Profile: Melissa Rushton, Fusion Credit Union
Melissa Rushton
Director of Credit Risk, Fusion Credit Union
Career:
Start in the credit union system: 2005
In high school, Melissa says she was very undecided in her career aspirations. She says she enjoyed school but didn’t know what she wanted to be when she grew up – and still doesn’t!
Melissa has spent 18 years in the finance industry, 16 years working within the credit union system. Her career path began as a Member Service Representative (term position), and she focused on branch operations and the deposit side of the business.
Melissa then moved into the world of lending. She started as a Loans Clerk and then a Consumer Lender before advancing into commercial and agricultural lending. Next, she moved into management roles (both rural and urban). She began in branch management and then lead a team of agriculture and commercial lenders as the Manager of Business Solutions.
Melissa says progressing through various roles has supported constant growth, development and diversification. Today, she is the Director of Credit Risk, and her focus has shifted to managing the risk, profitability, and efficiency of the entire credit union loan portfolio.
A typical day:
Melissa says she is fortunate that every day looks a little bit different, and she is always experiencing new challenges. Some of the main components of her day may include:
Adjudication of credit
Discussions with team members, these may be operational or coaching sessions
Manage and participate in internal projects
Credit Recovery and management
Policy & Procedure Development
Regardless of the day, there are a few constants, such as meetings and email correspondence.
Continuous learning & improvement:
Melissa says she is a big believer in lifelong learning and looks for ways to try new things and be open to what is presented to her. It may be to further her education, it may be leading a project at work or taking on a new task. Or it may be personal, like learning how to ride a motorcycle. She says opening yourself up to new possibilities will ensure you’re always growing.
Keys to success:
Melissa says the biggest contributing factors to her success are the desire to continuously learn, surrounding herself with people that motivate her to be her best, and not being afraid to get out of her comfort zone.
Recommended reading for young leaders:
Melissa recommends The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma. She believes a strong morning routine can really set the tone for your day.
Guiding principles:
Melissa says it's important to keep a positive attitude, engage in regular personal development, and find work life balance. Having time with her husband and their dog, going for a walk, or having a glass of wine is a perfect way to find that balance!