Women's INTERNATIONAL MARCH 2022 monTH Creating a Credit Union ethic. But Laurene's By Jessica Adams The impact of women in business is felt far and wide in our community. They endeavors didn't stop are dreamers, visionaries, entrepreneurs, and creators. As the 50th Anniversary there, as a woman in the of Lake Chem Community Federal Credit Union was celebrated by employees and members, the origin of the once small credit union was discussed by the people closest to the very beginnings of it in a small group in the lobby of the Draffenville branch. "I remember leaving Kindergarten at noon and then going with you to work at the Credit Union, do you remember that?" Sitting in a high back chair listening to her daughters"- Lisa, Teresa, and Kathy, recall their child- she recruited the help of hood memories of going to work with her is the visionary and founder of Lake Chem, Laurene Young. Laurene was many notable things in her life, a mother, a of good ladies that worked with me" Laurene chided to Lisa in thinking of the traveler, a devoted Christian, and a business woman. BF Goodrich began chemical manufacturing in the mid 1950's among Calvert City's industrial park, providing hundreds of jobs and opportunities to Western Kentucky. At the same time in Paducah, Dorian Business College of Paducah was offering education in finance, and Laurene Young was one of the students enrolled. Laurene's youngest daughter Kathy looking back on her mother's influences before getting into the financial industry said, "She had an but her work wasn't yet done. She continued to serve the Credit Union and associate's degree, or some official training, but nothing really formal. So to see something go from a part time idea to becoming something other people wanted to be involved in, and now this Credit Union that's worth millions of dollars, it's just amazing. How do you build that? How do you have this idea that starts so small and figure out how to do it and make it happen? It's amazing to think about that" The circumstances that lead to Laurene attending Dorian Business College and her having the fierce sense of perseverance that attributed to her success pel Mission. Part of her love for the Church and the Lord was shown in her time started from the day she was born. Her mother suffering a stroke when Laurene she gave to AWANAS, a children's program her church provided to the commu- was bom lead to her dying when Laurene was just 4 days old. Her father left her in the care of her Aunt and Uncle, who raised little Laurene until her Aunt then died when she was 12. Struggling to find work and care for a child, Laurene's Uncle left her in the care of a couple that lived next door that Laurene's children would one day call and consider their grandparents. That couple would be the people to send Laurene in the direction of Dorian and encourage her in her education. early 70's in Kentucky she began to create and lead a team of women tackling the financial industry, and from there Robbie Culp. "I had a lot 50th anniversary of the Credit Union, never taking credit for any accomplish- ments herself. As the Credit Union steadily grew, from a refurbished brick and mortar build- ing on Evergreen Street in Calvert City, to building two cabin style branches in Marshall County, Laurene's presence and influence in the direction of the Credit Union never wavered. She retired from the position of CEO in 2006, its members on the Lake Chem Board of Directors for another 8 years before officially retiring from the financial industry. But work wasn't everything to Laurene, she lived a vibrant and multifacet- ed life. Her service to her community went far beyond her work at the Credit Union. Her love for helping others was driven by a greater love she found with her devotion to the Church, Gospel Mission Worship Center. For many years she dedicated her time and energy to volunteering at Lourdes Hospital and to Gos- nity. She loved to travel, garden, and make elaborate desserts, but raising her daughters and instilling in them a strong work ethic and financial indepen- dence was a great joy for Laurene. "She was so even tempered and never raised her voice at us kids, and one day looking back I asked her, "Mom, was it stressful?" and she said, "Well, yeah it was, but you can't act like it!" I never remember her losing her cool" said her daughter Lisa remembering the impactful ways her mom raised her. Laurene was a force to be reckoned with in the financial industry as a woman leading an all women team, and her determination and independence was a quality she taught her daughters as well. "She taught us all from a very young age on how to manage money and how to save money for retirement." reflected Teresa on how Laurene helped guide her finances when In 1970, Laurene's then husband worked at BF Goodrich and brought the idea home to Laurene that many of the men were interested in the idea of the employees having their own savings accounts. Once the idea reached Laurene, it took momentum and the seed that would soon become the Credit Union was planted. While Laurene worked to get the Credit Union chartered and became creator and operator of a financial institution, the first unofficial employees were her 3 girls licking envelopes at the kitchen table. All 3 daugh- and even going to Europe with her grandchildren, Laurene's life again added ters reminisce on their days of coming home from school and spending their aftenoons stuffing hundreds of statements at the kitchen table before Credit Union's operations was able to be moved into its first building. Like so many big ideas, the beginnings start small and humble. The first physical location for sense of humor still show that she is the same woman who dared to take on Lake Chem Federal Credit Union was a half trailer located in the parking lot of BF Goodrich. Laurene worked out of the trailer 3 days a week while raising her girls, then moved to her hours full time as the Credit Union grew. "She was very loyal and committed to the success of the Credit Union. We would have huge snows to the point it was hard to get out of the house or on the road, and full range of financial services, from the original savings accounts they began we lived in Reidland at that time and she would always make it to the Credit Union to open the doors. She would ride with different employees that worked at the plant, the plant manager was one of them, and they would carpool to get there, but they got there. It was like it just wasn't an option to miss work." Said Laurene's eldest daughter, Lisa when talking about her mother's work starting her small business. While the later years of her retirement included traveling with her children an unexpected chapter. In 2019, Laurene was officially diagnosed with Alzhei- mer's disease. Like all people who go through a dementia diagnosis, there are days that are better than others, but Laurene's strong will, determination, and the financial industry and give life to the idea of helping others in 1971. Today, Lake Chem has 3 locations in Calvert City. Draffenville, and Murray and is chartered to serve anyone who lives, works, worships, or goes to school in Marshall or Calloway County, with an asset size over $90 million. They offer a with to now offering fixed and variable rate mortgages, consumer loans, credit cards and unsecured loans, and a variety of investment accounts. Lake Chem is currently operated under the leadership of an all-woman team, inadvertently following in the same footsteps as the woman who originally founded the Cred- it Union over 50 years ago. 3 convenienT LOCATIONS: CLAKE CHEM MURRAY BRANCH 270.761.5228 DRAFFENVILLE BRANCH CALVERT CITY BRANCH 270.205.4214 270.5274389 conviTY FEDERAL CREIT ON PAID BY ADVERTISER Women's INTERNATIONAL MARCH 2022 monTH Creating a Credit Union ethic. But Laurene's By Jessica Adams The impact of women in business is felt far and wide in our community. They endeavors didn't stop are dreamers, visionaries, entrepreneurs, and creators. As the 50th Anniversary there, as a woman in the of Lake Chem Community Federal Credit Union was celebrated by employees and members, the origin of the once small credit union was discussed by the people closest to the very beginnings of it in a small group in the lobby of the Draffenville branch. "I remember leaving Kindergarten at noon and then going with you to work at the Credit Union, do you remember that?" Sitting in a high back chair listening to her daughters"- Lisa, Teresa, and Kathy, recall their child- she recruited the help of hood memories of going to work with her is the visionary and founder of Lake Chem, Laurene Young. Laurene was many notable things in her life, a mother, a of good ladies that worked with me" Laurene chided to Lisa in thinking of the traveler, a devoted Christian, and a business woman. BF Goodrich began chemical manufacturing in the mid 1950's among Calvert City's industrial park, providing hundreds of jobs and opportunities to Western Kentucky. At the same time in Paducah, Dorian Business College of Paducah was offering education in finance, and Laurene Young was one of the students enrolled. Laurene's youngest daughter Kathy looking back on her mother's influences before getting into the financial industry said, "She had an but her work wasn't yet done. She continued to serve the Credit Union and associate's degree, or some official training, but nothing really formal. So to see something go from a part time idea to becoming something other people wanted to be involved in, and now this Credit Union that's worth millions of dollars, it's just amazing. How do you build that? How do you have this idea that starts so small and figure out how to do it and make it happen? It's amazing to think about that" The circumstances that lead to Laurene attending Dorian Business College and her having the fierce sense of perseverance that attributed to her success pel Mission. Part of her love for the Church and the Lord was shown in her time started from the day she was born. Her mother suffering a stroke when Laurene she gave to AWANAS, a children's program her church provided to the commu- was bom lead to her dying when Laurene was just 4 days old. Her father left her in the care of her Aunt and Uncle, who raised little Laurene until her Aunt then died when she was 12. Struggling to find work and care for a child, Laurene's Uncle left her in the care of a couple that lived next door that Laurene's children would one day call and consider their grandparents. That couple would be the people to send Laurene in the direction of Dorian and encourage her in her education. early 70's in Kentucky she began to create and lead a team of women tackling the financial industry, and from there Robbie Culp. "I had a lot 50th anniversary of the Credit Union, never taking credit for any accomplish- ments herself. As the Credit Union steadily grew, from a refurbished brick and mortar build- ing on Evergreen Street in Calvert City, to building two cabin style branches in Marshall County, Laurene's presence and influence in the direction of the Credit Union never wavered. She retired from the position of CEO in 2006, its members on the Lake Chem Board of Directors for another 8 years before officially retiring from the financial industry. But work wasn't everything to Laurene, she lived a vibrant and multifacet- ed life. Her service to her community went far beyond her work at the Credit Union. Her love for helping others was driven by a greater love she found with her devotion to the Church, Gospel Mission Worship Center. For many years she dedicated her time and energy to volunteering at Lourdes Hospital and to Gos- nity. She loved to travel, garden, and make elaborate desserts, but raising her daughters and instilling in them a strong work ethic and financial indepen- dence was a great joy for Laurene. "She was so even tempered and never raised her voice at us kids, and one day looking back I asked her, "Mom, was it stressful?" and she said, "Well, yeah it was, but you can't act like it!" I never remember her losing her cool" said her daughter Lisa remembering the impactful ways her mom raised her. Laurene was a force to be reckoned with in the financial industry as a woman leading an all women team, and her determination and independence was a quality she taught her daughters as well. "She taught us all from a very young age on how to manage money and how to save money for retirement." reflected Teresa on how Laurene helped guide her finances when In 1970, Laurene's then husband worked at BF Goodrich and brought the idea home to Laurene that many of the men were interested in the idea of the employees having their own savings accounts. Once the idea reached Laurene, it took momentum and the seed that would soon become the Credit Union was planted. While Laurene worked to get the Credit Union chartered and became creator and operator of a financial institution, the first unofficial employees were her 3 girls licking envelopes at the kitchen table. All 3 daugh- and even going to Europe with her grandchildren, Laurene's life again added ters reminisce on their days of coming home from school and spending their aftenoons stuffing hundreds of statements at the kitchen table before Credit Union's operations was able to be moved into its first building. Like so many big ideas, the beginnings start small and humble. The first physical location for sense of humor still show that she is the same woman who dared to take on Lake Chem Federal Credit Union was a half trailer located in the parking lot of BF Goodrich. Laurene worked out of the trailer 3 days a week while raising her girls, then moved to her hours full time as the Credit Union grew. "She was very loyal and committed to the success of the Credit Union. We would have huge snows to the point it was hard to get out of the house or on the road, and full range of financial services, from the original savings accounts they began we lived in Reidland at that time and she would always make it to the Credit Union to open the doors. She would ride with different employees that worked at the plant, the plant manager was one of them, and they would carpool to get there, but they got there. It was like it just wasn't an option to miss work." Said Laurene's eldest daughter, Lisa when talking about her mother's work starting her small business. While the later years of her retirement included traveling with her children an unexpected chapter. In 2019, Laurene was officially diagnosed with Alzhei- mer's disease. Like all people who go through a dementia diagnosis, there are days that are better than others, but Laurene's strong will, determination, and the financial industry and give life to the idea of helping others in 1971. Today, Lake Chem has 3 locations in Calvert City. Draffenville, and Murray and is chartered to serve anyone who lives, works, worships, or goes to school in Marshall or Calloway County, with an asset size over $90 million. They offer a with to now offering fixed and variable rate mortgages, consumer loans, credit cards and unsecured loans, and a variety of investment accounts. Lake Chem is currently operated under the leadership of an all-woman team, inadvertently following in the same footsteps as the woman who originally founded the Cred- it Union over 50 years ago. 3 convenienT LOCATIONS: CLAKE CHEM MURRAY BRANCH 270.761.5228 DRAFFENVILLE BRANCH CALVERT CITY BRANCH 270.205.4214 270.5274389 conviTY FEDERAL CREIT ON PAID BY ADVERTISER