Vince Market

Executive vice president/CFO, TruMark Financial Credit Union, Fort Washington, Pa.

When the council formed in 1994, I was the CFO of our credit union. In fact, when the first conference was held in August 1994 in San Francisco, I was one of two or three CFOs from a credit union on the East Coast as the council at that time was predominantly California-based credit union CFOs.

The role of the finance professional has changed significantly over the years. It has evolved from a position with an emphasis on the financial aspects of the credit union to one that incorporates leadership, strategic planning, merger and acquisition expertise, board engagement and interaction, and a generally broader knowledge discipline.

The biggest challenge for today’s finance leaders is achieving innovation in the financial service industry and understanding the nuances in integrating a digital platform with more traditional delivery systems.

My advice for new finance professionals? Read a lot about developments in the financial institution industry, especially the credit union industry, and pay close attention to stakeholder comments in surveys.