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NextGen Leaders: Matthew Beckett

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3 minutes

Meet the 2015 CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec Top 15

Matthew BeckettMatthew Beckett
Private Wealth Advisor
$2 billion Coastal Community Financial Management Inc.
Courtenay, British Columbia
Follow Matt on Twitter
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Watch Matt’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?):

We are building the BC Young Leaders Network, a potential to reach 5,000 emerging leaders in the credit union system through webinars, guest speakers, conferences and networking events.

What is your long-term career goal?

I am in the position I have been working toward ever since I started with Coastal Community. So my long-term career goal would be to continue to improve my position for the betterment of my clients and members.

Fill in the dots: The future of credit unions will be bright if ...

… the general public would understand what credit unions have to offer as full-service financial institutions. This is one of our greatest challenges in the system: Continue to communicate our difference that we are local but offer the same if not better solutions. This is our relevancy among our competitors.

 

Online voters and a panel of past finalists narrowed the CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec field from 20 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.  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. 8-11 in Scottsdale, Ariz., where they will give their final presentations. The 2015 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

What my generation brings to the credit union movement is …

… fresh ideas and a willingness to push the envelope when it comes to technology, social media and solutions that fit our generation. We need to respect what previous generations have built for us and realize that some things are great just the way they are; however some things aren’t and need to be given new energy and focus.

People consider me a leader because …

… I am ambitious, forward thinking, positive and listen to everyone’s opinions. When asked, I give advice and I feel that is my greatest strength as a leader. I am an experience-based leader -- I share my struggles and successes along the way.

Who is your hero and why?

My wife Chelsea because she is so unselfish. She gave up living in her hometown of 20+ years, friends and family to come with me. She is the foundation of our house – always solid, very caring and making sure everyone is taken care of before herself. Chelsea is a great wife and even better parent. I have the utmost respect for mothers – toughest but most important job of them all.

Who is a must-follow on Twitter?

David Chilton – the Wealthy Barber. His tweets about life, finance and real life are authentic to who he is. He also is pretty funny and down to earth – qualities I like in people.

Does your credit union have Twitter/Facebook/YouTube/Pinterest/LinkedIn/Instagram other social media accounts? Please provide links:

Twitter
LinkedIn

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?

Resources on social media; difficult conversations; leadership development; news on credit unions in North America.

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