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Executive profile: James Harris

USE Credit Union President and CEO James Harris has been with USE since 2004, when he was hired as chief operating officer. He became president and CEO in 2006, and his entire professional career has been in the credit union industry.

USE Credit Union serves University of California and California State University employees and students, and state employees, as well as residents in five counties in Northern and Southern California. USE has eight branches and an electronic branch.

BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY

Essential business philosophy: (Credit Union) Not for profit, but for service to our members.

Best way to keep a competitive edge: Know your members’ [customers’] current and future needs, and provide relevant product, service and delivery solutions. Create an outstanding member experience and differentiate yourself.

Guiding principles: Make a difference — in the lives of our employees and their families, our members and their families, and the community.

Yardsticks of success: Member loyalty, employee development, growth and success.

Goals yet to be achieved: Transform the credit union to create sustainability in the new environment that is best described as the “new normal.”

JUDGMENT CALLS

Best business decision: Multiple — hiring the right people.

Worst business decision: Not acting more quickly on a very difficult organizational change.

Toughest business decision: Any that have a negative impact on our employees — for example, salary freezes, employment cutbacks, etc., during tough economic times.

Biggest missed opportunity: With the intense rate of change in today’s business climate, the stakes are increasing. So, I believe the biggest is yet to come.

Mentor: My most impactful mentor has been Stan Hollen. I worked for Stan in the 1980s and 1990s, and during that time learned how to be an effective leader. Stan is recognized as having had over a dozen managers go on to become CEOs.

Word that describes you: Dedicated.

TRUE CONFESSIONS

What you like best about your job: Developing authentic relationships.

What you like least about your job: Distracting politics that interfere with being successful.

Pet peeves: Insincerity, hidden personal agendas.

Most important lesson learned: Be yourself and trust who and what you are.

Person most interested in meeting: Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh. Zappos is a service company that just happens to sell shoes. The company is focused on creating an outstanding customer experience, and its culture is a testament to how culture drives company performance and success.

Three greatest passions: Making a difference in people’s lives — financial, educational personal growth.

First choice for a new career: My wife would like me to be her manservant; my kids want me to be their babysitter; but I think I’d like to either be a professional golfer — not going to happen — or, more realistically, a consultant.

PREDILECTIONS

Favorite quote: “In order to win, you must expect to win.” — Richard Bach.

Most influential book: “It’s Your Ship” by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff.

Favorite status symbol: Status symbols aren’t important to me.

Favorite restaurant: P.F. Chang’s in Mission Viejo. Friday night date nights, always have dinner at the bar — meet a lot of interesting people.

Favorite place for business meetings: Over lunch, Harry’s Bar & American Grill; group meetings, University of California, San Diego campus’ “Meeting Rooms on Fifteen.”

Favorite vacation spot: 1, Hawaii; 2, New York; 3, visiting family in the Midwest.

Favorite way to spend time: Spending time with family, playing golf, exercising, listening to audio books.

RESUME

Name: James Harris

Company: USE Credit Union Titles: President and CEO

No. of employees: 155

Year founded: 1936

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Illinois State University, 1974

Birthplace: Pekin, Ill.

Age: 61

Current residence: Laguna Niguel

Family: Married, two daughters (both married) and three grandchildren

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