Angela Reiter, Luseland Credit Union
Angela’s credit union journey started out preparing bank statements one day a week. As time went on Angela went from: one day, to part-time, to full-time, and from folding statements to frontline Member Services. Next Angela ventured into Consumer, Agricultural & Commercial Lending, and a member of the DNA Banking System Conversion Team.
Angela has recently moved into her new role as Marketing Coordinator. This role has allowed Angela to use her creative abilities to showcase why Luseland Credit Union is truly unique. LCU is her family and she’s excited to see what the future looks like!
Karen Diebel, Affinity Credit Union
Karen started her career with Langham Credit Union 1998. In 2000 an opportunity came up at Prairie Diamond Credit Union so Karen’s family moved back to her hometown of Davidson. Karen’s current role is with Affinity Credit Union where she is the Advice Centre Team Lead in Davidson and Kenaston. Throughout her career Karen has held several positions from SSR, Consumer Lender, to Branch Manager.
Being Member focused has always been a main priority for Karen and she feels very fortunate to work in such a great system as the values align with her own.
Glenda Smith, Foam Lake Credit Union
Glenda began her career at the Foam Lake Credit Union as a Member Service Representative in 1998. In 2010, Glenda moved into a Senior MSR position, in 2015 as the needs of the credit union system evolved in the compliance direction Glenda began the role as a Compliance Support Representative.
In 2018, Glenda accepted her current role as Manager, Compliance & Technology.
Lisa Taylor, Affinity Credit Union
Lisa’s career in the credit union system started in 1998 at Stoughton Credit Union in the Kisbey Branch. In 1999, Lisa moved to Saskatoon and started working with Saskatoon Credit Union, now Affinity Credit Union. She has held various positions within the credit union system from a Teller to her current role as Advice Centre Manager.
Over the years Lisa has learnt many things and has been given the opportunity to grow and develop her career. However, Lisa has indicated the most rewarding part of the last 25 years has been the people she has met along her journey. Lisa feels very privileged to work in the credit union system.
Verlyn Doetzel, Prairie Centre Credit Union
Verlyn originally started in the credit union system in 1989 at Rosetown & District Credit Union. In 1997, Verlyn resigned to spend extra time with her young family. On April 6, 1998, she was re-hired at Prairie Centre Credit Union as a part-time Executive Assistant.
In January 2000, Verlyn accepted the Human Resource Officer position and remained in Human Resources until May of 2020 when she assumed the Credit Analyst position and provided coverage in the Dealer Finance division.
Jason Bender, Conexus Credit Union
Jason began his career with Moosomin Credit Union as a Loans Officer which progressed to Ag Lending, then Commercial Account Management. When Moosomin Credit Union merged with Conexus Jason moved into Branch Manager for Moosomin and Wawota Branches, eventually adding Rocanville. Next Jason had the opportunity to progress further into a Regional Vice President position with Conexus originally leading the branch leaders of the South East branch locations, and eventually expanding to include all South branches of Conexus (outside of Regina).
As an avid community volunteer, the credit union values and purpose to serve members and communities are a strong personal connection for Jason. He has thoroughly enjoyed his time and the opportunity to support his members, communities, and development of employees in leadership roles in the credit union system!
Jackie Davis, Thrive Wealth Management – Conexus Credit Union
Jackie started at Sherwood Credit Union as a front-line Teller and then progressed to the Full-Service Area, then she moved to the Wealth Management Area. Jackie was on the Merger Team – for Sherwood, Moose Jaw and Assiniboia and once completed she transitioned back into the Wealth Area. Upon successful completion of the Branch Compliance Managers course Jackie started completing compliance duties for the branch, then all of Conexus, and the rest is history. Jackie is still in this field of work leading a team responsible for the compliance requirements of Thrive Wealth Management.
Jackie finds it hard to believe that she’s been with the Credit Union for 25 years – she has seen lots of change and has met many people, each of whom helped her to grow into the leader that she is today.
Brandie Appel, Innovation Credit Union
Brandie’s journey within the credit union system began with Prairie Centre Credit Union. From there she moved to Eston as an Ag/Commercial Lender followed by a move to Beechy as the Branch Manager. Next Brandie relocated to Rosetown as the Deposit Services Manager.
In 2015 Brandie began a new adventure with Innovation Credit Union, relocating to Swift Current where she managed their Call Centre followed by a role as the Vice President Member Advisors and more recently the Sales & Advisory Coach. (with the odd secondment) .
What Brandie values the most is the opportunities she has been given to truly make a difference, and the family and community she has gained along the way. The credit union system has been so much more than a career to her family, and for that Brandie is very grateful.
Tracy Williamson, LaFleche Credit Union
Tracy has had a great career with the credit union system starting as a summer student at Muenster Credit Union. She then accepted a full-time position with Melville Credit Union as a Management Trainee. Next Tracy moved to Leroy Credit Union as a Lending Officer II and then became the Lending Manager. In 2006, Tracy headed south to Lafleche Credit Union as Branch Manager in Glentworth, and then Manager of Lending & Branch Services in May 2008. In April 2019, Tracy accepted her current role as General Manager.
Over the years Tracy has enjoyed many credit union events including CUMA Conventions, slow-pitch & curling Tournaments and being a part of the Sask Agri Events Committee.
Holly Matias, Turtleford Credit Union
Holly had the benefit of starting as a Floater, a great position to learn every department! Over time the call of family brought Holly back to Alberta, where she had the pleasure of transferring to Synergy Credit Union and made many fond memories where people and technology came first. All that learning pushed her to take on new things and try new opportunities. This led to Holly’s newest chapter at Turtleford Credit Union Limited. Returning to a small branch, member orientated, and lots of learning.
Holly’s journey has been amazing with the credit union. Her advice is to enjoy the moments, do what you love and with the right team – and know it is okay to move on with the skills provided to something new. Holly is thankful for her journey and hopes it will continue for at least a few more years, as she’s still having fun.
Darin McNabb, Prairie Pride Credit Union
Darin started his credit union journey in June 1998 at Estevan Credit Union after graduating from Financial Services at SIAST Palliser Campus. Along the way he has worked at Cypress Credit Union and Spectra Credit Union eventually joining Prairie Pride Credit Union in May 2006.
Darin currently holds the role of Manager of Lending at Prairie Pride Credit Union and is actively involved in the communities they serve. Darin has also given back to the system as a CUMA executive from 2013-2015.
Brenda Yanke, Churchbridge Credit Union
Brenda started her career with the Churchbridge Credit Union as a casual MSR, moved into a full-time Accounting roll, then progressed from Deposit & Compliance Supervisor to Wealth and Compliance Manager.
One of Brenda’s favorite memories is when Churchbridge converted to DNA and Brenda was on the Conversion Team. There was talk that the conversion team were going to have to reinput all their members bill payment information, luckily there ended up being a solution and they did not have the daunting task to complete.
Brenda has indicated time has flown by and she cannot believe she has hit the milestone of 25 years. Brenda plans to continue her career with the Churchbridge Credit Union, but she does see retirement in sight.
Marcia Greenwood, Affinity Credit Union
Ever since her teenage years Marcia always wanted to work at a credit union. She started on the front-line as a Teller and then progressed through many positions including Investment Specialist, Consumer, Ag & Commercial Account Manager, to Business Advisor.
Around 2004 Marcia hosted a Credit Union Manageress from Sri Lanka as part of CDF’s Women’s Mentorship Program. This was an excellent experience for her and her family that led Marcia to 3 separate trips to Ghana West Africa volunteering with CDF.
Marcia has been on many committees over the years that helped spotlight the credit union experience in small town Saskatchewan. Marcia has always been a “credit union girl” and she looks forward to this continuing.
Tana Torkelson, Weyburn Credit Union
Tana is responsible for delivering a consistent and professional yet welcoming brand experience. All things purple and marketing, including member communications, donations and sponsorships and public relations, falls to her. She finds helping the credit union have a meaningful and positive impact in people’s lives so rewarding; supporting the WCU Community Fund is by far her favorite way she can do just that.
Tana began her credit union career in 1998 with a Business diploma specializing in Financial Services. She has experience in several credit unions and different areas. Tana started in her current role with Weyburn Credit Union in 2015. When she began, she was tasked with developing a new brand for WCU and introduced the purple spark logomark and has been integral in brand development since then. In fact, Tana has led the team to win eight national AIME awards for their work in branding and marketing. The Achievements in Marketing Excellence (AIME) Awards showcase the most impressive, effective, and creative marketing and communications campaigns seen in the Canadian credit union system.
Glen Cunningham, Affinity Credit Union
Glen’s credit union career started as a Teller at the Prince Albert Credit Union. After six months he made the move to Teleservice in a Clerk position, then became a Loans Officer and held that position for a few years before accepting a supervisor position. During this time, Glen began working on his FCUIC. When Prince Albert Credit Union merged with Sherwood and Moose Jaw Credit Unions to form Conexus in 2005, Glen assumed a Manager of Financial Services role.
In 2007, Glen’s family relocated to Regina, and he completed his ACUIC while working in Teleservice before moving in that role to a branch location. Glen’s career with Affinity Credit Union started in 2018 when he accepted his current role as Manager of Advisory Services. Glen is still eagerly filling that role today and he loves working with his colleagues at the Davidson, Kenaston, Milestone, Minton, and Rochdale locations.