As CU Approaches $10B in Assets, Chief Compliance Officer Shapes Path Forward

Age: Fifty-something
 
Number of years at current credit union: Two
 
Educational background: Bachelor’s degree in political science and Juris Doctor
 
CU Times: What are your key responsibilities in your current role?

Witwer: It is my honor to lead our Compliance team at Members 1st Federal Credit Union. This involves close collaboration with leaders across the credit union to navigate the exciting growth ahead as the organization approaches the $10 billion asset milestone. It is an opportunity to help shape the path forward while keeping members’ best interests at the center of every decision.
 
CU Times: What drew you to the credit union industry?

Witwer: After working at some very large financial institutions that embraced the goal of maximizing shareholder equity, the credit union model of ‘people helping people’ greatly intrigued me. The leaders at my first credit union were so genuinely committed to improving the lives of its members that I knew credit unions were something special.
 
CU Times: What unique skills, experience and attributes do you bring to your role?

Witwer: Spending time in a variety of roles across multiple financial institutions has helped me to gain invaluable insight across many aspects of the industry. The most important lessons have come from working alongside incredible people throughout my career. Listening is a skillset that is too often overlooked, and one I try to practice every day.
 
CU Times: Which person (or people) do you credit the most for helping and supporting you along your career journey?

Witwer: Countless individuals have been such blessings to me by generously sharing their wisdom and experience over the years, making it impossible to name them all here. Nevertheless, I remain extremely grateful to each one of them. The goal has always been to listen carefully, capture meaningful nuggets of wisdom, and put them into action. There’s a continued commitment to seeking out conversations with people who think differently and are open to sharing their perspectives.
 
CU Times: What are some of the biggest differences between working in your current executive level role and your previous, non-executive roles?

Witwer: In many ways, executive roles and non-executive roles have more in common than people may think. At every level, the goal remains the same – achieving success for the team, no matter its size or scope. While responsibility naturally increases with greater authority, the core principles stay consistent. In every role, the focus is on showing up as the best possible version of oneself each day.
 
CU Times: What’s a challenge you faced when you first joined your executive team, and how did you overcome it?

Witwer: When I first joined the team, our credit union had recently undergone a change in administration. Several leaders were new to the industry, bringing fresh perspectives and experience from other fields. Learning from each other and growing together collectively was both a challenge and an opportunity, based upon our different experiences and approaches. Embracing our diverse backgrounds helped us to grow together as a team and to lean into the credit union’s vision.
 
CU Times: How would you describe your current leadership style?

Witwer: Our President/CEO is a strong advocate of servant leadership, and that philosophy was an incredibly powerful motivator for me to join the Members 1st faM1ly. He leads by example, and it has been inspiring to see our entire Leadership Team embrace this mindset as well.
 
CU Times: What are some lessons you've learned over your career concerning how to communicate well with others?

Witwer: Good communication begins with genuinely caring about others and valuing their perspectives. It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of work and life or to stay within familiar conversations. Yet some of the most meaningful connections occur when stepping outside those comfort zones and engaging with someone new. Often those moments reveal something unexpected both about another person and in turn about oneself.

CU Times: What are some ways in which you achieve work/life balance, set boundaries and/or avoid burnout at work?

Witwer: Something that I have continued to encourage coworkers to do over the past 30-plus years is to get priorities straight and to keep them there. When priorities fall out of place, it can affect both individual and team well-being. It is also important to define for oneself what success truly means. If success is measured by material possessions or titles, those things can change quickly. Real success, I believe, comes from making a positive impact on others.

CU Times: What’s next for you on your executive career journey? Do you have any specific career goals you’re working toward?

Witwer: My journey has led me to this team, and, right now, our focus is on the hill we are climbing together, diligently working side-by-side. Being able to share that experience and pass along the lessons I’ve learned with those who are willing to listen is truly the pinnacle of a career well-lived.
 
CU Times: What big-picture impact do you hope to make within your credit union, as well as for your members and community? 

Witwer: There is a unique synergy to be found in the relationship between credit unions and the members and communities that we serve. At Members 1st, success is measured by how well we serve both, and we serve them very, very well. That is the big picture. My hope is to help achieve our near-term objectives, to eventually retire, and to come back and celebrate with the team all that they are continuing to carry forward. If I have played even a small positive role in their journey, that is the impact I hope to leave behind. I might even spring for lunch!
 
CU Times: What career advice would you give your younger self?

Witwer: We have two ears and one mouth for a reason, so that we can listen more than we talk. Ask more questions and then keep asking. Focus on helping others, and when you think you have done your best, strive to do even more. That, to me, is the truest measure of success.

Would you or someone you know like to share your journey to credit union leadership? Please reach out to Natasha Chilingerian at natasha.chilingerian@arc-network.com. To qualify, the individual must be a part of a credit union's leadership team or C-suite, and have a compelling story to share about their rise to their current leadership role.