CUNA News
  • LOG IN
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • LOG IN
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • Topics
    • Community Service
    • Compliance
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Credit Union System
    • Directors
    • Human Resources
    • Leadership
    • Lending
    • Marketing
    • Operations
    • Policy & Issues
    • Sales & Service
    • Technology
  • Credit Union Magazine
    • Buyers' Guide
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Edition
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Awards
    • Nominate Credit Union Hero
    • Nominate Credit Union Rock Star
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Contact

News

Home » The constant collaborator
Operations CU Rock Stars 2016
Evonne Smith

The constant collaborator

Evonne Smith's first job as a teller may well have been the most important for her career.

October 4, 2016
Mark Crawford
No Comments
Evonne Smith

Evonne Smith’s first job—teller/member service representative with $860 million asset Educational Systems Federal Credit Union in Greenbelt, Md.—might have been the most important for her career.

“It allowed me to build rapport by listening to members’ needs and recommending products or services that best fit their individual situations,” she says.

Evonne Smith

Click to enlarge. Evonne Smith’s “awesome HR team” congratulates her on her CU Rock Star nomination.

These skills were helpful when she was later promoted to the human resource (HR) department, where she now manages the credit union’s HR systems, benefits, and some employee relations and recruiting.

“Evonne works hard to ensure that our HR team models best practices,” says Dawn Weglein, vice president of HR for Educational Systems Federal. “She has focused on employee communications and created strong partnerships with our business lines.”

The HR team collaborates strategically with its business partners to accomplish a variety of objectives, including recruitment, training, and coaching and development.

“As a team, we’ve been able to successfully develop our employees, both personally and professionally,” says Smith. “One of our greatest challenges is recruitment and retention. We are constantly trying to find new methods to attract talent and generate interest through social media, postings on job boards, and job fairs.”

A former member of the HR team recently told Weglein it was the best team she had ever worked with, largely because it was so “approachable.”

That’s something Smith models every day with her emphasis on communication and trust.

“Employees and prospective employees openly share their stories with Evonne,” says Weglein. “She handles each situation with confidentiality and tact, building trust and doing all she can to help members of our team.”

Although she admits it might sound cliché, Smith’s greatest reward is helping people—employees, members, and the larger community.

“I am proud to work for a credit union that serves the education community,” she says. “As a parent of two school-aged children, it’s an honor to work for a credit union that has an unwavering commitment to helping the members of the education community achieve their financial goals and dreams.”

KEYWORDS Credit Union Rock Stars member experience

Post a comment to this article

Report Abusive Comment

Credit Union Magazine: Spring 2022

Spring 2022

Credit Union Magazine’s Spring 2022 edition profiles four Credit Union Heroes and examines CUNA's advocacy priorities, the advocacy army, and financial well-being for all.
Digital Edition •  Subscribe

Trending

  • House passes CUNA-backed fair hiring bill

  • House committee to mark up field of membership modernization bill

  • Final flood Q&As reflect CUNA-sought clarifications

Tweets by CUNA_News

Polls

Are you ready for CECL?

View Results
More

Champion for the Credit Union Movement

Credit Union National Association is the most influential financial services trade association and the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America's credit unions. We work tirelessly to protect your best interests in Washington and all 50 states. We fuel your professional growth at every level and champion the credit union story at every turn.

More CUNA

  • Membership
  • Contact Us
  • Careers

Resources for

  • Credit Union Advocates
  • Leagues
  • Press
  • Providers

Our Affiliates

  • American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL)
  • Credit Union Awareness
  • Credit Union House
  • CUNA Strategic Services
  • National Credit Union Foundation
GET CUNA UPDATES
© 2022 Credit Union National Association | ADA Compliance Notice & Legal
Email Us