coastal in 2017 and seeks to continue her career development at the credit union. She has an associates in graphic design from Mount Olive College and is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in business management with plans to master in business.

Mojica joins Upstate Chapter Protégé Meaghan King in the lineup of finalists moving forward in the competition, with others to be determined in the weeks ahead. Click here to see the upcoming events.

Having heard about the CUaware Protégé Competition the past couple of years, she recalled thinking it would be fun but not a good fit given the stage of life she was in. That's when she got a helpful nudge from Nicole Miller, her supervisor. "I think you would be great at it," Pace remembers Miller telling her.

Armed with this encouragement and a willingness to accept a career opportunity despite limited time, Pace entered the competition and went on to win the Lowcountry Chapter Competition. She would go on to place second runner-up in the 2014 CUaware Protégé Finals Competition.

Pace shared her journey with CUaware Podcast hosts Phil Kadzielawski and Sara Portis in the latest installment of the Protégé and Beyond series. The series shares the experiences of past CUaware Protégé Competition finalists in order to encourage participation in the program and offer insights on how to successfully navigate the competition process.

Looking back on that decision to compete, Pace is glad she stretched herself. "If it scares you a little bit, it's probably worth doing," Pace offered. "It was tough with three little kids and everything to decide to take this on, but I am so that glad I did."

In exchange for the time and energy devoted to the chapter and finals events, Pace notes that the payoff came in the credit union world that opened up for her. She engaged with the CUaware Protégé Mentor program, first as a mentee and in 2018 as a mentor.

As the 2014 second runner-up, Pace had the opportunity to attend the Principles and Philosophy Conference on scholarship. She also got involved with the Lowcountry Chapter and would eventually be elected to its board.

Pace notes that the competition widened her perspective and appreciation for the credit union movement and helped her to grow personally and professionally. "It stretched me, it pushed me and it really opened up some doors that might not have been there if I had not taken the leap," Pace says.

While encouraging young professionals to make a similar leap by embracing the opportunities available to them, it's likewise important for leaders to take responsibility in the process. "As leaders in the movement, we have to start to open up a conversation," Pace shared. She believes that by offering a helpful mentoring role in the lives of young professionals, they can receive helpful feedback that will encourage their participation in growth and career development opportunities like the CUaware Protégé Competition.

Special Thanks to our Featured Protégé!

Corey Pace is the career development team lead for South Carolina Federal Credit Union. With over ten years of experience in talent acquisition and career development, Corey specializes in connecting employees to the resources they need to make their career aspirations a reality, and developing talent into dynamic leaders of the credit union industry.

Corey oversees employee career coaching and development, South Carolina Federal's High Potential Employee and Successor programs, and is certified in facilitation for the Integrity Coaching program. She believes happy, fulfilled, employees who are using their talents are better able to exceed their member's expectations.

Corey is a past participant of the CUaware Protégé competition, the CUaware Mentor program as both a protégé and a mentor, and is serving as vice president of the Lowcountry Chapter of Credit Unions.

“We received a fantastic turn out at the CUaware Protégé Competition this week, with the highest number of attendees we’ve have had in many years,” exclaimed Hoyt Bray, school relations manager for Upstate FCU and program coordinator for the Upstate Chapter. “I credit this to our local credit unions seeing the value in not only gathering together to network and learn, but also to the protégé program bringing out the best applicants we have seen in a while."

Meaghan King Remote Account Specialist Supervisor Greenville FCU

King and fellow candidates AJ Fakoornejad (Anderson FCU), Anna Funderburk (Upstate FCU), Brittany McFadden (Greenville Heritage FCU), Billy Reece, Jr. (SC Telco FCU), and Allie Teper (Carolina Foothills FCU) made five-minute presentations in front of a full house of credit union professionals in attendance. The contestants also submitted a one-page essay as part of the competition. A panel of judges scored the essays and the presentations and declared King its CUaware Protégé finalist.

“Everyone had great insight to share on their respective topics, and we're pleased to have Meaghan as our representative at the finals," Bray added. "Also, the record turnout for chapter attendees as well as protégé applicants has me very excited to see what 2019 has in store for the Upstate area.”

King joined Greenville FCU in 2014 and aspires to have a managerial role in the near future, with a long-term goal of helping the credit union further develop its Remote Account Services Department. She is a graduate of North Greenville University with a bachelor’s degree in English. In her free time, she enjoys exploring small towns and restaurants with her husband, and serving on the children’s ministry and co-leading Bible study at her church.

More CUaware Protégé Competitions are scheduled in the weeks ahead. Click here to see the complete list. The CUaware Protégé Competition Finals will be held during the LAUNCH Conference Jan. 31 – Feb. 1, 2019 in Charlotte, NC.

It was a packed house on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 as six candidates from individual credit unions competed for the title of Upstate Chapter Protégé. Results of the competition revealed Greenville FCU's Meaghan King as this year's winner.

In the latest podcast installment, hosts Sara Portis and Phil Kadzielawski of Coastal CU spent some time speaking with Koy Stone (SC Telco FCU). Stone, who today serves as the risk and facilities manager at SC Telco, participated in the program in 2015.

Having previously worked for a bank, Stone says he viewed the Protégé Competition as a learning experience. "I wanted to become more aware of our history and philosophy. I knew there was a difference there, but I wanted to learn more," Stone said.

In the years since the competition, Stone notes that the networking and professional development opportunities he's participated in have been most valuable. These include chapter events and League programs such as the CUaware Protégé Mentor program. 

At the time Stone applied for the Mentor program, he was a branch manager at SC Telco. In his application, he expressed interest in learning about project management and was paired with a project manager at Coastal CU. "I was able to take a lot away from that," he said of the experience. He added that participating in the Mentor program lead to his current role at the SC Telco, where he uses project management principles regularly. "Not only did it show my senior management that I had the capability of doing it, but it also showed that I had an interest," he said.

In reflecting on the lessons he learned, Stone offered several pieces of advice for contestants in this year's competition. "Everybody wins," he shared, even if you do not win or even make it to the finals. "You've had the experience where you could put together thoughts and a well-prepared paper and present them in front of your peers. No one can take that away from you." 

Stone concluded with the idea that the competition is a safe space to challenge yourself and grow. "It's an amazing opportunity. If I could do it again, I would." 

Special Thanks to our Featured Protégé!

Koy Stone is the Risk and Facilities Manager for SC Telco FCU in Greenville, SC. He has worked in the financial services industry for over 12 years, and he finished as the first runner-up in the 2015 CUaware Protégé competition. After the contest, Koy chose to attend the Southeastern CUNA Management School where he graduated in June of 2018. While attending this school, Koy competed on the debate team and he won awards for the ‘Best 2nd Year Project’ and the ‘Best 3rd Year White Paper’. Koy has been married to his wife, Amy, for 10 years and they have two children, Julianne and Nolan.

In coordination with the kickoff for the 2019 CUaware Protege Competition season, the CUaware Council is excited to premiere its new blog series called "Protégé & Beyond." The series features interviews with former competition finalists, giving them a platform to share what they learned during and after the program.

"It's part 'where are they now' and part 'pay it forward,' said Coastal Credit Union's Sara Portis, the brainchild of the interview series. "We are pleased so many former finalists have taken to this idea and look forward to hearing what each of them have to share on their experience and where life has taken them post-protégé."

Dizzy Felkel (center), who worked at SPC Credit Union at the time, competed in the first year of the Protégé Competition in 2012 to become the first-place winner. Since then, he's returned from time to time to share his insight with professionals in the credit union movement through various League and chapter events.

The interview series will be posted monthly throughout the 2019 competition cycle. The first episode premiered this week on the CUaware Podcast and features the "OG" Dizzy Felkel, who won the inaugural protégé competition in 2012.

In the interview, led by Coastal Credit Union's Sara Portis and Phil Kadzielawski, Dizzy touched on a variety of subjects including what it was like being among the first to compete in the program, how to prepare to compete, and the importance of taking advantage of this platform and unique opportunity.

"I owe a whole lot to that competition," said Felkel. "The people at the League...my manager [from SPC Credit Union] at the time. A lot of people invested in me and believed in me and it opened up a lot of doors for me, and it's led to a lot of cool things in life. That's why I dwell so much on 'make the most of it' because I'm living proof that this can change a life."

Special Thanks to our Featured Protégé!

Dizzy Felkel has a passion for serving the credit union industry, which has offered him incredible opportunities over the years. He works at Jack Henry & Associates under the Symitar division, where he focuses on small and mid-sized credit unions. He also offers training and public speaking services under his personal brand.

Dizzy holds the honor of winning the inaugural CUaware Protégé Competition in 2012. Educationally speaking, he holds an MBA from North Greenville University and is a graduate of the Southeast CUNA Management School. Dizzy resides near Charlotte with his wife and daughter.

“CUaware Podcast” co-hosts Paul Narcisse and Phil Kadzielawski have returned with a new episode for May that takes listeners on a deeper dive into blockchain technology and how it may be used in the U.S. election process.

Referencing an article from NPR, Phil notes how the U.S. election system is still vulnerable to cyber-attacks and how blockchain technology has the potential to deter these kinds of attacks in the future while restoring voter confidence.

An illustration of the differences between a traditional database and blockchain. Source: Faizod

“A proper blockchain solution for voting, would be a trustless immutable ledger that would lead to increased confidence,” shares Kadzielawski. “By moving voting to blockchain solutions, there would be no single third-party…that holds the one copy of our records. Blockchain is itself, a transparent ledger of information.”

What is a “trustless” immutable ledger, you may ask? Find out more by listening to the "Blockchain Bit" at the 7:05 mark.

Later in the episode, South Carolina Federal Credit Union’s Troy Hall returns to get into the “meat and potatoes” of mentoring through the prism of his success model in the “Real Talk with Dr. Troy” segment.

In part one of five in this segment, Troy focuses on the first ground rule in the mentoring success model: Declaring the mentee/mentor relationship as a collaboration between two people. An agreement where both parties acknowledge they need each other. Often times, it can be perceived that the mentor doesn’t get much out of the experience but Dr. Troy cautions against that kind of thinking.

“As a leader, one of the important characteristics of leadership is to be teachable,” shares Hall. “I have to enter the space saying ‘I have more to learn than just my 10,000 hours of practice.’ Think about it, how awkward would it be going into a relationship where the other person doesn’t need you? That doesn’t even make sense.”

Hear more from “Real Talk with Dr. Troy” at the 22:28 mark.

The full podcast episode is available on CUaware’s podcast page or on iTunes here. Lastly, if you have a podcast topic or suggestion, please contact Paul, Phil or Jeff Hardin using the email links on the podcast page.

“CUaware Podcast” hosts Paul Narcisse and Phil Kadzielawski have returned with a new episode for April that takes listeners back to CUaware’s roots as they interview the council’s co-founders Brandon McAdams and Patrick Livingston of Coastal Credit Union. The podcast episode also includes a segment on the rise of blockchain technology and the premiere of “Real Talk with Dr. Troy” led by SC Federal Credit Union COO Troy Hall.

McAdams and Livingston, tasked with a follow-up project as part of the CUDE certification program, started CUaware back in 2011 with a simple premise to fill a gap that exists within the credit union industry: staff often not knowing what makes credit unions and cooperatives unique and special. So, they started to host afterhours meetups to bring credit union professionals in the Triangle together for networking and knowledge exchange.

Coastal Credit Union's Patrick Livingston (left) and Brandon McAdams (right) were honored with the 2014 Cooperative Spirit Award by the National Credit Union Foundation for creating CUaware. Photo credit: Coastal CU

“We reached out to folks that were DE graduates in the area as well as people that we worked with and brought them in and said, ‘hey, we’re going to be at a local watering hole after work, just come and talk,” recalled McAdams.

“We also started off with buy-in from folks,” Livingston added. “Working with our management team and other credit unions’ management teams, and saying, ‘this is something that you want to participate in.’ So, it became an opportunity for real networking to happen.”

Later in the interview McAdams reflected on the growth of the CUaware Council, remarking on how they quickly realized this program had great potential to expand and make even more of an impact on the lives of professionals in the Carolinas and beyond.

“Once we realized that people were coming back and people in other areas wanted something similar, we realized that…the two of our efforts weren’t enough to keep up with demand," said McAdams. "We needed some funding, to expand out and we looked at each other realizing, this was that next step. Now, we have the League involved, CEOs coming and we have a lot of people’s attention and we don’t want to mess up."

CUaware today has five active regional councils in both states, hosting events throughout the year focused on four central themes: education, volunteerism, protégé, and advocacy. The League’s existing Protégé Competition was also added to the CUaware “family” in 2014 and has since expanded, adding a Protégé Mentor program for sustained career development for CU professionals of all ages.

Kadzielawski and Narcisse are both past participants in the Protégé programs, and have shared in a past episode the impact these CUaware programs have had on their own careers and lives.

For McAdams and Livingston, CUaware was among their first experiences serving in a strong leadership role at a time when their careers were just beginning. And from then to now, they carry the lessons of that experience into their roles at the credit union today.

“In my role at the time, I was not managing anybody or had a marketing background,” McAdams continued. “CUaware was an opportunity for me to lead and show a different skill set. It’s not just a networking opportunity.”

“It’s allowed me to explore creativity [at my job] in way that’s better than what it would have been without the experience of going through that,” Livingston added.

The Triad and Lowcountry Councils of CUaware mixed education, volunteerism and fun during their recent April events! Triad area participants learned about credit unions and cooperation from a member's perspective, while the Lowcountry attendees learned about the Victory Junction Reach Program of the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation (CCUF). 

The Triad hosted its event at Piedmont Advantage Credit Union, with Fentress Gerald as the featured speaker. Gerald is a member of State Employees' Credit Union who serves as an Advisory Board volunteer. SECU has Advisory Boards at each of its branches. These volunteers meet quarterly to discuss issues relative to their branches and provide recommendations for improvement of services and procedures.

Nearly 40 people attended the event on April 26, and learned insights from Gerald about credit unions from a member's perspective. Attendees also enjoyed lunch and a time of networking. 

Meanwhile 40 people gathered in the Lowcountry on Tuesday morning, April 25 to learn about the Reach program. Lauren Whaley of the Carolinas CU Foundation and Jonathan Lemmon of Victory Junction shared the impact of Reach and the credit union movement's impact. The event took place at the Rivers Avenue location of South Carolina Federal. 

Reach is made possible by an exclusive partnership between Victory Junction and the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation. The support of the credit union industry brings specialized camp-style programming to children and families year round outside the gates of Victory Junction.

Having heard the message, the Lowcountry attendees got to work in support of Reach! The group built birdhouses that will be used in Reach, investing their time in a program that is special to credit unions in Carolinas. 

CUaware is a council of the Carolinas Credit Union League. CUaware aims to informally introduce all levels of credit union employees to the movement through events emphasizing education, volunteerism, advocacy and networking.

CUaware also invests in the professional development of credit union staff through the CUaware Protégé Competition and the CUaware Protégé Mentor program. Learn more about CUaware and how you can get involved by going to the CUaware web page. 

The CUaware Council, expanding across North and South Carolina, has published its 2016 Impact Report. The report reflects on achievements made in 2016 and includes:

• A summary about the council;
• How its events foster networking and educational opportunities for credit union professionals of all ages;
• The cumulative fundraising efforts made towards worthy causes; and
• The volunteer projects each region pursued in the last year.

Click the image below to view the report on Issuu, or download the full PDF-format report here.

“This was a successful and fun event with a very diverse group of attendees," shared Jennifer Moore of CUaware. "One colleague had 8 months of experience while two others have been part of the credit union movement for over 20 years. This is what CUaware is all about – bridging the gap between the “newbies” and “seasoned” industry professionals. I hope this trend continues for years to come as the industry is constantly evolving,” Moore said.

The professionals were paired up and exchanged answers on a question for three minutes, then rotated to another partner for a new question. The fast format generated lively discussions on a range of career questions covering their current and past roles in the work force. A few credit union system questions were included as well. A sampling of the questions included:

• What was the first paying job you ever held and how did it help prepare you for the work world?
• What is the most challenging aspect of your current job?
• If you could make some change in the credit union industry, little or big, what would it be and why?

“I thought it was interesting how Jeff Hardin and I shared our first paying job – which was on a farm," Moore noted. "And now we’re both part of the credit union movement. A movement founded by farmers. It really makes you stop and reflect for a moment.”

In addition to the fast-paced networking event, CUaware Triangle hosted a catered reception and mixer before the event. After the speed networking concluded, the group received a tour of LGFCU's new location, which opened earlier this year.

CUaware is a council of the Carolinas Credit Union League, with meetings and events in various parts of North Carolina and South Carolina through the year. To learn more, please click here. 

"We had a great time together in support of a wonderful organization," shared Jon Hamby (Members CU), who helped to organize the day's event. "This event serves as our community service project for 2016 to it was inspiring to see 19 people give freely of their time for such a good cause."

Hamby noted that the home build was for a family with  physical challenges, meaning that the framing for the home had to be done on site. "In a typical build the walls would have been assembled in a Habitat warehouse and delivered to the site," said Hamby. "So it was a little bit of a different volunteer Habitat build." 

In addition to the sweat equity given by volunteers, the CUaware group donated nearly $1,100 to Habitat. The group raised the funds through various small fundraisers such as bake sales.  

More About Reach

The Reach Team members are specially trained staff that work closely with the hospital’s “Child Life” team to develop an activity plan specifically designed for the individual facility to enhance and support the existing pediatric program. This hands-on approach includes room-to-room visits as well as a “Camp Day” format. Each Reach activity is carefully designed to meet the specific needs and abilities of each child. Visits by the Reach Team help reduce the stress of a hospital stay with creative and age-appropriate camp fun including painting, wood working, song writing, crafts, puppetry, games and many more exciting and creative activities.

The impact this program has on the lives of children in the Carolinas as well as their families speaks to the heart of the Foundation’s mission, which is to enrich the lives of children. The success in 2015 was remarkable with close to 4,200 children experiencing the Reach program.

Jon Hamby (Members CU), a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC), shared information on the proper use of credit at the CUaware Triad lunch and learn session held February 17. About 35 credit union staff attended "Credit - A Better Understanding" at the Truliant FCU headquarters in Winston-Salem.

In addition to his role at Members, Hamby is very active and engaged in CUaware, and earned his CCUFC designation in 2015 while participating in the CUaware Protégé Mentor program.

In addition to the program focused on the proper use of credit, the meeting featured a 50/50 raffle with the winner taking home $48.