In addition, her exposure to credit unions at a young age – which set her on a path to what she describes as a dream career – can be traced back to her parents.

Her first experience working for a credit union was as an intern in the $68 billion, Vienna, Va.-based Navy Federal Credit Union's human resources department. Prior to her second credit union industry role, her father provided support, she said.

“During my first year of law school, I had the opportunity to interview for an internship at the NCUA,” she said. “To help me prepare, my dad handed me a copy of the Federal Credit Union Act, and I sat at the kitchen table and read it. I am still reading it today.”

She worked as a law clerk at the NCUA for one year. Soon after, she began her tenure at NAFCU as a regulatory affairs counsel and regulatory compliance counsel, spending her days responding to regulatory questions from members via phone and email.

“Sometimes, what seems like a trivial task can lead to the most long-term benefits,” she said. “My time in compliance helped me hone my skill of communicating regulatory issues in a manner that is easy to comprehend, which benefits me now in my current role.”

Read more: Young professionals are given a platform for showcasing their skills at NAFCU …

Nealon explained that she has been fortunate because at NAFCU, young professionals are provided with a platform onto which they can showcase their skills and take ownership of their work, which as a result allows them to showcase their abilities to credit unions, regulators and legislators. For example, by the time her current position opened in late 2014, Nealon already had a strong track record at NAFCU. Making the most of every opportunity gave her the confidence to go for the position, despite being young and without managerial experience, she said, and within her first few months as director, she ensured NAFCU's regulatory team didn't miss a beat as regulators continued to announce new initiatives.

Nealon said not all credit unions fully understand the power and authority they currently have – their tricks of the trade, so to speak. For example, if a credit union is looking to expand its charter with the NCUA, it can ask to view an application from a credit union that achieved that very goal.

“I like to put little tidbits like that in my presentations, so if nothing else sticks from the legal or policy side, that little anecdote could, and the credit union can walk away with something to make its life easier,” she said.

Recognizing that everyone has a story that shapes who they are, she said dealing with different personalities and perspectives has been an ongoing, evolutionary process, and a learning experience.

“What's most empowering for any young professional is when their work product makes their age irrelevant,” Nealon said. “I have found that folks respect competence and intelligence no matter who it comes from, and that is the best way to be taken seriously.”

In addition to having competence, she said networking, working contacts who can help you do your job or help you find the next one, and displaying positive enthusiasm goes a long way. She urges credit union professionals to possess the drive and motivation to seek answers.

“No one individual can know everything,” she said. “Smart people admit what they do and don't know. Questions can be the start of some great conversations and learning opportunities for all.”

To Nealon, a successful person is one who gains strength through change, and the same could be said for the industry as a whole.

As credit unions face challenges including consolidation, regulatory burdens from Congress and regulators, technology and cybersecurity, Nealon stresses the importance of their involvement in policy matters. She said in terms of advocacy, credit union voices on the front line makes a difference because they bring a day-to-day, operational expertise that most legislators don't have.

She also advised credit unions not to assume that what may seem obvious to the average credit union professional from an operational standpoint will resonate with folks in Washington, adding that the most effective messages are personal – not based on numbers. By rounding out stats with real-life stories detailing how credit union members have benefited or been harmed by a situation, credit unions are more likely to be heard, she said. She has also found that presenting a solution or being open to discussing solutions, rather than just sharing a complaint, can lead to more productive, effective meetings in Washington.

“Laws and regulations are going to continue to be made,” Nealon said. “They can be made with your input, or without your input and just your competition's input. If you don't try to make your voice heard, you have no reason to complain if things don't go your way. Change can take years in Washington. Sometimes you need to keep pushing the same message and chipping away little by little until the result actually turns to your favor.”

While she does believe there is a real chance regulators will soon provide relief, she remains cautious.

“I am concerned that their overzealous focus on eliminating risk and avoiding the next crisis won't allow them to take the steps necessary to provide meaningful relief that will actually help consumers and credit unions,” she said. “There are a lot of great people doing great work at credit unions, and on the advocacy side, I think we only scratch the surface of some of the stories we can get.”