Get to Know Our Chief Marketing Officer

Podcast Transcription 

Money Talk is a podcast brought to you by PFCU where we will share tips and tricks and talk to the experts on all things finance related. Join us as we cover everything from credit and loans to cyber security and careers. No matter where you are in life, PFCU is here for you.

Maddy: Welcome to PFCU’s Money Talk and the final episode of our get to know PFCU’s SVP team series. I hope you have enjoyed getting to know all of our wonderful SVPs as much as I have. In this episode, I sit down with Robyn Heron, the Senior Vice President of Marketing. Robyn shares what she enjoys most in her free time, her dynamic background in the credit union world and a fun tidbit about her socks. Please enjoy getting to know Robyn, here she is!

Robyn: I'm Robyn Heron, I'm the SVP of Marketing at PFCU. I've been here for seven years now. I've been in credit union land for over 15 years.

Maddy: Could you talk about your start in credit union land and what that path looked like to get to where you are now?

Robyn: Sure. So, I actually, my background is in the legislator. I was there for six years and I really liked that work, but I didn't want to put up with term limits and looking for a job every two to four years. So, I was really interested in the grassroots advocacy side of things. So, there was a job at the Michigan Credit Union League, which is the trade association for credit unions throughout the state. And it was actually in governmental affairs, but that position wasn't available once I got there and actually interviewed. And so, I got in doing education and curriculum and I really liked it and I really fell in love with credit unions and the movement. So, I was there for eight and a half years and then moved in to the credit union, which was really exciting because it was very different being in the credit union versus talking about credit unions and doing kind of external work for them.

Maddy: Right, right. Could you look back on your very first job all those years ago and what that was?

Robyn: Yes, so I was thinking about this and my poor parents. I was 14 and I really wanted to work. I don't know why. I don't know if I had a friend that was working and I just thought it was cool. But the Meijer on Lake Lansing Road in Lansing was hiring and you could go in and work as early as 14. But you could only work, I don't know, something silly like three hours a week or I mean, it was real minimal. So, my parents were very supportive and they let me get said job and so I worked about three hours a week. In retrospect as an adult and a parent now, I’m pretty sure they just did their grocery shopping while I was there bagging groceries. But at the time I thought it was super cool and I worked there on and off really throughout college because it was a good seasonal job and did fast food and retail and the whole gamut.

Maddy: All the typical things that you do when you're, yeah.

Robyn: Yeah, yes.

Maddy: What is something that someone would be surprised to learn about you?

Robyn: It's kind of silly but I never wear matching socks.

Maddy: Oh, I didn't know that.

Robyn: Yes. So, I think this trend started when we had kids and laundry becomes a big mess and suddenly socks go missing and you're not sure where they go to. So, I kind of gave up on trying to match them and they're close in color but they rarely match ever.

Maddy: Okay, do you just throw them all in your drawer and just, you know, pick whatever?

Robyn: Yes, it's much easier that way and it gives me a little freedom to get a little wild some days and wear two different colors.

Maddy: Yeah, right. That's so funny. Is there a favorite vacation that you've taken or a dream vacation that you would like to take?

Robyn: I was very fortunate to go to Barbados earlier this year and that was pretty spectacular. It really was like stepping into a screensaver. The people on the island were amazing. The weather was phenomenal. It just really was a good time. I would really like to go to the British Isles and do like Ireland and Scotland and do a cruise in there. So maybe down the road in 10 years or so.

Maddy: Yeah that'd be cool. What do you like to do for fun in your free time?

Robyn: I really like to play golf. I play a lot of golf in the summer. I just like to be outside. We do have a place on the lake and you know get out on the boat and you know in the winter we're skiing. So, I think anything we can do outside and we incorporate the family into it. You know, our kids go everywhere and do everything with us for the most part. They're getting older now, so we're not as cool and hip as we used to be, but yeah, so anything outdoors is fun.

Maddy: What is your favorite thing to spend your money on and your least favorite thing to spend your money on?

Robyn: Favorite thing, definitely experiences. I would hands-down, whether that's a learning experience or just a fun experience or a travel experience, anything that's going to give me that satisfaction of doing something new and different. I would rather spend money on something like that than anything else.

Maddy: Yeah, I've heard that a lot from everyone I've interviewed that it's those experiences that they like to spend their money on.

Robyn: Yeah.

Maddy. Yeah. What's your least favorite thing?

Robyn: I would say necessities, you know, like we, I hate to say just bills because it's, but necessities, anything that, you know, you have to do to get by. Everything feels like it's so much more expensive now.

Maddy: Right.

Robyn: You know, groceries and, you know, we have propane and that I always dread when that bill comes and I'm like, no, I don't want to see it.

Maddy: Yeah, it’s painful.

Robyn: But yeah, so I would say, you know, those kind of necessity needs are, you know, you never want to necessarily spend your money on that.

Maddy: Right. Yeah. Alright so we're gonna do a lightning round of this or that.

Robyn: Okay.

Maddy: Are you ready?

Robyn: I think so.

Maddy: Okay. Coffee or tea?

Robyn: Coffee.

Maddy: Summer or winter?

Robyn: Summer.

Maddy: Hulu or Netflix?

Robyn: Hulu.

Maddy: You're very sure on all of your answers.

Robyn: I know.

Maddy: Some people are like, ah.

Robyn: Ah. I'm a very decisive person, Maddy.

Maddy: I guess. Online shopping or do you prefer to go to the store?

Robyn: All right, I'll give you the in-between on this one. If it's clothes, I like to go in person. Just because I like to see them, but if it's any, like an electronic or, you know, something to use around the house or a picture, I can do that online and prefer that way.

Maddy: Yeah. Are you an early bird or a night owl?

Robyn: Night owl.

Maddy: Cats or dogs?

Robyn: Dogs.

Maddy: Texting or calling?

Robyn: Depends. I would prefer probably talking on the phone.

Maddy: Yeah.

Robyn: Just because I tend to read text with my point of view and sometimes that's not always the way that it's intended

Maddy: Right.

Robyn: But certainly, anything quick is better by text.

Maddy: Do you like to eat in or go out to eat?

Robyn: I like to go out to eat. I really wish I was somebody who could say, I'd love to be at home and do that but I do like to go out to eat. For holidays, I like to make big meals at home but in general, if you were going to ask me, I'd probably go out to eat.

Maddy: The beach or the mountains.

Robyn: Beach.

Maddy: Alright! That's all I have for you.

Robyn: Okay.

Maddy: So, thank you.

Robyn: Thank you.

Maddy: I appreciate it.

Robyn: Yeah, absolutely.

Money Talk is a podcast brought to you by PFCU. PFCU offers many products and services to fit your needs, from our various loan and account options to our team of financial coaches to help you reach your goals. Make sure to take advantage of the many conveniences PFCU offers such as the mobile app, mobile wallets, bill pay and more. Visit our website at PFCU the number four me dot com to learn more. PFCU is an equal housing lender and is federally insured by the NCUA.