Robert Daughters
Age: 35.
Job Title/ Place of Employment: Project Portfolio Manager, Dupaco Community Credit Union.
Volunteer Activities: Transit Advisory Board chairman for the City of Dubuque, School Mentor for Dubuque Community Schools, and Northeast Iowa Chapter President of the Iowa Credit Union League.
Education: Emmaus Bible College, Class of 2011, studying theology.
Family: Parents, Ken, and Carol Daughters; Wife, Erin Beatty; dog, George Lucas; cat, Agatha Christie.
Who is the most inspirational person to me and why: At various points in my career it has been different people. Currently, my biggest source of inspiration is my former supervisor, Lisa Bowers. She has taught me so much about emotional intelligence and how to understand not only my own emotions but also how to respond empathetically to others. Which is a huge part of leading people, and being an effective co-worker.
What do you like to do outside of work: Ride my trail bike on the Heritage Trail and play board games, like Dungunes and Dragons, with friends.
What does success mean to you? The vision statement at Dupaco is ‘Building a Brighter Community for All’, and that hits so close to home for me because that is something that I strive to have and has made me think about how I can be more impactful to my community.
Describe yourself in three words. Thoughtful. Sincere. Kind.
What advice would you give your past self? You don’t have to know exactly what the steps will be in my career path. The most effective way to invest in myself is to focus on how I can be effective in this current moment. Don’t worry about the long view it is good to focus on the present.
Robert Daughters is a self-starter.
His story is a testament to the power of mentorship, critical thinking and the drive to make a positive impact on others.
Upon reflecting on his college years, Daughters speaks fondly of those who impacted him.
“I had a lot of impactful professors while at college,” Daughters said. “People who mentored me and taught me how to think critically about things and how to express my thoughts and work with other people.”
With an educational foundation in theology, Daughters developed a deep understanding of how to uncover meaning through texts.
“I studied Greek and Hebrew,” Daughters said. “It taught me a lot about how to derive meaning from writing. I use that quite a bit in the work that I do now.”
This established the framework for how Daughters approached problems and encouraged him to keep thinking forward.
“I am trying to figure out ways to take pretty complex ideas and express them as simply as possible for a pretty wide audience,” Daughters said.
After college, he got married, and he and his wife moved to Dallas, Texas, where he was a barista while she was getting her graduate degree. After those three years, they moved back to Dubuque, and Daughters got hired at Dupaco Community Credit Union in 2014.
“I was hired as a teller in 2014,” Daughters said. “I had no experience in banking or financial services, but I had an amazing group of people at the branch where I was working. They recognized right away that I had a lot of potential.”
Once Daughters started to find his place at Dupaco, he began getting new opportunities beyond being a teller. Once he was well-versed in all of the jobs within the branch, he got promoted to a managerial role for a new help desk department in 2016.
“I was one of two people brought into that department,” Daughters said. “My manager saw a lot in me, and within a year I was leading that department, Which was a huge milestone for me because I was leading others in addition to being responsible for my job responsibilities.”
Today, Daughters has led and managed many teams and projects at Dupaco, where he has implemented lots of new ideas. But he finds that helping others is by far the most rewarding at the end of the day.
“It is truly what keeps me motivated and excited about my work,” Daughters said. “When I was working directly with our credit union members, I had the opportunity to talk with them about their needs and goals.”
Chris Maiers, project management vice president at Dupaco, nominated Daughters for Rising Stars.
“But here’s the heart of it all: Robert’s genuine care for others. He listens, empathizes and organizes — traits that set him apart,” Maiers said. “He’s a self-starter, eager to learn and share insights. His passion for positive change fuels his advocacy. Robert’s story isn’t about fame — it’s about lifting others. His remarkable dedication, leadership and community spirit make him a beacon. Recognizing Robert isn’t just an award. It’s acknowledging the profound impact one person can have.”
Beyond his role at Dupaco, Daughters also is committed to his community. He volunteers as a Transit Advisory Board chairman for the City of Dubuque, a school mentor for Dubuque Community Schools and Northeast Iowa chapter president for the Iowa Credit Union League.
Daughter’s story is one of growth, mentorship and dedication to helping others. His story proves that true leadership is not about seeking recognition but about making a lasting, positive impact on those around you.
As he continues to shape his community and inspire those he leads, Daughters embodies the essence of what it means to lift others, leaving a legacy that goes far beyond his professional achievements.