Panel celebrates 25 years of HR/OD

A panel of founding members of the CUNA Human Resources & Organizational Development (HR/OD) Council shared stories of how HR field has changed—and remained the same—over the last quarter century.

Addressing the 2019 CUNA HR/OD Council Conference Wednesday in Anaheim, Calif., were:

• Gayle Gustafson, senior vice president/chief lending officer at iQ Credit Union in Vancouver, Wash.
• Mark Brennan, retired president/CEO of Clearview Federal Credit Union in Bethel Park, Pa.
• Todd Surline, president of Hiring Solutions LLC.
• Janet McDonald, senior sales market manager at CUNA Mutual Group.

While the panelists moved on to other roles within the credit union industry, all served in HR when they joined the council.

When the council formed in 1994, it had 100 members, and 60 people attended its first conference.

It now has 900 members, and 257 people attended this year’s conference, McDonald says.

And while the HR role has shifted to a more strategic focus addressing talent management and career development, some aspects of the job remain the same.

Looking back at their careers in HR and the credit union industry, the panel share what they wish they would have know when they took their first job in HR.

At the end of their stroll down memory lane, the panel members offered conference attendees advice as they continue their career in HR.

Visit CUNA News for more conference coverage, and get live updates on Twitter via @CUNAJennifer,  @CUNA_News, @cumagazine, @CUNACouncils, and by using the #HRODCouncil hashtag. Learn more about the CUNA HR & Organizational Development Council, a member-led professional society for credit union executives, at cunacouncils.org.