St. Cloud Federal Credit Union Named One of the 2017 Top 150 Workplaces in Minnesota by the Star Tribune

Photo from left to right Sarah Mason (Chief Administrative Officer), Mark Douvier (Vice President of Lending, and Alyce Justin (Executive Vice President/COO)

  

St. Cloud, Minnesota: St. Cloud Federal Credit Union is proud to announce they have been named one of the 2017 Top 150 Workplaces in Minnesota by the Star Tribune. With over 15,000 Minnesota companies, this prestigious award is a tremendous honor as it is won as a result of employee feedback. The announcement was made official at a statewide luncheon hosted in Minneapolis on June 21, and will also be published in the Star Tribune Top Workplaces special section on Sunday, June 25. 

The rankings in the Star Tribune Top 150 Workplaces are based on survey information collected by WorkplaceDynamics, an independent company specializing in employee engagement and retention. Top Workplaces recognizes the most progressive companies in Minnesota based on employee opinions measuring engagement, organizational health, and satisfaction. The analysis included responses from over 69,000 employees at Minnesota public, private, and nonprofit organizations. 

Jed A. Meyer, President and CEO, and Sarah Mason, Chief Administrative Officer from St. Cloud Federal Credit Union are honored to receive the award. “Employees are the heart and soul of our organization. As a credit union, how our employees feel is so important to helping us achieve our mission to make a meaningful difference. I could not be happier they know and feel we value them as one united team!” stated Meyer. 

“Passion Matters” is our number one core value because it unites us together in a shared mission with common values. I am so proud of the team we’ve built and want to thank every employee for their great feedback which led to this award!” stated Mason.

Star Tribune Publisher Michael J. Klingensmith said, “The companies in the
Star Tribune Top 150 Workplaces deserve high praise for creating the very best work environments in the state of Minnesota. My congratulations to each of these exceptional companies.”  

About St. Cloud Federal Credit Union: St. Cloud Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative founded in 1930. Currently with over 19,000 members and over $160 million in assets, the credit union is proud to serve members in Central Minnesota with branches in St. Cloud and Sartell. The organization prides itself on making a meaningful difference for members and their local communities. 

What Does a Meaningful Difference Mean to Me?

What Does a Meaningful Difference Mean to Me?

At St. Cloud Federal Credit Union, a part of our philosophy is to create a meaningful difference for our members and our community. One SCFCU employee – Kjersten Fisher – sought to answer the question, “What does a meaningful difference mean to me?” This is what she came up with:

When I first started at St. Cloud Federal Credit Union, I was asked to make a meaningful difference for at least two people. I was a little hesitant, what does that look like? How will I know who to choose? To me, good customer service was doing what the member asked, with a smile & maybe a little small talk.

I came across one member who was depositing some money into her sister’s account. Her sister was a little low that month and she was helping her out. In her words, “Because that’s what sister’s do.” I come from a background of 3 sisters, and while in college, we always helped the others out – whether getting lunch or spotting for a new item of clothing. I really connected with what this member was doing. So I decided I wanted to do something for her. I mailed her a gift card to the new Hobby Lobby store with a little note about how I related to her.

A couple weeks went by and then my boss called me into her office. “I want you to listen to this, as she played me a voicemail from the member. On the voicemail, the member was near tears saying how much she needed something like that and thanked me for my kindness.

It was at that moment that it hit me; it wasn’t because I had given her gift card or even the amount. It was the meaning behind it. She does so much for others that it surprised her when the favor was returned.

Working here is unlike any company I have worked under. We want to do better for our members; not just in product or services, but in life. Making a meaningful difference means going beyond “good customer service.” It is more, “How can I make sure you know you are valued as a member and a human being?”

I have done a couple of meaningful differences since then, but the impact my first one had on me is one that will always stick with me.

– Kjersten Fisher, Marketing Specialist

St. Cloud Federal Credit Union is owned and operated by our members. Our board of directors is made up of volunteers, not industry big-wigs. We want to focus on helping our members enjoy the banking experience in more than the traditional ways. That’s what making a meaningful difference means to us.