Deb Slavens started her career protecting and serving her community as a police officer in New Buffalo, Mich. Now she's protecting the account information of members at the $706 million Honor Credit Union in Berrien Springs, Mich., where she serves as the director of IT.

The most recent Trailblazers 40 Below honoree started her unlikely journey to the credit union industry a few years after having children. Both she and her husband began their careers as police officers, but Slavens knew it would be difficult for them to both balance the sometimes unpredictable schedules of police work. So, when she started to look for a new job after taking a few years off after having kids, her mother in-law, who also works at a credit union, suggested she apply for a job in the industry.

She kicked off her second career with a job as a part-time teller and quickly moved through the ranks as a full-time teller, account specialist, loan officer and eventually as an assistant branch manager.