Delayed Gratification and the Law of Attraction

After the CUES Emerge Live Pitch Show and the announcement of the CUES Emerging Leader, it was hard for me. I immediately critiqued my presentation and searched for opportunities for improvement. I was able to come to the conclusion that my presentation and business case about the Faith Fund was very strong and that my purpose was achieved. I was able to use the CUES Emerge platform to advance the awareness of predatory lending and highlight the impact of the Faith Fund in Louisiana. I received dozens of emails from across the country inquiring about the methodology of the Faith Fund and how other credit union could implement a similar strategy.

Interestingly, months prior, during the New Orleans Firemen’s Federal Credit Union planning session, the decision was made to use the good work of the Faith Fund for submission to the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Grant Award. On September 24, just days after the announcement of the CUES Emerging Leader, I received a phone call stating that the US Treasury announced its recipients for the CDFI Award. Based on the good work of the Faith Fund, New Orleans Firemen’s Federal Credit Union was awarded $657, 000. The credit union also received national recognition from Kasasa, an award-winning leader in technology and marketing services. We received the Kasasa Innovation Award for the Faith Funds ability to bring innovative lending alternatives to payday lending .

These awards and recognition, along with the dozens of relationships I have fostered, cements my belief in delayed gratification and the law of attraction. Again, I want to thank CUES and Currency for providing a platform for credit union professionals, like me, to advance the mission of, “People Helping People.”

James Hunter
Chief Lending Officer
Alternatives Federal Credit Union