AFfinity Plus FCU Leadership Demonstrates Culture of Caring
June 25, 2018
Affinity Plus President/CEO Dave Larson named top leader among state’s large companies as credit union ranks seventh on 2018 Star Tribune Top 150 Workplace survey
ST. PAUL, Minn. (June 24, 2018) – Dave Larson, Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union president/CEO, has been named the top leader among Minnesota’s largest companies, and the statewide credit union he oversees ranked seventh in the 2018 Star Tribune Top 150 Workplaces survey.
The newspaper’s annual Top Workplaces announcement recognizes Minnesota’s most-progressive companies, based on employee opinions measuring engagement, organizational health and satisfaction. The analysis included responses from over 71,000 employees at Minnesota public, private and nonprofit organizations.
To qualify for the Star Tribune Top Workplaces, a company must have more than 50 employees in Minnesota. Over 2,400 companies were invited to participate. Rankings were composite scores calculated on the basis of employee responses.
“The companies in the Star Tribune Top 150 Workplaces deserve high praise for creating the very best work environments in the state of Minnesota,” said Michael J. Klingensmith, Star Tribune publisher.
A complete list of those selected has been published in the Sunday, June 24, Star Tribune Top Workplaces special section. The full list is already listed here: http://www.startribune.com/2018-top-150-workplaces/485839711/
LARSON: ‘ELEMENT OF CARE’
Larson became president/CEO in 2013, and understood immediately he and leaders needed to implement “a missing ingredient of care” to solve high employee turnover and dissatisfaction.
“I really wanted our employees to know that, as an organization, we care about them,” he said. “Over the last five years, we’ve worked hard to bring that value into the organization. As a result, our turnover rate today is 10 percent and that’s in a pretty hot job market.”
As a result, Affinity Plus employees now take much-greater ownership of the credit union’s current and future success, he said.
Larson frequently refers to Affinity Plus employees as the “secret sauce,” understanding that the credit union is successful because of the ideas they share and their determination to serve members well.
“They feel part of something bigger -- not only helping members with their banking needs, but participating in their lives,” Larson said.
In both his professional work and personal engagement with staff, Larson said he emphasizes transparency and authenticity. He also believes it’s important to be personally vulnerable and always curious.
“At times, I see myself as kind of the storyteller or the narrator of the credit union,” Larson said. “In that story, I talk a lot about the role of the employee. When people see themselves in that story, or see themselves within the vision of what Affinity Plus is doing, it builds a much-stronger connection to the organization.”
As part of his selection as the top leader among Minnesota’s largest companies, the Star Tribune profiled Larson. The full article is here: http://www.startribune.com/credit-union-leader-dave-larson-takes-a-caring-approach/485867742/
ABOUT AFFINITY PLUS
Based in St. Paul, Minn., Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit, financial cooperative that puts people first above profits. Members of Affinity Plus receive maximum value through competitive rates, minimal fees, and unique, member-centric products and programs. Established in 1930, Affinity Plus has 29 branches located throughout Minnesota and is owned by more than 192,000 members. Affinity Plus has over $2 billion in assets. Additional information is available at affinityplus.org or by calling (800) 322-7228.