Voices of Experience: Celebrating Commitment at PACU

As we near the close of Piedmont Advantage Credit Union’s 75^th anniversary, there’s no better way to honor this milestone than by highlighting the voices of our longest-tenured employees. These individuals embody the commitment, resilience and sense of belonging that PACU has fostered for decades.

Many professionals today switch jobs or careers multiple times throughout their lives. PACU is proud to have many team members who have made this credit union home. Their longevity reflects their dedication and our values of trust and belonging.

In this first episode of Voices of Experience, we hear from four outstanding employees: Lori Carnes, Bonnie Coleman, Stefanie Stoneking and James Moore. Together, they represent over 75 years of collective service to PACU and our members.

Although Lori, Bonnie, Stefanie and James come from different departments and backgrounds, they offer a wealth of knowledge that can apply to everyone.

Meet the Panelists

Lori Carnes, Member Experience Advisor

Lori has spent 25 years at PACU, bringing a wealth of experience and a strong sense of compassion to her role. After working in banking for 10 years, she was looking for a workplace like PACU that would allow her to form deeper connections with members. Lori describes her time here in one word: joy.

“I get to wake up every day and come to a job that I actually enjoy,” Lori said. “If I can make a difference in one member’s life, whether personally or financially, that brings me so much joy.”

Bonnie Coleman, Lending Underwriter

Bonnie is PACU’s longest-serving employee. She is an underwriter who has worked in credit unions for 42 years. The credit union she previously worked for merged with PACU in 2004, and Bonnie has been crucial to the credit union ever since. Bonnie describes her time at PACU as gratifying.

“Helping people and the great people I’ve had the privilege to get to know over the years are what have made my time here so gratifying,” Bonnie said.

Stefanie Stoneking, HR Supervisor

Stefanie has been with us for 12 years. She began at PACU in 2011 as a temporary staff member before transitioning to full-time in 2013. Stefanie describes her time at PACU as a combination of “collaboration” and “development.”

According to Stefanie, PACU’s work environment fosters collaboration across multiple departments and with members to help them achieve their financial goals.  “I would also say ‘development’ because PACU allows you to develop in the areas that you are interested in or want to grow in,” Stefanie said. 

James Moore, Vice President of Risk Management

James has worked at PACU for 24 years. “After a year of submitting applications and resumes, I interviewed with our former CEO, Tom Welch,” James said. “He called not long after I left and offered me the position. Then I called my wife and talked to her. Before I got home, I was the newest employee of the credit union.”

If James could choose one word to sum up his experience at PACU, it would be “focus.” When he reflects on his time here, he thinks of how PACU has never lost focus on our core values and mission.

“We focus on the member first,” James said. “We have never lost that focus since day one. We've been responsible for staying focused on the membership since PACU was primarily part of Piedmont Airlines to today.”

A Legacy of Leadership

Dion Williams, PACU’s president and CEO, moderated the roundtable. He brought thoughtful questions and reflections to the discussion. His leadership set the tone for an engaging conversation that celebrated the dedication and values of our longest-tenured employees.

Watch the complete roundtable discussion on our YouTube channel to hear more from Lori, Bonnie, Stefanie and James. Their insights and experiences paint a vivid picture of what makes PACU a place where careers and lives are enriched.

To learn more about the focus, collaboration and development, gratification and joy PACU offers, watch the rest of the roundtable discussion on our YouTube channel and hear more about Lori, Bonnie, Stefanie, and James's tenure at PACU.