A DARK FUTURE
January 1st will mark the one-year anniversary Priority One Credit Union entered the RED all the result of President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s incompetence and avarice.
The efforts to reverse the cycle of decline caused by the President have done little to resolve the far flung damages he's caused the once thriving organization. A $600,000 telephone system which he boasted would dispel the need for a call center and would in his words, "push the credit union into the 22nd century" have failed. The current plans for a call center have not only added another financial burden to the credit union but is being planned without an actual study being undertaken to determine if this will benefit or again, undermine the credit union.
His hiring of COO, Beatrice Walker, who is paid more than $100,000 per year, has yet to translate into growth and profit. Though one of her fortes, touted by the AVP, Rodger Smock, is that she possesses the ability to develop new streams of highly profitable income, we've yet to see anything that hints at sudden surges of new income. Furthermore, there is a stark inconsistency between what President says he is doing and what he actually does. His alleged expense reductions target in great part, employee salaries and benefits and a few weeks ago resulted in the termination of four employees. What's more, his "streamling" efforts are offset by increased spending. His projects which he always verbally guarantees, will succeed, have been implemented without first conducting research needed to determine their viability and as a result, have often proven unsuccessful.
A NEW ICE AGE
Even the ignorant Board has grown sufficiently concerned that they've issued a directive to the President, that he not interfere with COO, Beatrice Walker's plans to create profit.
They've made it clear that their faith lies in the COO and not in Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. The Board's orders have caused the President to withdraw and become more quiet though "more quiet" is not synonymous with completely quiet. He still talks too much. It's also been observed that he and the COO rarely speak to one another and that he quickly exits any department she enters and that he spends more and more hours in the confines of his office. In the meantime, a smiling Ms. Walker walks through the South Pasadena branch several times each day with Director of Credit Resolutions, Yvonne Boutte, in tow, gossiping loudly about the changes she intends to introduce to the credit union.
LOSING COUNT
Over the past year, the President has also tried to minimize the fact that account closures have increased while loan funding has decreased by blaming the national economy and unemployment rate. But not everyone is buying into his jive. A reader recently posted a comment which states that Priority One's Monthly Income Statement for the month of November 2009 provided erroneous and possibly even, misleading information. The comment states that losses incurred during the month of November were $100,000 higher than actually reported and allegedly, the President ordered the figures altered to reduce the impact of the credit union's immense losses.
WE SAW IT COMING
After more than 16 years of employment, CFO, Manny Gaitmaitan, has submitted his letter of resignation.
As we've reported in previous posts, his relationship with the President deteriorated to the point they barely spoke to one another. What's more, the CFO found himself ostracized and ignored by the entire executive body. So has Mr. Gaitmaitan said anything that could confirm rumors of why he'd leaving? As a matter of fact, he has. Here is some of the disclosures made to his loyal staff in the Account Department:
"Charles [Wiggington] wanted me to alter reporting. He wanted me to lower losses and increase profits. I can't do that. That's illegal."
"That woman [Beatrice Walker] wants me to break the law."
"Charles and Rodger don't talk to me anymore. I need to go."
Mr. Gaitmaitan's resignation recently prompted Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks to exclaim during a Board Meeting that "He [Manny Gaitmaitan] doesn't want to be here anymore."
As we've reported in previous posts, his relationship with the President deteriorated to the point they barely spoke to one another. What's more, the CFO found himself ostracized and ignored by the entire executive body. So has Mr. Gaitmaitan said anything that could confirm rumors of why he'd leaving? As a matter of fact, he has. Here is some of the disclosures made to his loyal staff in the Account Department:
"Charles [Wiggington] wanted me to alter reporting. He wanted me to lower losses and increase profits. I can't do that. That's illegal."
"That woman [Beatrice Walker] wants me to break the law."
"Charles and Rodger don't talk to me anymore. I need to go."
Mr. Gaitmaitan's resignation recently prompted Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks to exclaim during a Board Meeting that "He [Manny Gaitmaitan] doesn't want to be here anymore."
DELINQUENCIES
The following comment was posted on December 7, 2009, and concerns the credit union's increasing delinquencies:
ATTENTION ALL EMPLOYEES - UPDATE YOUR RESUME NOW...
ATTENTION ALL EMPLOYEES - UPDATE YOUR RESUME NOW...
So by the end of June, total DQs [delinquencies] were $4.7 million and they broke down like this;
30 days $1.2m
60 -180 days $3.4m
180 -365 days $1.3m
Fast forward to the end of September:
Total DQ is $5.2m ( a half mil jump in 90 days!)
30 days $1.4m (Hmmmm...)
60 -180 days $4.2m (bummer...)
180 -365 days $1m (probably dropped cause they charged it off)
If Wiggy says it's getting better, he'd be smokin some mighty fine stuff......
December 7, 2009 11:40 AM
We can only wait to see if the President's cut-backs will have sufficient effect to reverse increases losses.
FORM 9900
The following notice was recently published by the Credit Union League of California and Nevada on their web site regarding IRS Form 9900. Because credit unions are not-for-profits, information in their tax filings is available for inspection including executive salaries.
December 3, 2009
TO: CEOs of CA/NV League Member Credit Unions
FROM: Henry Kertman, Vice President of Public Affairs
SUBJECT: Media Talking Points Regarding IRS Form 990
Following recent revisions to IRS Form 990, group filings by state regulators have been discontinued and state chartered credit unions must now file individual forms. As part of the new revisions, state chartered credit unions are required to report information about CEO compensation and certain other executive staff. This information may generate interest from news media, and the League has developed the set of talking points below to help credit unions prepare for inquiries they may receive. As always, please feel free to contact me at hkertman@ccul.org for assistance with media inquiries.
Additionally, credit unions may wish to click here for the League TIPS Bulletin #09-58 on Form 990 Public Disclosure Compliance. League Director of Research and Information Rita Fillingane is available at ritaf@ccul.org to provide assistance with compliance issues.
I thought the following information interesting as it serves to drive the point home that the amount of compensation awarded a CEO is based on merit, accomplishment, ability, and what is deserved. These are suggested by the CCUL of how credit unions should respond to questions posed on Form 9900 by the IRS.
END OF AN AGE
It is unlikely that Priority One will ever return to the state of success it enjoyed under it's last competent President, William E. Harris. The cause to the credit union's decline lies in President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, both of who have abused their authority and treated Priority One like their own personal business and piggy bank.
The reason why Charles R. Wiggington. Sr. was appointed President was skin color. At the time it was decided he would succeed Mr. Harris, Board Directors, O. Glen Saffold, Thomas Gathers, and Janice Irving all said "What Priority One needs is a Black President." Clearly, competency, a document record of achievements, and personal decorum were never factors considered by the Directors when deciding Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was a perfect successor to Mr. Harris. .
Based on the credit union's performance over the past two-years, Priority One will end 2009, deeply immersed in the RED, attesting further to the gross ineptitude of the President and the entire Board of Directors. The President has proven to be just too deficient to hone strategies that generate sufficient business needed to amass profit and which are needed to offset burgeoning overhead. In spite of the fact, Priority One lies inundated in debt, the credit union continues to tout itself as a financial fitness center. Delusions of grandeur we dare say.
Though we hope the credit union will recuperate and even, regain its former positioning, it is highly unlikely that the cause to its problems- the President and Board Chair, are also going to be source through which solutions are found. The challenge which lies ahead that neither the President or Chair Person have the savvy to resolve are finding effective ways to reduce spending that doesn't tax non-exempt employee salaries, the actually reverses losses, the successfully streamlines spending, that serves to regain member confidence and brings an end to the embarrassing scandals willingly entered into by the President.
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114 comments:
2/22/10...mark the date cause that's my bet for the last day of business for P1.
Ever notice when you walk into the main office that there is only 1 teller helping a long line of people? Can't the cu afford to hire more tellers and member service reps? Maybe the mgr, asst mgr, & lead teller ought to get off their asses and help.
Ever notice that after Wigg fired Maggie Rios that the cu's marketing went down the toilet? So much for his marketing committee.
Ever notice the collections mgr? What's up with that? Her wig on too tight? She's got 3 people on her staff and only one actually calls mbrs who are delinquent. Maybe that's why delinquencies keep going up! She told the auditors that her people only get raises based on their work. What work?
Ever notice how the coo and the collection mgr have become good buds? I guess its true, if you kiss ass you'll get what you want.
What a bunch of unprofessionals. Didn't the coo ever hear that you don't fraternize with your staff?
And did you read that message sent to employees about Manny leaving? It said his employment will expire on 12/31/09. What is he a carton of milk? Couldn't they have written "We're sad to announce Manny is leaving the credit union after 19 years of service?" They're a bunch of back stabbing morons with no people skills but they are good at pushing in the old dagger.
Delinquencies are growing too fast and the powers at P1 don't really know what to do except terminate people and cut hours. Its like one of those movies where you see the crew on a ship dumping suitcases, furniture and anything thats not nailed down. What P1 needs is more business and new members but they don't know how to do that because they have nothing great to offer that makes them different from other cu's or banks. Can you name one thing they offer you can't get somehwere else and probably at a better rate?
Anonymous, how did you get the date of 2/22/10?
The coo and collections manager are always cat-ting around together.
Probably how collections got the lions share of the space and the call center got shoved in the back, way in the back.
Yes Anonymous, how did you get the date of 2/22/10? Are you a psychic?
Terminating employees and cutting hours is simply unimaginative and really takes no skill. That type of response proves that management lacks the imagination or skills needed to find a better way to do business and resolve problems. With that mindset you can expect the credit union to keep falling deeper into the hole made by its president and his assistants.
For those who asked: 2/22/10 is just a prediction but was based on what I expect to happen...I'm sure I'm wrong but it is fun to predict anyway. The FDIC and to a lesser degree the NCUA, love to take over failing financial institutions on Fridays. 2/19/10 is a a Friday... if the NCUA shows up then P1 opens on 2/22/10 under conservatorship, if they open at all, ... I guess I should have said 2/22 is the date the thieves and crooks will be gone and P1 will not be doing business as "usual".
The December numbers are likely to be more of the same: BAD. And if DQs are rising the way it appears they are, January will continue the horrific loss pattern....so, before yet another month (February) can pass, the NCUA will officially arrive. I say officially because the rumor on the street is that they are already closely watching P1 including possible review of each months board book.
The saddest part of all of this is the ignorance of the majority of the board. It was their wisdom and intelligence that proclaimed P1 needed a black president. So they hired based on skin color not on ability...what a bunch of idiots!
So they hired based on skin color not on ability...what a bunch of idiots!
You are so right if they had one ounce of business sense they would had
Brought in Mr. Harris on the interviews and his recommendations would have matter, but Direda wanted to run the show so he was left out of everything at the end.
Well you get what you ask for Direda should be proud that she has run the credit union down and she hired Wigg who is a complete idiot and has failed big time. Wigg put in place people he can control who will bark and jump when he yells.
Rodger: big time Kiss Ass who does not do a dam thing has ruin employees morale and continues to do nothing but follow like a dog his master the Idiot.
I heard he was having lip surgery to make his lips big to cover all of Wigg ass.
Patti: What a waste, she not only will do all of the idiots bidding she laid down With Aaron and covered his ass. Knowing that what he was doing was wrong and mmoral. Patty is a low life always has and always will be. A control freak who tries to control ever thing that’s why she is such a push over for Wigg. Look closely at her if she covered for Aaron and Wigg what else will she hid?
Sylvia: Miss religious Bitch!!! More Bull shit comes out of that women’s mouth and then treats he employee’s like dog’s Oh yes now I get it just like Wigg.
Mr. West: Oh well forget it, he does nothing all day long, part of the furniture Oh yes! Just like Wigg.
Bea: Looks like Wigg, smells like Wigg, walks like Wigg, speaks like Wigg. Could she be his twin? Beware of her she has a bad reputation in credit union land.
Direda: talk about a waste she is just plain out STUPID, immoral not an honest bone in her body, only thinks about herself lying bitch! Oh just like Wigg.
Get rid of all them and you might had a chance at bring the credit union back to where it was when Mr. Harris was there.
Hay that’s idea bring back Mr. Harris
Today, the Bea the CEO, brought in workmen to do some remodeling in her office and that of Mr. Wiggington. How can the credit union in good conscious terminate employees and force others to cut their hours and take away benefits and yet spend money on a consultant they definitely don't need and on new furniture, a call center, and on remodeling the executive offices?
I'm not surprised by Wiggington's failures or those of the board who protected him when he was accused of sexually harrassing an employee. Let's face it, most of the board seems uneducated and incompetent. But what you fail to point out is that another cause to the credit unions problems is Rodger Smock who oversees human resources. He has never been able to carry out his responsibility to ensure the credit union works cohesively with the staff. I also know William E. Harris. He is a gentleman and managed the credit union cautiously and competently but his biggest failure was trusting Wiggington and hiring Rodger. Rodger is a failure and incompetent and unethical. In fact before coming to Priority One, Rodger worked at Superior Industries in Van Nuys in human resources. His performance at that company was less than steller which led to his eventual termination. He later got the position at Priority One where he again has proven to be anything but steller and has been a contributor to the credit union's decline.
Where's Wiggington? Why hasn't he been at the cu for several days? They haven't posted anything about him on the intranet. Is he fired?
I think Mr Harris should be asked to come back. Sure Bea has a BA but she's snotty and hangs out with that psycho, Yvonne. Mr Harris was liked by the members and staff and knows the credit union.
I heard Yvonne say Wiggington is not coming back. Is that true? The company hasn't posted anything but his contract expires tomorrow.
The credit union sent out a message that Manny's last day is tomorrow but Manny wasn't at work on Monday, yesterday, or today. What's up? Rodger or Bea sent out an email to only some employees inviting them to take part in a farewell lunch to Manny but didn't invite most of the employees. A lot of us might have wanted to say good-bye to Manny but the management has no people skills and are making sure employees say bye to the only manager that is liked at the cu.
Management spend lots and lots of money they don't have to hire a consultant to try and convince employees there is something wrong with the way they think. The consultant tells them they are supposed to change but in the meantime the rotten managers continue lying, make people lose their jobs and keep employees from saying good-bye to Manny. Great example. Last Thursday, Bea and Yvonne left for hours to go Christmas shopping but Bea is the same person who demands to know where people are. Doesn't she thinks she supposed to set an example? She should take a long look in the mirror, that's if it doesn't break, before she points at anyone!
Bea and Yvonne are always together because they are planning their take over of P1.
Take over? LOL in stead of P1 it will be B1. B stands for Bitches.
The blog is on fire tonight! Does anyone know if P1 offers ASI extended deposit insurance?
Wiggy Piggy gone? I doubt it... His meal ticket is way too sweet to just walk away... One way to know if there is any truth to his being gone is to check his office... Are his personal things gone?
It's always possible they didn't renew Wiggington's contract but
no one should assume he's no longer there. As anonymous wrote
"Are his personal things gone?" Or has anyone seen the COO sitting in his office (and not in her office)?
Are any of her personal belongings like photos, in his office? Does Wiggington still have an in-box where his mail is delivered?
Beatrice the COO is a hatchet person. Back in March 2009, Wiggington bragged he was going to hire a COO to help with his work. (What work?) By April some of the board were getting antsy because delinquencies were getting worse loans were dropping. They were also getting tired of Wiggington's song and dance routine about how things would get better next month.
And so in June the board hired Beatrice as their new COO. Wiggington was so happy. Finally someone to help him do his work and help him put a stop to the rumors posted on this blog plus someone to fix the mess he caused.
He started letting Beatrice takeover but she is a lot smarter than him and she convinced the board she could only make changes if Wiggington would not interfere.
So the board listened and took away some of his responsbilities and then started pretty quickly, took away more and more of his power.
When Beatrice got hired, she and Wiggington got really chummy and started doing lunch everyday but by August, they were spending less time together and by October they were only talking in meetings. In fact, outside of business they hardly spoke to one another.
Beatrice cares about getting the business back on its feet but she doesn’t give a crap about the employees. She is not interested in building relations with the employees or developing a trusting relationship with them. In her eyes they can go work somewhere else if they don’t like the way she runs the credit union. When she got to P1 in June she had an attitude and ignored a lot of employees. You know why? Because she believes she is better than the staff, but she isn't.
She knows how to play the game, disliking anyone Rodger and Wiggington didn't like. There enemies became her enemies. She also hired Loren to supposedly change the employees but she purposely kept from making any effort to change management or herself because from where she stands, she's just fine.
That whole thing about profiling employees to find out where they best fit is a crock of crap. She hired Loren Lillestrand to carry out her agenda. She knows the importance of image and wants to look good on paper but her agenda from the very beginning has been to fire, fire, fire and the board knew it and knows it. And she didn't come to P1 to remain the COO she wants more.
As for Wiggington, if he were to leave it wouldn't be a loss as he is as useful as a second head on a dog. But if they get rid of him then he's got no one to blame but himself. After all, stupid is as stupid does.
Maybe get rid of everyone at the top and start all over. Finding the right people to lead any company is never easy. How many jobs has the coo had in the last 10years?
Wiggington is still at P1.Who knows if they renewed his contract or if he's now a part-timer then again he's always been a part-timer.
I doubt the credit union can stay in business another 6 months if its going to do business the way its doing it now. Lay off people and asking them to sacrifice their hours which they work to probably pay the rent, buy food, and take care of their children is one way to reduce expenses but lay off too many people over a period of time and all they'll do is add to their losses of business. They won't have enough people to do the work and won't be able to provide good service which is already bad at P1 or get new business. This is what happens when incompetents run any company.
Just to clear things up, Wigg is still president. The person I didn't see today was Manny. Does any body know if he came in? Wigg will take over card service and IT will be under B. I didn't know she was a techie.
Today is faggot Rodger birthday. Maybe he and Wiggs are somewhere screwing each other.
I looked at their financials. they have spent thousands more in 09 on legal than was ever spent while Harris was president. They hired a coo who probably gets hefty compensation but they kept the president who should have been fired. They also have all those new projects and frankly, has anyone audited their non-operational expenses? It really is starting to look like all those cut-backs and terminations are not so they can save $ but so they have more money to spend on those extra projects. With managment like that, the cu won't survive.
Titillating.
Beatrice has a MA from Univ at La Verne in business while Wiggington has an BA in black studies.
Beatrice would have made a better impression if she had been friendly and up front. After years of Wiggington's lies, the employees needed someone they could trust. She also could have proven what she is able to do by NOT building a call center and fixing the problems they had with the expensive phone system Wiggington bought. That would have proven just how good she really is and saved lots of money and maybe a job or two. She has taken care of the problem with the termites that Wiggington and Roger ignored and at least the main office looks better if they have to sell off the place.
Wiggington has a BA in Bull Sh*t studies.
Not that its important but the message the cu put out about Manny says, "He will cease to be an employee." Cease? What the hell! The guy was there 19years and he was liked and respected not like Wiggington, Roger, or Beatrice. The classless slobs sent him off without a thank you. And the coo didn't even have enough class to show up and say good-bye. Maybe she ought to pay Loren $3000 from the cu's account to have a 1 on 1 so he could tell her how she needs to change. I wonder if he teaches good manners?
A few months ago Bea had the nervous breakdown in front of the staff and said if people were unhappy they could leave priority one and she said something that made no sense about embezzeling money. I thought she was going to go postal. Way to make a great first impression bioch.
Remember at the meeting she said her friends were on the phone to defend her but they weren't? Somebody was talking out the side of her neck.
Maybe the board only renewed Wiggington's contract til 6/1/10 the day the cu closes down.
Wigg used to spend at least 2 hours a day in the loan department talking about everyone. He used to sit there and out loud talk about who he didnt like and who was trying to take his job. Its because of his lzay ass people have lost there jobs and mroe people will lose there jobs. And for years Roger got lots of complaints from employees about sexual harsasmnt but he always tried to cover up for Wigginton and Aaron and he let employees suffer. Its nice to know things at Prioriy have not changed. If you talk to the employees who were there in 2007 they will tell you Rodger knew employees were clocking in others and he was told about Aaron was bringng people in the credit union to do business for his second job. Wiggington, Roger, and Aron broke all the rules and should have been fired but instead its other employees who lsot their jobs. Thanks Wiggington and Roger for screwing the credit union. You guys are the best.
"Remember at the meeting she said her friends were on the phone to defend her but they weren't? Somebody was talking out the side of her neck."
Bea made it sound like the 2 guys were in the office and ready to tell everybody she didn't steal money but nothing happened. What was that about.
She lied.
Can a credit union do without a CEO?
Thus one can.
The call center showed be called the collections center. Yvonne the supervisor took the four main cubicles and put the call centr staff on to the worst desks. There is no call center and it was never needed. More money down the drain.
Do the DFI or NCUA audit expenses of a credit union? If they do they will find that a lot of Prioritys debts are with its credit. The executives are using the company's credit to purchase things like new carpeting for Wiggington and Bea's offices, a new expensive laptop for the coo, the call center, new furniture, etc. They fire employees and take away things but they keep spending on themselves.
do you not get it charels has always been about me, myself and I
he has never been about help anyone else out, he is number 1 in his book.from the day he started working there he would always say oh they will get it when I am in charge!
Charles has always been self center even they way he treats his own family so what makes you think he will treat the staff any better.
Get ready for more layoffs!
Her laptop cost about $5000. She's not helping the company, she's looting the company.
How did the board approve a $5000.00 laptop? Or do they even know about it?
Bea knows this credit union is heading for the dumps and wants a going away present.
Is wiggington getting a 5000 dollar laptop too? Thats 10000 dollars of member money.
She didn't go to the board and she didn't order it from the computer people. She used the cu's credit. She also tears off the names of business on the receipts she turns in for reimbursement. What the f###?
Of course the board does not know about Bea's laptop. Most of them look like they couldn't balance their own check book.
Today I heard they are getting ready to buy window treatments for the windows at the S.Pas office. Since Bea got there she has been using the company's credit card which even Wiggington didn't abuse and Mr Harris only used for necessites. She has ordered a laptop, furniture, carpeting, and she is driving the cu more and more into the hole! They are going to pick the cu clean and rather make employees lose their jobs then help the cu.
I just don't understand why their hurting the credit union. They have to knwo what their doing.
I just don't understand why their hurting the credit union. They have to knwo what their doing.
There's really only one way to describe those in charge and why they do what they do:
STUPID IS, AS STUPID DOES.
Bea is not Stupdit nor is Charles they are thieves, Wigg stole a car from a member and Bea had problems with a visa card from an other credit union, what makes you think
she will not get away with things at P1 who is going to stop here?
the Board Ha ha or Wigg big HA ha
or Smock who will stab his mother in the back to get want he wants.
Unless some one writes a letter to the DFI and complaints not a dam thing will be done.
It is time for the employees to stand up and fight back, you can get rid of the board and
Charles, fight back for your jobs.
First start a petition get members to sign the petition let them membership know what’s happening all you need is 100 signatures send them to the Supervisor Board with a copy to the credit unions attorney’s and a copy to DFI, make sure that you have the names of the board members that you want removed and Wigg along with the new COO.
Wake up staff before its too late Wiggington has take this credit union down so bad and has made that place a living hell. Fight for you jobs, you can do it because you have the power.
it's that time of year again, so what is happenting with the elections to run for the board?
The members have power but they have not used it. Why? Are they happy with the way P1 is run? And ya, what about the election? Hiding things are are we Wiggy?
I worked at the cu before and after Mr Harris left. You had to have work there to see how quickly the place got bad. Mr Harris was polite but the day Wiggington took over everything began to fall apart because he has no respect for anything. He is loud, dirty and a liar. I remember him saying no one would lose their jobs but in a few weeks he started backstabbing and firing people. I and others went to Rodger but Rodger will cover up all wrong doing done by managmt. He let Cavazos abuse staff and he knew Kim was being sexually harassed but he was there when it happened. Rodger only cares about keeping his job, his home and his boyfriend.
Employee morale is so low, its the lowest I've ever seen.
Something I found on the net don't
you miss those days? When life at P1 was good
The first word that comes to Bill Harris' mind in discussing how he develops his managers is empowerment. "I believe in empowering managers to make decisions," says Harris, president/CEO of $127 million Priority One Credit Union, South Pasadena, Calif., with 22,000 members.
In Harris' view, training is crucial in enabling his managers to make decisions on their own, and so those decisions have a sound base in knowledge. "I send my managers to all types of training," he says.
For instance, as president of the Los Angeles chapter of the California Credit Union League, he's always aware of upcoming speakers that Priority One CU's managers may benefit from hearing. "We'll pay for the dinner," he notes, "so they can go to the meeting."
Education works its way into Harris' approach to management development in another way, as well. To be more accurate, call it people development, as this process extends beyond the five top managers who report to him. He tries to make regular monthly visits to each of the CU's six branch offices, where he meets first with the branch manager, who actually reports to the CU's VP/operations, followed by talking with the entire branch staff.
"I've found that not only do the branch managers like that," Harris says, "but the staff does, too ... I try to make my talks both educational and motivational. One thing that's very important is a positive attitude. I try to instill that in all of them."
What matters most, perhaps, is what rubs off from Harris himself, who's been with Priority One CU for 30 years, 10 of those as the president/CEO. "I love my credit union," he says, "and I firmly believe in the credit union movement. I feel that people with experience need to be mentors for the people coming behind us. That's what I try to do with my top managers, and I try to get them to be mentors for their staff."
This blend of empowering, training and mentoring has reaped results, Harris claims. He's seen managers, and others, become more confident in making decisions and more skilled in performing their jobs. "I think it's helped some in their personal lives, too," he adds.
What's more, the overall workplace atmosphere has improved markedly, according to Harris. That's led to Priority One CU gaining a reputation as a friendly place with which to do business. "Our members tell me that when they come into this credit union," Harris notes, "it's like coming into their own living room."
Anonymous, thank you for the references provided describing Mr. Harris' philophical approach to business.
I would add that Mr Harris conducted himself with the highest regard to integrity and a man who had no fear of accountability while his methods proved successful and resulted in the creation of an effective and cohesive work force.
On the other hand, the inexplicable disdain demonstrated by Mr. Wiggington for the achievments of his predecessor have left the credit union in tatters and employees uncertain of their future.
As it struggles to find its way, the credit union is forced to spend large sums of money to try and reverse the damage caused by mismanagement.
And thank you for reminding readers that Mr. Harris was a part of Priority One for 30 years, 10 of which he served as President. This important fact is one ignored by those who have laid waste to this once wonderful credit union. I bet you will hardly find a member nowadays who would describe a visit to Priority One like “coming into their own living room.”
At p1 morale has been damaged the most by human resources. I don't know why the employees who got fired after being harassed and abused never sued.
When Wigg took over he thought he would be king and just lay back and let his new avp's do all the work. No one ever knew he hated Mr Harris until he became president and started talking horribly about the man who hired him. He got rid of Maggie because she was not afraid of him and wanted to prove he could do things better. First thing he did was make that cheap ugly annual report which was embarassing. Rodger his yes man used to go about saying how beautiful the report looked and how much cheaper it was then anything Harris produced but the report was CRAP! Business started to fall apart and so did morale and for the first time in years people started quiting and a lot got fired. Now 2010 a lot of his power has been given to the coo and she is on a spending spree buying a ridiculous laptop and charging the company, remodeling her office, buying new furniture, building a call center and oh yes, firing employees, taking away things and people are living in fear. Is making people scared a goal because in any other company that would be considered horrible.
Rodger is 75% of p1's problems. He was supposed to rein in Wigg but never did. Where do you think the dagger comes from? She hands it to Wigg and Wigg stabs it in employee backs.
There is a former employee who has a ongoing lawsuit against P1 and wiggington. This lawsuit has been going on for over two years now.
Wiggs hated Mr. Harris because he knew no one would ever look at him with that level of respect. The level of respect for wiggs is the like the gum on bottom of your shoe.
that annual report was embarassing
and everything after Maggie left was crap. You can not say anything about Mr.Harris in frount of Wigg he has a fit. Mr Harris did make that credit union like home and wigg makes the cu like hell!
Wasn't the election supposed to be announced in December 09?
Members of the cu need to read the company's newsletter and see if they can find the announcment that's supposed to be there about the election. Also check the cu's website because it should be posted.
Wigg and Diedra have destroyed the cu and has Smock. This will be a chance to elect someone to replace Diedra, Hale and useless Gathers.
Smocks a backstabbing vengeful pussy. He only enforces policy for some employees and doesn't for others. He helped Wiggington get a lot of people fired and he's still pulling his shit. That old fat queen would have a fit if someone screwed him the way he screws everyone else.
Employees can contact the department of fair employment and housing to file discrimination complaints.
Smock is absolutely useless! He's for management ONLY! Basically he fucks over the employees; you can't trust him. He is slowly stabbing you in the back all while he has that stupid look on his face.
I hope they all rot in HELL!
Rumor has it they are getting ready to go on twitter. That should be interesting.
I know a complaint was filed by Kim and that is not settled. I hope she gets something and that govement proves Wiggington sexually harassed her like we all know he did.
Kim Burke was harassed not just sexually but harassed on all levels by wiggington. The board and rodger know this.
A lot of employees Wiggington did to Kim. It was no secret but notice how management and the board never mentions all the witness. As for the 07 report it screamed CHEAP. You can blame that on Wiggington who made Aaron head of marketing. Ya, Aaron had no marketing experience and as loan manager couldn't sell a loan if his life depended on it but still he made him marketing director and made Maggie who had experience, his secretary. Rodger sat by with that stupid grin never saying anything. Aaron then got the marketing committee together but they were no better and after awhile no more marketing committee. Wiggington then gave marketing to Patti and Roger none of who had any experience which showed on everything they did. Wigginton, Rodger and Aaron used to say Maggie spent too much money but you have to spend money to get money. Let's see, they went cheaper and they lost money. So much for using your brain, Wigg.
Do they have a twitter account or are they getting one?
When Mr Harris was at the cu Rodger who was the dir of hr started rumors that Maggie was having an affair with Mr Harris. It was a lie and Maggie and Mr Harris knew what he did but they took the high road and ignored it though they should have called him on it. But Rodger forgot to tell people he had an affair with Henry Campos when Henry used to work in the loand dept. Rodger would invite employees to his house to swim and give them liquor while he and Henry were upstairs in Rodgers bed room. One night Rodger came out of the house while Henry was upstairs and kept pouring drinks for the girls who were swimming. Anna who used to work in mbr servs got so drunk she got butt naked in the pool. Great way to set an example. He also liked to fix Henry's tie when they were at the branch. Everyone knew what was going on but no one talked about it. No wonder Wiggington thought he could commit sexual harassment. He probably thought of Rodger who was supposed to enforce policy could do it so could he. If you don't belive it, have a lawyer or someone from fair employment and housg ask the employees.
Is anyone obeying the law at p1?
Management are nothing but low lifes, Manny did right by leaving.
Rodger did have an affair with Henry. He was always in member services trying to find an excuse for being around Henry. Fixing his clothes and fondling him in clear view of anyone. Rodger is a straight up pervert.
Wigg talking sexially to a female employee who now has a complaint with the goverment and Rodger inviting employees to his house to get them drunk and have them take off their clothes and even dating a male employee. What can happen next at P1? Script this and send it One Life to Live.
ther are two openings for the board according to the newsletter,
does anyone know how to get in touch with Mr. Harris so he can run for the board? and David Davidson. We need strong people on there to clean the board up.
I think if they run they would win
no doubt about Mr. Harris wouild win and I think the queen bitch is up that would be great for Mr. Harris to run
It's as inappropriate for a male manager to touch a female employee's body or clothes as it is for a male manager to touch another male. What makes this so awful is that the manager supposedly had relations with the male employee. It is pretty disgusting that the human resources manager could not control his behavior. I wonder how this reflects on the accusations made against Wiggington in 08?
One time Smock brought in a good looking woman to be interviewed and said she looked a spinner meaning when she that when she gets on top she spins. You guys think he's such an educated classy guy but he's just as a big low life as Wiggington with just as dirty mouth who lies, backstabs, and breaks policy. You can't imagine how many people he has backstabbed.
Can someone investigate priority one's hr manager?
Anonymous said...
You guys think he's such an educated classy guy but he's just as a big low life as Wiggington with just as dirty mouth who lies, backstabs, and breaks policy.
You can't imagine how many people he has backstabbed.
I think we can imagine how many.
I can never figure out why Mr Harris who was such a good man could have picked Wiggington, Smock and Cavazos. These guys are nothing to look at and all they talked about is sex. Must be a man thing at p1.
Harris did not pick Wiggington nor Cavazos but he did pick Smock
and don't we all make big mistakes
www.twitter.com/priorityonecu
Henry used to say that his car was a gift from Rodger. Maybe Rodger bought it or helped him get it but their relationship was no secret.
Mr. Harris if you are reading this blog please run for the board P1 needs your leadership again. Mr. Davidson please run too.
Call Universal City Studios CU and ask how Miss Walker performed when she was there.
I was in the bathroom and Alex from collections told another employee the writer of the blog is the cu writer and that her dept was told to watch him and report back to managment.
"Anonymous said...Harris did not pick Wiggington nor Cavazos but he did pick Smock and don't we all make big mistakes"
You're right, we all mistakes though picking Smock was a BIG mistake.
Sorry to disappoint Alex but I am not a "He" I know who they "Think "is the creator of this blog but boy are they way off.
Management need to focus their energy on the credit union's finances and the morale of employees instead of who is writing the blog. They are so wrong about who they think is writing the blog.
How is this man still the president?!?
I can't believe it's gone on this long. There are many over worked and underpaid employees, I know I was!!! I'm really thankful for this blog.
I am very relieved someone has exposed all the frustrations I had on all the employees and how management doesn't abide by any rules. Every employee had a different set of rules.
Since Wigglenuts took over, everyone seemed to take part in the destruction of the credit union.
Employees became lazy and incompetent. No one ever wanted to their job and just pass it on to someone else. I know the loan dept had problems choosing or finding someone to book a loan, to later then, just send them away.
I really do hope something major happens because this charade has gone on far too long.
I had expressed my frustration about employees who got away with paying their own personal checks and reversal of fees time and time again but nothing was ever done.
Why, because this employee had some kind of closed door meeting with Wigglebottoms. I was disgusted on how you could just go in and talk to him and get away with stealing.
Believe me a lot of people are to blame for how bad things are going at the credit union.
For those of us who chose not to feed Wigglenuts' ego, I applaud you
I got a gripe.
Its true, the problem at Priority One has never just been Wiggington, though he opened the door.
Its also the people he placed in power- Liz, Aaron, Patti, Georgina, and even Sylvia who on the surface appears to be a hard worker but who treats people in the most horrible un-Christian way.
Cavazos became Wiggington’s buddy and even though there were a lot of complaints from employees that he sexually harassed women and one man, he got promoted and a hefty raise.
The new COO has given her buddy, Yvonne a lot of authority. Yvonne is experienced in collections but she has been given the call center which handles loan and member services questions. Yvonne can’t fund a loan and doesn’t have the rights to do so but yet she oversees some loan processing and inquiries. Today she was given the VISA card department which she has no experience in. If the new COO is trying to prove she can make the best decisions that are going to help Priority One she is going about it the wrong way. It is obvious she not there to build trust.
I remember walking through the Loan department before and after Aaron Cavazos was director and usually it was only 1 or 2 employees who got up to help members who wanted to complete an application or process a loan. The others would be talking on their cell phones with friends and families or pretending to be talking to members or playing on the Internet. The department has never had many men, but usually it was the guys and not the women helping members. On the other hand, for years the real estate department has helped members visiting the credit union.
For years employees complained to HR about an employee who was always getting her co-workers to clock her in and out which is fraud, but Rodger never did anything about it. Isn’t fraud illegal?
Rodger also got complaints that Charles and Aaron were sexually harassing employees, both women and men, but he ignored the complaints. Isn’t that illegal too? He got oral and written complaints but maybe because he was breaking policy, he chose to ignore the complaints.
Wiggington may not have the power he used to have but he’s still getting a paycheck isn’t he? What is that he exactly does if the COO is making the major decisions?
The new COO she is not saving money and she has already shown she only knows how to spend money not correct problems. What she’s doing is like buying a new pretty dress for a corpse.
She could have had all incoming calls channeled to all branches but she got this great idea that what Priority One needed was a call center. Well guess what, they are losing lots of calls each day.
And the board and supervisory committee should have been removed by the DFI. They are a disgrace and disgusting. I am so sick of reading Cornelia Simmons message from the board that they reviewing what the credit union does and everything is okie dokie. What drugs is she taking? Retard.
The managers are not too bright and they think that by twisting everything around, they can blame everything on the employees. Aren’t they getting the big bucks to lead and do things right? This group of freaks is the real cause of all the problems at Priority but they will deny they are the cause because that would mean that they would have to answer questions. The problems at Priority began on 1-1-07 with Charles Wiggington and the unskilled, uneducated managers he put into power and who don’t seem to know the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, or a savings account and a checking account.
More closed doors today? What screw up plan are they hatching now? WiggleNutts said his door was always open. One of his biggest lies told over the years.
WiggleNuts !
WiggleNuts !!
WiggleNuts !!!
Fo shizzle mah WiggleNizzle!!!
Hang in there POCU employees.
The members have the power but they don't use it. As for the coo, she just doesn't seem like what the credit union needs. She's smarter then Wiggentard but she's not what the doctor ordered. When a patient is sick you don't give them poison.
Wigglebottoms!
Wigglebottoms!
Wigglebottoms!
Alex in collections listens to co-workers convrsations, lies about employees and admits she loves to gossip. She's another old hag P1 loser.
So if the collectons manager is overseeing so many things that are not collections, then how is she able to take care of dlinquencies?
P1 sets aside more than $2.5 to cover dq's. That's a lot of money. I read their report, the dq's just keep getting higher. You can blame the economy for some of it but is collections really achieving what they must have told the cu they could do? BTW, how about comparing the dq ratio when Mike Lee ran collections with the dq now? And compare the % when Harris ran the place with what it is now. I bet the results would be shocking.
" Anonymous said...Anna who used to work in mbr servs got so drunk she got butt naked in the pool. Great way to set an example."
I would rather go blind than to see that.
She's another one who booked several bad loans 2002 or 2003. Kathy Stone(Branch Manager) and Ana Cervantes(assistant) worked at the Valencia office and they may have been the ones who started bringing the CU down with all the loans. I remember Wiggs talking about it in the lunch room to Mr. Smock over lunch. How Valencia was giving away hummers. I know Kathy was very involved in the community so my bet is on Ana.
Someone should look into that too. Ana had put in her resignation (I wonder why) and lucky for her she got into a car accident which removed the blame from her. I remember, it was the first year we didn't receive a bonus
Everyone felt sorry for Ana but she was to blame for the accident too
Shouldn't members be demanding that the coo explain why she has spent more than $250,000 since 6/1/09 on things like the call center, priority pay and a bunch of things that have gone bust?
You can't even begin to imagine how many calls are lost by the call center. Not the fault of the call center staff but it is the fault of management who again thought that 4 people could pick up all the calls. I thought the coo used to manage a call center? Where and when because at p1 she's clueless.
Wiggington is bad. He took the credit union down the toilet but the new coo is finishing it off.
remember when Suzanne made us give her money to buy Wiggles the latest ipod.
You're so stupid Suzanne, my money had a a better use.
Go back to your ebay on POCU time. You do nothing in Card Services, it's all bullcrap!
And I rmember when they gave Wiggington that ipod, Sylvia yelled out, "You desrve it my president." What a kiss ass. By the way syliva do you still think he deserved it?
What about Wiggington playing on his company computer, shopping for BMWs? Or he and Smock taking 2-3 hour lunches? And Bea and her bff yvonee buttie are also spending long lunches together. Its paying off for Yvonne who has that nice huge office and gets to oversee collections, call center and visa. I wonder what Bea would give me if I became her bff? A $5000 laptop I hope.
Remember when...
Mr. Harris would give us all chocolates for Valentines Day?
How about Wiggington, what did he ever give us?
more work, no raises, no bonuses, made us lie to members about "being our first priority".
He never appreciated anything we did.
he had to hire someone else to apologize for everything he did and continues to do.
what POCU needs are people with degrees running this institution, not idiots.
Take responsibility, LEAVE!
Let your employees sleep at night
I thought the coo would bring change but she's robbing the cu and causing so much worry. Wigg should leave and help save jobs but he isn't man enough to do Wigg chose cavazos, Liz, Sylvia and Bea is choosing Yvonne and Joseph. I guess she's like Wigg choosing her bffs instead of ability.
What the hell is Bea doing? Its like she's out to finish what Charles started.
If a person reads some of the comments about Beatrice Walker they might think that people are just begin harsh and unfair but she really doesn't knwo what she's doing. She came to priority one in June 09 and has yet to make an actual plan that shows how she intends to help the credit union.
What she is doing is spending lots of credit union money, taking ideas from places where she used to work, and calling her former co-workers, friends, and others in the industry to tell her what she should do. None of what she has done at priority one has come from studying their market and from that, deciding what members need.
Look at the products she has introduced, not one has shown any potential for success. And that call center was an avoidable mistake. Just because she ran a call center doesn't mean priority one needed one.
She might think that making the credit union look pretty and putting her nice desk lamp on Wiggington's desk proves she knows what she's doing but all it proves is she can decorate.
She has no idea what products priority one's members need and she doesn't know how to get the credit union up and going again. She's chief operations officer which usually means more than knowing how to fire people.
I would like to see her plan for the credit union. The board must have asked her for a proposal and how she hoped to achieve goals. That should have had how she planned to achieve these and by what dates. I bet you they never asked for a written plan and she doesn't have one. She ought to be named, Shoot fromt he Hip Walker because its just about pulling the trigger and hoping she'll hit something. At Universal, they were not happy with her and javing a degree has not made her any smarter or better than Wiggington who we all know was never competent.
Wiggs, got his degree from the university of Ghettoism. He majored in stupidness.
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