5 minutes
Raffo Wimsett
Campus Relations Partner
$1 billion Commonwealth Credit Union
Frankfort, Ky.
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Watch Raffo’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?)
Automated teller machines and mobile banking: Two things that have dramatically changed how the consumer conducts their day-to-day finances. Why? Convenience and accessibility.
Operation “Boots on the Ground” uses the same concept by eliminating the member coming to us. Instead, we go to them. We initiate the relationship, earning their business and trust by showing them the true benefit of doing business with a credit union. Operation “Boots on the Ground” goes outside the norm! We take the classroom to you. This mobility gives us the capability to satisfy the member’s needs and wants without the brick and mortar of a branch. Perseverance will play a pivotal role in achieving the success of something different.
What is your long-term career goal?
After exiting the world of banking and coming onboard with Commonwealth Credit Union, I knew immediately that I was here to stay. As I become more exposed to our structure and strategic plan for the future of our institution, I hope to achieve a senior management position where I can work to focus our efforts to stay relevant with our members. I am confident that obtaining the CUES #NTCUE will only help in preparing me for the opportunity.
Fill in the dots: The future of credit unions will be bright if ...
We stay unified in our efforts to continue as “People Helping People.” This is not just a motto in our industry, but something we truly operate and live by. The foundation of our industry is strong and if we are to thrive in the future, we cannot lose touch with who we are and what we were built on. Credit unions have always been competitive in the products and services that we offer, but that is only partially responsible for our success. The biggest thing that sets us apart is treating each member the same regardless of the balance in their account.
What my generation brings to the credit union movement is …
ENERGY!!! We understand the importance of what we do for our members in allowing them to reach financial stability. Operation “Boots on the Ground” is a prime example of wanting to go outside the walls of the credit union, giving us the opportunity to show our energy and passion in “People Helping People” by educating these young individuals before they leave college unaware of what lies ahead. It is not the products and services that need to change in order to stay relevant in our industry, but how we inform our communities of these benefits. This will depend on the next generation.
People consider me a leader because …
I am not afraid to go outside of my comfort zone. Admitting that I am always confident in doing so would be a stretch of the truth, but I do understand that a person cannot evolve unless they are willing to change and grow. This occurs when you steer clear of being complacent. No great leader ever achieved success without failure. I think I have gained respect from my peers in accepting challenges willingly and not fearing failure as the outcome when doing so.
Who is your hero and why?
Easy answer here, my father!
My father has been my best friend and a man who I have looked up to from day one. Seeing how he treats people, and how he sticks by his word, allowed me to understand from a very young age the value of relationships. My father, who is the CEO of a small town bank, knows the threat and advantages that credit unions impose on the banking industry. Knowing this, he never uses our father-son time to be heard or to make a point, but to show his support in the satisfaction that I get from my job, company and industry. Support is something that I can always count on from my father. A man that lives by his morals, versus his own agenda, is refreshing to be around. When I start to see myself wavering from that same concept, I know that my father will be there to help guide me to what matters most in life - your word!
Who is a must-follow on Twitter?
@carellquotes -- ”The Office quotes from the genius that is Michael Scott”-- If you’re a fan of The Office, then you will be a fan of this twitter account. Always good for a laugh!
Does your credit union have Twitter/Facebook/YouTube/Pinterest/LinkedIn/Instagram other social media accounts? Please provide links:
Facebook : Commonwealth Credit Union
Instagram: Commonwealth Credit Union
Twitter: Commonwealth Credit Union
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 webinars for Training & Education excite me the most. Having the ability to go into the webinar library and choose from a variety of avenues, is not only a huge resource for young professionals, but for all professionals looking to grow and advance. And with it being free, it does not get much better than that!
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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. |
