PORTLAND, Ore.–Saying it takes its “cooperative identity” seriously, Unitus Community Credit Union hosted a Contact Center Manager from a Colombian cooperative to a one-week intensive crash course to both learn and teach ways to better serve members.
Visiting with UCCU was Viviana Gomez, the Contact Center Manager at Financiera Comultrasan, a credit union based in Bucaramanga, Colombia, with $400 million in assets.
The opportunity was developed by the credit union’s CEO, Steve Stapp, who is also chairman of the World Council of Credit Unions, who worked with Jaime Chavez Suarez, president of Financiera Comultrasan and a member of the WOCCU board.
“Our Latin American family has so much talent. By sharing some of the lessons we have learned, we can help them succeed at a level greater than they have before,” said Stapp in a statement. “By learning about their challenges and victories, we can benefit from the lessons they can teach us and more creatively serve our members here in the Northwest.”
Fast, Thorough, Far Reaching
According to WOCCU, Gomez’ program was fast, thorough, and far-reaching. She worked closely with Unitus AVP (and former Contact Center Manager) Char Sears, shadowing employees to learn about their responsibilities, skills and major initiatives.
“That was only the start; her experience would include meetings with Unitus’ chief of human resources, member loan center management, mobile and online banking team, and even the credit union’s community and business development wing,” WOCCU said.
“When you have knowledge that can benefit others, how could you not share it?” asked Stapp. “Transparency and cooperation, after all, are the pillars of our worldwide credit union movement.”