Member Spotlight: Tonya Coon

Mark Crawford, CUNA Councils
August 17, 2006

Member Spotlight: Tonya Coon

Tonya Coon is vice president of lending with MidWest Financial Credit Union in Ann Arbor, Michigan. MidWest has approximately $192 million in assets and over 15,000 members. Tonya has been with MidWest for nine years, having started as a member service representative and working her way up to her present position. She and her husband have two dogs, Auburn and Syracuse.

Biggest challenge for 2006

Redeveloping the collection area and maintaining delinquency.

Best piece of lending advice

If you have a question or are unsure of something, make sure to ask the Council. Everyone is extremely helpful and willing to share information.

Greatest benefit from being a member of the council

I have had the opportunity to learn so much from the other Council members that I might not have been able to learn otherwise (new products, new vendors, policies, etc.). Also, I have been able to realize that I am not alone in facing some of the challenges that I have at my credit union. There are others who are going through the same issues as well, or have already been there and are willing to share ideas on how they got through them.

Best part of my job

Knowing that I have been able to make a difference in a member’s life, financially.

Hardest part of my job

Letting an employee go.

Best lending success story

I was able to learn about the debt-cancellation product. We are now looking at implementing this at our credit union, which will bring us more non-interest income.

Hobbies/interests

Cooking, completing house projects, and shopping.

People would be surprised to learn that I . . .

Am a reality TV junkie! I watch them ALL!

Most recent book

Jim Collin’s Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t.

Life goal not yet accomplished

Having a house on Cape Cod where I can spend my summers.

Something that always makes you laugh

My friend Teresa’s laugh. It is contagious!

If I had an extra hour in the day . . .

I’d spend it at the spa!