This Week's Board Member Spotlight: Colleen Nerius, President Elect

Briefly describe your organization, role, and how long you have been involved

My organization is SAFE Credit Union. We’ve been serving the Greater Sacramento area for nearly 80 years. We help our members every step of the way with wealth management, competitive home, auto and business loans, and deposit products that reward loyalty. I and the CHRO and have been with SAFE since June of 2020.

How many years have you been in HR? What do you enjoy about the industry?

I have been in HR about 18 years and can't imagine working in any other field! I enjoy this industry because of the variety of work and initiatives we encounter. In addition, we have the ability to be advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion, make positive contributions to enhance the organization, and help it reach it's strategic goals. How great is that?! 

How long have you been involved with SAHRA?

I have been involved with SAHRA for over 10 years. 

How has membership with SAHRA affected you and your career?

SAHRA has provided me an HR community, networking, and learning and growth opportunities over the years. It has made an impact by helping me grow in this field and develop into a seasoned professional. 

What challenges do you believe will face the HR industry in the future?

I think one of the biggest challenges HR can face is unexpected events. There are many things you can take time to strategically prepare an organization for- talent concerns, technology changes, mergers, ...etc But, the pandemic that hit in 2020 has had a big impact on HR professionals overnight. It's important for organizations to be educated in change management to guide employees through unexpected circumstances and to be nimble in order to pivot quickly when these events hit. 

In your spare time, what do you do for fun?

I love spending time with my husband and our two dogs, hanging out with friends and family, reading, doing home improvement projects/decorating, planning parties and then hosting them, and traveling (can't wait to do this again!). 

What is one thing most of your colleagues don’t know about you?

They probably don't know about my food quirks! As an example, I strongly dislike bananas but I love to eat banana bread! I love bacon and sausage but don't care for ham or pork. I can put ranch dressing on just about anything!