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Published on: 11/8/2007
Last Visited: 11/8/2007
Embracing Change: Mickey Wilson, CUES' 2004 ChairmanCUES - Management Magazine
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Embracing Change: Mickey Wilson, CUES' 2004 Chairman CUES Board Elects New Officers
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Michelle "Mickey" Wilson has spent her entire professional life embracing new challenges.As a political novice some 30-plus years ago, Wilson decided to try her hand at politics and was elected to two terms as township treasurer in Warren, Ohio.As a newcomer to credit unions, she stepped into a job as executive vice president of what is now called Greater Warren Community Federal Credit Union.A few years later, as CEO of the credit union, she overcame the economic adversity affecting her community to create a more viable and profitable organization.In 1994, in the face of plant closures in Warren and surrounding areas, she took the bold and necessary step of converting the credit union to a community charter.
All these experiences have provided Wilson with a strong list of credentials that will hold her in good stead as CUES' Chairman of the Board for 2004.
Stepping Up
Wilson's credit union career came about as a direct result of her decision to run for township treasurer.It was during this time that she became acquainted with people in the community and at Greater Warren Community FCU (then known as Copperweld Steel Federal Credit Union).A position as executive vice president opened up at the credit union in 1977, and Wilson stepped into the role."It was a huge title, but at the time there were only seven people," recalls Wilson with bemusement.
In 1984, Wilson was promoted to president/CEO of the CU, which has grown from seven employees to approximately 30 today and has two locations.When she took the leadership position, Wilson realized she had a challenge ahead of her.
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"For the last 20 years, we've been helping members get their finances sorted out," Wilson admits.However, she adds that a change in strategy led to a remarkable drop in the delinquency rate over the last two decades.
"This is going to sound sappy, but the way we did it was by becoming the member's friend," Wilson says.
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However, Wilson will be the first to admit that the last couple of years have been a major challenge.
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"The credit union was started by union people, so it was a natural thing that the employees at their credit union would belong to a union," Wilson explains.
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Mickey Wilson
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"We can retain members no matter where they move throughout the country, or even if they move outside the country, as has been the case with some who are serving in Iraq," Wilson says.
A Busy Life
Despite her busy professional life, Wilson works out regularly and runs five times a week.She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family, which includes a son and a daughter and four granddaughters.
Taking on the role of chairman of the CUES Board will add more to her hectic life, but Wilson sees this as a culmination of the years she has spent in credit union organizations.She has served in a number of organizations, including two terms as director of her state credit union league.However, she puts most of her extra-curricular energy into CUES.She's been a big supporter of the organization ever since she attended her first state council meeting in the mid-1980s.
"It was like finding a home," Wilson says."Other groups I'm involved with are all there to make credit unions successful.CUES is focused on the executive.CUES is there to make the executive successful, with the view that if the executive is successful, the credit union is, too."
Wilson is now in her third term on the CUES board.She moved up through the ranks, serving as secretary, treasurer and vice chairman before reaching the position of chairman.Indicative of her leadership style, Wilson has no intention of using her new position to micro-manage CUES activities in the coming year.On the contrary, she praises the staff in Madison, Wis., for already having a strong vision for what the organization can do.Her main goal in 2004 is to let the staff do more of the same.
"CUES has done a spectacular job of education by providing conferences, online learning opportunities and products that executives and directors need," Wilson says."It's hard to know what to improve.The real people moving it forward are the people in Madison.Those of us on the board just try to help let them know what is needed and stay out of their way."
Wilson expects the focus in 2004 to be on helping CUES members help the people in their community."The buzz word today is 'financial literacy,'" Wilson says."Those of us in the financial community are searching for ways to help their members,or in the case of banks, their customers,handle their finances better."
CUES is in a unique position to further financial literacy, according to Wilson."Our mission at CUES is to educate executives and their boards," she says.
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