The best of both worlds

Like many people at small credit unions, Janelle Black has multiple roles at $70 million asset Governmental Employees Credit Union (GECU) in La Crosse, Wis. She wouldn’t have it any other way, though. Her title seemingly is incongruous: compliance officer, marketing specialist, and human resources. The competing right brain-left brain suits Black’s appetite for responsibility.

“Compliance is very black and white,” she says. “I love interpreting the rules and applying them to the credit union to help others through policy and procedures. Marketing is the complete opposite. It lets me stretch my creative muscles. I do all our advertising and social media and even some graphic design. It’s much less structured. I get the best of both worlds.”

If that’s not enough, Black is a graduate of the CUNA Financial Counseling Certification Program, and is qualified to provide financial counseling to GECU members. She also attended CUNA Compliance School, where she earned her certified Credit Union Compliance Expert designation.

Black learned her “all-hands-on-deck” mentality from her mother, Colleen Woggon, who is CEO of $70 million asset Oakdale Credit Union in Tomah, Wis.

As Black says, “I literally grew up in a credit union. I was able to observe at a young age how impactful credit unions are to a community.”

And Black dedicates herself to credit unions outside of the office as well. She is the young professional liaison to the local chapter of credit unions, a position through which she fosters training and networking. She’s also one of two young professional advisers to the Wisconsin Credit Union League board.

Black says: “I always come out of those meetings rejuvenated and ready to make a difference here at my small credit union.”