Credit unions that want to prosper must be willing to take calculated risks and make wise investments. For Mario Mejia, business development director at Interior Federal Credit Union in Washington, that means focusing on member eligibility, resources and financial literacy, and aligning the efforts made in those areas with a credit union's core mission and values.

"If you want a tornado you've got to kick up enough dust," the latest Trailblazer 40 Below said. "To be a change agent you've got to ask why, be clear about what you want out of it and think of the long term goal. Approach business development strategically and look at the different angles. Walking through the front door is not always the most practical route to making something happen."

Handed the task of building the credit union's business development department from the ground up when he joined the now $161 million institution, Mejia quickly found that due to government program changes and personnel moves, it was challenging to find the right contacts to build awareness of the credit union. Mejia wanted to get a grasp of everything the Department of the Interior does to understand how Interior FCU could help, and through his research, discovered that its more than 190,000 volunteers were what the DOI valued most. That revelation not only tied directly to the credit union's core – it provided a membership growth opportunity. All volunteers for agencies within the DOI and other select groups, who are dedicated to caring for the nation's national, cultural and historical resources, are eligible to join the credit union.