The Iowa Credit Union Foundation (ICUF), the philanthropic arm of the Iowa Credit Union League, is proud to announce the graduates of the 2023 ‘People Helping People’ Financial Coach Program. The program, which ran virtually in May, featured 50 attendees from 17 different credit unions. The participants were immersed in learning and simulation to help them grow in understanding of how a person’s relationship with money can impact their financial decision-making and lead to potential hardship. Financial coaches are member advocates who can help credit union members navigate difficult financial situations.

 

“Iowa’s credit unions have a long history of commitment to helping members achieve their long-term financial goals. ICUF is proud to continue that legacy through our Financial Coach Training Program. It is our strong belief that financial coaches can play a pivotal role in the financial lives of their members and communities, setting them on a path to brighter financial futures,” said Ena Babic Barnes, Executive Director of ICUF.

The curriculum for the ‘People Helping People’ Financial Coach Program was developed in partnership with Adam Carroll, founder of National Financial Educators.

 

“What never ceases to amaze me is the level of care and concern Iowa credit union employees have for their members,” said Carroll. “The financial coaches all seem to be driven by the ‘people helping people’ philosophy, and I’m inspired by this class of new coaches.”

The graduates of the 2023 ICUF ‘People Helping People’ Financial Coach Program are:

 

Bleys Simmonds, Affinity Credit Union

Chantel Turley, Affinity Credit Union

Courtney McDaniel, Affinity Credit Union

Gage Smith, Affinity Credit Union

Jeff Justyna, Affinity Credit Union

Kalli Heimsness, Affinity Credit Union

Karalin Dake, Affinity Credit Union

Kevin Pope, Affinity Credit Union

Megan Collins, Affinity Credit Union

Tania De La Cruz, Affinity Credit Union

Megan Hansel, AIM Credit Union

Paula Vickers, AIM Credit Union

Alexis Meade, Ascentra Credit Union

Juan Izaguirre, Ascentra Credit Union

Lindsey Willert, Ascentra Credit Union

Jessica Horst, Capitol View Credit Union

Casey Harris, CENT Credit Union

Amy Michehl, Citizens Community Credit Union

Cami Mayne, Citizens Community Credit Union

Becky Thorson, Citizen Community Credit Union

Amanda Matthews, Greater Iowa Credit Union

Dulce Perez, Greater Iowa Credit Union

Irais Alcantara Herrera, Greater Iowa Credit Union

Jessica Luna, Greater Iowa Credit Union

Jocelyn Rivas, Greater Iowa Credit Union

Shay Wiegand, Greater Iowa Credit Union

Jesse Blankenship, GreenState Credit Union

Stephanie Carmichael, IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union

Courtney Williams, Iowa Credit Union League

Andrea Brommelkamp, Linn Area Credit Union

Andrea Neumann, Linn Area Credit Union

Callie Gardeman, Linn Area Credit Union

Chase Knapp, Linn Area Credit Union

Danita Arrington, Linn Area Credit Union

David Kepler, Linn Area Credit Union

JoAnn Hepker, Linn Area Credit Union

Krystle Rivera, Linn Area Credit Union

Makenna Mann, Linn Area Credit Union

Miranda Morris, Linn Area Credit Union

Riley Bruns, Linn Area Credit Union

Sandra Cleppe, Linn Area Credit Union

Baylie Boyer, Midland Credit Union

Lindsay Szymanski, Midland Credit Union

Patty Orton, North Iowa Community Credit Union

Brooke Waterbury, Peoples Credit Union

Pamela Kruger, Peoples Credit Union

Dan Haack, Premier Credit Union

Danielle Vaughan, Sioux Valley Community Credit Union

Maggie Christensen, Sioux Valley Community Credit Union

Kyle Schwery, Town & Country Credit Union

 

Each graduate of the program received a coaching resource book, as well as access to an online educational portal to continue his or her growth as a financial coach. This is ICUF’s fifth year of hosting the Financial Coach Program.