THREE RIVERS AREA — Larry Biernacki loves sports, considers himself an empowerer and chats with his teenage granddaughter on Facebook at least once a week.
He came to Jacksonville in the summer of 2005 with a lengthy resume and a unique management style. The board of directors at Jacksonville’s Arkansas Federal Credit Union had a goal in mind for Biernacki, 59, when he was hired as president and CEO. That goal was to double the size of the credit union in five years. Although that seemed like a tall order, Biernacki and his staff took the credit union from $400 million in assets to more than $800 million, and the membership has increased by more than 20,000 in just five years, making it the largest credit union in Arkansas.
“Larry was a major factor in [the credit union] doubling in size, and that was the task we gave him when we hired him,” former board President Phil Boudreaux said about Biernacki. “He has a big heart and great methods of directing the credit union.”
Crediting his staff, Biernacki said he believes that allowing his employees to know where the company is going, why it’s going there and what is in it for the employees is key to expanding a company and improving the lives of the credit union’s members.
“He lets people do their jobs and encourages them and does everything he can to help them,” Boudreaux said abou tBiernacki’s alternative management style. “He’ll do anything for his people.” Biernacki also listens to his employees’ ideas and is the first one to say, “Let’s try it, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll fix it.” He is open to all sorts of ideas, and not all of them are business related.
On his right ring finger is a symbol of a highlight of Biernacki’s life, and it has nothing to do with banking.
“I’m very competitive,” Biernacki said smiling. “I was asked to play slow-pitch softball.” Not only did he play softball, but his team, Dudley Thunder, won a world championship in 1990. His gold championship ring is a reminder to him of what teamwork can accomplish.
Biernacki used several sports terms to describe the business world. Perhaps that’s because he’s no stranger to sports.
In addition to his softball championship, Biernacki played basketball for Northern Arizona University.
Seeking a degree in mathematics, he had planned to teach math and coach, but Biernacki had a change of plans after working for a mortgage company as a “boy Friday.”
“I got ready to go back to school, and they said, ‘Larry, you’re pretty good at this,’ and they said, ‘Would you like to work for us next summer?’” Biernacki said.
For two summers during college, he worked for the mortgage company and decided to add a double minor to his college goals: finance and accounting.
Biernacki said he graduated from Northern Arizona University on May 17, 1974, with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, got married the following Saturday; and Monday, he started to work at First Federal Savings and Loan.
“We didn’t even have a honeymoon,” he said.
But that didn’t keep Biernacki and his wife, Pam, from sticking together for 37 years.
“God’s been very good to me,” he said, “My wife and I have been very blessed, and I don’t believe things happen by luck. … I believe I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”
Although he loves banking, he did take a short break and went into partnership with a friend and opened and operated three baseball-card stores in Arizona.
Then in 1991, he said he got back into financial services and moved to Texas, working in Houston and San Antonio.
Aside from his family, sports and banking, Biernacki is an avid reader. He said he tries to alternate reading one book for pleasure, then one for business.
Plucking a book from the top of a stack on a table in his office, he smiled and said, “this is my next one,” as he held up a book titled From Worst to First.
He said he believes reading is a great way to learn new things.
“If you want to be successful, you have to expose yourself to different arenas,” Biernacki said. “People need to be active learners every day. When you stop learning, you stop being successful.”
Staff writer Jeanni Brosius can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or jbrosius@arkansasonline.com.
up
close
getting to know Larry BiernackiOccupation: President/CEO of Arkansas Federal Credit Union in Jacksonville Birth date: April 16, 1952 Birthplace: Chicago My biggest influence: My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and all the good pastors who have taken an interest in me Something that is always in my pantry: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and barbecue potato chips Something most people don’t know about me: I once owned and operated baseball-card stores. I’m also a certified Little League umpire.
Three Rivers, Pages 116 on 08/07/2011