Contact
Celeste Cook, President/CEO
8501 Harbinger Court,
Montgomery, AL 36117
404.783.5898
www.custrategies.com
[email protected]
Celeste Cook, President/CEO
8501 Harbinger Court,
Montgomery, AL 36117
404.783.5898
www.custrategies.com
[email protected]
About
Celeste Cook is founder and President/CEO of cuStrategies LLC. As a credit union industry strategist, Celeste provides strategic planning services, experienced consulting services, and expert training programs to the credit union industry. In addition to being a consultant and trainer, she is a keynote and motivational speaker with a dynamic and engaging style that have made her highly sought after within the credit union industry. Celeste has also served as an industry expert, motivational specialist, and keynote speaker for credit union associations and leagues nationwide.Along with being CEO of cuStrategies LLC, she has been involved in the credit union industry for more than 20 years and a professional speaker and trainer for more than 15 years – also working for a $1.6 billion credit union in Atlanta, Georgia, and working as a consultant and trainer with Rex Johnson of Lending Solutions Consulting.
Celeste’s experienced consulting services and expert training programs/schools have helped credit unions with assets ranging from $20 million to $2 billion. She provides her vast knowledge, innovative ideas, and proven strategies with passion and a dynamic speaking style that is engaging and filled with positive energy! During her career, Celeste has developed, led, and implemented successful training programs, strategies, and initiatives in lending, business development, sales and service, leadership, and performance improvement. She has a definitive focus on loan growth, profitability, membership growth and retention, and member service.
A few of her successes include:
• Increased loans by 213% and deposits by 652% in less than 12 months through SEG/Community Business Partners.
• Instrumental in helping a credit union experience 33% loan growth in 12 months using cuStrategies lending strategies and programs.
• Instrumental in helping a $1.2 billion credit union increase loan volume from $12 million to $21 million in one month(immediately following training) and capturing an additional 576 loans in 4 months that otherwise would never have been captured (A cuStrategies’ client that implemented cuStrategies training programs and strategies.)
• Instrumental in helping a credit union achieve the highest monthly loan growth in 5 years – one month following training (cuStrategies’ client who implemented all cuStrategies training programs and strategies).
• Recruited over 80% (975 out of 1,250) of all employees at a large auto manufacturing plant within a 9-month period, which housed an onsite full-service Wachovia Bank branch (credit union branch 2 miles from plant).
• Implemented lending strategies and program that led to better loan decisions, more loan opportunities, and increased member loyalty. For example, helped a member increase their credit score from 656 to 712 in less than one month. Helped another member increase their score from 573 to 728 in 4 months as a result of the Credit Scoring & Analysis Lending Program, bringing profitable loan opportunities to the credit union that would have otherwise been lost and increasing member loyalty.
Celeste has a degree in business management and a Certification in Sales Leadership Strategies through the Credit Union National Association. She has been a contributor to industry publications such as CUinsight, Credit Union Executive Society, Credit Union Times, and Credit Union Journal as well as the Branch Managers Letter, a national publication. Celeste is also writing a book on leadership and service.
Celeste Cook is founder and President/CEO of cuStrategies LLC. As a credit union industry strategist, Celeste provides strategic planning services, experienced consulting services, and expert training programs to the credit union industry. In addition to being a consultant and trainer, she is a keynote and motivational speaker with a dynamic and engaging style that have made her highly sought after within the credit union industry. Celeste has also served as an industry expert, motivational specialist, and keynote speaker for credit union associations and leagues nationwide.Along with being CEO of cuStrategies LLC, she has been involved in the credit union industry for more than 20 years and a professional speaker and trainer for more than 15 years – also working for a $1.6 billion credit union in Atlanta, Georgia, and working as a consultant and trainer with Rex Johnson of Lending Solutions Consulting.
Celeste’s experienced consulting services and expert training programs/schools have helped credit unions with assets ranging from $20 million to $2 billion. She provides her vast knowledge, innovative ideas, and proven strategies with passion and a dynamic speaking style that is engaging and filled with positive energy! During her career, Celeste has developed, led, and implemented successful training programs, strategies, and initiatives in lending, business development, sales and service, leadership, and performance improvement. She has a definitive focus on loan growth, profitability, membership growth and retention, and member service.
A few of her successes include:
• Increased loans by 213% and deposits by 652% in less than 12 months through SEG/Community Business Partners.
• Instrumental in helping a credit union experience 33% loan growth in 12 months using cuStrategies lending strategies and programs.
• Instrumental in helping a $1.2 billion credit union increase loan volume from $12 million to $21 million in one month(immediately following training) and capturing an additional 576 loans in 4 months that otherwise would never have been captured (A cuStrategies’ client that implemented cuStrategies training programs and strategies.)
• Instrumental in helping a credit union achieve the highest monthly loan growth in 5 years – one month following training (cuStrategies’ client who implemented all cuStrategies training programs and strategies).
• Recruited over 80% (975 out of 1,250) of all employees at a large auto manufacturing plant within a 9-month period, which housed an onsite full-service Wachovia Bank branch (credit union branch 2 miles from plant).
• Implemented lending strategies and program that led to better loan decisions, more loan opportunities, and increased member loyalty. For example, helped a member increase their credit score from 656 to 712 in less than one month. Helped another member increase their score from 573 to 728 in 4 months as a result of the Credit Scoring & Analysis Lending Program, bringing profitable loan opportunities to the credit union that would have otherwise been lost and increasing member loyalty.
Celeste has a degree in business management and a Certification in Sales Leadership Strategies through the Credit Union National Association. She has been a contributor to industry publications such as CUinsight, Credit Union Executive Society, Credit Union Times, and Credit Union Journal as well as the Branch Managers Letter, a national publication. Celeste is also writing a book on leadership and service.
Services
STRATEGIC PLANNING
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
CREDIT SCORE MANAGEMENT SEMINAR (PPT PRESENTATION)
LENDING
SALES AND SERVICE
LEADERSHIP
EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE
STRATEGIC PLANNING
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
CREDIT SCORE MANAGEMENT SEMINAR (PPT PRESENTATION)
LENDING
SALES AND SERVICE
LEADERSHIP
EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE
Articles
Key strategies for relentless growth: increased loans, profitability, and member retention
Getting more strategic about loan growth
Strategic planning with a clear focus on increased loan growth, profitability, and member retention
Care enough to ensure extraordinary service (part 2)
Care enough to ensure extraordinary service (part 1)
Don’t market your products, market a partnership
Marketing to recently discharged ‘Good’ bankruptcies for boosted business
SEG loyalty—where did it go?
How to brand your credit union as a true partner
SMART SWOTs for credit unions: How to generate new business opportunities
Consistent, Clear Communication: A Powerful Tool for Action-Driven Leaders
Growing Profitable Loan Opportunities with 2-2-2-6-1
5 Steps to Engage Employees to Bring Service to Life
Reinventing Your Business Development Program
Marketing the Credit Union Difference: Focus On What You Don’t Do!
Key strategies for relentless growth: increased loans, profitability, and member retention
Getting more strategic about loan growth
Strategic planning with a clear focus on increased loan growth, profitability, and member retention
Care enough to ensure extraordinary service (part 2)
Care enough to ensure extraordinary service (part 1)
Don’t market your products, market a partnership
Marketing to recently discharged ‘Good’ bankruptcies for boosted business
SEG loyalty—where did it go?
How to brand your credit union as a true partner
SMART SWOTs for credit unions: How to generate new business opportunities
Consistent, Clear Communication: A Powerful Tool for Action-Driven Leaders
Growing Profitable Loan Opportunities with 2-2-2-6-1
5 Steps to Engage Employees to Bring Service to Life
Reinventing Your Business Development Program
Marketing the Credit Union Difference: Focus On What You Don’t Do!
