Northwest Young Professionals Network

The Credit Union Movement’s continued success will depend on the next generation of leaders. Preparing those individuals with the tools they need to meet the needs of credit union members is essential to ensuring that the “people-helping-people” philosophy continues into the future. Working in collaboration with grassroots efforts across our three states, your Northwest Credit Union Association launched the Northwest Young Professionals Network at the 2017 MAXX Convention. This network serves as an additional resource and a unifying umbrella over existing YP groups across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho—seeking to connect and influence the future leaders of the credit union movement.

The contest for the 2019 YP Leads Program will open on June 1. Check back soon for more information! 

Meet the 2018 YP Leads!

Champions, Leaders, Trailblazers – These individuals have established communities for young professionals in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Scroll down to learn more about the individuals leading the YP Movement throughout the Northwest.

Linda Crane

Executive Administrative Assistant • Global Credit Union

I am a “people helping people” kind of girl and that aligns perfectly with what credit unions do every day.  Whether it is helping through financial education, offering lower loan rates or paying higher dividends, the goal of credit unions is taking time with our members to truly improve the financial picture for their future.  I love that I get to be a part of that by supporting my co-workers so they can help our members to grow their dreams, inspire new members to join and participate in serving our community!  It’s such a rewarding experience to be a part of this cooperative movement!

Jake Denning

Financial Advisor • Beehive FCU

My favorite part about working for a credit union is that I have the opportunity to make a positive difference in our member’s lives on a daily basis.  I love the credit union motto of “people helping people”.

Nick Fugal

CFO • Clarity CU

My favorite thing about credit unions is their mission to help those who can’t get help elsewhere. I love that we help people who don’t have perfect credit without taking advantage of them by charging usurious rates like other predatory lenders.

Alex Johnson

Community Relations Officer • Sound Credit Union

I love the collaboration of credit unions. It’s incredible to see the impact credit unions can make while working together!

Michael Murdoch

Communications Specialist • Wanna Credit Union

I love working with people. I love working with YPs, leadership, middle-management, frontline, and maintenance. I love working with members, non-members, potential members. I love working with students and city workers and non-profits. I have yet to find another industry so positively involved with people, and within and among the endeavors we seek and love.

We’re working in collaboration with young professional groups across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to unite the future leaders of the Credit Union Movement. Find out more about the region’s YP groups below.

YCUP Portland & SW Washington

YCUP was founded by young credit union professionals back in 2008 at the Credit Union Association of Oregon’s (now Northwest Credit Union Association) Annual Meeting. This passionate and dedicated crew believes that the credit union movement is deserving of youthful innovation and impact. We are the future, and the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

YCUP Board Members 
Michael Murdoch, President
Alicia Finch, Secretary, Treasurer
Hayley Andrews, Vice President of Communication
Kim Preston, Director of Events
Nick Hellmich, Recruitment Officer
Edina Rizvic, Member
Shannon Cahoon, Member 
Evan Strandberg, Member
Toni Mathews, Member
Crystal Rustad, Member 

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CLIMB Idaho

Climb Idaho seeks to establish and grow the credit union movement among young professionals across the state. Inspired by the Crash Movement by The Cooperative Trust/Filene Research Institute, Climb Idaho began in 2014 when nine credit union employees from across the state were brought together with help from the Idaho Credit Union League. The goal was and remains to discuss and collaborate on ways Idaho can increase engagement and enthusiasm among young professionals to strengthen retention and increase the profile of the credit union movement not only within Idaho, but across the country in coordination with other young professional networks.

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YCUP Greater Seattle Area

Young Credit Union Professionals of the Greater Seattle Area was founded in 2016. The group’s mission is to promote interest, cooperation, and education among emerging credit union professionals who consider themselves young at heart.

For more information about how to become involved with this group, contact Sarah VanZuyt with Harborstone Credit Union at [email protected] 

Contact YCUP Greater Seattle Area

Inland Northwest YCUP

The Inland Northwest YCUP works with young credit union professionals in the Inland Northwest to provide real world skills that will help move their careers, credit unions and our industry forward. We focus on leadership, education, advocacy and putting our philosophy into action. We work together to build and sustain a strong network of young credit union professionals that are ready and willing to step up when their members, their credit union or their community calls.

Contact Inland Northwest YCUP

Emerging Leaders

The Northwest Credit Union Association and the DDJ Myers Advancing Leadership Institute are partnering to present a career development program to help you find your leadership voice. The program includes nine days of face-to-face training with coaching and mentoring in between. Participants are guided through project work that will benefit their credit unions, and their professional growth. Training will focus on strategy, assessment skills, leadership models, and the language of leadership.

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Chapters

The Association’s Chapter program promotes unity among credit unions in a local area through communication, networking, training, and participation in community, state, and national projects that support the cooperative spirit of the Credit Union Movement.

Chapters

NWCUA Events Calendar

Check out the NWCUA Events Calendar for more information about upcoming webinars, training, councils, and more.

View Calendar

Numerous career development resources are available to you on a regional and national level. Follow the links below to find out more about how you can advance your star in the Credit Union Movement.

Western CUNA Management School

For more than 55 years, Western CUNA Management School has helped to transform students into passionate strategic leaders through rigorous college level education. The school is targeted to managers and upper level operational staff. College credit is available after completion of the three-year program for those who are interested.

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Credit Union Development Educator (DE) Program

The National Credit Union Foundation’s DE program is a transformative Credit Union Training Program for Credit Union Professionals. The week-long training provides critical lessons in cooperative principles, credit union philosophy and international development issues while incorporating challenges credit unions face today.

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CUNA Professional Development Online (CPD Online)

Through a partnership with an award-winning learning management system, CPD Online is a centralized training hub for your credit union to track measurable and encouraging independent learning.

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CUES Next Top Credit Union Executive

This annual contest shines a light on the top up and coming talent in the credit union industry. Each year, more than $50,000 in prizes are awarded plus the title of CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec.

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Filene i3 program

Filene’s renowned i3 (Ideas, Innovation, Implementation) program brings together the best and the brightest next generation of credit union leaders and sets them loose on the consumer finance industry’s most flummoxing problems. i3 counts more than 200 innovations centered around building operational efficiency, generating loans, mobilizing savings, reaching communities, and strengthening membership.

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The Cooperative Trust – Upcoming Crash Events

Crash events are specific for young credit union professionals which are planned alongside an existing credit union conference. A big part of these meetups is ‘Crash’ sessions, in which industry mentors who lead our groups in open conversations around topics such as leadership, social responsibility, innovation, and more. Past guests have included current and former CUNA CEO’s; Jim Nussle and Bill Cheney, NCUF Executive Director; Gigi Hyland, Filene CEO; Mark Meyer and many more!

See Upcoming Crash Events

Continued education and training of credit union professionals and Directors helps keep the Credit Union Movement vibrant and competitive in the financial marketplace. We understand this can take a significant commitment of time and money.

The Northwest Credit Union Foundation provides scholarships awarding up to $1,500 per year for selected applicants.

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CULAC Kit – Resources related to CULAC fundraising.

LEAP Pillars – Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Philosophy in Action are recommended areas of focus for chapters and other micro-communities to tailor programming around. Together, these pillars offer tangible opportunities for credit union professionals to have an impact on the broader CU movement.

#CUObsessed – #CUobsessed is about telling people the good news about why credit unions are different and the better choice for consumers!