Member Spotlight: Willis Humiston

CUNA Councils
May 11, 2009 | COMMENTS

Willis Humiston is senior training and development specialist for Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union in Live Oak, Texas. Born and raised in New England, Willis graduated from St. Anselm College in New Hampshire and taught English in high school before joining the U.S. Air Force. After serving his country for 25 years, he retired from the military and joined the credit union movement.

“My teaching experience, Air Force public affairs background, and graduate degrees have helped me provide a different educational perspective to our employees,” says Willis.

Biggest challenge

We have grown over the past several years to 30 branches and over $3 billion in assets. Effectively managing this growth is one of the keys to our success.

Best advice

Continuing education beyond high school is paramount, not only for a career in the credit union industry but also in everyday life.

Greatest benefit of Council membership

The knowledge I gain from the experiences of others in the Council.

Best part of my job

Developing and teaching college-level management and supervision courses to our supervisory employees.

Hardest part of my job

Not having enough time to research and create more courses.

Success story

We have implemented an online Learning Management System called RBFCU University . We offer 40 in-house courses that we have developed with access to almost 140 more through the LMS.

Biggest misconception about my job

Some people think teaching is easy!

Hobbies and interests

I teach English as well as business communication courses at two different colleges, which helps me stay current academically. I play racquetball and love to read in my spare time.

Recent book

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.

Life goal not yet achieved

Starting a PhD in English.

Favorite quote

“To thine own self be true” (Polonius to son Laertes in William Shakespeare's Hamlet).

Musical tastes

Yanni, Enya, James Galway, Beethoven, Beatles, Aaron Copland, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, John Williams, Yo-Yo Ma, Bach, Andre Rieu, Andres Segovia, Antonin Dvorak, Antonio Vivaldi, Joni Mitchell, and Vangelis.

If I could spend a day with anyone . . .

I feel that RBFCU puts Zen into the world of finance so I would visit with the Dalai Lama. I am not a Buddhist but I admire the peaceful teachings of this religion.

How I would explain the credit union difference to potential new members

I would ask them for $20 and then proceed to charge them every time they try to use it—in a sense like a bank does. I would then give them back the money and show them how to make it grow.