HAMPTON, Va. – If there have been two constants in Jean Yokum'scareer at Langley Federal Credit Union, they have been change andgrowth. The first change came only two weeks after she started as a22-year-old part-time teller in 1953 – she was soon promoted to afull-time position. Yokum, who last month celebrated her 50thanniversary with the $925 million Langley FCU with nearly half ofthem as president and CEO, hasn't stopped moving up since. “I getimpatient when people don't move,” Yokum says. “I'm a problemsolver, and I get things done quickly because tomorrow there'sgoing to be another situation. The staff says they can't keep upwith me, and I love to hear those words. I say, `When you can, it'stime for me to move on.'” Born Norma Jean Mace, Yokum came toLangley, Va., from Valley Head, W. Va., as a young bride. ChuckYokum, her husband – and high school sweetheart – had been draftedto the Korean conflict, joined the Air Force and was stationed tothe base in Langley. He later would stay at Langley as a member ofNASA. Chuck heard about the part-time teller position andencouraged Jean to apply for the job. “He was always soencouraging,” Yokum says about her husband, who passed away 10years ago this October. “He never fussed when I worked long hours,and he was always supportive. I couldn't have done this withouthim.” From early on Yokum made an impression as a dedicated andextremely efficient worker – becoming somewhat of a “celebrity” formemorizing each credit union member's account number. “It saved alot of time,” Yokum says. “We didn't have computers to look thingsup then; we had to go to the files. Even now, I can still remembera lot of those account numbers. I was always good with numbers.”After about five years on the teller line, Yokum was transferred tothe accounting department. “At first I was very upset because I wasleaving our members,” Yokum says. “But, after a while, I got tolike accounting as much as I liked being a teller. As long as I'maround people I'm fine. I'm still that way today.” Yokum earned herfirst supervisor position while working in accounting, becominghead of the department in the early 1960s. In 1967, she added herto duties by taking over as assistant manger of the credit unionand running the office for former CEO William Pickens. When Pickensretired in 1979, Yokum was the logical choice for succession, butshe didn't apply for the job until the last possible day. “Everyoneencouraged me to apply,” Yokum says. “I just wasn't sure I could dothe job.” Yokum rarely would doubt her abilities again. Shortlyafter taking over as CEO, Yokum was faced with a major financialcrisis at the credit union: Millions of dollars were leavingLangley in favor of certificates of deposit and their 12% interestrate being offered at other financials. Yokum responded by gettingLangley to offer CDs to its members, which stopped the outpouringof funds. She also battled with the board of directors in the 1980sover offering indirect auto loans through local car dealers; theboard objected, but Yokum won out in the end and, again, provided aprofitable outcome. One of Yokum's biggest nightmares in the earlyyears as CEO was the transition to a computer-based system. “Ittook nine months to get it straightened out,” Yokum says. “Onetime, all the terminals crashed, and we stayed half the night doingall the postings again. I had to work especially hard during thattime to keep the staff and the members happy.” Computers have beenthe biggest source for change in the credit union industry,according to Yokum, along with the need to provide members withmore products and services. And Langley certainly has respondedaccordingly – increasing the membership to more than 140,000,increasing assets to $925 million, expanding the number of branchesand making a greater move toward automation and online banking.“We're really responding to what the members want,” Yokum says.“They want branches, and we open branches. The branches are sobusy. You'll never believe how busy they are. And as long as I'mCEO, you will always get a person on the phone when you call here.”Yokum soon may be making her biggest change as CEO -the move towardretirement – but she says as long as her health holds up, she'llstay in the job. “I tried to practice retiring once,” Yokum says.“I stayed in my night clothes for better than half the day, and Idid a real good job for two or three days. But, then I decided Ijust wasn't ready. “I don't worry about it too much. The manupstairs always has taken care of me, and he will take care of mewhen I retire,” she adds. What will Yokum do with her free timewhen she ultimately does leave the job? Cooking, travel andshopping are among her favorite activities. In 1996, a local paper– in a feature about Yokum as an atypical CEO – highlighted herlove for shoe shopping particularly and ran a photo of Yokum usingher special “shoe” phone, which is shaped like a black patentleather pump. “When it comes to owning shoes, only Imelda Marcosmay be able to match her thousand-plus pairs,” Daily Press reporterMark Krewatch wrote. “When it comes to calling the shots at thecredit union where she started as a teller., associates say Yokumis unrivaled.” But the number one activity on her list is spendingtime with her family – her son, Randy; his wife, Sherri; and hergrandchildren, Trevor, 9, and Miranda, 5. And, by traveling fromhome vs. the office, Yokum will cut 10 minutes off her drive to seethem. “I'm really lucky to have a family that's so supportive,”Yokum says. “It's a small family, but it's very supportive.” “Ican't imagine who wouldn't be proud,” Randy says. “It's veryimpressive. She has set a professional standard for me and,hopefully, one for my children. I sometimes wonder if it's aquality you're born with to be a great leader, but whether it'shanded down or learned, she definitely has influenced me.”