NextGen Leaders: Garrick Throckmorton

Garrick Throckmorton, PHR
AVP/Organization/Employee Development/Human Resources
$1 billion Allegacy Federal Credit Union Winston-Salem, N.C.
Follow Garrick on Twitter
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Watch Garrick’s CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec video

Give us the elevator speech about your project (as in how would you describe your project to someone you meet in an elevator?):
Most people would readily agree that our health impacts our finances and, in turn, our finances impact our health. However, do you know exactly how your current health impacts your future financial planning? If the answer is no, that simply makes you normal. Using proprietary programming we are introducing a service referred to as Healthcare Financial Advising. Through a trusted healthcare partnership, you will receive a predictive picture of how your current health status may impact your health for years to come. Then we will help you see how this information impacts your future finances so you can plan accordingly. We are building a bridge between the topics of health and wealth.

What is your long-term career goal?
My goal is to increase my knowledge across multiple areas of operations to add greater strategic value as we grow our organization and industry. Additionally, I want to be able to consistently influence the creation of a strong internal culture that drives a relatable and distinctive brand.

Online voters and a panel of past finalists narrowed the CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec field from 20 to the Top 15 applicants. The challenge, held in conjunction with DDJ Myers and administered by Currency, searches for emerging leaders age 35 and under from within the credit union industry.

The Top 15 will blog about their project.  And to provide additional value to the competition experience, they’ll each receive an executive coaching session from DDJ Myers, a CUES Supplier member and strategic provider. A judging panel of two CUES members and Deedee Myers of DDJ Myers will then score the Top 15’s applications and blog posts, narrowing the competition to five finalists.

The five finalists will receive additional coaching, airfare, accommodation and registration to CUES’ CEO/Executive Team Network™, Nov. 8-11 in Scottsdale, Ariz., where they will give their final presentations. The 2015 CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec will receive further coaching, airfare, accommodation and registration for two CUES’ CEO Institutes, a total prize package valued at $20,000

Fill in the dots: The future of credit unions will be bright if ...
… we can anticipate changes in the financial services environment and use our size as an advantage to rapidly adapt.

What my generation brings to the credit union movement is …
…  the potential influence of being the most digitally connected generation in the workforce. It is no secret that one of our industry’s top challenges is the average consumer’s lack of knowledge and awareness regarding what can make credit union membership meaningful in their life. This lack of knowledge and awareness creates an unnecessary barrier. My generation brings a unique ability to help address this barrier through using our vast digital connectivity.

People consider me a leader because …
… I am willing to challenge our current state in hopes of creating a better future for our organization.

Who is your hero and why?
Both of my grandfathers impacted me in dramatic ways for similar reasons. Each was a very hard working man, whose work ethic was cemented by exposure to the Great Depression and the impact of WWII. Their membership in the “Greatest Generation,” as it has been named, provided me a respect for hard work without the presence of making excuses.

Who is a must-follow on Twitter?
@jimgaffigan– 40 characters or less that always bring laughter into my day

Does your credit union have Twitter/Facebook/YouTube/Pinterest/LinkedIn/Instagram other social media accounts? Please provide links:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

What is your favorite CUES member benefit? Or, if you are a new CUES NextGen member, what benefit are you most looking forward to using?
My favorite benefit is the Credit Union Management digital magazine. The articles provide exposure to best practices from across the industry and from a variety of thought leaders.

CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec team