Greg Inman is chief operations officer (COO) at $1 billion asset Neighbors Federal Credit Union in Baton Rouge, La., and the new chair of the CUNA Councils Executive Committee.

CUNA News: What areas of focus will you prioritize?

Greg Inman: Increasing cross-council initiatives that add value for all council members and streamlining content delivery. With member adaptation to the digital world, I want to ensure the CUNA Councils fully utilize resources equaling the speed of change while leading with a digital-first mindset.

With the pandemic reinventing how we operate, I want to challenge our Executive Committee leaders to adapt to our "new normal." How do we thrive moving forward? And how do we continue to bring value to our members in a new way?

Q: How has your experience as chair of the Operations and Member Experience Council prepared you for this role?

A: Leading the Operations and Member Experience Council gave me exposure to various areas and asset sizes—and the importance of bringing different experiences and perspectives to the table. It was a tremendous opportunity to network and broaden my learning through multiple disciplines.

Now, as chair of the Councils Executive Committee and through working with incredible leaders, I have learned what to incorporate into this role.

Q: How has your council activity formed the way you approach your role as COO?

A: As a COO, my goal is to cast a vision by setting clear expectations for what we are trying to accomplish. Then, I allow my leaders to execute with their respective teams. It’s like leading the CUNA Councils in that we want to provide leaders from the councils a clear understanding of our direction.

Q: What operations trends or challenges are you watching as we get further into 2021?

A: I’m watching the ever-increasing role of digital experiences and the move from traditional banking, particularly deposits and lending. The impact of the pandemic accelerated these conversations that had somewhat stalled. This trend continues with digital adoption given even more momentum by touchless interactions.

Q: How can credit union leaders get the most out of their CUNA Councils membership?

A: You get out of it what you are willing to put into it. Being willing to serve others is the greatest opportunity to build your network and educational experiences. My network has expanded to include strong leaders from all over the country. The power of CUNA Councils is the immeasurable network of industry leaders supporting each other and the credit union movement.