This is the second of four profiles of CUNA Compliance Community members who have been named CUNA Compliance Community Cultivators in celebration of the five-year anniversary of the community’s launch. Today, the CUNA Compliance Community—a member benefit available to every CUNA member credit union—has more than 6,000 members and is the most engaged CUNA community.

When Candise Taylor interviewed for the position of CEO of $21 million asset Sweetwater Federal Credit Union in Rock Springs, Wyo., in 2017, she made a promise to the credit union board.

“I told the board that I was going to utilize all my resources to be successful in my career, but also to better the credit union,” she says. Taylor joined the CUNA Compliance Community in 2018.

“When I was introduced to the community, it totally changed how I handled situations,” she says. “When I post in the community and people start to reach out to me, it’s really like an ‘a-ha’ moment,” she says.

Taylor received the promotion to CEO after four years of working at the credit union.

“My role is probably a lot different than other CEOs, because we currently have only six employees, counting myself,” she says. “There are days when I am a teller. There are days when I am a loan officer. I am doing the day-to-day stuff to take care of members.”

Her advice to Compliance Community newcomers is to ask questions. "Treat the community like a sounding board. No question is a dumb question. I guarantee someone has gone through it. They may not have the exact answer for you, but they may be able to help eliminate some of the unnecessary steps.”

The fact that credit unions are willing to share knowledge with one another “is definitely a big deal. It makes you feel like you’re not alone,” she says. "We're all in it for the same reason."

► Read more profiles of Compliance Community Cultivators.