January 20, 2023 – Twenty-five credit union professionals from seven credit unions across Montana recently received their Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation by completing the Enhanced Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) through Montana’s Credit Unions.

FiCEP teaches credit union staff how to counsel members so they can budget better, save smartly, pay down debt, and plan for the future. Obtaining the training and associated credentials helps credit unions differentiate themselves from other financial institutions and be more confident in helping members emerge from the challenges of economic uncertainty to build a stronger financial future.

“Providing financial education is part of the credit union philosophy,” said Montana’s Credit Union’s SVP and Chief Advocacy Officer Karen Smith. “These professionals have shown they’re committed to their members’ financial futures.”

2022 CCUFC certified professionals include:

• Shiloh Smeltzer, Manager, Badlands FCU
• Candice Terry, Member Service Representative, Badlands FCU
• Melissa Mittelstaed, Member Service Representative, Badlands FCU
• Daryn Fredrickson, Financial Service Representative, Billings FCU
• Debbie Hughes, Financial Service Representative, Billings FCU
• Elizabeth Hernandez, Financial Service Representative, Billings FCU
• Josh Coble, Financial Service Representative, Billings FCU
• Bryan Callahan, Sales Manager, Billings FCU
• Tanya Miller, Solutions Specialist, Billings FCU
• Jessica Whitaker, Financial Service Officer Consumer Loans, Clearwater CU
• Amber Vogl, Consumer Loan Officer, Fergus FCU
• Austin Schock, Collections/Insurance/ Member Service Representative, Glendive BN FCU
• Jamie Travis, Branch Manager, Grasslands FCU
• Justina Tuttle, Consumer Loan Officer, Grasslands FCU
• Janet Osborne, Member Services, High Peaks FCU
• Kelsey Fandry, AVP of Operations, Rocky Mountain CUficep
• Chuck Nelson, Branch Manager, Rocky Mountain CU
• David Wendel, Branch Manager, Rocky Mountain CU
• Lorie Harrington, Branch Manager, Rocky Mountain CU
• Megan Roberson, Branch Manager, Rocky Mountain CU
• Kelly Fleiner, Director of Public Relations, Rocky Mountain CU
• Alexis Popejoy, Front Line Supervisor, Rocky Mountain CU
• Shelly Toller, Member Resource Center Supervisor, Rocky Mountain CU
• Janelle Regan, Senior Consumer Loan Officer, Rocky Mountain CU
• Brogan Modd, Senior Member Service Representative, Rocky Mountain CU
• Brandi Mergenthaler, VP of Operations, Rocky Mountain CU

Montana’s Credit Unions provides the program in partnership with the Minnesota Credit Union Network, the Wisconsin CU League, and CUNA’s Center for Professional Development (CUNA CPD). Information on the 2023 program will be available this spring.