I enlisted in the Army National Guard after my first semester of college in January 1993 and served enthusiastically while finishing my finance degree.

I quickly moved through the ranks and became respected among many. I instructed and trained many Guardsmen over my eight-year tenure. I served stateside during relatively peaceful times and was never activated to fight. I was honorably discharged in 2001, shortly before 9/11.

After moving from job to job following college, I finally settled down at Western Illinois Credit Union. My time here has mimicked my service to the country. I began as a teller and absorbed everything I could about the credit union movement. In a few short years, I became vice president and attended CUNA Management School. Now, as president, I realize the hard work, discipline, and leadership skills I learned in the military are among the top benefits to sustaining a long-term career.

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