We asked Valley Record readers to tell us which Valley business was the best place to work at. At the top of the list: Sno Falls Credit Union, the Snoqualmie-based union with five local branches, including one at Mount Si High School.
Based in Snoqualmie, the credit union is locally focused, with Valley volunteers on its board of directors.
“When you understand the needs of the community, it is easier to set direction,” CEO Linda Larion tells the Record. “Our staff is made up of Valley residents. Sno Falls Credit Union identifies the financial needs of the valley… It makes it a exciting place to work when you know your members and can call them by name, building a personal relationship with them.”
According to Larion, employees find it rewarding to help members improve their financial education, and provide competitive services to them.
“You see the results when you live and work in the same community. We start at young age marketing to youth, and we all get to experience those youth and see how they grow with the financial education we provide, from Rocky Raccoon accounts to our Wild Cat Branch, and beyond.”
Community connection
Celebrating her 25th year with the credit union this February, Linda Trombley rose from being a teller to becoming a branch manager and loan officer. Sno Falls has invested in her career, and she is equally invested in the business on a personal level.
A North Bend resident, Trombley is one of those lucky locals who are deeply connected with their hometown, where they live and work.
At Sno Falls, we are community-chartered,” she said. “I’ve been able to move up, but I’m staying in our community.”
“For me, it’s in the community where I have grown up. Our members are people that I know. There’s a connection with the community.”
She complimented the atmosphere—”I’ve always enjoyed my coworkers over the years, they’re generally community people, too.”
Always learning
Ian Rillios, a 19-year-old Fall City resident, took a job at Sno Falls’ Wildcat Branch as part of his accounting studies at Mount Si High School. He’s now working full time at the credit union.
Rillios is translating that original part-time experience into a career. He loves the financial field, and is continuing his studies in finance.
From the student job, “I just kept progressing, learning more stuff,” said Rillios. For him, the best part of the job is that “You keep learning, every single day.”
Rillios loves the idea of continually growing his knowledge, as opposed to learning one job and always repeating it.
“So far, both of my bosses have been amazing,” he added. “I wish I could work for all of them—I bet they’re amazing!”
Employee philosophy
Sno Falls expects employees to come to work ready to serve members, not as an outsider, but an owner of the credit union.
“Treat the member how they would want to be treated,” Larion explained the union’s philosophy. “Member complaints or letters of recognition are addressed with the employee. A job well done is recognized by their supervisor, CEO and Board of Directors. All employees are expected to respect each other as well as respecting themselves.
“A team environment is what we emphasize,” she added. “All employees are cross trained in their jobs to cover for one another when necessary. Cross-training our employees utilize them better and give them a chance to advance when job openings are available. We always strive to promote within our organization when there is opportunity for advancement.”
Many reasons
Sno Falls staff shared some of their own thoughts about why the credit union is such a great place to work. Their reasons included:
• Everyone gets along and works well with each other. It’s more like a family here than just co-workers.
• How involved we are in the community and schools.
• That you need some sort of formal education before you can get a job here.
• The nice thing is that it is like working with a big family, everyone gets along pretty well, and that we are always able to work together as a team on issues.
• Most people would be surprised that our Board of Directors is volunteers
• How much of a family we all become!
• Sno Falls Credit Union is a non-profit financial cooperative, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. When you become a member you are an owner/ share holder of the credit union.
• The Rocky Raccoon mascot is one of our staff, he puts the costume on every time Rocky is needed somewhere in the valley, after hours, weekends, festivals, etc. We are so lucky we have an employee that enjoy this sometimes very warm costume, and sucks it up for the kids because he enjoys what he does, and believes in the program.
Local pride
Larion says she is proud to be a part of such a great organization.
“It is so rewarding to know that all of the decisions you make over the years, which can be so difficult pay off with employees enjoying what they do, and it feels good to know that they enjoy coming to work every day just as I do. The support of my Board of Directors over the past 17 years has been a big part of the success of Sno Falls Credit Union, without their support we would not be the success we are today.”
