Donna Young, president of Resound Credit Union in Nashville, will retire on Friday, April 10. Here’s a Q&A in honor of her nearly 47-year career in the credit union movement!
How long did you work within the banking/credit union industry?
I started my credit union career when I was a junior in high school working part-time for ORNL Federal Credit Union as a teller. I worked during my college years in their North Knoxville branch and then was hired full-time as the business development officer after graduating from the University of Tennessee. In 1988, I married and moved to the Nashville area and started working at Resound Credit Union (a recent name change from Cornerstone Financial). My last day is April 10, and this will be my 37th anniversary at Resound and I worked almost 10 years at ORNL Federal Credit Union.
Looking back on your career, what has been your most rewarding accomplishment?
I will say that being president has been an honor and a privilege, and it has challenged me in many ways. I can see how I’ve impacted our members and staff. Seeing staff grow and accepting new challenges is my most rewarding accomplishment.
What do you hope people will remember the most about your leadership?
I hope they remember my spirit and that I truly cared about staff, members and the success of the credit union.
What advice do you have for young professionals?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Volunteer to do things outside of your job description and find something to be thankful for every day.
What’s next for you? What are you most looking forward to in retirement?
My next step is to relax and focus on my home and family. I have a list of things that I hope to take care of (yes, cleaning out my closet is on the list) but volunteering, reading, playing Mahjong and travel are also on the list. We have one grandson and another one on the way, so I feel confident that I’ll be spending time with the grandchildren and family.
