Disaster no match for CEO
Monica Belz jet-skied, boated, and swam to bring the credit union to members after heavy rain.
The island of Kauai is no stranger to rainfall.
But when nearly 50 inches of rain fell in a 24-hour period in April 2018 on the northern shore of the island, it broke a U.S. record, causing widespread flooding and devastation including 12 landslides that blocked roads.
For members of Kauai Government Employees Federal Credit Union that may have meant no access to financial services. Except that Monica Belz, CEO of the $111 million asset credit union in Lihue, Hawaii, is no stranger to disaster recovery. She’s coordinated help for four major catastrophes, been involved in international development and volunteer projects since she was 11, and been a firefighter since age 14.
To assist Kauai’s North Shore residents, the credit union brought needed emergency supplies such as water and gasoline. When Belz heard that residents needed immediate access to funds, she popped the credit union—laptop, internet hot spot, and forms—in a dry bag. She then jet-skied, boated, and swam to get to members in the most remote areas.
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