Starting the Journey

Nice to meet you! 

I’m April Tompkins, CEO of Explorers Credit Union in Yankton, South Dakota, and I’m excited to launch this blog, Trail Notes from the CEO!  Through this blog, I’ll be sharing behind the scenes content, reflections on leadership, community impact stories and of course some financial tips! 

The tagline for this blog is “Connecting People, Purpose, and Progress, one trail note at a time.” This is more than just a phrase. I believe these three things are intertwined and so critical on the journey we walk together towards financial empowerment for all. 

I was reminded of this recently while hiking the Gavins area trails in Yankton with my two girls, 12 and 15. It was a pleasant evening, the weather was just perfect, and it was just us, having some girl time together. As we walked, we talked about school, summer plans, and future career plans. My younger daughter asked, “Mom, what do you actually do at work?” I laughed, but then I realized, what I really do at the Credit Union is help people move forward. Sometimes it’s through a financial service, sometimes it’s through a listening ear, and sometimes it’s just by showing up.

That’s what this blog is about. It’s a place to share the stories, decisions, and moments that shape our journey as a credit union. Some posts will be lighthearted, others more reflective, but all will be rooted in the values that make our community strong.

Thanks for joining me on this hike!

Happy Trails,