Li Jacobson, the chief information officer of Embold Credit Union, shared her insights on various topics, including the significance of technology in enhancing member experiences and her personal reflections on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.Reflecting on credit unions, Jacobson emphasized their community-centric approach, stating, "We want to serve our members and give back to the community. We make dreams come true." She highlighted the importance of financial literacy and assisting members in achieving their goals such as...
On the final day of America’s Credit Unions’ 2024 HR & Organizational Development Council Conference in St. Pete Beach, Fla., industry professionals shared valuable insights and advice for HR leaders. The panel, moderated by Coastal Credit Union Chief Administrative Officer Mia Perez, featured leaders from various credit unions who highlighted key aspects for HR leaders to consider.Christine Messer, Chief Financial Officer at Heritage Family Credit Union, emphasized the importance of leadership skills in the finance sector, stating, “I can train anybody to do accounting...
Darcy Luoma, a renowned author, speaker, and coach, shared her insights on overcoming challenges at the America’s Credit Unions' 2024 HR & Organizational Development Council Conference. Luoma emphasized the importance of viewing challenges as hurdles rather than roadblocks, stating, “The reality is we cannot eliminate hurdles. There will be more unpredictable challenges that we’re not anticipating. The key is to train to overcome them. And when you train, it helps your workplace. When your colleagues pause and think before acting, you have more meaningful discussions, and...
In a moving keynote address at America’s Credit Unions’ 2024 HR & Organizational Development Council Conference in St. Pete Beach, Fla., Amy Downs, the president and CEO of Allegiance Credit Union, shared her remarkable journey of resilience and transformation following the tragic 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.Downs, who was one of the last individuals rescued from the rubble and spent eight days in the hospital, emphasized the profound realization she had during that harrowing experience, stating, "I was about to die and realized...
Mia Perez, the chief administrative officer at Coastal Credit Union, emphasized the importance of recognizing and addressing skill gaps in the workforce during her speech at America’s Credit Unions’ 2024 HR & Organizational Development Council Conference. Perez highlighted the necessity for HR professionals to guide employees in bridging these gaps to advance their careers.Perez stressed the need for individuals to acknowledge their skill deficiencies, stating, “just because one is a really good ‘x’ doesn’t mean they’re going to be a really good ‘y.’ The gap between where...
Data analytics has found its way into many aspects of society—and human resources (HR) is no exception. HR leaders are using analytics to track turnover, performance, development, engagement, salaries, and more.“It’s important to start expanding HR data analytics,” stated Kathy Menditto, vice president of human resources at Buckeye State Credit Union in Akron, Ohio. Menditto was speaking at America’s Credit Unions’ 2024 HR & Organizational Development Council Conference in St. Pete Beach, Fla. She emphasized the significance of data analytics, noting that "Your C-Suite...
Senior Vice President of People Development Andria McCollough from Truity Credit Union in Bartlesville, Okla., highlighted the positive impact of involving employees in project management teams. McCollough noted a 63% better retention rate for staff involved in project teams compared to those who were not, emphasizing the success story of engaging people in the process. The credit union has run 106 teams since 2008, with 254 employees participating and gaining valuable skills that have increased their engagement and desire to stay with the organization.At America’s Credit...
Armed with gloves, grabbers, and garbage bags, credit union leaders hit St. Pete Beach Sunday morning in Florida to participate in a giveback event. The initiative aimed at cleaning up the beach and contributing to environmental conservation efforts.The event, which marked the commencement of the four-day conference hosted by America’s Credit Unions, saw participants collecting 300 pounds of garbage from the area outside the TradeWinds Islands Resorts. Items removed included a variety of debris such as sandals, towels, cans, cups, napkins, straws, squirt guns, broken...