“It’s definitely been a whirlwind. I was very blessed to get connected to a mentor who was my predecessor here at the credit union. He very much took me under his wing and showed me the ropes and taught me the business. He saw potential in me, and at his retirement he decided that I would be a qualified successor to him.”
Was the financial field something you always had an eye on, or was it an interest you developed at Western Carolina?
“Business in general was something I always had an eye on. When I got to Western Carolina, a freshman finance class actually got me really intrigued in the banking world, investments and all the things I’m now involved in. But that was kind of my starting point, and I never looked back. From there, I finished my undergraduate degree in finance and minored in accounting.”
What is the best part about your job?
“My favorite part of the job is helping the employees grow. Because of my background in sports, team is very important to me and development is critical. Being a part of that, seeing employees go beyond what they ever thought they could do, is as rewarding as anything.”
What was the biggest lesson you learned as a student-athlete? How have you applied it to what you do now?
“I could go on and on about that. For me, athletics is the very foundation from which I’ve built my career on. I learned perseverance, hard work, dedication. All those attributes are things that you need to have to be a successful student-athlete in college. When you enter the business world, those same things are what will get you in places to take advantage of opportunities that are presented to you.”
What is your favorite memory from your time at WCU?
“From an athletic standpoint, our senior year we went to the University of Louisville and beat them on their home court. That was probably the single most-proud moment and one that I still talk about amongst people in the community. That’s the one memory that sticks in my head. In general, as a student-athlete, it was just more than anything the opportunity to challenge myself away from home to see how I would react as a person and as an athlete … just having the experience getting away from home and that responsibility at a young age. And obviously, an education is a nice thing to go into your professional career with.”
What advice would you give current student-athletes, especially upperclassmen as they approach post-grad life?
“The first thing I would say is don’t take for granted the time you have as a student-athlete. Often times I looked back and wish that I would have embraced it even more. As you start to enter the business world, the number one thing that I tell people is don’t pass up on opportunities. Everything that you do or come in contact with is an opportunity to develop relationships, network and learn something about yourself. Every opportunity that is presented to me – as long as it fits my ethics and how I stand as a person – I try to take on the challenge and learn as much as possible. It’s those relationships and growing opportunities that help you get better and put you in positions to advance.”
Do you still try to play pick-up basketball when your schedule allows?
“I’m not an all-star pick-up player by any means, but I do play periodically. I’ve got a 9-year-old niece who is very involved in youth league basketball and travel ball. My brother and I coach her youth league team and travel ball team. So while I don’t play as much, I’m still very active as a coach trying to help develop some of the youth in our area.”
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