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Home » Getting it done
Operations CU Rock Stars 2020

Getting it done

Nicole Arneson gets satisfaction from finding a solution to a challenge.

September 25, 2020
Jennifer Plager
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Nicole Arneson

As a college student, Nicole Arneson’s career plans involved working with prison inmates, not credit union core processing systems.

“I accidentally fell into this,” says Arneson, assistant vice president, core operations, at $1.8 billion asset Columbia Credit Union in Vancouver, Wash. “I didn’t even own a computer when I moved into the information technology (IT) department. I just had a boss who liked my attitude and knew I could be taught anything as long as I was willing to learn.”

Arneson was a criminal justice student when she talked to two Columbia employees one night at a TGI Fridays. They heard she was a member and wanted her feedback.

Shortly after that conversation, Arneson joined the credit union as a part-time teller. She was assigned to the branch near Columbia’s operations center, and the IT manager—one of the individuals from the TGI Fridays conversation—would often ask Arneson to serve as a tester on projects.

After two years, Arneson moved into a role in the IT department, eventually working her way up to her current position overseeing the core operating system. She’s been a key player in core conversions, credit card conversions, consumer and business mobile deposit, new ATM installations, job scheduling and automation, and new branches.

“Our team is responsible for anything that touches the core or any third party that needs integration to the core,” she says. “In some way, every piece of software touches the core.”

Meet the 2020 Credit Union Rock Stars

Arneson enjoys the variety of challenges and the constantly changing nature of her position. Having the freedom to try new approaches to solve problems and implement projects is key to her success, along with the “gets stuff done” attitude her co-workers say she has.

“I don’t like being told I can’t do something,” she says, adding that she likes figuring out solutions that lead to improvements.

That desire to make improvements for the credit union and members drives Arneson to find solutions to business challenges.

“I had a colleague once tell me that I was like a dog with a bone. I don’t ever let something go until I’m completely done with it,” she says. “I need to have the satisfaction of getting it figured out, being done, and turning it over to the business line that’s going to manage it going forward.”

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Credit Union Magazine: Rock Stars 2023

Rock Stars 2023

Credit Union Rock Stars are outstanding credit union professionals and directors from a wide range of disciplines who inspire and innovate to advance the missions of their credit unions. The 25 members of the 11th class of Rock Stars were selected for their exceptional creativity, innovation, and passion.
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