A Message from Board Chairman Thomas Pettus-Czar

Time does fly—it’s hard to believe we are already approaching our one-year anniversary, June 12, 2024, marking our first legal day as a combined organization! The collaborative process of the merger has produced important opportunities, capturing the best of two strong organizations.

The process itself is comprehensive; it touches every aspect of the credit union. We have started integrating various parts of the business operations such as planning and contracting for the core systems integration. Preparation for the next steps is underway.

Recently, we had some leadership changes as well: former Board Chair, David Rainwater, has stepped down from the role and I have been elected as the new Board Chair. I look forward to serving the credit union at this time of great transformation.

As your new Board Chair, I would like to share a little bit about myself. I have been on the Board of Directors since 2018 and served as an Associate for two years prior to that. I am a small business owner in Eugene, OR with businesses in food and beverage (Farmers Union Coffee Roasters) and construction (Temporary Wall Systems - Willamette Valley). My other board experience includes previously serving on the boards for the Eugene Chamber of Commerce and Eugene Symphony Association.

Now, I have a bittersweet message. John Iglesias has announced his resignation as of April 1. We wish John well and are much indebted to his 12 years of leadership prior to the merger and all his hard work throughout this past year of change. Our team remains strong, and we continue to make progress with the merger as we work intensively to evaluate our systems and determine the best path forward.

I want to provide a quick update on the branding process. We are actively working on choosing the best option for a new combined brand. It is a complex and time-consuming process and it’s paramount to us that we choose a name and brand that resonates with our employees, members, and communities. So, our work continues, and we will update you when we have more information to share.

It’s an exciting and exhilarating time, and we remain focused on creating the best member value possible with our products and services.

Sincerely,

Thomas Pettus-Czar