Press

Iowa Credit Union Foundation announces graduates of 2023 Financial Coach Program

WEST DES MOINES, IA (May 31, 2023) — The Iowa Credit Union Foundation (ICUF), the philanthropic arm of the Iowa Credit Union League, is proud to announce the graduates of the 2023 ‘People Helping People’ Financial Coach Program. The program, which ran virtually in May, featured 50 attendees from 17 different credit unions. The participants were immersed in learning and simulation to help them grow in understanding of how a person’s relationship with money can impact their financial decision-making and lead to potential hardship. Financial coaches are member advocates who can help credit union members navigate difficult financial situations.

“Iowa’s credit unions have a long history of commitment to helping members achieve their long-term financial goals. ICUF is proud to continue that legacy through our Financial Coach Training Program. It is our strong belief that financial coaches can play a pivotal role in the financial lives of their members and communities, setting them on a path to brighter financial futures,” said Ena Babic Barnes, Executive Director of ICUF.

The curriculum for the ‘People Helping People’ Financial Coach Program was developed in partnership with Adam Carroll, founder of National Financial Educators.

“What never ceases to amaze me is the level of care and concern Iowa credit union employees have for their members,” said Carroll. “The financial coaches all seem to be driven by the ‘people helping people’ philosophy, and I’m inspired by this class of new coaches.”

The graduates of the 2023 ICUF ‘People Helping People’ Financial Coach Program are:

Bleys Simmonds, Affinity Credit Union
Chantel Turley, Affinity Credit Union
Courtney McDaniel, Affinity Credit Union
Gage Smith, Affinity Credit Union
Jeff Justyna, Affinity Credit Union
Kalli Heimsness, Affinity Credit Union
Karalin Dake, Affinity Credit Union
Kevin Pope, Affinity Credit Union
Megan Collins, Affinity Credit Union
Tania De La Cruz, Affinity Credit Union
Megan Hansel, AIM Credit Union
Paula Vickers, AIM Credit Union
Alexis Meade, Ascentra Credit Union
Juan Izaguirre, Ascentra Credit Union
Lindsey Willert, Ascentra Credit Union
Jessica Horst, Capitol View Credit Union
Casey Harris, CENT Credit Union
Amy Michehl, Citizens Community Credit Union
Cami Mayne, Citizens Community Credit Union
Becky Thorson, Citizen Community Credit Union
Amanda Matthews, Greater Iowa Credit Union
Dulce Perez, Greater Iowa Credit Union
Irais Alcantara Herrera, Greater Iowa Credit Union
Jessica Luna, Greater Iowa Credit Union
Jocelyn Rivas, Greater Iowa Credit Union
Shay Wiegand, Greater Iowa Credit Union
Jesse Blankenship, GreenState Credit Union
Stephanie Carmichael, IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union
Courtney Williams, Iowa Credit Union League
Andrea Brommelkamp, Linn Area Credit Union,
Andrea Neumann, Linn Area Credit Union
Callie Gardeman, Linn Area Credit Union
Chase Knapp, Linn Area Credit Union
Danita Arrington, Linn Area Credit Union
David Kepler, Linn Area Credit Union
JoAnn Hepker, Linn Area Credit Union
Krystle Rivera, Linn Area Credit Union
Makenna Mann, Linn Area Credit Union
Miranda Morris, Linn Area Credit Union
Riley Bruns, Linn Area Credit Union
Sandra Cleppe, Linn Area Credit Union
Baylie Boyer, Midland Credit Union
Lindsay Szymanski, Midland Credit Union
Patty Orton, North Iowa Community Credit Union
Brooke Waterbury, Peoples Credit Union
Pamela Kruger, Peoples Credit Union
Dan Haack, Premier Credit Union
Danielle Vaughan, Sioux Valley Community Credit Union
Maggie Christensen, Sioux Valley Community Credit Union
Kyle Schwery, Town & Country Credit Union

Each graduate of the program received a coaching resource book, as well as access to an online educational portal to continue his or her growth as a financial coach. This is ICUF’s fifth year of hosting the Financial Coach Program.

About Iowa Credit Union Foundation

Founded in 1995 as the philanthropic arm of the Iowa Credit Union League, the Iowa Credit Union Foundation's (ICUF) primary focus is to eliminate poverty in the state of Iowa. ICUF seeks to carry out its mission to empower people and communities to achieve financial well-being through its various programs, grants and scholarships. For more information, visit www.IowaCreditUnionFoundation.org.