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Don DiMatteo likes to share what he knows—whether conducting a member seminar, doing staff training or teaching other credit unions.
“I truly believe that credit unions have a lot to offer communities,” says DiMatteo, managing director of member experience at $1.7 billion State Department Federal Credit Union in Alexandria, Va., and the 2015 CUES Exceptional Leader. “I think it’s important that we collaborate to make the whole industry stronger.”
DiMatteo came to the CU as director of lending more than a decade ago after 18 years at Wells Fargo. His current duties are to lead all the CU’s front-end, member-facing sales teams with a “focus on providing a great experience for our members,” says DiMatteo, who received the CUES award in November at CEO/Executive Team Network™ in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Under DiMatteo’s leadership, State Department FCU sponsors more than 120 educational programs a year. These provide a wealth of useful information and highlight the advantages of the CU’s offerings.
The programs allow “us to create relationships with existing members and also attract new members into the credit union movement,” DiMatteo explains. “Based on what they hear in the seminars, we have many non-members who want to join.”
The “Making the Most of the Credit Union” seminar attracted 100-plus attendees in 2013, and led to more than 60 new memberships in the same timeframe.
Education as a Priority
In the summers while he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Towson University, Baltimore, DiMatteo had his first exposure to CUs—as a collector for U.S. Postal Service Federal Credit Union, Clinton, Md., now $203 million in assets.
During his career, DiMatteo has kept learning. He graduated from CUES School of High Performance (now CUES School of Member Experience), NAFCU Management Development Institute through Duke University and the American Financial Services Association’s Management Development Program through the University of North Carolina.
He also has learned from involvement in CUNA Lending Council and the Metropolitan Area Credit Union Management Association. He now serves on the MACUMA Board and chairs the organization’s outreach committee.
Sharing His Knowledge
In the spirit of sharing, DiMatteo has provided training and expertise to other CUs. He recently consulted with two that were preparing to adopt an auto draft program similar to the one DiMatteo developed for State Department FCU. The pre-approval program provides members a check to use in auto negotiations.
The program helped the CU reduce the volume of loan applications withdrawn by a member after being approved by approximately 6 percent, DiMatteo says. “The fact that other credit unions are implementing this program into their arsenal of services is a great tribute to what we did.”
DiMatteo also shares his knowledge by speaking at industry events. He presented at the 2015 Lending Symposium in Austin, Texas, hosted by CUES Supplier member and strategic provider CUNA Mutual Group, Madison, Wis. He also was a speaker/facilitator at a MACUMA lending roundtable.
“Having the opportunity to share my insights with industry peers is a great thrill for me,” he says. “I hope to be able to do more of that in the future.”
DiMatteo takes pride in the fact that many people he has managed have gone on to become leaders in their own right.
A past employee who currently manages 13 branches and 90 employees in the banking industry views DiMatteo as a role model, observing, “I emulate the way Don managed and communicated with his enthusiasm, energy and personal coaching.”
Current co-workers likewise think highly of DiMatteo. One of them, CUES member Veronica Trotta, nominated him for the CUES award.
“I work with Don fairly closely on a lot of different projects,” says Trotta, State Department FCU’s director of mortgages and loan administration. “He’s a motivational, inspirational and take-the-high-road kind of guy who believes in leading by example.”
State Department FCU President/CEO Jan N. Roche echoes these sentiments. “Don can be described as a reliable, passionate, results-oriented leader who is giving credit, not taking it,” says the CUES member. “He is able to focus on short-term objectives without losing sight of long-term value and truly cares for those he serves.”
Giving Back to the Community
Exhibiting this caring, DiMatteo has supported such CU endeavors as the Cherry Blossom Gala, Children’s Miracle Network and Wounded Warrior Foundation. Additionally, he is an avid youth sports coach. He also announces football and volleyball games at the local high school.
Married and the father of four, DiMatteo chose the National Kidney Foundation as the charity that receives a donation in conjunction with his CUES award. He asked that the donation be made in his wife’s name, Karla DiMatteo. She recently donated a kidney to her father.
“I’m very proud of her,” DiMatteo says. “She’s extending her father’s life.”
Named CUES Exceptional Leader, DiMatteo felt a variety of emotions.
“There are so many words you could use to describe it—surprised, thrilled, excited, humbled. I consider myself fortunate to be in a position to help others, and having them take the time to thank me, I’m extremely appreciative of that.”
Dianne Franklin is a freelance writer based in Missouri.
