Young Professional Spotlights

Irene Morales                                

GECU
El Paso, Texas                 

How long have you been in the credit union industry?
I’ve been with the credit union for five years.

What is your favorite thing about working in the credit union?
As cliché as it sounds, I love helping people. Also, I love the community focus on the El Paso area and the surrounding cities. I love volunteering and seeing everyone’s face so happy with GECU giving them the supplies or assistance they might need. We offer so many benefits to help our members that I love to educate existing and new members of all the services we offer. Even when it comes to fees and loan rates being the lowest compared to banks.

Favorite movie that you can see over and over?
1917

What is one thing that surprises most people about you?
I love to read.

If you could chat with any celebrity or public figure, who would it be and why?
I would love to chat to Malala Yousafzai, because she is a brave Pakistani activist fighting for the rights of girls’ education and advocates for women’s rights.

What are you currently reading?
The Stolen Hours by Allen Eskens.

Who is your role model and why?
Martin Luther King, Jr. is my role model because he never gave up advocating for African Americans’ rights. He was never violent no matter the situations he was put through and always remained peaceful.

What are you binge watching right now?
The Patient on Hulu.

What is your favorite place you’ve traveled?
Utah, because of the amazing hiking trails.

Vanessa Gonzalez          

Mortgage Loan Officer
GECU   
El Paso, Texas                 

How long have you been in the credit union industry?
11 years

What is your favorite thing about working in the credit union?
Being able to see our community impact up close and personal.

Favorite movie that you can see over and over?
Forrest Gump

What is one thing that surprises most people about you?
I was a flag girl in high school.

What are you binge watching right now?
Yellowstone

What is your favorite place you’ve traveled?
Tough choice: Durango, Colo. or San Francisco, Calif.

Linda Nunez      

Asst. Program Director
GECU   
El Paso, Texas                 

How long have you been in the credit union industry?
14 years

What is your favorite thing about working in the credit union?
The “people helping people” philosophy. 

What are you currently reading?
Virgin River

Who is your role model and why?
My parents because they scarified so much for us. They made me who I am today. I would have not been successful without their advice.

What are you binge watching right now?
Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago PD

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
Stop time and be able to spend as much time with my kids before they grow up.

Jasmin Marie Duran

Volunteer and Event Coordinator
GECU
El Paso, TX

How long have you been in the credit union industry?
I have been in the credit union industry for more than four years

What is your favorite thing about working in the credit union?
While there are many favorites, my most favorite thing about working in the credit union is that we are not for profit.

Favorite movie that you can see over and over?
I can watch 50 First Dates a million and one times a day!

What is one thing that surprises most people about you?
I am an extrovert! I can talk to anyone and everyone, about anything and everything. People tend to believe that I am an introvert.

If you could chat with any celebrity or public figure, who would it be and why?
I would love to chat with Jennifer Garner. From what I see on the media, she seems so down to earth. She is always doing something for someone, whether she’s baking cookies for hard-working health workers or packing lunches for construction workers in her neighborhood or the homeless. She is also very intuitive when it comes to her family’s health and accessible nutrition overall. She is a perfect fit in the "people helping people" philosophy!

What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading Emily Ley’s Grace, Not Perfection.

Who is your role model and why?
My role model is my grandma. She reminds me to always stay authentic no matter what life may throw at me. As long as I am happy being me, nothing can stop me.