On the path to becoming CEO, Dan McGowan felt supported by receiving a top CUES award.
By Lisa Hochgraf
CUES member Dan McGowan first thought he'd like to be a CEO about 20 years ago. So being named president/CEO of $191 million Pioneer West Virginia Federal Credit Union, Charleston, on Oct. 1 of last year was a significant milestone. McGowan says being named 2012 CUES Exceptional Leader helped him believe he could reach his dream. "I think I’m like a lot of other people in the workforce in that we go to work every day and do our best to make the world a better place, but our efforts largely go unnoticed," he says. "The CUES Exceptional Leader award was a highlight of my career. "We’ve all known people who fit the 'legend in their own mind' description, but that assessment may not go beyond the individual. It’s another thing entirely for one’s work to be submitted for review by an objective third-party panel of experts, who conclude that it is worthy of note. So, the recognition also served as a validation that I may have been on the right track." In addition to the support of the CUES Exceptional Leader award, McGowan, CCE, CPA, CMA, CITP, CGMA, believes attending CUES' CEO Institute, which earned him the Certified Chief Executive designation, did much to prepare him for the corner office. "My initial interest in the CEO Institute was based on a desire to build a stronger resume in preparation for seeking a CEO position," he explains. "But the benefits of the CEO Institute go well beyond simply being able to add it to a resume. The faculty at all three institutions were excellent, the instructional content was valuable, and we all formed lifetime friendships." Even now that he's reached the top leadership spot at his CU, McGowan remains focused on his own professional development--he just completed three doctoral-level classes at the University of Charleston and has CUES' Strategic Innovation Institute on his radar--as well as that of his staff. He says industry awards are part of the mix. "We’ve assembled a team of very competitive high-achievers here at Pioneer WV FCU," he quips, "and we appreciate opportunities to be recognized as such on an individual basis and as a credit union. Rest assured, though, it’s not about self-aggrandizement. It’s about validation." Asked what advice he'd give aspiring CEOs, McGowan recommended keeping your sense of humor. "Most certainly, levity is good for the soul, and for good mental and emotional health," he says. "The ability to see humor in the absurdities of life and to laugh, even at our own foibles sometimes, separates winners from losers. "At the same time, I’m serious in the extreme as to the success of the credit union and, by extension, to my own success as a professional."
Lisa Hochgraf is a CUES senior editor. Celebrate those realizing their potential! Nominate the individuals making a difference in the movement for CUES Exceptional Leader or another CUES award by June 12. Begin your own CEO Institute journey this August at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.
