Kim Withers
More than meets the eye
Imagine you鈥檙e a young mother. Your life is incredibly hectic. Free time seems like a far-off memory. The idea of college could seem like some unattainable dream.
But then imagine you鈥檙e Kim Withers.
Kim, the CEO for Meridian Trust Federal Credit Union, began her educational path by taking telecourses at LCCC, which she would watch on the weekends. It started with a history class on Saturday mornings, which allowed her the flexibility to still be an attentive mom.
After earning an associate degree in accounting, she obtained a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration from Chapman University, a master鈥檚 degree in management from Lesley College, and a Ph.D. in banking and finance from Preston University.
鈥淚 ended up having a ton of educational degrees, but the one from 香蜜影视ignited something even bigger inside of me,鈥� Kim noted. 鈥淟earning is challenging, but there are abundant rewards. From learning, you do. From doing, you choose. From choosing, you influence. From influencing, you create.鈥�
Kim continues that journey to this day. She is also a beekeeper, a hobby she picked up after attending Wyoming Bee College. She鈥檚 fascinated when exploring the intricacies of the colony structure or tracking her hives, which she names after cities, since she considers each hive to be a distinct bee city.
鈥淔or example, it鈥檚 fun to recall which jar of honey came from Nashville.鈥�
And this doesn鈥檛 even touch on her involvement in hobby farming, fly fishing, running half-marathons, or planning intricate light and music shows for her house鈥檚 exterior during the Christmas season.
Working at Meridian Trust for 24 years, Kim has guided the organization into a leader in the financial arena, with eight locations in two states and more than 23,000 members.
鈥淭he people of this organization come from all walks of life,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been absolutely invigorating to work with them.鈥�
Her work has garnered some serious recognition. She was named Credit Union Executive Society鈥檚 Executive of the Year and inducted into that organization鈥檚 Hall of Fame. In 2013, Kim received the first 鈥淲yoming Women of Influence鈥� award for banking and finance.
鈥淭hat was the coolest award I鈥檝e ever received,鈥� said by a woman who knows the value of positively influencing not just her employees, but her community as well.
And it all stared at LCCC.