4 minutes
Meet the 2014 CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec Top 15
Online voters and a panel of past finalists narrowed the CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec field from 24 to the Top 15 applicants. The challenge, held in conjunction with DDJ Myers and administered by Currency, searches for emerging leaders age 35 and under from within the credit union industry.
The Top 15 will blog about their project on www.nexttopcreditunionexec.com. And to provide additional value to the competition experience, they’ll each receive an executive coaching session from DDJ Myers, a CUES Supplier member and strategic provider. A judging panel of two CUES members and Deedee Myers of DDJ Myers will then score the Top 15’s applications and blog posts, narrowing the competition to five finalists.
The five finalists will receive additional coaching, airfare, accommodation and registration to CUES’ CEO/Executive Team Network™, Nov. 2-5 in Amelia Island, Fla., where they will give their final presentations. The 2014 CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec will receive further coaching, airfare, accommodation and registration for two CUES’ CEO Institutes, a total prize package valued at $20,000.
For the next several weeks, we’ll be checking in with the Top 15 to see how their project is going and learn a bit more about these next generation leaders.
Wesley Williams
Special Projects Manager
$273 million Martinsville DuPont Credit Union
Martinsville, Va.
Follow him on LinkedIn
Watch Wesley’s CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec video
Give us the elevator speech about your project (as in how would you describe your project to someone you meet in an elevator?):
I’m Wesley Williams, the special projects manager at Martinsville DuPont Credit Union. I bring a renewed sense of energy through an upbeat and positive attitude and a wisdom on credit unions that comes from the knowledge gained at the three credit unions I have been a part of, thus far in my career. My project focuses on organizational changes encompassing, but not limited to, the logo, branding, cultures, landscapes and so much more! Unlike other people who talk about change but never actually CHANGE, I inspire or uplift people and push thoughts into actions while displaying tangible results within my individual and team projects. How can bringing in change agents help your organization?
What is your long-term career goal?
To become a president/CEO or an executive of a credit union.
Fill in the dots: The future of credit unions will be bright if ...
We continue to build relationships with members and the community while expanding our products and services to accommodate their needs.
What my generation brings to the credit union movement is …
Energy, youth and ideas.
People consider me a leader because …
I am able to intermingle with all cultures and races. I have the ability to motivate people to do new things or go to new places in their spiritual, mental and/or physical life. I have a spirit of humility.
Who is your hero and why?
My father, Eddie Williams. My father was raised in a third-world country, Guyana located in South America. He left his home as a teenager to go work on a ship to earn money for his family. After the crew was told their services were no longer needed, he ended up virtually alone in a new country, America. My father, still having yet to reach the age of 21, developed his own landscaping business with the ever-lasting thought of bringing his family out of his poverty-stricken home town. He worked tirelessly to bring his mother, father, brother, sister and niece to the U.S. while helping them to become citizens. Even after this major accomplishment, he continues to give back to others in need. Whether it’s a friend, family member or stranger, my father sacrifices his time, money and energy while simultaneously working to grow his business. My father is a leader in every sense of the word, and while I could never fill his shoes, I do hope to exemplify these same ideals across the credit union industry. Developing new services, bringing people up from lower statuses, working tirelessly to help others and, no matter how much I have to sacrifice, always giving of my time, money and energy to help others while growing the credit union I’m a part of. Eddie Williams is, without a doubt, my hero.
Who is a must-follow on Twitter?
Got Jesus? @JesusGraces
Does your credit union have Twitter/Facebook/YouTube/Pinterest/LinkedIn/Instagram other social media accounts?
What is your favorite CUES member benefit? Or, if you are a new CUES NextGen member, what benefit are you most looking forward to using?
The free Webinars
