Making an impact: How the DE program transformed Ent Credit Union
How one credit union has transformed its work with employees after attending the Foundation’s DE program.
The Foundation’s DE program is celebrating its 40th year, and the impact its teachings can make on the individuals who go through the program is stronger than ever. At Ent Credit Union in Colorado Springs, nearly 20 employees have earned their CUDE designation and have made an impact on their more than 1,500 colleagues and the credit union as a whole.
Three of those DE graduates are helping to lead the charge: Mollie Bell, chief development officer and September 2019 graduate; Marnie Gerkhardt, director of learning innovation and April 2014 graduate; and Amber Lundy, service area manager and October 2020 graduate.
Marnie credits attending DE and returning multiple times as a mentor as a huge part of her professional journey. “Each of those opportunities combined with what I’m working on now resonated with me, particularly when creating unique learning experiences focused on the needs of our members. If you help one member, you’ve done the thing.”
Amber agrees. “For me, the biggest thing was the advocacy piece. When I’m in centers with my team, I have a lot more passion just to advocate and ask my team, ‘why are we doing that for the member? How can we do this better?’ I’ve seen a lot of positivity with it where people ask me a lot more about DE, and I find my leadership now is even more passionate after going through that experience.”
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