We sat down with Railway Credit Union President, Paul Brucker to get his thoughts on what Medora has done for his company, creating a workplace people want to work at, and what he learned from his parents.
Paul, why join the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation Business Membership Program?
Being a patriotic ND based business, Railway Credit Union (RCU) initially joined the TR Medora Foundation because it seemed like the right thing to do.
It was not until later that we realized the benefits that the membership provided to our credit union members, staff, and volunteers.
It has been a great benefit to be able to send four folks to the musical every night throughout the season. We have also used the golf passes as a thank you to our credit union volunteers who enjoy golf.
How was the program received by your employees and customers?
Our employees, volunteers and members have all enjoyed the opportunity to attend the Medora Musical as a benefit of being a part of our credit union family as RCU is a member of the Foundation.
We have also hosted bus trips for our Senior Express Club at the credit union. It is always one of our most popular destinations and a great goodwill experience for being a part of our credit union’s Senior Express Club.
Any noticeable benefits?
Visiting Medora and attending the many wonderful events is like stepping back in time while getting back out in nature amidst the badlands. It is always a patriotic, refreshing and rewarding experience that everyone looks forward to while recharging their work & life batteries.
Now for a little more about Railway Credit Union. What should people know about RCU that they can’t find out on your website?
We are a financial family striving to build individual solutions for all of our members to lead them to achieve financial success while enriching their lives.
From what I’ve seen and heard, you have a great company culture. Why prioritize this?
At RCU we work hard and we play hard. We are always looking forward to some fun team-building activities to blow off a little steam and have some fun. We did hold a staff “goofy” Olympic competition that we had broadcast over our web site. It was awesome and drew a huge audience.
We gotta hear a little about you personally. What’s the best lesson your parents taught you?
Honesty, Integrity, and hard work can carry you a long way in life.
Is there a set back in your life that set you up for your future success?
I had an issue with my hip that landed me in a wheelchair and on crutches for a year around 1st grade.
This threw me head first into adversity and social challenges, as I had to figure out how to deal with that and still try to be a normal kid. Fortunately, my hip healed over time, and I learned a lot about life through those lessons during the process.
What was it like to lead the merger with Genie-Watt Credit Union?
A business merger is like a marriage, you need a lot of upfront honesty, transparency, and hard work to make it work successfully. If things digress and you end up with an us vs them situation, trouble will soon follow.
We have been fortunate to have had many successful mergers that have greatly expanded RCU’s footprint in the Bismarck – Mandan area over that past 10 years.
This summer, we’ll share this conversation with over 300 seasonal employees from all over the world — many of them on the cusp of joining the workforce. Any advice?
Find something you enjoy doing or discover what is your life’s passion. Chase it hard through your education, then on into the work world. Once there, realize the only way to move forward in your career path is through honesty and a driven work ethic.
Go above and beyond the minimum requirements your job calls for. Realize there is no one there waiting to anoint you to the next coming executive. This is only achieved through what you bring to the table each and every day through hard work.
Thanks for taking the time to talk, Paul. If you want to learn more about becoming a Business Member like Railway Credit Union get ahold of Annual Giving Director, Daniel Gannarelli at danialg@medora.com or 701.223.4800
Want to learn more about Railway Credit Union, check out their website here and their Facebook Page here!