Leadership is a privilege, not a right. Over 25 years of leadership growth, I have learned that leadership as an anointed responsibility can be misguided. I was determined to find a better way to lead. I am committed to Steward Leadership, the mindset and practice of collaboration while creating value for stakeholders, society, future generations, and the environment. I am a steward of CUES, its prospective members, leadership and partners. This means creating an even better tomorrow for our credit union system and the people within it through constant evolution. During my time at CUES, this has resulted in:• Growth of membership from 14,000 to over 50,000 in the last five years while increasing engagement with new benefits and offerings at levels double association industry benchmarks.• Diversified revenue streams during the pandemic to continue to be sustainable in the future.• Strategic internal and external partnerships to build a full-scale, laser-focused, market-driven organization that consistently anticipates and delivers the needs of the membership base.• Retention and attraction of top talent through a value-driven organization that offers flexible, empathetic and competitive solutions such as hybrid work schedules, employee development opportunities and work/life balance.• Implementation of new business development research to consistently evaluate financial, member, and market feasibility reviews.Stewardship requires a long-term perspective to make necessary and wise future-focused decisions—even when doing so is unpopular. I aim to ensure that credit union leaders are set up for success, and our internal teams are empowered to help them achieve it.
