Meet Cindy Domagala Wald

Down in our southernmost branch, one of the faces you see when you walk in the door is Cindy Wald. Cindy recently celebrated her seventh anniversary with Dakota West, a change that gave her the opportunity to stay in one place.

“I was working out of town when I applied. When I was hired, I was so glad to have no more travelling for work.” Her previous work in the financial industry gave her a quick start that helped make her a valuable part of the Member Services team in Bowman.

While this year has been topsy-turvy for many folks, it has brought Cindy a special excitement that she’s enjoyed thinking ahead and planning: she recently got married! During their engagement, she and her fiancé focused on spending time camping and fishing on Lake Oahe rather than fretting over the details. We couldn’t be happier for her!

For our members who live in the Bowman County area, you might also recognize Cindy as the BINGO caller at Windy’s. She’s been enjoying her opportunity to meet people throughout the community in this way for almost as long as she has worked at Dakota West.

Even if you don’t visit our Bowman branch, you might hear her voice as she helps all of our members by phone, regardless of their location. She often shares with our members bits of information they may not have known, such as the advantage of shared branching outside of the Dakota West region and the fact that our mobile app provides all the same features as many big banks.

Next time you are in the Bowman region, stop by and say, “Hello,” to Cindy, or maybe you can holler, “BINGO!”

Meet Todd Hickel

For Todd Hickel, Loan Officer at our New England branch, a typical work day depends on the season. Autumn is particularly busy with harvesting and selling of crops. Todd’s focus on the agriculture community in Hettinger County keeps him busy throughout the year, and keeps him close to his roots and his family.

Born and raised in Williston, Todd witnesses the growth and development of his hometown, but also recognizes that for farmers and ranchers, the commitment to the land remains constant. When speaking to members about their ag operations, he often provides practical advice: pay attention to details. Balance sheets and income statements work together to provide a clear picture of the business of running a family farm.

“In one of my previous jobs, we were advised that all the Business/Agricultural Loan Officers would become personal financial planners. This really opened up a lot for me. I learned about insurance, investment, taxation, retirement, and estate planning.” Todd learned the basics in college at UND, and developed his skills supporting land owners and operators, exposing him to first-hand practice of his knowledge here in his home state.

Todd recognizes that talking about a member’s bottom line may not always be a conversation individuals want to discuss. He builds one-on-one relationships with farmers and ranchers to make those personal details more comfortable to navigate and manage. Despite the changes and advancements to the financial industry, Todd knows these relationships remain at the center of a successful operation.

When the day ends or the weekend rolls around, Todd makes the most of all North Dakota offers. “I try to get my shopping and errands done during the week so I can spend my weekends on the lake.” Summer offers plenty of opportunities for Todd to enjoy the water and the weather, but he’s also planning for his next favorite season, autumn, and the start of pheasant and deer seasons. In the meantime, he’s also planning for the next ag season, partnering with our ag borrowers to maintain the importance of agriculture to our state, and to Dakota West Credit Union.

For more information about agriculture loans with Dakota West, reach out to Todd, or any Ag Loan Officer at 800.411.7590.