Educational Assistance Program inspires staff

Katie Krotee (upper right), part of the Tena Rohrback Educational Assistance Program, trains Diamond teammate Steph Crosby.

Diamond Credit Union has announced a new employee benefit. The Tena Rohrback Educational Assistance Program is now available to eligible employees.

The program is named in honor of Rohrback, Diamond’s long-time Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, who retired in April 2020. Rohrback had a strong passion for continuing education. She earned her degree while working at Diamond full-time and raising a family.

Under this program eligible employees can earn tuition reimbursement up to a certain dollar amount towards qualified education expenses.
Katie Krotee, a trainer at Diamond, is part of the educational assistance program. She is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in business management from Alvernia University.

Krotee and her husband Eric were moved by Rohback’s story. A story Rohrback told to an audience of over 200 people at Diamond’s 2018 Employee Appreciation Dinner, which also celebrated the former COO’s 30th anniversary of service to Diamond members.

“You could tell how passionate Tena was about starting at Diamond and then earning her degree,” Krotee said. “After dinner Eric said ‘did you hear Tena’s story?’ he was impressed by Diamond’s willingness to invest in its people.”

When Krotee heard Rohrback’s speech she was new to Diamond but already on her way to earning an associate’s degree from Reading Area Community College. But years later that talk still inspires. “We know I’m doing the right thing,” Krotee said thinking back to Rohrback’s words and now balancing more schooling and a full-time job. Eric also works full-time. And they are parents to an energetic youngster.

“This program really cements the relationship between me and Diamond,” Krotee said. “It feels great that they are investing in me.”

The educational assistance program is an addition to many reasons Diamond has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania for five consecutive years. While the support, resources, and inspiration for employees to challenge themselves to maximize their potential is a core value at Diamond, Krotee’s ambition can also be a guide for others.

“Make a plan, do your research, reach out to advisors at the school, talk about the logistics, ask yourself what your days will look like,“ Krotee advises anyone thinking about going back to school. “But at some point you just have to jump in. If you say ‘it’s too much to do’ that thought will never leave your brain. You’ll wish you had started sooner.”

Providing opportunities for employees to discover their passions, aligning them with job responsibilities to create purpose … that’s younity