Member Spotlight: Christopher Washington

CUNA Councils
November 20, 2007 | COMMENTS

Christopher Washington is vice president of training and HR development for Family Trust Federal Credit Union in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Before joining Family Trust in October 2006, Christopher held several training-related jobs, including a seven-year position with an insurance firm as a training specialist.

Biggest challenge

Formalizing a full-scale training department and programs, while also delivering second-tier development for staff.

Best advice

Build the bridge and tap into the resources! The bridge represents whatever is needed. No matter how many paths have been taken in the past, or how many paths you are willing to blaze, building and taking the bridge promotes universal success. In this manner, one can then tap into the resources that can enhance the task at hand! Many organizations have access to "free consultants" from within their ranks.

Greatest benefit of Council membership

Being able to share, grow, and receive information relative to one's professional focus or challenges. The Council is a valuable resource that I utilize at multiple levels and frequencies, such as the List serve, website, and the annual HR/T&D Summit.

Best part of my job

Working in an atmosphere that stimulates my personal and professional growth. Our members reap the emotional and financial benefits of having staff that strive to make a difference to them and the community in which we live.

Hardest part of my job

Establishing training curriculums while meeting the needs of the various training and development focuses.

Success story

Strategic planning serves a purpose and has guided our training program to stretch and leap forward over the past year. We were able to reduce the stress, further the cause, and become more productive to our mission, and in turn become a more viable resource for other efforts.

Hobbies and interests

Travel, cooking, and although I had my "glory moments" in sports, I leisurely participate in recreational activities. I also enjoy entertaining my family and friends.

People would be most surprised to learn that . . .

I took the "long route" to enter training! I have worked in several occupations, including an aspiring broadcaster, teacher-assistant in college, and collections work in retail furniture. I was blessed that these experiences better equipped me to meet the challenge of being a training professional.

Recent book

Developing the Leaders around You, John C. Maxwell.

Life goal not yet accomplished

Finishing my "tour de America " where I vacation or see the majority of the provinces, regions, states, or territories in North America. So far I've covered Washington, D.C., 33 states, two Canadian provinces, and Mexico .

Something that always makes me laugh

People. When we pause to reflect on our various actions in life, we are very amusing in what say, do, or the way we think!

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

I would probably spend half of it meditating or thinking and the other half relaxing!