“Life is like a game of pinball. Random events happen unexpectedly and change your path,” said Ed Berg, CEO, First Northern Credit Union.

Ed worked for Household Finance in central Illinois after graduating from Illinois State University. He transferred to Chicago a couple of years later. “I landed in credit unions because a recruiter called me. Rex Johnson was a consulting with a credit union, and he recommended they hire someone who worked at Household Finance,” he said.

“I started my job at Master Printers Credit Union in Chicago during April 1988 and went to ICUL Convention the following week. I have not missed one since,” said Ed.

In 1984, he was hired by Edison CU, which changed its name to First Northern CU in 2000. Ed became CEO at First Northern CU in 2004.

“I had a great credit union and chapter experience in downtown Chicago,” he said. Ed encourages people who are new to the credit union movement to get involved and to meet people from throughout the state. “The peer networking groups are a great way to talk with people from outside your organization who do similar work,” he added. I also enjoyed serving 13 years on the ICUL Board as the director for the Brietzke Chapter.

Ed is proud of the long tenured staff and low turnover at his credit union. “We have staff members who have been with First Northern for over 20 years. They get along well and feel like a family,” he said.

“At credit unions, there are members who you connect with and who you know will always pay back their loans because we have helped them during tough times. That is what we do. We help people!

I appreciate those special relationships and am glad to have had a positive impact on people’s lives,” said Ed.