It’s time to introduce our “Janitor”/Committee Member-At Large, Mark Hildebrand. Mark, Consumer Advisor with Innovation Credit Union, was chosen this month as he is known as our witty and fun member of the team. If there is ever a time where you’re feeling down, you can always rely on Mark to lighten the mood with a fun/witty joke and so what better way to kick off this summer than by doing an interview with him. This is Mark’s first year with SYL and he is currently on the Retreat sub-committee.
Let’s dive in as we get to know Mark a bit better 🙂
Tell us about you and your Credit Union journey. How did you get to where you are now?
Get in, sit down, buckle up and get ready for this journey. It started off with no less than 4 applications just to get into the Member Advisor role, or “teller” position. When I finally got my interview, funny enough the wonderful lady who hired me said “Your name looks familiar and we like you. How come you never came to any interviews before?” To which, with a wry grin, I answered in the most honest way I knew how: “You never called me before.” My Credit Union career could have started earlier, but for some reason my name was missed on previous applications.. After that I worked for a couple of years mastering my role on the front line, then decided I would like to focus more energy on helping people with their more major acquisitions, so I applied for and got the Consumer Advisor role, where I look after loans, mortgages, and basic investments. The rest of my journey is still being written, but I am excited to see what it holds.
Why did you join SYL?
I joined SYL for a couple of different reasons. First, a selfish one: I wanted to join to broaden myself, to get more contacts in more areas so I have a face I know wherever I go. Secondly, I wanted to make a difference. I was at a wonderful virtual retreat where I soul searched, but also came away wanting more. The only part I wanted to change is the retreat is literally “over” once the days are done. There are a few passing comments about how awesome it was, and how much a person learned, but that is it. I am hoping to come up with ways to keep the conversations going. To keep people engaged, informed, and give them the tools to grow themselves. The fourth option, which actually is fitting more with the first but I wanted to throw it in there; after meeting my committee members in person recently, I want to be a part of this group. It is an exciting group of diverse individuals who bring their ideas to life, who want to make a difference, and that fits in with what I want to do quite well.
What are you most proud of from your time on SYL so far?
I am most proud of being a part of last year’s retreat committee. There is a lot of work that goes into the retreat that you don’t see unless you are in it. But the outcome was more than worth it! Seeing the way our whole committee shined was a huge highlight!
