Northwest Young Professionals Network
Resource Center for Young Credit Union Professionals in the Northwest
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.
2018 YP Leads
18 YP Leads are selected each year to represent the future of the Credit Union Movement and serve as ambassadors for young credit union professionals in the Northwest. Each YP Lead receives a full-ride scholarship to the annual MAXX Convention.
Meet the 2018 YP Leads!
Name | Credit Union | Position |
Crystal Lawrence | Beehive FCU | Operations Officer |
Rachel Lane | Clarity Credit Union | Loan Officer |
Kristen Benjamin | Desert Sage Credit Union | Member Representative |
Matthew Rice | East Idaho Credit Union | Director of eServices |
Amy Rovig | Icon Credit Union | Director or Marketing |
Matraca Roose | Pioneer Federal Credit Union | Call Center Lead |
Jeff Mosser | Consolidated Community Credit Union | Consumer Lending Manager |
Isabel Lara | OnPoint Community CU | Branch Service Specialist |
Brooke Rane | Oregon Community Credit Union | Community Relations Specialist |
Brittney Schweizer-Wylie | Rogue Credit Union | Project Manager |
JT Rogers | Rogue Credit Union | Member Solutions Counselor II |
Annette Pixley | St. Helens Community Credit Union | Marketing Specialist |
Katie Powers | Fibre Federal Credit Union | Corporate Education Manager |
Tawney Edgmond | HAPO Community Credit Union | Collector III |
Crystal Contreras | HAPO Community Credit Union | Communications Director |
Laura Fenter | Numerica Credit Union | Financial Service Representative |
Rebecca Robinson | Sound Credit Union | Branch Manager, Federal Way |
Glenn McMahon | Verity Credit Union | Investment Assistant |
YP Champions
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.
Liz Henderson
Business Development Officer • Maps CU
My favorite thing about credit unions is the philosophy of people helping people!
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!
Steve Pagenstecher
VP Member Experience • Point West Credit Union
My favorite thing about credit unions is their cooperative spirit – working collaboratively with credit unions and their members for the betterment of our communities – and community impact – we are mission-driven organizations dedicated to improving the lives of our members and our communities at large.
Kym Sajovic
Senior Business Analyst • OnPoint Credit Union
My favorite thing about credit unions is how they benefit the financial well-being of underserved individuals in our communities.
Regional YP Groups
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
Kym Sajovic, Chair | On Point CC
Michael Murdoch, Vice President of Communications | Wauna CU
Edina Rizvic, Vice President of Sponsorship | Unitus CU
Crystal Rustad, Board Member | ARCReports
Evan Strandberg, Board Member | IQ CU
Toni Mathews, Board Member | Trailhead CU
Shannon Cahoon, Board Member | Fibre FCU
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.
YCUP Greater Seattle Area
Young Credit Union Professionals of the Greater Seattle Area was founded in 2016. For more information about how to become involved with this group, contact Ronna Idzenga, Community Development Manager at Harborstone Credit Union at ronna.idzenga@harborstone.com.
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.
Career Development — NWCUA Programs
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.
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.
NWCUA Events Calendar
Check out the NWCUA Events Calendar for more information about upcoming webinars, training, councils, and more.
Career Development — NW & Beyond
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Scholarships
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.
RESOURCES
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!
Want to Get Involved?
For more information about how to become involved with the Northwest Young Professionals Network, contact Carmen Vigil at cvigil@nwcua.org or at 206.340.4817.