MADISON, Wis. (7/15/15)-- Sixteen credit union professionals earned the Credit Union Certified Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation by completing the second session of CUNA’s Certified Financial Counselor School, held June 22-25, in Madison, Wis.

“The CCUFC designation prepares you for the many financial counseling obstacles you may encounter with a member,” said new designee Katie Karls, branch manager/mortgage specialist at Premier Financial CU, New Holstein, Wis. “The CUNA Credit Union Financial Counseling Certification Program teaches you the tools needed to help your members who are in crisis and educate them on how to avoid a crisis.”

In addition to Karls, other designees who completed the CUNA Credit Union Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) include:

• Jennifer Backhaus, financial service representative, Midwest Community FCU, Defiance, Ohio;
• Cinder Buzick, financial services representative, United Savings CU, Fargo, N.D.;
• Brenda Davenport, loan officer, Eastex FCU, Evadale, Texas;
• Alicia Davis, vice president, Union Pacific of Arkansas FCU, North Little Rock, Ark.;
• Jodi Gryder, branch manager, First CU, Chandler, Ariz.;
• Gerardo Guajardo, credit counselor, American Airlines FCU, Fort Worth, Texas;
• Laura Hausmann, financial services representative, United Savings CU;
• Liz Hindle, member service, LaPorte (Ind.) Community FCU;
• Heather Laake, employer partnerships representative, MidAmerican CU, Wichita, Kan.;
• John McGregor, senior director of retail banking, Island FCU, Hauppage, N.Y.;
• Amy Price, development officer, Tuscaloosa (Ala.) CU;
• Cheryl Scott, manager of risk mitigation, Deer Valley CU, Phoenix;
• James Smith, branch manager, First Northern CU, Chicago;
• Michelle Spears, loan officer, Eastex FCU; and
• Linda Stanton, president/CEO, Union Pacific of Arkansas FCU.

Two financial counselors earned their FiCEP recertification designations:

• Diane Kennedy, supervisory committee, Midwest America FCU, Fort Wayne, Ind.; and
• Linda Lambert, senior loan officer, Class Act FCU, Louisville, Ky.