As good as everything was, it just didn't last and the bottom fell out. The economy tanked. Job gone. So long 401(k). Goodbye savings. It was time to start over.

Do you ever walk into a bar and see a group of friends laughing and having a great time, and they happily wave you over to join them? You know, like Cheers? That's exactly what it felt like when I entered the working world of credit unions. I pulled up my barstool and had a drink. That's all it took. I got it and I understood it. I was where I wanted to be.

I've been a credit union member for decades. And in all of that time, I never paid attention to why I was using a credit union, other than the fact that they were nice and the ATM fees didn't tick me off. But when I began my new career with Cliff and Norm (Cheers reference – keep up), all of the subliminal messages I'd absorbed over the years going in and out of my credit union hit me like Carla slapping Sammy.

Not only was I sold on the idea of credit unions, I wanted to help them see what was possible, what they were missing, and what they could do to connect and grow – to be bold! With social and digital media as my tool and coffee as my fuel, that's what I set out to do. I challenged industry leaders to improve. Created conversation platforms to share. Met so many great people and drank so much coffee because I wanted to push myself to be the best I could be for the industry I saw as settling and watching the digital and younger world pass by them.

I approach everything I do like a reporter. I observe. I listen. And then I question. I don't question for the sake of being a jerk. I'm not 12. I question for two reasons: Clarity of the present situation and understanding of the future. Oh, and one other reason I ask questions, because I thought of something funny and I want to make you laugh.

So here's a heads up to those of you I'll be meeting with, talking to and interviewing. While I might be asking you about lending programs or digital media strategies for credit unions, I will probably toss in a question such as “Who would you say you relate to more, Debby Boone or Little Debbie?”

I cannot fully express how exciting it is for me to be inside the Credit Union Times inner circle. Inside this circle, there are news unicorns and rainbow staff, and our laptops are made of Skittles! In reality, those news unicorns are some excellent reporters who know their way around this highly regulated industry. And our rainbow staff are, in fact, some of the brightest and hard-working crew that you need to know about. They are pushing themselves and the boundaries of time and energy to produce quality stories so you can be better at what you do for your staff and membership. And our Skittles laptops? That's just stupid. There's no way that would work – it's too sticky and we'd have a massive ant problem.

Anyway, it's going to be one of my jobs to highlight these people to you. These reporters, editors and staff that bring you the most accurate news, stories and information that affect you every day. The credit union industry makes us a better news source. And we want to make you a better, smarter you. Prepare to be engaged with us on all of our channels as we evolve with you in this mixed up world of old- and new-school ways of connecting and learning.

And if you want to say hi, text me at 608-347-2377 (unlimited texting plan for the win). Or, if you dare, find me on Snapchat at “Grabbingtoast” and we can share bitmojis.

I'm ready for this.