Member Spotlight: Jim E. Johnson

CUNA Councils
December 8, 2006

Jim Johnson was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and graduated from Taylor University with a degree in education. He has been with 3 Rivers Credit Union in Ft. Wayne, Indiana for six years. Jim previously served as an assistant branch (in-store) manager, branch (in-store) manager, corporate training manager, and is now vice president of branch sales. He and his wife and two toddlers live in Ft. Wayne.

Biggest challenge

Growth has been and will be our biggest challenge. Specifically, deposit and share of wallet growth.

Best advice

Create the tools, train the team, and work the plan. As I always say to my team, "It works if you work it."

Greatest benefit of Council membership

I have read some good information in the e-mails that go out to the group. It’s easy to get a quick, broad perspective on a wide variety of issues facing credit unions today.

Best part of my job

Helping our team keep their eyes, minds, and activities focused on the “Big Picture.” I do this by sharing success stories and work to find ways to communicate our corporate vision and goals in different, creative ways.

Hardest part of my job

Keeping 19 branches ( Indiana and Ohio) and a call center all moving in the same direction.

Hobbies and interests

Music composer of children's songs, landscaping, taking my wife on dates!

People would be most surprised to learn that I . . .

Have been a professional musician, grocery store manager, bookkeeper, minister, school teacher, and auditor.

Recent books

Dean Koontz's Velocity and Rudy Giuliani's Leadership.

Life goal yet accomplished

Having a song published and recorded.

Something that makes me laugh

My kids' crazy antics.

If you had an extra hour in the day . . .

I’d spend it with my wife at a coffee shop talking in complete sentences!