Last year, I started what I’m planning to be an annual holiday tradition. No, I’m not referring to borrowing our Maintenance Team’s 30-foot extension ladder so that I can string festive lights all the way to the top of the antenna array on my spaceship, although subduing my inner Clark Griswold this time of year is difficult.
No, I’m talking about the tradition of recognizing the winner of the annual Tim Mislansky Belief Award from myCUmortgage. After all, we’re amid what is commonly referred to as the Season of Giving, and you’d be hard-pressed to find any industry that gives and cares more for their members than credit unions. And THAT is what the Belief Award is all about.
Created three years ago in honor of myCUmortgage’s former President, Tim Mislansky, who is now President and CEO of Wright-Patt Credit Union, the award recognizes an individual in credit union mortgage lending who exhibits Tim’s greatest strength: Belief. It reflects the enduring core values that give Tim’s life direction at work, at home and in the community. As the highest honor that myCUmortgage bestows on an individual, it is a genuine honor to receive it.
This year, myCUmortgage proudly announced the winner of the Tim Mislansky Belief Award: Katelyn Fondaw, Secondary Market Mortgage Manager and Branch Manager with Lake Chem Community Federal Credit Union in Benton, Kentucky! The award was presented during the 2022 myCUmortgage Partner Conference in October.
True to the Belief Award principles and theme of this year’s conference—Taking Command: Charting Your Course to Service and Success—Katelyn has certainly taken command and charted a course to service and success at work, at home and in her community. As part of the nomination, her colleague, Marketing Director Jessica Adams, shared some great examples which I want to share here.
First, there’s Katelyn’s dedication to her work. Katelyn’s belief in people makes her the first one to offer her time, knowledge and assistance to anyone in need. She generously shares her expertise, even outside her credit union.
Recently, she spoke on a panel for the local Board of Realtors in Paducah, Kentucky, to discuss government loans. Plus, we were honored to have Katelyn give tips on closing loans during our Ask the Experts session during the Partner Conference.
Second, Katelyn believes in the importance of home and family, starting with her twins, who count on their mom to cheer them on at every sporting event and riding lesson.
She’s also a tremendous comfort to her parents, who relied on Katelyn for many months while her father recovered from multiple surgeries. Plus, Katelyn supports her sister’s dream of owning her own clothing business by driving to fashion expos and shows to help run the business.
And third, Katelyn believes in her community. One of the best examples was after the EF-4 tornado that devastated her hometown and much of western Kentucky in December of last year. Katelyn took command in the way she knew best: rallying credit union friends across the country for supplies and support.
She collected materials to help people repair their homes; toys for the children of displaced families; and food to support the linemen trying to restore power to the region—one of whom was Katelyn’s husband. For many months, she shared resources and information to help the people and community she loves.
On behalf of all of us at myCUmortgage, please join us in congratulating Katelyn Fondaw as the recipient of this year’s Tim Mislansky Belief Award!