What have you accomplished in your professional life/career since your 40 Under 40 selection?
I was a new CEO when selected as a 40 Under 40 in 2002. One accomplishment has been our growth. In 2002, we were $220 million in assets. Today, we are almost $4 billion. We served about 60,000 members and now serve almost 200,000.
We stand out as a leader in financial wellness and design programs to meet varying needs and goals. We focus on financial services for women. According to research, women often feel ignored by the financial services industry, they live longer, are often caregivers, make less money, and want a holistic approach to finances. Making less and having more expenses creates a need to be better than average at managing finances. That is what we provide. I know Summit Credit Union, with our experience and tools, can help change lives for financial independence.
I like to be involved in the financial services industry and on the local level. I am immediate past chair of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. I serve on the boards of WPS Health Solutions and Society Insurance and on the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation. I am involved in the industry as the chair of CUNA’s World Affairs Committee, I serve on CUNA’s Advocacy Committee, am immediate past chair of CUES, and serve on the Consumer Federation of America’s board in Washington, D.C.
I have also served on The Federal Reserve Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (Chicago), Corporate Central Credit Union (a credit union for credit unions), United Way of Dane County, and UW–Madison’s School of Human Ecology where I helped start the UW Center for Financial Security.
In 2018, I gave testimony on data security to the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit on behalf of credit unions. I received the Wisconsin Idea Award from UW–Madison’s School of Human Ecology, The Brain Howell Excellence in Innovation Award from Madison Magazine, In Business’s Top Most Influential People in Greater Madison, Cooperative Network’s Cooperative Builder Award, and Edgewood College Alumni Award for Ethical Leadership and Outstanding Community Service.
I’m most proud of the positive impact we make in people’s lives. In 2019, based on employee surveys, we were named a Top Workplace by the Wisconsin State Journal and a Best Place to Work by Madison Magazine. We have branches in all four public high schools in Madison to teach teens financial skills to impact the rest of their lives, and we provide an award-winning workplace financial education program, “Financial Wellness for Employees.” We help members buy homes and start and grow businesses — we are the No. 1 mortgage lender in Dane and Columbia Counties and No. 1 for Small Business Administration (SBA) loans approved among all Wisconsin credit unions. We are a leader in financial education. After three previous Governor’s Financial Literacy Awards, we were just notified that we are receiving a 2019 Governor’s Financial Literacy Legacy Award, a one-time award for those “whose purpose and heritage is ingrained in sustained financial literacy and capability.”
What accomplishments, milestones, or endeavors have you attained in your personal life since your 40 Under 40 selection?
We had young children at that time with our youngest just being born and I’m proud to say that all three are successful in their own right. The oldest started her career, the middle is in college, and the youngest is headed to college this fall. Next phase for Mark and I: empty nesters.
Also, I am a lifelong learner. I’ve explored lots of new things and stretched myself over the years. I seek ways to go outside my comfort zone and believe that we must do that to learn new things. I am willing to be a beginner. A few things have given me “beginner stories” I can laugh about now and lessons I can apply to my life and leadership, such as taking up mountain biking, participating in an executive fitness challenge, learning how to ride horses and play polo, and taking a creative writing course.
If you were to “do it all over again,” what (if anything) would you do differently throughout your career?
Well, I’d worry less, take more deep breaths, and I’d have a greater perspective that things typically work out in the end. Overall though, I’m more likely to consider what I can do going forward than how I wish I could have done something different in the past. Listening, asking good questions, being open to feedback, and learning from others has helped me make good decisions.
How did your 40 Under 40 selection help your career?
I have always liked meeting new people and feel I can learn from everyone. In Business does a good job connecting professionals in the area to network businesspeople, including 40 Under 40, which started some conversations and connections for me back in 2002. The caliber of leaders in the Madison area is inspiring.
What is something that you have a new passion for since the time of your induction — either professionally or personally?
My passion and commitment to women in leadership has only strengthened over the years. I continue to lead an organization with many women in leadership positions. In addition to what we do here at Summit Credit Union, I co-authored a business article with ideas companies can use to strengthen their success by adding women to their boards. I’m currently co-chairing a group working on getting more women on boards. Over the years, I’ve also spoken with MBA students at UW–Madison about the power of equity in the workplace, challenges women face today, and ways women and men can address them because it’s the right thing to do and means greater business success.
Based on your experience, do you have any advice for today’s young professionals (under 40)?
Remember, as you succeed, that no one does this stuff alone. Be humble. Pause and recognize those who have helped you along the way and be open to what you can learn from others, especially if you don’t agree with them. You’ll learn more and you’ll become a more effective communicator. Stay curious.
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