Visser: In 2008, I was approached by John P. Buckley, Jr., the President/CEO of Gerber FCU, to join their Supervisory Committee. For the following 15 years I continued to serve on that committee (as well as the Board of Directors for a couple of years) until I was hired as the CFO. John and I first met when a group of area business and community leaders gathered for lunch every Friday. I now report to John.  

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

Visser: I’ve been privileged with some wonderful work experiences over the years. During the summer months while still in high school and college, I sold cars at a Chevrolet dealership and learned how to interact with customers. I’ve worked for smaller organizations in a variety of industries, and alongside the owners, I experienced what it was like to wear ‘multiple hats’ to get the job done. I’ve also been exposed to larger organizations and benefited from their depth of resources and career development environments that also taught me how to manage people and projects. The combination of all these different experiences taught me how to effectively interact with people for the benefit of both consumers as well as organizations in a diplomatic manner.

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

Visser: Without a doubt it was my high school accounting teacher, Mr. Bill Huizenga. I was just an average student, but he encouraged me, believed in me and even mentored me during my college years.

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

Visser: In my current role, I have the opportunity to engage in discussions that have an impact on our members, our colleagues and our community.
 
CU Times: What’s a challenge you faced when you first joined your executive team, and how did you overcome it?

Visser: The biggest challenge I faced was interacting with them daily! I can jokingly say that because over the 15-plus years of credit union involvement as a volunteer Committee and Board member, the Executive Team has remained the same and we knew each other well. It’s wonderful to be surrounded by experienced professionals with a passion for the industry.
 
CU Times: How would you describe your current leadership style?

Visser: I strive to cultivate a servant leadership style. I have had the privilege of working for leaders that have modeled this for me and it is the style that I’ve appreciated the most over the years.
 
CU Times: What are some lessons you've learned over your career concerning how to communicate well with others? And, do you approach communication differently depending on the generation of the recipient (boomer, Gen X, millennial and Gen Z)? 

Visser: One of the leaders I worked for taught me to always know my audience. While this was specifically directed toward public speaking, it also applied to daily interactions. It is important to adapt your method or manner of communication to your recipient depending on their generation. The message can be the same, but I need to be mindful of how they will most effectively receive it.

CU Times: What are some ways in which you achieve work/life balance, set boundaries and/or avoid burnout at work?

Visser: Paying attention to and respecting the wise advice of my wife. She’ll notice when things get out of balance. I’m inherently a people pleaser with a predisposition to highly value my work. However, working for a credit union that values family life and community life encourages me to maintain a healthy integration of them all.
 
CU Times: What’s next for you on your executive career journey? Do you have any specific career goals you’re working toward?

Visser: As a result of the long tenure of the current leadership team, there will be significant changes as retirements occur in the coming years. My goal is to continue to learn, grow and develop myself for whatever hats may need to be worn to successfully transition the credit union into the next phase.

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

Visser: This year the credit union will be celebrating its 75th anniversary and has firmly established itself as the financial service provider of choice within our community for our members. Our slogan is ‘Founded Here. Growing Here.’ I hope to contribute in such a way that the path forward builds upon this strong foundation and continues to provide for the evolving needs of our members. Focusing on our members’ needs is what the credit union movement is all about and will continue to drive future success.
 
CU Times: What career advice would you give your younger self?

Visser: Start looking for an opportunity within the credit union industry sooner!

Would you or someone you know like to share your journey to credit union leadership? Please reach out to Natasha Chilingerian at [email protected]. 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.