3 minutes
Ben Hering
Business Development Specialist
$1.8 billion Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union
Saint Paul, Minn.
Follow Ben on Twitter
Follow him on LinkedIn
Watch Ben’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’re working in partnership with local bike organizations and shops to provide bike financing that pairs financial education with bike ownership to better equip our community with the tools needed for high quality, affordable transportation.
What is your long-term career goal?
I want to help credit unions lead the banking industry through member-focused service and innovation.
Fill in the dots: The future of credit unions will be bright if …
The cooperative principle of collaboration persists and younger generations understand the benefits of the credit union difference.
What my generation brings to the credit union movement is …
A new lens through which we can view what member service might look like and a rejuvenated passion for local, community-centric businesses.
People consider me a leader because …
Of my ability to bring together the talents of diverse teams and direct them towards developing and implementing creative solutions for our members.
Who is your hero and why?
There are a lot of people I admire and look to for inspiration, but one person comes to mind most consistently - Peter Ogombe. Pete is a close friend of mine who passed away too soon. He was a big presence, a big heart and the hardest worker. Most of all, he truly cared about and accepted people for who they were, with an innate ability to look beyond any preconceived judgement.
At the end of the longest feats, when the day drifts towards mundane, during grueling trials and blissful celebrations - I still see Pete every day.
Who is a must-follow on Twitter?
I love following my favorite musicians/artists/people to stay up on current happenings. For the latest in credit union news, I always enjoy seeing what Filene Research Institute puts out there. Follow their fun, engaging brand @fileneresearch for inspiration and innovation backed by research and consumer insights.
Does your credit union have Twitter/Facebook/YouTube/Pinterest/LinkedIn/Instagram other social media accounts?
Twitter: @Affinity_Plus
Facebook: AffinityPlus
LinkedIn: AffinityPlus
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?
I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge of credit unions and continue to grow as a leader through the webinars and learning opportunities CUES offers!
|
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™, Oct. 23-26 in Savannah, Ga., where they will give their final presentations. The 2016 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. |
