CU Shine

Sue’s gift for making people feel at home

Some people attend community events. Others help create the connections that make a community feel like home. Sue Wack is one of those connectors. She has a gift for turning quick introductions into genuine connection, and that talent is why she was nominated for CU Shine, CWCU’s spotlight on team members who go beyond their jobs to stay deeply connected to the communities we serve.

Sue’s day job is in our Real Estate Department as a mortgage loan originator. She’s been with us for a little more than a year but has nearly 30 years of mortgage lending experience. Her jobs have taken her all over the country.

“I didn’t know anyone when I came back (to Salem), so I used (community involvement) as a way to get to know people in the community,” she said. “It became a networking opportunity then all of a sudden, it’s friendships.”

At CWCU, Sue helps members make sense of the mortgage process—and just as importantly, helps them create a path forward when the answer isn’t “yes” yet.

Outside of CWCU, Sue’s community involvement runs deep. She’s spent about a decade with the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, and today she serves as Ambassador Chair, helping guide ambassador efforts, support Chamber events, and welcome members into one of the region’s most active business communities. Her leadership has been recognized as well, as she was recently named the Chamber’s Ambassador of the Quarter.

Outside of the Chamber, Sue continues to build community in other ways. She serves as vice president of Salem Business Builders Inc., a weekly networking group that strengthens local business relationships. And once a month, she volunteers at Simonka House, helping a friend lead chapel services for women residents—an experience she describes as especially meaningful.

Altogether, Sue estimates she volunteers about 22–24 hours each month, investing time and energy into relationships, advocacy, and service across Salem.

Sue’s approach is a reminder that community connection isn’t a separate “extra” from the work—it can be part of how we show up every day. Whether she’s welcoming someone new at a Chamber event or helping a member map out their next step toward homeownership, Sue brings the same steady message: you belong here, and there’s a way forward.

Thank you, Sue, for your continued commitment to our community. Your efforts serve as an inspiration to get involved and make a difference!