'Prepare Yourself for Doors That Aren’t Open Yet,' VP of Mortgage Advises

Name: Josh Summerfield

Credit union: Consumers Credit Union ($2.2 billion, Kalamazoo, Mich.)

Title: Vice President of Mortgage

Age: 41

Number of years at current credit union: Nine

Educational background: Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich.

CU Times: What are your key responsibilities in your current role?

Summerfield: To oversee all aspects of our mortgage operation including sales, processing, underwriting, pricing, loan delivery and product development.

CU Times: What drew you to the credit union industry?

Summerfield: The servant leadership focus on helping support the community and its members. I also wanted to be part of a credit union committed to growth.

CU Times: What unique skills, experience and attributes do you bring to your role?

Summerfield: I’ve always been a bit of a problem solver (opportunities as I like to call them), I enjoy the challenge. I bring a calm, levelheaded approach to the position, while also having the experience of being on the front lines of mortgage origination.

CU Times: Which person (or people) do you credit the most for helping and supporting you along your career journey?

Summerfield: I’ve had the privilege to work alongside so many talented people in my career and have done my best to learn everything I can from each of them. They have all supported and helped me along the way, but most of all my amazing wife Ashley has been there to encourage and support me at every step of my career.

CU Times: What are some of the biggest differences between working in your current executive level role and your previous, non-executive roles?

Summerfield: Every decision I make impacts so many members of the team, which is something I don’t take lightly. I feel a lot more responsibility to make sure we are operating at a high level in everything we do.

CU Times: What’s a challenge you faced when you first joined your executive team, and how did you overcome it?

Summerfield: Any change in leadership can be a challenge for the team as they may fear change or don’t know quite what to expect. Communication is key and laying out my vision of core focuses as we look to grow seemed to be quite helpful for our team during the transition.

CU Times: How would you describe your current leadership style?

Summerfield: I would say it’s based on building strong relationships and empowering my team. Trying to create an environment where we are all working toward the same goal and feel like a valued part of the team. Holding ourselves and our teammates accountable to do our best work for every member.

CU Times: Do you approach your job any differently now compared to how you did pre-pandemic? If yes, how so?

Summerfield: I really don’t, or maybe it’s just normal by now. If anything, I suppose more of my initial meetings are via phone or virtual, but outside of that almost everything is the same.

CU Times: What’s next for you on your executive career journey? Do you have any specific career goals you’re working toward?

Summerfield: Continue to learn and grow in my current position for now. There are some industry designations I plan to work on. I love where I am and want to learn other parts of our credit union so I’m prepared for any opportunity that may come up in the future.

CU Times: What big-picture impact do you hope to make within your credit union, as well as for your members and community?

Summerfield: My hope is for our mortgage department to be a catalyst for the overall growth of the credit union. I want our team and our members to see us as industry leaders and trusted partners.

CU Times: What career advice would you give your younger self?

Summerfield: Prepare yourself for doors that aren’t open yet; you never know when that opportunity will present itself. And don’t be afraid to bet on yourself.

Would you or someone you know like to share your journey to credit union leadership? Please reach out to Natasha Chilingerian at nchilingerian@cutimes.com. To qualify, the individual must be a part of a credit union’s leadership team or C-suite, and have a compelling story to share about their rise to their current leadership role.