Jackson, Tennessee – Leaders Credit Union, a member-owned financial cooperative in West Tennessee, announces four additional financial champions have become certified financial counselors.
According to a press release from Mary Helen English – Leaders Credit Union marketing & public relations specialist – two counselors serve in branches, while the others serve on the community engagement team.
The community engagement team was created to take the credit union outside the walls of a traditional branch into the West Tennessee community.
The CUNA (Credit Union National Association) Financial Counseling Certification Program strives to further equip financial professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to help encourage members to make wise financial decisions.
The program lasts over two months with a series of videos, thirty-three textbook chapters, and study guides each week.
“I plan on using this certification to help our employer partners through classroom-style teaching
sessions to encourage their employees to start thinking about how they can become financially
healthy,” said Evan Flora, Community Engagement Specialist for Leaders Credit Union. “Financial wellness can be generational. Teaching people how to be financially healthy helps not only their current situation but also allows them to teach the next generation how to have healthy
financial habits.”
Flora has served Leaders for about two years.
As a part of Flora’s job, he goes out into the community to employer partner new hire classes or
community organizations, teaches financial wellness and shows solutions at their disposal.
Carrie Cantrell, Community Engagement Specialist, has served in a financial institution for over six years. She has served in her current role since the spring of 2022.
Like Flora, Cantrell shares financial guidance within the West Tennessee community.
Jonathan Newcom, Assistant Vice President of Branch Operations, has worked at Leaders since
2018. Newcom served as a Member Service Representative before becoming the Assistant Vice
President in December of 2022.
He works at the South Highland branch, 1291 South Highland Ave., helping members of Leaders with their financial needs.
Shelley Pittman, Member Service Representative, has served at Leaders for over five years. She
is in the e-branch, helping Leaders’ members move forward with their goals.
They join previously certified financial champions Shea Brown who leads the community engagement team, and Jonathan Jones, who regularly schedules one-on-one appointments at the Thomsen Farms branch. They have collectively served Leaders for over 13 years.
“Leaders cares about the personal growth of their employees as well as providing the best resources for its members,” said Karen Freeman, Chief Operations Officer for Leaders. “The financial counseling curriculum is outstanding for deepening practical knowledge of all things financially related.
“By introducing the subject matter to our financial champions, we are equipping them personally to help our members navigate more complex financial questions and concerns more acutely. This is so valuable that we have it on our road map for all front-line employees to have the opportunity to earn certification.”
Leaders’ financial wellness counselors help members get their finances organized with budget planning, credit consultations, and more to make decisions to meet long-term and short-term
goals.
To speak to a financial counselor, go online to schedule an appointment or visit your
nearest branch at – www.leaderscu.com/counseling Additional financial wellness tools can be
found by visiting www.leaderscu.com/financial-wellness/tools.
(PHOTO: from left, Carrie Cantrell, Evan Flora, Shelley Pittman, Jonathan Newcom)
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