2008_candidates

2008 Board Election Information

Credit Union West upholds the Cooperative Principles for Credit Unions with voluntary membership and democratic control. As a not-for-profit financial cooperative, Credit Union West is owned and controlled by its members, one member one vote. Credit union members have equal opportunity for participation in setting policies and making decisions through the annual election of the all-volunteer Board of Directors.

There are three open seats on the Credit Union West Board of Directors for the term beginning in 2008. In early February, members will have the opportunity to cast their votes via postal mail, by phone or online. Election results will be announced at the Annual Membership Meeting on Saturday, April 12, 2008. Please exercise your right to vote.

The biographical information provided below was submitted by each candidate.

Phyllis Brown - Phyllis Brown is currently a member of the Supervisory Committee and has served for over 7 years. She is the owner and publisher of Sun Life Magazine. She studied at Grossmont College, San Diego State University, University of California and holds an A.A. and a B.S. in Business Administration from National University in San Diego. Prior to entering the publishing business, she enjoyed a long career as a working writer and advertising executive for a chain of fourteen Southern California department stores. She was the owner of a 1200 square foot antique shop in San Diego’s Mission Hills district and served as Vice President of the San Diego Antique Dealers Association. She has lectured professionally on “Antiques as Investments”. Long dedicated to community service, she is a past member of the Board of Trustees of the West Valley Art Museum, past member of the Board of Directors of Historic Sahauro Ranch Foundation, and was a Director of Women of the West. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Sun City Visitors Center, and an active member of a number of organizations including Human Service Professionals, the Glendale Community Council Committee on Aging and both the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce and the Northwest Valley Chamber of Commerce where she serves as a Diplomat.

David Cogan - David has been doing business consulting, specializing in ebusiness and sales for over 10 years. He has been involved with starting a variety of businesses and his current venture is running his own successful homecare business, which is close to one of the largest private employers in Sun City. In his spare time he teaches ecommerce, Microsoft Office Products, eBay, and technology at a community college, where he is an adjunct part time professor. His prior role was an experienced senior executive at a Microsoft partner as a Microsoft Regional Alliance manager, where he achieved 242% Revenue, $35 Million over one quarter. Prior to working with Microsoft he was a senior consultant with a Big 5 business consulting practice. His business consulting efforts are focused on process design, process improvements, project management and general management. He also has experience working for NHES (acquired by McKeeson Corp.) and IBM Corporation. David’s experience at NHES was to mange an 8 state territory. He introduced software triage call center methodology to hospitals, where he achieved 153% of quota.

David’s experience at IBM was managing a territory and being responsible for $6 million in sales exceeding company goals each year. He developed IBM channels for software, services, hardware, and consulting. He received IBM awards for his accomplishments in developing the vendor relationships and was inducted into the IBM’s “Hall of Fame".

David currently serves on the Supervisory Committee for Credit Union West and is excited about running for a Board position.

Luis Gendreau - Luis Gendreau has served on our Board of Directors for more than 22 years. His background as a credit union manager has given him a wealth of experience and knowledge in management, finance, personnel and data automation. He also holds an MBA in management. Mr. Gendreau has instructed classes at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Maricopa Community Colleges as an adjunct faculty member. A retired deputy director of the Luke Family Support Center at Luke Air Force Base, he is now employed as the Community Relations Director with the Maricopa Integrated Health System.

John M. Schurgard – John M. Schurgard is presently serving on the Board of Directors and is a past Secretary/Treasurer. Mr. Schurgard started his volunteer service at Credit Union West by serving on the Supervisory Committee beginning in 1995. After 26 years of military service, Mr. Schurgard retired at Luke AFB and went on to serve the State of Arizona researching court judgments at five county courts. Additionally he served nine years as Treasurer of the local Disabled American Veterans’ chapter. Mr. Schurgard has been a member of Credit Union West since 1983. He has a B.S. in Business Management, an A.A. in Business Administration and an A.S. in Electronic Technology.

William W. Wright – Bill has been a member of the credit union since 1975. He is a member of the Board of Directors (BOD) and is currently completing his second 3 year term. He has given more than twenty-three years service to this credit union including seventeen years on the Supervisory Committee. His many years of volunteering for the credit union has furnished him with a wealth of experience and knowledge concerning the operation and responsibilities of the BOD and the Supervisory Committee, an auditing function for the credit union. Since retiring in 1993 he has attended numerous classes on his own time, learning more about the operations of credit unions and educating himself to better serve the members and owners of this great organization. His first priority is to keep the needs and desires of the membership at the top of his priority list and he has demonstrated this consistently as a director of this credit union.

Bill retired from the Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant in 1974 serving 23 years active duty. He came to Arizona in May 1975 to accept the Luke AFB Civilian Vehicle Maintenance Officer position. He retired from that position in 1993.

Additionally, Bill is extremely active with the Disabled American Veterans. He has served in leadership roles with several important positions including Commander of Chapter 20 and the ritual team.

Bill retired completely from the Air Force with many awards and citations, including the “Bronze Star Medal” (Vietnam 1967-68).