At Point Breeze, thinking ‘about new opportunities’

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In February, Tonia Niedzialkowski was named president of Point Breeze Credit Union. In her new role, she will continue to oversee the operations of the banking institution which includes member services, lending, marketing, human resources, compliance and information technology. She will also manage the bank’s senior leadership team as well as explore expansion possibilities.

The Daily Record reached out to Niedzialkowski to discuss a wide range of topics, from her new position to the recent expansion of the credit union’s Hunt Valley headquarters.

The Daily Record: How has the transition gone since you were named president?

Tonia Niedzialkowski: It’s gone very well. I’ve been really, really thrilled to recently be named as president. For me, it is a new role that really allows me to spread my wings so it is enabling me to grow really as a leader in Point Breeze and I have been a part of Point Breeze for decades. I have been there for 27 years or so. I’ve been there a long time so it is really a great opportunity for me to really spread my wings and lead in a different way.

TDR: Bernie McLaughlin had been serving as both president and CEO. He has remained on as CEO. How has he helped with your new role?

Niedzialkowski: He’s been a great mentor for me over the years. He’s always been there to support. He’s been a great support for me. He is great with guidance when I have questions. At the same time, he’s been really great about letting me take my new role and try out new things so I have been very grateful for that. He does, as we all do at Point Breeze, the management team believes in servant leadership so it was really about us serving our staff and supporting our staff.

TDR: How has the credit union’s expansion into Westminster and Owings Mills gone?

Niedzialkowski: That has gone really well. We opened those offices three years ago now and both have been great with serving our existing members and also bringing in new membership in both of those areas. It has been a really positive move for us. Both branches are profitable and really assisting our members. We had some members in those areas previously but we have been really very grateful that it has brought us a lot of new membership as well. It has also allowed us to serve in those two (communities).

TDR: Point Breeze recently expanded its headquarters in Hunt Valley. You oversaw that project. Why was this expansion needed?

Niedzialkowski: We’ve been growing and we really felt it was important for collaboration and innovation and creativity to have our back office staff in one location. That is what we are planning to do once everybody is back after COVID is to have all of our back office support staff in one location. We will be able to work much more easily as a team. We designed the building with really great collaborative spaces and places that should really spark innovation and creativity in our staff. We have an amazing staff and we have a lot of great ideas. The way we designed the building should really assist with that.

TDR: You’ve been at Point Breeze since 1994. What has kept you with the banking institution for so long?

Niedzialkowski: It is really about being able to serve others and serve our community and that’s what has really been important. We are really here to serve our members. It feels like you have much more purpose. We bring a lot of needed important products and financial services to our members. We really focus on that. It keeps you motivated. What you are doing is really serving the people that you are around all day, every day whether you are going to lunch or going shopping, this is our community. This is where we volunteer. This is where we work. It is giving back directly to the people who are nearest to you. I think that was really one reason that keeps it fresh. It has really been a friendly creative place to stay so that is what has really kept me on board.

TDR: What do you hope to bring to your role as president?

Niedzialkowski: Because I am managing the senior team, it is really (about) inspiring them to be even more creative and think about new opportunities. It is also to explore future expansion opportunities for the credit union. It’s really about helping to inspire innovation as well. That is what I am hoping to do in my new role and think about things in a new way, challenge the senior staff in new ways to think different and challenge the status quo.

… Point Breeze is really like a family and we really do have an amazing staff. We (are) really very focused and our whole purpose is on serving our membership and I think that gives us a really great sense of community and purpose and focus so when you feel like you are serving others and you feel like you are bettering their lives it gives you a good reason to get up and go to work every day.