Brian McConnell took a few minutes out of his day to share about his experience as a member of the Board of Directors for USAgencies Credit Union…

Why did you become a member of the Board of Directors at USAgencies Credit Union?

I was working as a civil engineer and recently completed my MBA in finance when I joined the Board.  I thought becoming a board member would give me an opportunity to continue learning about the financial industry as well as apply what I learned in business school, neither of which I was able to do in my day job.  I was right!  In addition, I felt that I could add a younger perspective than the other board members which would be helpful for attracting younger members to USACU.  Having board level experience on my resume so early in my career was a huge plus for me too.

How old were you when you joined the USACU Board?

27 years old

What skills (personal or professional) do you think you’ve gained from your experience on the Board?

I learned so much about the credit union movement and our place in the financial services industry.  Before my time on the board I didn’t properly appreciate how much credit unions do for their members.  Besides gaining knowledge about credit unions, I honed my skills at analyzing USACU’s financial statements, which has helped me professionally as I transitioned my career from engineering to finance.  More importantly however, I learned a lot from the other board members and USACU management.  They were all leaders in one way or another, so I tried to observe them as much as possible, especially early in my term on the Board, to learn different approaches to leadership.  When I joined the Board I didn’t have experience professionally operating at a strategic level which the Board must do.  It wasn’t for a few years after I joined the Board that I began interacting with executives more regularly in my career.  I credit my Board experience with increasing my comfort working with high level executives.

In your opinion, who should consider becoming a Board Member at USAgencies Credit Union?

In my opinion, nearly anyone would benefit from joining the USACU Board.  For instance, people that want to make a difference in the lives of USACU members truly can have a positive impact on our members as a board member.  People that want to learn about the financial industry will get an opportunity to do so on the Board.  People that want to try something outside of their career comfort zone or even think they may be interested in a career change into something related to the financial services industry could benefit from USACU Board experience.  If someone wants to gain more business acumen, the USACU Board is a great way to do it.  Those are just a few examples of who I think would benefit from the Board experience.

How long have you been a member at USAgencies, and what do you love about your credit union?

I’ve been a member at USACU for just over 10 years.  Unlike other financial institutions I have worked with, USACU is very approachable and accessible.  If you have a financial need or issue, you can pick up the phone or stop by the branch and talk with someone that can help.  I haven’t had that same experience at any other financial institution.  I am confident that they act with my best interest in mind.