Member Spotlight: Patricia Darcey

CUNA Councils
November 26, 2006

A Jersey girl from birth, Patricia Darcey was raised in Bergen County. She later moved to a private lake community in Passaic County to raise her five children. As a direct-response copywriter, her career path took several predictable turns. She started as a newspaper reporter, worked with several ad agencies, and then became in-house marketing director for a large bank. Ten years later Patricia and her husband formed their own ad agency and handled the marketing needs of New York and New Jersey banks for 17 years—at which point they sold the business in 2004 and retired.

“Retirement lasted a few months,” she laughs. “It took both of us that long to realize we

had nothing to do. An opportunity to become marketing director for New Jersey

Gateway Federal Credit Union presented itself to me and—well, the rest is history!”

Biggest challenge for 2006

Expanding NJ Gateway Federal Credit Union’s field of membership on a tight budget.

Greatest benefit of Council membership

I enjoy working through the website—often I am not looking for anything specific, just looking to learn.

Best part of my job

As a "department of one” I love the creative opportunities, combined with the freedom to create.

Hardest part of my job

Putting the benefits and the concept of credit union membership into a two-column by four-inch newspaper ad.

Hobbies

Traveling with my husband of 47 years

People would be most surprised to learn that I . . .

Graduated from elementary school at age 12 and completed college at age 60.

Recent book

Any given mystery—current favorites include James Patterson and Mary Higgins Clark, but they change often.

Life goal not yet achieved

To live in Italy for a year or more.

Something that always makes you laugh

The voice message on my grandson's cell phone.

If you had an extra hour in the day . . .

I’d meditate.