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SC Telco Federal Credit Union Hosts Intern From Dominican Republic As Part of U.S. Department of State’s Professional Fellows Program
GREENVILLE– SC Telco Federal Credit Union is hosting a credit union professional from the Dominican Republic through early November. Gervis Nina, a Loan Officer from CoopCentral, a credit union in the Dominican Republic, arrived in the Palmetto State October 9 as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Professional Fellows Program.
The Professional Fellows Program brings emerging leaders from around the world to the United States for intensive fellowships designed to broaden their professional expertise. SC Telco is one of just 17 U.S.-based non-profit organizations and universities chosen to host foreign professionals in 2011- 2012 from over 50 countries and territories worldwide.
The Professional Fellows program supports international cooperation and builds networks of people and organizations working on critical issues worldwide. Nina’s one-month fellowship with SC Telco will provide him first-hand experience working alongside his American counterparts.
“We are exceptionally pleased to welcome Gervis to SC,” said SC Telco President/CEO Steve Harkins. “Our staff is excited to share how we go about meeting the needs of our members on a daily basis. This fellowship will also allow our team to learn how credit unions serve their members in the Dominican Republic.”
“Gervis arrived on October ninth and we put him to work the very next day,” said SC Telco Community Relations Manager Terri Hendrix. She added that during his stay, Nina would shadow each department in the credit union, sit in on supervisory meetings, and attend meetings with fellow Upstate credit union leaders. “Our goal is to give him a broad overview of how the credit union system works in the US.”
In addition to the day-to-day work at the credit union, Nina will also gain an understanding of American culture through site visits and community-based events. As part of his immersion in the US culture, Nina stayed with Hendrix and her family the first week of his fellowship.
At the conclusion of their fellowships, participants will gather in Washington, D.C., to take part in the Professional Fellows Congress, November 7-10, 2012. The Congress provides a forum for participants to discuss best practices with other young leaders in their profession, and to develop concrete projects and networks that they can implement upon their return home.
About SC Telco FCU:
SC Telco Federal Credit Union was chartered in 1935 by the employees of the Greenville Telephone Company. Since then, SC Telco has grown to serve not only telephone employees, but over 400 select employer groups and five financial underserved areas for people of low to modest income. With the main headquarters in Greenville, SC, the credit union has branches in Easley, Greenville, Taylors, Spartanburg, Columbia and Florence. The 40,000-member credit union has $235 million in assets.
About the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs:
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Exchange supports exchange programs that increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries. Approximately 50,000 individuals take part annually in exchange programs managed by the U.S. Department of State.
For more information please visit: http://exchanges.state.gov/citizens/profs/professional-fellows.html and (Organization Website)