Credit Union Executives Society
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Sharon L. Custer, CCUE
President/CEO
BMI Federal Credit Union
Dublin, Ohio
Assets: $340 million
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My name is Sharon, and I am CUES.
I started my career 39 years ago as a secretary for our original sponsor, a research organization. Due to a restructuring, I was displaced and transferred to the organization’s credit union, where I began processing loan documentation and learning more about the financial services industry. As time went on, I was promoted to a loan officer, a VP and then 23 years ago, CEO.
Shortly after I became CEO, I attended the CUES Ohio Council meeting. I showed up not knowing anyone, but as I walked through the door Council members introduced themselves and welcomed me. From that moment on, I felt like I had peers; I had people that I could go to, ask questions of and share ideas with.
And that was the reason I joined CUES—networking. CUES makes it easy. They provide the horse power to share the ideas and the information. As a member, I have fast access to the support of my peers through many venues, such as CUES Net™ and conferences.
Every conference I attend has a different focus and fulfills a different need, helping me accomplish specific goals. For example, CUES Symposium: A CEO/Chairman Exchange is an excellent way to get my board chair and I into a new environment that enables us to work on our relationship, and exchange strategic ideas with each other and with other credit union teams.
I have to say that in my career I have found my peers to be generous and supportive. I feel my greatest accomplishment is seeing the folks who have worked with me over the years go on to other positions in other credit unions and succeed. Contributing to their success and helping them reach their goals has been the absolute best part of my job.
Over the years, I have come to realize that trade associations do a phenomenal job. They are there for advocacy and legislative and regulatory issues. However, they are not there for the individual, for the professional development I need to be successful every day. That is the niche that CUES provides—access to my peers, to information and to all that goes on throughout the industry. I tell everyone that they will get their money’s worth in a short period of time when they join CUES.
