On September 4th, the Daviess County CEO Cohort embarked on an insightful visit to Crane Credit Union's Home Office in Crane, Indiana. The goal was to gain a better understanding of the banking industry and learn how financial institutions like Crane Credit Union operate. The cohort had the unique opportunity to meet with key members of the credit union’s leadership team, including President/CEO Kevin Sparks, VP of Operations Stacy Lengacher, AVP/Regional Manager Marsha Clarke, VP of Information Technology Mike Wiggington, COO Bryan Myers, CRO Alvin Lechner, and VP of Human Resources Marissa Lynch.
The visit began on a welcoming note as Mr. Sparks asked a key question: “How can we help you?” This set the stage for a collaborative and open conversation. Kevin emphasized Crane Credit Union’s commitment to providing excellent service, particularly to young adults. Kevin and his team offered knowledge and opinions on writing business plans, a topic that will become near and dear to our hearts as we start developing our own businesses
Marsha Clarke, posed an early question to the cohort: “What catches your attention?” This sparked a discussion that set the tone for the day. The leadership team shared their insights on the importance of personal touch, workplace culture, and supporting local organizations. They emphasized knowing your audience and mastering basic financial principles, or "Finance 101." Additionally, the team encouraged the cohort to always be passionate, maintain integrity, develop a strong work ethic, and embrace change.
Crane Credit Union, which has grown to over 18 branches, employs around 200 individuals, and serves more than 68,000 members, shared its aspirations with the students. They stressed to the cohort the value of finding employers that offer internships, support education, retirement matching programs, and the need to build professional relationships early in one's career.
A key takeaway from the visit was understanding the fundamental difference between banks and credit unions. The leadership team highlighted that, unlike profit-driven banks, credit unions prioritize the well-being of their members. The discussion also touched on risk management within the financial industry and how Crane Credit Union actively educates its members on financial literacy to help them make informed decisions.
The visit concluded with an engaging Q&A session, allowing the students to ask questions and dive deeper into the financial world. Before leaving, the cohort had hands-on experience, learning about the bank's inner workings and interacting with an automated teller machine (ATM), giving them practical exposure to everyday banking operations.
The Daviess County CEO Cohort left Crane Credit Union with valuable knowledge, a greater appreciation for the financial world, and excitement about their future financial journeys. They expressed their gratitude to the entire Crane Credit Union team for their time and insights during this educational visit.