As a business, getting your name out there can sometimes be half the battle when looking to expand further and connect with others in the community. Fortunately, REGIONAL federal credit union has just the person on its team to get the job done - Business Development Representative Matt Workman.
Workman's role at REGIONAL allows him to spend his days in the Porter County community, informing others of the REGIONAL name and the many beneficial services the credit union offers. Whether through chamber meetings, networking events, or even volunteering with groups such as the Kiwanis Club of Portage, Workman is all about lending a hand where he can.
"It's important to make sure that the people in those communities are aware of the REGIONAL name, where we are located, what we can offer to them, and assess how we can help," Workman said.
Workman is very proud to represent REGIONAL out in the field. Not only does he know how much the credit union can help others, but he also strongly embodies everything it stands for. His passion for his work stems from the team he works alongside. Workman is one of the newest REGIONAL team members, having started on January 8 of this year. Yet, in those few short months, he was already confident this was the place for him, thanks to his coworkers' camaraderie, which made him feel right at home from the very first day.
"It's a very tight-knit group," Workman said. I did a lot of training for the first two or three weeks in Hammond, so I got to know the people over at that branch. The people who make the decisions for the credit union are very accessible, and the executive team there has an open-door policy. You do not have to go somewhere far to have an executive member make a decision. Instead, you have team members who are making many decisions."
One colleague in particular who has had the most impact so far is REGIONAL Chief Marketing Officer Kevin Kosek. A few simple words Kosek mentioned while the two were out and about on the job helped to shift Workman's perspective for the better, and Workman really appreciates just how much Kosek does for the REGIONAL team.
"Kevin, my boss, never wants me to introduce him if we're out together as 'This is my boss.' He always wants me to introduce him as 'This is my fellow team member, Kevin,'" Workman said. "It gives you an idea that they're not big on who's boss, who's in charge, and so on. We're all team members just trying to help out members and potential members if we can."
It was Kosek himself who introduced Workman to the role he has today. Prior to joining the REGIONAL team, Workman was in a front-facing position at a title insurance company. With a strong communication skill set in his back pocket, Workman was definitely qualified for the new position. He also knew a bit about the credit union then, which locked in his decision to hit apply on the application. Looking back, he's happy he did.
"I was having lunch with Kevin at another event, and he had mentioned that they were looking for somebody and thought I might be a good fit," Workman said. "At my old job, I knew the names of people from REGIONAL. They always seemed to represent themselves well in the community and were very professional and ready to help. Knowing that was an easier decision for me to at least apply. It helped to know that it was a well-respected organization in the community that had been around for a while."
As Workman continues to grow in his new career, he is excited to dive deep and immerse himself as much as possible in the REGIONAL realm.
"I've been running into some of the people who were unfamiliar with us – it's not so much that I'm looking to bring everybody into the credit union, it's letting them know that we are here ready to help," Workman said. "REGIONAL's going to be able to help me do that because they are really supportive of what I'm doing. They're not big micromanagers; they give me the tools and are always there to help if I need it, but they also have trusted me that I can go out and do my job and represent the REGIONAL name well."
After a long day of showing others the REGIONAL way, Workman likes to relax by spending time outdoors running, hiking, kayaking, or jamming out to live music. Additionally, he loves spending time with his fiancé and traveling to Chicago to spend time with his two grown children who live in the city.
