LANSING, MI (August 9, 2022) — The Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL) has launched MyCUcareer.com, a database of current Michigan credit union positions, to help people find job placement in a career-minded industry.
On MyCUcareer.com, users can search for positions based on region, city, credit union or job level (entry, managerial, executive) to find the perfect fit for them. There are even multiple remote and hybrid positions available at any given time, which give potential employers additional flexibility. The database will pull from more than 200 Michigan credit unions and from regions that span the state.
“The MyCUCareer database is built to help Michigan credit unions not simply fill open positions with new team members, but to help people find an industry that they will feel proud to call their career home,” said MCUL CEO Patty Corkery. “The credit union movement is strong and a great place to launch a career or continue on a career path. People in our industry are passionate about community service and their members. They are also incredibly committed to their teams. This is why we call our industry a family, and MyCUCareer.com is a way to find new family members!”
To help promote credit union careers, MCUL’s cooperative advertising campaign is now running ads that raise awareness to the Gen Z and young Millennials out there of the industry as a fulfilling career path. Below is an example:
TryACreditUnion.com Ad: Careers
Why start a career in a credit union?
Don’t take it from us; hear from some seasoned professionals.
“The opportunities, collaboration, and personal growth that I’ve found within the credit union industry is second to none,” said Heather Luciani, MCUL Board Chair and Chief Strategy Officer of Honor Credit Union in Berrien Springs.
After spending a few years in the banking industry, Luciani started at Marshall Community Credit Union, where she worked for more than 20 years as an executive before transitioning to Honor.
“The power of the cooperative structure, the positive impact on people’s financial lives, and the community partnerships I experience each day make me proud to be part of the credit union family,” continued Luciani, who was awarded MCUL’s 2022 Professional of the Year Award.
“It’s a great idea to get started in the credit union industry for so many reasons,” said Kyle Gurzynski, CEO of Filer Credit Union in Manistee. “This industry understands the importance of family, flexibility, inclusion, mentoring and supporting each other to help people reach their professional goals in life.”
Gurzynski started in the credit union industry in 2014 as a Branch Operations Manager. Within eight years, he moved his way up to be a CEO. Gurzynski was honored in 2021 with the MCUL Young Professional of the Year Award.
“It doesn’t matter which credit union you begin your career with; you’re entering an industry-wide family that is willing to help you achieve your professional aspirations,” he continued. “Joining the credit union industry is a life changing experience and once you join, you will not want to leave.”
Gurzynski’s career trajectory is not uncommon for credit union professionals.
Bill Lawton, former CEO of Plymouth-based Community Financial Credit Union, retired this month after 40 years with the credit union. He grew up in a credit union family — his grandfather, father and mother all involved in the industry — and got his career started as a teen, emptying ashtrays and trash cans.
Upon his retirement, Lawton told his staff, “Together, we have changed lives for the better and made our communities even more vibrant places to work and live.” It’s this kind of personal and professional enrichment the industry has on people that makes decades-long tenures so common.
Karen Church also recently retired from a credit union after more than four decades of service. She started her career at the Flint-based ELGA Credit Union in 1978. In the following 15 years, Church was able to learn every aspect of the organization before becoming CEO in 1993 — a position she held until early 2022.
Being a part of a credit union for nearly 45 years also gave Church the opportunity to see the real-time growth and impact of her hard work. When she started, ELGA Credit Union had 2,400 members; today, they have 81,000.
During an exit interview with CreditUnions.com, Church had these parting words: “There is no better industry to be a part of. We have the ability to help people achieve financial wellness, which leads to a healthy country.”
Equity
Another key reason to enter the credit union industry is to work for organizations that don’t discriminate based on gender differences. According to a 2021 report from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), women are much more likely to be treated fairly at a credit union than a bank.
In fact, 51% of U.S. credit union CEOs are women, while 33% of board members are female. In comparison, 3% of bank CEOs and 16% of bank board members are women. And, more broadly, only 6% of CEOs at companies on the S&P 500 are female.
Not only does this mean that there is more opportunity for upward mobility for women, but regardless of who you are, working in the credit union industry means having a career in an atmosphere that is actively working to give team members fair opportunities for success.
The Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL) is headquartered in Lansing, Michigan. The 187 Michigan credit unions, which hold $101 billion in assets, serve 60% of the state’s population. During the twelve months ending September 2023, Michigan credit unions provided its 6 million members with a total of $762 million in direct financial benefits.
Shawn Glinis
Media and Publications Editor
Michigan Credit Union League
734.793.3449 | Shawn.Glinis@MCUL.org
