Give the lady credit — from house cleaner to typist to CEO

Diane Whitaker was cleaning houses for extra cash when a neighbor and manager at Ensign Federal Credit Union asked her if she'd like a part-time job as a typist.

Supporting five children with a disabled husband, Whitaker needed the income and was eager to re-enter the work force after 10 years as a stay-at-home mom.

She worked hard like her mother had taught her and showed a world of ambition, which landed her a full-time position with benefits.

She never dreamed of one day becoming chief executive officer of Ensign Federal Credit Union, a 46-year-old financial institution targeting members of the Mormon religion.

Whitaker learned the business from the ground up, working as a teller, bookkeeper, marketing manager, human resource manager and chief operations officer before being appointed CEO in 1998.

She oversees $104 million in deposits and $136 million in assets. Ensign opened its new 13,000-square-foot headquarter branch at 1300 W. Warm Springs Road, behind Sunset Station, about three years ago and has four branches in Las Vegas Valley.

Whitaker has become a respected professional in the male-dominated financial industry, representing Nevada as a member of the National Association of Federal Credit Unions advisory council.

She's also an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the local Boy Scouts of America Roundtable.

Question: When you entered the banking industry nearly 25 years ago, there were virtually no woman presidents and CEOs. Have times changed?

Answer: I think so, especially in credit unions. There are so many women CEOs and women in executive positions. They're generally small institutions, but it's just a matter of time. I am not a woman's libber. Women or men should get what they get by their own merits. If they're not the right person for the job, they shouldn't get the job. I'm not into quotas. I look at the women who work here, they're so smart and capable and dedicated and the men are the same way.

Question: Who were some of your idols and people you admire?

Answer: This is a hard question. You caught me by surprise on that one.

Question: What about your mother?

Answer: I did think of my mother because she's a really hard worker, capable of doing anything and she raised me that way.

Question: What's your main responsibility here?

Answer: Everything. The buck stops here. Sometimes it doesn't matter what your position is, people just come to you. I am very appreciative to have this job. It's a great challenge.

Question: What are your business goals?

Answer: My goal is to grow the credit union. We have had steady, progressive growth over the years. I want to continue to build on that foundation. We're not a flash in the pan. We really focus on service, not charging exorbitant fees, no deceptive advertising. You're not going to have a big surprise about something.

Question: How were you able to work your way to CEO of Ensign Federal Credit Union?

Answer: I don't know. I started as a typist and became a teller and bookkeeper. I think I really have always liked to learn and read, so that constant learning and I've been a hard worker over the years. I'm the go-to person. Whatever it took, I did it. I'm sure being in the right time and the right place helped.

Question: What do you consider your best talents?

Answer: I've been a really good multitasker. I would do a lot of things at one time. You figure out what the hot spots are and take of them first. I really do have a passion for the credit union. This is what I care about. I worry about it. I care about the people whose lives are involved here.

Question: Anything else?

Answer: As important as it is to keep up with the latest advancements in the industry, the core of our success has always been our relationships with our clients. Truly listening to our members and their needs has allowed us to serve them in the best way possible.

Question: When did you first realize you were CEO material?

Answer: I was probably 37 or 38. Something in my brain said if you keep learning this and keep accepting responsibility, there might be a chance you could be considered. I loved my job at the time. If I didn't get the (CEO) job, it wasn't a make-or-break thing.

Question: What did you want to be growing up?

Answer: I wanted to be a school teacher. Even after I started working here, I considered going to school for a teacher credential. I determined I could do better at the credit union. I liked the people I was working with and the atmosphere was more conducive to raising my children. If I got a call from the school to come pick them up, they understood. That's a big deal for me.

Question: What do you do in your leisure time?

Answer: I love to read. It's kind of a passive hobby. We have a cabin at Brian Head (Utah). We built it with our own hands, my husband and I. We go to the cabin and ride four-wheelers. I love to have the kids over and cook for them.

Question: Ever think about leaving Las Vegas?

Answer: I thought this would be a short stop. I'm from Northern California. I wanted to get out of the desert and get back to the trees. I fell in love with Las Vegas. The people, everything's growing, everything's new. There's lots of opportunity and lots of challenges and really lots of nice people in Las Vegas. I've been fortunate to be able to run a credit union as targeted as Ensign in a place as exciting as Las Vegas. In a market that has grown so much in the last decade, there are endless opportunities for growth and innovation.