Heather Ball is a local girl who moved up quickly once she set her focus on a lending job at People’s Credit Union. Her comfort with numbers and customers at the credit union’s Hazel Dell office paved the way within two years to a loan officer position. Now she handles auto and personal loans and home refinancing. “When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher,” she said, “and I actually do educate my customers, it’s true. A lot of times, people don’t realize what’s going into that purchase order and whether there are extras they don’t need. It feels good to be able to help people with important matters.”
Name: Heather Ball
Job title: Branch Manager
Residence Neighborhood: Lakeshore
Employer name: People’s Community Federal Credit Union
Business address: 121 N.W. 20th Ave., Battle Ground, 360-695-5121, peoplescu.org
Age: 40
Educational/professional background: I’ve lived in Clark County all my life and graduated from Columbia River High School. I worked in accounts receivable in the paper and pulp industry for six years until we started a family. I then changed to retail for six years.
How — and when — you got started in your business: I had been interested in starting a career in lending for many years. Retail hours were no longer working for my family. In 2012 I started at People’s Community Federal Credit Union as a teller to get my foot in the door and start my lending career.
Personal/business philosophy: Focus on what is important and don’t sweat the small stuff.
Most rewarding part of job: Being able to help our members. Whether it is helping them with their account, or completing a loan, it feels good to be able to help people with important matters.
Most challenging part of job: I like structure and schedules. This job has taught me to be more flexible and to go with the flow.
Something surprising about your work: Every day is different. The Battle Ground branch is a busy branch and every day is something new.
Best feature of my Clark County community: Battle Ground is such a tight knit community. Many of our members know each other, so it isn’t uncommon to see them talking and waving to each other in the drive-through. I love the community feel of it here at People’s.
What would make your community a better place? I like to eat healthy and would love to see a health food chain store come to Battle Ground.
What is your favorite travel destination and type: My family and I love to take road trips to the Oregon Coast in the summer.
Favorite restaurant/pub/coffee shop/store: Farrar’s Bistro in Felida.
Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my family. I enjoy doing CrossFit at Industrial CrossFit in Hazel Dell.
Most enjoyable book/play/movie/arts event in past 12 months: My good friend, Stephanie Taylor, has recently started publishing novels that I really enjoy. Her most recent book is “There’s Always a Catch.”
Something you’d like to do this year/within five years: Go somewhere tropical with white sand and blue water.
One word to describe yourself: Friendly
Person you’d most like to meet: Camille Leblanc-Bazinet, a top CrossFit Games competitor.
