Age: 44
 
Number of years at current credit union: 25
 
Educational background: Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources Management, University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management, 2002; MBA in Policy and Planning, University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management, 2007
 
CU Times: What are your key responsibilities in your current role?

Dearholt: Out of high school, I was seeking a teller position to gain professional experience while attending college. My dad was a member and encouraged me to work at a credit union instead of a bank – thank goodness! What started as a teller job while in college became much more when I recognized how credit unions truly cared about people – our members and employees. After obtaining my undergraduate degree, I left the credit union for three years and experienced for-profit environments and was fortunate enough to return to Nusenda. It was during my time away when I really appreciated the credit union difference, prioritizing doing the right thing for our members and employees over such a bottom-line focus. The culture of engagement, employee development and meaningful impact resonated with me and keeps me connected to Nusenda. I’m passionate about the industry’s ability to empower individuals and strengthen communities through financial education and support.
 
CU Times: What unique skills, experience and attributes do you bring to your role?

Dearholt: My formal education and early roles were focused on organizational development – the people part of business, which I feel greatly benefit the culture and environment we’ve created at Nusenda over the years. The first department I led outside of this focus was project management, which helped me see how all parts of the business need to come together to make change happen. This blend of knowing how critical it is to motivate, collaborate and develop team members while executing our strategies with discipline and agility are unique. Given this experience over many years, I’ve exceled at connecting the dots across the organization, fostering collaboration and executing complex initiatives, while keeping the impact and experience of our members and teams top of mind.  

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

Dearholt: I’ve been fortunate to have worked for many leaders who saw things in me I didn’t and provided mentorship and support over the years. I had the pleasure of working directly for our prior President and CEO for 15 years, who provided many opportunities to expand my knowledge and leadership with a variety of efforts and departments. I thought there would be a ceiling for me, but he showed me that there wasn’t and believed in my potential.

I wouldn’t be in this position, however, if it weren’t for the support of my husband who has been by my side through good and hard times, made many sacrifices to support our family, and encourages me every day.

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

Dearholt: When you’re an individual contributor, you can often have a task-based, myopic view of your work, often can’t see the forest through the trees and frankly don’t need to. When you start leading and connecting the work to strategic outcomes, you learn that you better get a handle on that forest! Being able to understand what’s possible, the size of an effort, the changes required, and potential challenges is a science and an art. Also, when you have a big title, dynamics change, and people share less and typically don’t want to let you down. Therefore, it can be challenging to work through the filters of information to get to the heart of a matter and add value from your role’s perspective. Focusing on creating an environment of openness and problem solving wasn’t anything I was thinking about when I was early in my career but is something I consistently monitor today.

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

Dearholt: When I first joined the senior leadership team, I was young – just over 30 and one of very few women. I didn’t feel like I had much in common with my peers and was riddled with self-doubt with what I thought I could bring to the table. At first, I did things like read what they were reading to try to fit in and connect, but later I realized that it was more important to add value. Patiently and over time, I took advantage of opportunities to support a colleague, be it through a challenging employee relations issue or jumping in to support the final steps of a project. I consistently raised my hand to support or take on new challenges, even when I didn’t really understand the implications. These efforts helped me build a reputation for putting the needs of the organization first and my colleagues trusted that intention, without letting any differences get in the way.

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

Dearholt: To me, leadership is about listening, learning and meeting people where they are – that includes our teams, our members and our broader communities. I want to make sure that each person who works at Nusenda feels connected to our goals and understands where we are going, why it matters and how we all play a key role in helping us get there.

Philosophically, leadership at Nusenda requires bringing your best self to your role, genuinely working to embody our values and serving as a role model for others. It doesn’t mean you’ll always win – we all experience failure, heartbreak and setbacks. But those falls build stamina, grit and resilience, not only at the workplace but also when life throws you a curveball. Through hard times, you learn to better navigate challenges and become more equipped to support others on their journey.
 
CU Times: What are some lessons you've learned over your career concerning how to communicate well with others? 

Dearholt: When you feel passionately about something, sometimes it’s hard to take a step back and see other sides. I’ve learned the hard way by coming in too strong with an opinion only to be met with resistance. I’ve learned that it’s important to maintain openness and intentionally seek out other perspectives to truly get to the best decision. I subscribe to Peter Senge’s theory of “balancing advocacy and inquiry,” emphasizing the importance of both expressing your views (advocacy) and actively seeking to understand others’ perspectives (inquiry) for effective learning and communication. 

As an organization, we also have learned that when navigating challenges, clear and transparent information is the only way to subside concerns. One of our organizational values is vulnerability, which encourages the openness to discuss challenges and mistakes so that we can resolve and grow together. This value helps to open communication channels to create a sense of shared purpose, connection and a supportive work environment.

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

Dearholt: I’m about a month into the new role, so it’s a bit challenging right now to have balance, however, I try to maintain a routine of Pilates classes a few days a week for self-care. To balance all my work and personal commitments, I use one calendar so I can easily identify overlaps that need prioritization. My family enjoys camping and traveling, so even if it’s a quick weekend trip to the mountains or a long three-day weekend, we ensure we make time to spend together.
 
CU Times: What’s next for you on your executive career journey? Do you have any specific career goals you’re working toward?

Dearholt: Stepping into this role in March, I’m currently focused on continuing to evolve as a leader and settling into this tremendous responsibility. I’m focused on achieving outcomes aligned to our strategy, enhancing the financial well-being of our members, ensuring we remain a top workplace and remaining deeply connected in the communities we serve.

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

Dearholt: New Mexico remains one of the most economically challenged communities in our country, and organizations like Nusenda have a critical role to play in driving economic, workforce and community development. Nusenda has and will continue to support members where they are in their financial journeys through creative products and services and financial education resources. The Nusenda Foundation awarded $700,000 in grants in 2024 and over $2 million in sponsorships and other giving. My hope is that we can continue to expand this type of support to continue to boost the economic growth of the communities we serve.

We also look forward to expanding business banking services by offering small business loans and services, as well as expanding upon our existing microloan program – offering an expansive range of services for consumer and business members. With our recent expansion into other markets, we hope to leave a lasting impact on every member and community we serve. We’ll continue to be a credit union that leads with purpose and prioritizes our members, employees and communities, known for its innovative financial solutions, inclusive culture and unwavering commitment to improving the financial well-being of the members and communities in which we reside.
 
CU Times: What career advice would you give your younger self?

Dearholt: Be patient, and soak in everything you can about how an organization operates so that you can be a valuable collaborator. If you are moving your way through an organization, enjoy being in the heart of the organization (think middle management roles or subject matter experts) – you have more impact than you think! Surround yourself with people who make you better, are positive and push you to grow. Never shy away from feedback – ask for it! This will help you embrace continual learning and growth, and face setbacks with resilience.

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.