A growing number of state leagues have been busy creating more opportunities for young credit union professionals to shine.
The South Carolina Credit Union League has launched its search for a protégé.
Four regional chapters of South Carolina credit unions have selected their respective candidates for the inaugural SCUL Palmetto Protégé Competition.
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The event was designed to recognize promising young professionals and the protégé selected will serve as statewide leader of the SCCUL Young Professional Initiative and a peer advocate for credit unions.
The four finalists are Patricia Bivens of CPM FCU, representing the Charleston area chapter; James Montgomery of SAFE FCU, representing the Columbia chapter; Ernest Felkel of SPC CU, representing the Pee Dee chapter; and Katie Matthews of Secured Advantage FCU, representing the Piedmont chapter.
All four will attend the Young Professional Initiative at the 2012 SCCUL annual meeting in Myrtle Beach April 19-21 and compete in state finals for a chance to be the first-ever South Carolina Palmetto Protégé. The statewide winner and two runners-up will receive special benefits, with the winner serving as the state's spokesperson for education efforts and helping credit unions craft opportunities to connect with younger generations.
The Texas Credit Union League has also gone on a young professional search for its Texas 12.Teaming up with Filene Research Institute, the TCUL has launched the new initiative and selected 12 young professionals to help spark change and positive growth.
Designed to serve as an incubator of sorts, the Texas 12 has been positioned as a way to bring the brightest young minds in Texas credit unions together to serve as a think tank, advisory board and working group.
They will be part of future league events to help guide TCUL initiatives and events into the future, brainstorm new ideas for the Texas credit union system and actually bring their visions to life. In return for their expertise, the 12 will have free access to specific league training and networking opportunities and free travel to and from each quarterly workshop.
"Young professionals have a great deal to offer our movement, so it's important that we tap into their knowledge and provide them an outlet for getting more engaged in our movement, as well as offer them hands-on opportunities to help shape the future of credit unions," said Dick Ensweiler, president/CEO of TCUL.
The Texas 12 consists of Shelby Ames, Liberty County Teachers FCU; Kelsey Balcaitis, A+ FCU; Doug Bedner, Resource One CU; Victoria Cline, Neighborhood CU; Brittany Doering, Family 1st of Texas FCU; Kate Donovan, Texoma Community CU; Chad Holz, University FCU; Lori Martinez, Houston TX Fire Fighters FCU; Jana Mearns, People's Trust FCU; Casey Moehring, Kelly Community FCU; Nikki Moore, Space City CU and Jamaal Dwayne Robinson, New Mt. Zion Baptist Church CU.
According to Ensweiler, given the challenges and opportunities facing the industry, the Texas 12 will be tapped to bring a fresh perspective, new ideas and a forward-thinking mentality.
The first activity for the Texas 12 will be to crash TCUL's annual meeting April 18-20 in Galveston. They will participate in mentor sessions, which are open conversation-style sit-downs with some of the credit union system's brightest and most influential minds. In addition the group will kick off the first workshop by collecting ideas and setting 2012 projects in motion.
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