Ford, a senior at the University of Missouri-Columbia majoringin personal financial planning, considered several internshipoffers in the spring, including a few at brokerage firms. It was anencounter with Rosie Holub, president/CEO of the Missouri CreditUnion Association, that led him to come aboard the investmentservices group at the $543 million Vantage.

Holub serves on the board of advisors at the university'sDepartment of Personal Financial Planning. She happened to sit nextto Ford at a meeting of students close to completing their studies.When she asked the St. Louis native what his career goals were,Holub said, she was blown away with his focus.

"His value system and everything he said he wanted in hiscareer, I said to myself 'this is a credit union person,'" Holubrecalled. "It's wonderful when you have an example of a youngperson trying to fit into a career path where they're helpingsomeone."

Holub said she immediately thought of the African-AmericanCredit Union Coalition's summer internship program followed byHubert Hoosman, president/CEO of Vantage and a director on theleague's board. After a phone call, Hoosman's review of Ford'sr?(C)sum?(C) and an interview, the college student was quickly madean offer.

"He was such a sponge. It was a blessing to have him as anintern," Hoosman said. "He made such an impression that we wouldstrongly consider offering him a job after he graduates."

Ford said he absorbed so much while working in the investmentservices department with his mentor Mike Gatrell, investmentservices group brokerage sales manager. The first couple of weeks,they went over a review of different technologies and concepts inthe financial services field to gauge the level of Ford'sknowledge. Gatrell said it was clear that Ford's knowledge of theterminology was well advanced.

The intern typically spent the first half of his work day with aspecific task, and later he and Gatrell would discuss how it wentand different approaches. Gatrell also had Ford come up withhypothetical plans based on portfolio information. Gatrell wouldalso produce a hypothetical and then the both would comparenotes.

"What you learn in school or from a professor is one thing. Butin the real world, you deal with people, different personalitytypes and identifying what type of personality you work well with,"Ford said.

Ford also studied the lineup of investment services andproducts, including mutual funds and life insurance before goinglive with interaction, another skill the intern picked up veryquickly, Gatrell said. Ford also got his hands in clientreallocation and other planning tools.

"He's an overachiever. He's a breath of fresh air," Gatrellsaid. "We've had a few interns before but by far, he's the mostsuccessful. He molded very well with the team. We're definitelylooking into offering him a job after he finishes school."

Ford said one of the "cool" experiences during his internshipwas attending a board meeting.

"It was interesting to hear the policies and procedures and thento sit in a division or lower department team [meeting] and see thetransitions and how things are implemented," Ford said. "It waspretty interesting."

Ford said although he and several family members belonged tocredit unions prior to his Vantage internship, he wasn't able tosee up close the industry's mantra of people helping people. Thatphilosophy motivated him to put a credit union profession at thetop of his career wish list. Ford is scheduled to graduate inDecember and is considering graduate school to earn an MBA.

"The financial planning firms that I interviewed with [forinternships] were more corporate, more sterile," Ford said. "Thecredit union was much more about the client and helping themachieve their financial dreams."

As he embarks on the next phase of his life, Ford thought backto something Hoosman said at an AACUC conference call attended byinterns from around the country.

"Mr. Hoosman said you can do whatever you want as long as youhave consistency, tact and tenacity," Ford said.

On the last day of his internship, Ford e-mailed his mentorsthanking them for the eye-opening encounter.

"I believe every experience to be a good experience because youcan always learn from it," he wrote. "That being said, myinternship at VCU has been a great experience that I have learnedtons from, a wealth of knowledge that I feel is a great asset to mylife portfolio."

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