CUNA Management School

CUNA Management School Scholarship Application Statement of Interest

Kathy Haas, Cincinnati Central Credit Union

I will never forget the day twenty years ago when I interviewed for a new Branch Management position with Cincinnati Central Credit Union (CCCU). I had been happily working for a local savings and loan for eight years and needed to move on due to the lack of potential career advancement that was available. I had really never heard of a credit union and truly didn't understand the differences in financial institutions. I remember walking into the office for my interview and it just felt right, this was where I was supposed to be. Little did I know how right I was, for it didn't take long for me to experience and learn about the credit union not-for-profit difference and realize that I never wanted to go back to the "for profit" financial world.

Luckily for me, I joined a credit union that had been born out of the strongest kind of philosophical belief possible with a leader, William Herring, who was the son of Louise McCarren Herring, often referred to as "the Mother of Credit Unions". I have witnessed the philosophical power and difference over the years and have also had tremendous personal and professional growth in this great credit union. Now it's my turn to give back!

CCCU is getting ready to go through a major change, our strong and successful leader has decided that it's time to retire. While the credit union is reluctant to see him go, he has earned the right to relax and enjoy his grandchildren. The CCCU Board of Directors have decided on a replacement for their soon to retire CEO, and have elected to put their faith and trust in me as their new leader. I am both honored and humbled at this opportunity and even though I have twenty years of credit union experience under my belt, I have so much to learn!

Attending the CUNA Management School, will help start me off on my new path with knowledge and experience that will guide me toward keeping this strong and philosophically sound credit union alive and thriving. It has been a difficult number of years for CCCU as with the credit union industry as a whole and getting scholarship assistance would greatly start this new venture and credit union commitment off on the right foot. My future career desire's surround being a strong credit union CEO, leader and member of the credit union community for many years to come. I believe strongly in the credit union movement, and look forward to working with the Ohio Credit Union League and credit union community as a whole. I have in the past 20 years attended many credit union chapter, league and community functions, but have typically observed as Bill Herring and those with more experience lead the way. While the early part of this new journey will focus on the transition of new leadership; I am anxious to assist the credit union movement in any way that I can. Hopefully this statement has helped you to see a little of the picture of Cincinnati Central Credit Union and understand my strong desire to succeed and how attending the CUNA Management School is my first really big and important step. I appreciate you giving me consideration for the CUNA Management School Scholarship and assistance toward working on my CCUE designation, a title that I would welcome with honor and will work diligently to achieve.

Sincerely, Kathy Haas