Royal Credit Union names new Young Professional Credit Union Activists
EAU CLAIRE, WI (September 8, 2022) — Royal Credit Union (Royal) has named Alyssa Strukel and Cooper Larson as the new Royal Credit Union Young Professional Credit Union Activists (YP CU Activists.) Royal launched the YP CU Activist program in 2019 as a way to strengthen the credit union movement and amplify the voice of young professionals.
The YP CU Activists will serve from August 2022 through July 2023 and will work to share the credit union difference with policymakers at key advocacy events. Strukel will represent Royal at Minnesota advocacy events and Larson will participate in Wisconsin advocacy efforts. Strukel and Larson will be traveling to Washington D.C. in the coming weeks to participate in the Hike the Hill events hosted by the Minnesota Credit Union Network and Wisconsin Credit Union League. Strukel and Larson will meet with their state legislators in St. Paul, MN and Madison, WI in January 2023. They will return to Washington D.C. in February 2023 to attend the Credit Union National Association’s Governmental Affairs Conference.
Royal’s President/CEO, Brandon Riechers, is a champion for YPs and the creator of the program. “Royal Credit Union is proud to make this investment in its young professionals to ensure they have a seat at the table during these important discussions,” Riechers said. “This program has proven lawmakers are especially interested in listening to young professionals and enjoy hearing from constituents with varied experience and different perspectives. Alyssa and Cooper will do an excellent job sharing our Member’s stories and serving as a voice for YPs across Minnesota and Wisconsin.”
Strukel, a Mortgage Servicing Supervisor, is looking forward to bringing back what she learns from this experience to engage other young professionals. “Without the great leadership at Royal, I know that I would not have been able to feel confident in my abilities and empowered to do great things. This opportunity will allow me to build more leaders in this amazing industry, as my leaders have done for me. I’m looking forward to sharing what I learn with my fellow YPs and mobilizing them to take an active role in the credit union movement.”
Larson, a Community Financial Education Coordinator, wants to raise awareness about the positive impact credit unions are making in the communities they serve. “I want to be part of promoting the credit union difference by sharing the stories of our Members who make us who we are. I look forward to connecting with lawmakers, helping them understand the major impact we make as financial institutions and how public policy can affect our Members and their ability to accomplish their financial goals.”
Strukel and Larson will spend approximately two hours a month expanding their credit union advocacy knowledge and preparing to attend the events. They will also participate in lawmaker visits to Royal and will attend key political events in the community. Royal is covering all registration and travel costs for the YP CU Activists. Candidates interested in the position completed an application that was reviewed and scored by an internal committee of Royal leaders. Applicants were required to be employed by Royal for a minimum of six months to be eligible to participate in the YP CU Activist program and have approval from their supervisor.
Cooper Larson
Alyssa Strukel
About Royal Credit Union
Royal Credit Union is a federally insured credit union proudly serving over 300,000 Members in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Royal is driven by a core ideology built on a strong purpose and values. You can open an account or apply for a low-rate loan at Royal Credit Union if you live or work in 26 counties in western Wisconsin or 16 counties in Minnesota. Counties served in Wisconsin include Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Lincoln, Marathon, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Washburn, and Wood. Counties served in Minnesota include Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Olmsted, Pine, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Wabasha, Washington, Winona and Wright. A complete list of Member eligibility requirements is available on the Royal Credit Union website. To learn more about Royal, visit rcu.org or call 800-341-9911.
