ERIE, Penn.-Three years ago, Mike Williams was literally on the outside looking in when it came to Widget Federal Credit Union.
Today, the former window washer is the credit union's director of business development. It's a remarkable success story that began when the talented, now 23-year-old, winner of the Pennsylvania CU Association's 2013 Youth Ambassador contest (see related story) was working for a window-washing company in 2010. He was outside of Widget, doing his job, and paid attention to what staff were doing inside.
"I saw one lady working in Photoshop and I like web design, and the place itself looked interesting," recalled Williams. "I said to myself that it would be cool someday to maybe work there."
Williams put down his squeegee and went inside to find out more about the business. He ended up learning about credit unions and CU philosophy, and joined on the spot. What also prodded Williams to sign up was how his current bank treated the college student who was working on his BA in public relations at Edinboro University in Edinboro, Penn.
Not too long before he joined Widget, Williams said he realized his bank was looking out for its shareholders and not its customers. "I was eating at Subway one day and used my debit card. Due to some glitch I got charged numerous times for that order, causing me to overdraw my account, and more than once since it would be a week or more until I got may next paycheck."
'Nothing They Could Do'
Like many college students operating on a tight budget, Williams needed those fees reversed, and approached his bank with a spreadsheet full of details on how the overdraft was not his fault. "I laid it out for them but they said there was nothing they could do for me. That told me all I needed to know about my bank. I got a lecture from my dad, too, who told me I should have joined his credit union."
Fortunately for Williams his father was able to open doors to employment at Widget, knowing someone on the staff. Shortly after joining the credit union, Williams was doing contract work on a new microsite Widget was building. That job led to an internship at the $270-million CU.
"When my internship was up, I asked my bosses, 'OK, do I leave now?' I didn't want to go and they told me I could stay around and help as departments needed me."
Williams' next step was an official position, hired on to do social media and electronic marketing. In May of this year Williams was promoted to director of business development, and he told Credit Unoin Journal he does not believe many other organizations would have given him the chances-or taken the chance on him-that Widget did due to his age.
"We are progressive here," said Williams, who noted Widget sees a great deal of value in the opinions of young adults, especially as the CU tries to reduce its average member age (45). "We have five people on the marketing team and all are under the age of 34."
'A Lot of Confidence'
Even before he became director, Williams was exposed to large projects and high-level staff meetings as the CU sought the opinions of young adults. Those experiences helped Williams this year when he won the Youth Ambassador contest. "I was exposed to a lot of situations at Widget that not many young adults experience until they are older. That helped me a great deal in the challenges of the contest. I had a lot of confidence."
Williams knows what it's like to lose in the PCUA event, having come in third in 2011. Contestants who fail to win must wait one year before entering again, and must be between the ages of 17-25.
As Youth Ambassador, Williams hopes to spread the word about credit unions to young adults. "I think credit unions have a problem with young people in that many of them don't know what a credit union is, let alone the CU philosophy."
Williams understands the people helping people philosophy, especially since Widget took a chance on him. Now he wants to pay it back, build a long-term career at Widget and help the credit union grow. "Credit unions-great places to do your banking and to work. I want to see how far I can go."
