D’Amico and Schultz - Community and Culture (#136)

06/03/22 • 36 min

“We want people that are authentic, and passionate, and want to do what’s best for members.” - Jennifer D’Amico

Thank you for tuning in to episode 136 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Allied Solutions. Allied Solutions is focused on helping clients grow their bottom line, protect their business and members, and evolve to stay ahead of the competition.

My guests on today's show are Jennifer D’Amico and Randy Schultz. Jen is the VP of Marketing at Commonwealth Central Credit Union. Randy is the VP of Marketing at Strum Agency. This episode is filled with insights from two marketing experts in the credit union industry, and was recorded in front of a live audience at the 2022 MAC Conference in Chicago. Jen and Randy talk about what gets them most excited for the future of the movement including data, culture, member experience, and change.

During our conversation, Jen and Randy dive into the greatest investment made in each of their careers. Coincidentally, they share similar thoughts on how they immerse themselves in the credit union community. They express the importance of creating connections, continuing education, and sharing ideas to stay relevant in the industry. Together we chat about what to look for in building a strong team that understands the culture and the “why” of the organization.

Jen talks about taking risks in marketing and the balancing act of driving new business and showing positive results, while sharing member stories. Randy gives tips to stay up to date in marketing and speaks on the importance of shifting our mindsets. We chat about the future of the credit union movement and the need to humanize the financial services industry to attract talent.

As we wrap up the show, listen in as Jen and Randy discuss work-life balance, Randy’s favorite album of all time, and the best combo: Pelotons and puppies. Enjoy my conversation with Jen and Randy!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher

Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List

How to find Jen:
Jennifer D’Amico, VP of Marketing at Commonwealth Central Credit Union
[email protected]
https://www.wealthcu.org
LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

How to find Randy:
Randy Schultz, VP of Marketing at Strum Agency
[email protected]
https://www.strumagency.com
LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

“We want people that are authentic, and passionate, and want to do what’s best for members.” - Jennifer D’Amico

As we wrap up the show, listen in as Jen and Randy discuss work-life balance, Randy’s favorite album of all time, and the best combo: Pelotons and puppies. Enjoy my conversation with Jen and Randy!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher

Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List

How to find Jen:
Jennifer D’Amico, VP of Marketing at Commonwealth Central Credit Union
[email protected]
https://www.wealthcu.org
LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

How to find Randy:
Randy Schultz, VP of Marketing at Strum Agency
[email protected]
https://www.strumagency.com
LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Previous Episode

Whitney Anderson-Harrell - Not a Dress Rehearsal (#135)

“We’re serving the underserved, doing things differently, making a difference for people.” - Whitney Anderson-Harrell

Thank you for tuning in to episode 135 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Allied Solutions. Allied Solutions is focused on helping clients grow their bottom line, protect their business and members, and evolve to stay ahead of the competition.

My guest on today's show is Whitney Anderson-Harrell, President & CEO at Elements Financial FCU in Indianapolis. Whitney shares the unique story of her career journey from teller, to outside the industry, and finally back to credit unions. She expresses her excitement about the future of the movement and what credit unions should focus on to stay relevant. She also discusses the value of having and being a mentor to gain greater insight and opportunities throughout your career.

During our conversation, Whitney dives into the big investment she made in her career that she also considers a big catalyst for change. Whitney shares that when adding a new member to her team, she looks for integrity, loyalty, and trust. She finds it important to create a healthy environment where solution-oriented conversations are encouraged. Throughout the discussion, Whitney shares her belief in challenging current ideas and listening to new ones to stay relevant and ultimately make the right decisions for members, employees, and the community.

As Elements’ newest CEO, Whitney shares how she built a foundation of trust with her leadership team through intention, direct communication, and asking questions. She finds this vital in gaining perspective and understanding what each employee values within the credit union. Whitney also finds it helpful to be direct when giving feedback and speaks on the benefits of having a direct conversation when necessary.

Whitney and I chat about how she plans on growing Elements along with the credit union movement as a whole by exceeding member expectations. Tune in to hear Whitney’s advice on when to pull the plug on an idea, balancing a hybrid work environment, technology in the credit union space, and more.

As we wrap up the show, listen in as Whitney talks about her amazing family, her love of Motown, and one book she’s been reading lately. Enjoy my conversation with Whitney Anderson-Harrell!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher

Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List

How to find Whitney:
Whitney Anderson-Harrell, President & CEO at Elements FCU
[email protected]
https://www.elements.org/
LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Next Episode

Carol Marx - Grassroot Service (#137)

“Credit unions have done so much for their membership, and they continue to do more.” - Carol Marx

Thank you for tuning in to episode 137 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Allied Solutions. Allied Solutions is focused on helping clients grow their bottom line, protect their business and members, and evolve to stay ahead of the competition.

My guest on today's show is Carol Marx, President & CEO at the Hawaii Credit Union League. Carol worked in financial services for over 30 years and has recently made her way to credit unions. She expresses her excitement about taking on this role and being involved in the credit union movement. Carol talks about credit union values and how they are reflected through the work performed within communities.

During our conversation, Carol talks about credit unions being a united front and coming together to increase awareness and enhance the financial well-being of members across their communities. Carol shares her vision of success, which includes ideas of overcoming adversity, succession planning, and establishing secure housing. She also discusses the greatest investment made in her career and how it prepared her for the future. Carol and I talk about what she looks for to enhance the culture of Hawaii’s credit unions and their teams. When giving feedback, Carol suggests listening to a team member’s perspective first, then following up with a question-driven discussion that leads to a manageable solution.

Carol shares what makes a good leader and the importance of aligning the “why” of the organization with their purpose. She explains ways in which she communicates change while involving team members of all levels. Carol shares her vision of what a career in credit unions will look like in five years while continuing the important work of the credit union movement to ensure a strong future for credit unions.

As we wrap up the show, listen in as Carol shares how she recharges as a CEO, the album she listens to daily, and the reason she feels her father is the personification of, “People helping people.” Enjoy my conversation with Carol Marx!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher

Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List

How to find Carol:
Carol Marx, President & CEO at the Hawaii Credit Union League
[email protected]
http://www.hcul.org/
LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram