Member Spotlight: Matt Hodson

June 22, 2012 | COMMENTS

Matt Hodson is marketing director for Health Care Credit Union in Salt Lake City, Utah. He stays busy overseeing marketing, public relations, social media, advertising, sales training, and business development.

Matt has known credit unions most of his life. His father worked for a mid-sized credit union in Idaho Falls while Matt was growing up, eventually becoming the CEO. “With this perspective I came to understand the credit union philosophy of people helping people at a younger age than most people,” says Matt.

Biggest challenge
Breaking through the clutter that is the current ad space and gaining more loans.

Best advice
Take chances and make mistakes. You will never grow if you don't venture outside of your professional (and personal) bubble.

Greatest Council benefit
Collaboration among peers—having that support network is second to none. You can find professionals willing to help in other industries but it is nothing like having them on the same battlefield you are on every day.

Best part of my job
The constant change that is marketing. I love trying to figure out new ways to bring our products to the membership.

Hardest part of my job
Staying on top of all the changes going on while still running a marketing department. It is the challenge I enjoy.

Recent success story
Our partnering with the local children's hospital has been a great success story for our credit union. Not only have we been able to benefit a great organization but we have gained goodwill within the community for our efforts.

Biggest misconception about my job
That I sit on the Internet all day goofing around.

Recent book
The Flinch by Julien Smith

Life goal not yet achieved
Learning Italian—that would complement my Spanish very well.

Something that always makes me laugh
The TV show Arrested Development.

If I could spend the day with anyone . . .
It would be Tony Horton of P90x fame. He has a passion for his work that is unmatched by most people (although I would have to hide my Mountain Dew).

How I would explain the credit union difference
Credit unions are there for you. You have the opportunity to make a difference there by becoming a board member and guiding the direction of the credit union. This is something that you could never do in a bank.