Woodburn, Ind. — When Dave Shuey isn't running Financial Partners FCU, you might find him in his kitchen cooking up some award-winning baked goods and turning his wife into a "baking widow."
This summer, Shuey's "Root Beer Float" cookies garnered the president and CEO of $26.4 million Financial Partners second place in the Indiana State Fair Gold Medal Flour cookie competition, one of many baking ribbons he has collected over the years. Credit Union Journal caught up with Shuey to find out how he successfully mixes finance with flour and sugar.
Credit Union Journal: What does cooking and finance have in common?
Shuey: An interesting question. On the surface both involve recipes for success and numbers. I am a numbers guy and I strive for success in my baking and in my work. Success to me at the credit union is being able to help our members with their finances and find the best way for them to make the most out of their hard-earned money.
CUJ: How many years have you participated in the State Fair?
Shuey: Before moving to Indiana nearly six years ago, I participated in the Ohio State Fair for eight years; this was my 4th year at the Indiana State Fair. My wife laments that she is a "baking widow" the last two weeks of July. Before coming to Indiana, I lived in Ohio and I participated in the Ohio State Fair for eight years and this was my fourth year at the Indiana State Fair.
CUJ: How early do you start planning for the State Fair Competition?
Shuey: In most years, I submit my paper entries in May and then start planning what recipes I am going to do in mid-June. Because of the number of entries I do, and the limited time I have, I usually have to start preparing in mid-July and then freezing my baked entries.
CUJ: What's the CU staff's favorite cookie?
Shuey: Wow, I actually have never asked. I just bring assortments from time to time and I do use them for my taste testers — just to get a feel for a recipe if I am trying it for the first time. Actually, when we do carry-ins, I will bring in chocolate chip cookies or a quick bread and slice it up with a little bit of cream cheese.
CUJ: How often do you cook dinner?
Shuey: Not as much as I would like. By the time I get home, it is usually 6:30 or past and by that time my wife usually has something going. Besides, my 3-year-old old little guy is way too hungry to wait on daddy. I do try to cook on the weekends. Just this weekend, I made some homemade tomato soup from our small garden. Tasted good on a cool evening!
CUJ: Does your wife cook?
Shuey: Yes, she is an excellent cook, but wants to stay out of the kitchen as much as possible being that she cooks four nights a week. She loves it when I mention going out to eat.
CUJ: How many cookies do you think you've made in your lifetime?
Shuey: I started baking when I was 14 and now I am 47 so I would say that number would be too big to comprehend for me!
CUJ: What else do you like to bake?
Shuey: I also enjoy making quick breads for competition — all different types. I did a glazed doughnut bread pudding and caramel sauce for my brother-in-law's birthday and had a request for that last Christmas. I also like savory dishes and am noted for a yummy breakfast casserole.
My love for cooking came from encouragement from my mom — eventually, she just turned me loose in the kitchen and let me bake. My second date with my wife, I made grilled chicken with homemade root beer BBQ sauce; mashed potatoes with garlic; green beans almandine, and followed that up with a blueberry pie. I won her over with that blueberry pie as it had sentimental meaning for her and, yes we were married about 16 months after that dinner.
CUJ: Why didn't you become a professional chef?
Shuey: Too much money for education; I would have had to move away from loved ones; and I did not want to put up with those chef bosses that yell at you all the time. I want to have fun when I cook, and not make it a laborious job. The financial sector has been very rewarding for me as it has been a God-given ability for me to being to talk to people about their money and being able to help them achieve financial success.
