director election guide for members€¦ · at connect first credit union, we spend our days...
TRANSCRIPT
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Online voting takes place January 19 - March 6, 2018.
2018
As a credit union member, you have a voice. One of the many benefits of credit union membership is your ability
to vote for the Connect First Credit Union Board of Directors. As
a member-owned, member-led institution, our Board is comprised
of your fellow members; members you choose through an annual
voting process.
DIRECTOR ELECTION GUIDE FOR MEMBERS
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About Connect First Credit Union As a credit union, we’re different than a bank – and we like it that way.
At Connect First Credit Union, we spend our days helping our members
achieve their financial aspirations through three trusted local brands
– First Calgary Financial, Chinook Financial and Legacy Financial –
and a community-focused approach to banking that’s true to our
co-operative principles.
Over 75 years ago, we started from humble beginnings. Through
the years, we’ve grown to become one of Alberta’s leading financial
institutions through a desire to connect the dots between members’
dreams, goals, communities, and their financial wellness. We believe
that banking is about more than money − it’s a cornerstone of every
vibrant community and our members expect us to positively impact
the financial success and viability of the places we call home.
A Little More On Our Business • Connect First Credit Union is the tenth largest credit union in
Canada and second largest in Alberta, with over $4.5 billion in
assets under administration.
• We serve over 104,000 members at 29 locations in 14 communities
across southern Alberta. Members aren’t numbers. They’re our
neighbours, and our partners. And their needs always come first.
• We invest meaningfully in the potential and well-being of our
communities. We have honest conversations, about real things,
as real people.
• Our members are owners and they have a say in how we operate,
they earn dividends on common shares and investment shares,
and they have access to an extensive array of financial products
and services.
Connect First Credit Union Has Been Named: • One of Canada’s Best Managed Companies (every year since 1996)
• A Top Employer in Alberta (since 2006)
• One of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures (2013-2016)
• 2016 Credit Union of the Year
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MISSIONTO MAKE MONEY MAKE A DIFFERENCEWe deliver a meaningful impact to our members and communities
in the ways that makes sense to them.
VISION TO BE ALBERTA’S NEIGHBOURHOOD CREDIT UNIONWe’re growing, and focused on making our members’ financial dreams and goals come true.
Connect First Credit Union’s Board Of DirectorsThe Board of Directors is responsible for the governance of Connect
First Credit Union, as well as establishing policy and direction in
accordance with our bylaws and the Alberta Credit Union Act.
Every Board member has a fiduciary responsibility to act honestly
and in good faith in the best interests of Connect First Credit Union,
and to exercise the due care, diligence, and skill that a prudent
person would exercise in similar circumstances.
Election Of Directors The Board follows a rigorous endorsement process to determine
candidate eligibility, including in-person interviews with each
candidate. We use an endorsement process to help members visibly
identify which candidates possess the published skills, qualifications
and diversity the Board is looking for. This year the Nominations
Committee endorsed all 10 candidates.
In our 2018 Director Elections, there will be five (5) positions available;
four (4) three-year term positions and one (1) one-year term position.
The Board candidate who receives the fifth greatest number of votes
will be allocated the one-year term position.
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Desired Skills/ExpertiseAnnually, the Board reviews the skills and experience set represented
on the Board to determine its future and ongoing needs. This year,
we are looking for individuals who can contribute to the governance
of the credit union through the following professional skills, expertise,
or background.
Regional Representation The unique perspectives and experiences individuals bring from living
in rural southern Alberta, or outside a major urban centre.
Finance A background in overseeing the financial operations of a complex
organization, or demonstrated ability to understand and interpret
financial statements, knowledge of audit practices, accounting
background, or equivalent educational experience.
Governance Knowledge and experience in governance gleaned from participating
on other Boards either as a senior leader or Board member.
An understanding of the types of decisions made by Boards, fluency
in appropriate Board conversations and fiduciary duties of Boards.
Information Technology (IT) Governance Oversight Knowledge and experience in the strategic use of IT. Breadth of
oversight would extend to major IT investments/opportunities and
understanding of the major risk areas of IT to which a financial
institution is exposed.
Get To Know The Candidates Better…
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Ossie SheddyENDORSED
To view Ossie’s candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection
My name is Ossie Sheddy, and I am asking for your support in the
upcoming 2018 Connect First Credit Union Director Election.
With 48 years in the newspaper industry and 42 years of marriage
to a nice girl who grew up on the same street I did, supporting local
businesses that care about their community holds a special interest in my
heart. As a good corporate citizen, Connect First Credit Union embraces
ongoing advances in technology, with a desire to remain local in scope,
recognizing how important it is to meet the needs of members and I have
the necessary experience, dedication and time to offer a very dynamic
organization such as this one.
Connect First Credit Union is unique as it serves over 104,000 members
from both urban and rural locations, and is the second largest credit union
in Alberta. My exposure to Chinook Financial is through the Drumheller
location, and it is great to watch it evolve in today’s financial framework,
providing their services to members in a professional manner, dependent
upon their individual needs.
I want to contribute to their momentum and offer what I can professionally
while learning from the many teachings the organization can offer. I hope
my contribution to my town and to my province with over 43 years in
volunteer capacities covers the spectrum of qualifications that Connect
First Credit Union is seeking. As part of your Board, I will have your best
interests in mind at all levels, and will give back to a province and a
country that I have often called the best in the world.
“Supporting local businesses that care about their community
holds a special interest in my heart.”
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Kevin Van KoughnettENDORSEDTo view Kevin’s candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection
I’ve been a Connect First Credit Union Director since 2011, serving
on all Board committees including chairing Audit and Finance for
3 years. My promise to you is to ensure that decisions the Board
makes are in the best interests of our members, our employees
and our local communities.
Overall, my educational and professional background combined with long
term credit union experience provides a solid basis for being a Director.
I retired in 2012 after a 37 year career as a professional engineer and in
senior business development positions in the electricity industry. I was
responsible for corporate, project, and regulatory finance and economics
including investment monitoring and analysis as well as executive
support, strategic planning, Board reporting, regulatory evidence
preparation, and special projects. My education is a Bachelor of Science
in electrical engineering from Queen’s University and a Masters of Business
Administration from the University of Calgary.
As Board Member of the Southwest Alberta Sustainable Communities
Initiative, I have a unique understanding of how urban and rural community
needs come together. In 2012, I was on the Board of the Animal Rescue
Foundation of Alberta to improve their governance while giving back to
a worthy cause.
I’ve been a credit union member for 33 years and a Director on two credit
union Boards totaling 28 years. I am passionate about and understand credit
unions, and bring extensive experience and expertise to being a Director.
Thank you for your consideration.
To Learn More About Kevin Visittransalta.com/about-us/history/100-years-100-people/2000-2009/
sasci.squarespace.com/renewable-energy-kevin-van-kou/
glenbow.org/collections/stories/eckersley-diary/index.cfm
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Ross Goldsworthy ENDORSED
To view Ross’ candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection
I have been involved with the credit union system since 2008 and am
a strong believer in the credit union principles. Connect First Credit
Union is a great credit union with strong leadership, which is why
I’ve decided to run for their Board of Directors.
As the former Vice Chair of the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee
Corporation (CUDGC, the Alberta Government Regulator), Chair
Governance and Human Resources Committee, and member of the
Audit and Risk Management Committees, I bring a strong background
in regulatory governance to the Board.
My nine years with CUDGC allowed me to regularly interact with urban
and rural credit unions and understand the incredible impact credit unions
have in their communities. As a Chartered Professional Accountant with
experience in Information Technology, cybersecurity governance and
oversight, I have a unique insight to the intricacies of this continuously
evolving industry.
The last 10 of my 25+ years with CN Rail were at the executive level
and since 2007 I have operated my own business advisory services firm.
I will bring my extensive Board experience, work history and education in
helping Connect First Credit Union achieve its vision of becoming Alberta’s
neighbourhood credit union. I ask you for your support when you vote
between January 19 - March 6, 2018.
Thank you for your consideration.
“I will bring my extensive Board experience, work history and
education in helping Connect First Credit Union achieve its vision.“
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Louis Grenier ENDORSED
To view Louis’ candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection
As a proud and satisfied member of First Calgary Financial and
other credit unions since the 1960s, I would be honoured to serve
and devote my time, energy, skills and expertise to Connect First
Credit Union’s Board.
I believe that the cooperative and credit union business models offer the
best means to enrich members’ lives, meet their needs, and care for the
community. I wish to ensure that they continue to grow in order to serve
the members and our communities. That is why I obtained an MSc in the
Management and Development of Cooperatives.
As a former Alberta Board Development Program (BDP) Instructor,
I understand Board Member roles, and their legal and ethical
responsibilities. I have served on Boards dealing with economic,
community economic and community development on the national,
provincial, regional, and local levels. I understand the importance of being
prepared ahead of Board and Committee meetings in order to fully and
effectively serve our member’s needs.
Most of the last 34 years of my work life have been spent with
organizations seeking to enrich people’s lives. I would like to serve as
a member of Connect First Credit Union’s Board of Directors to help
ensure that our credit union will continue helping families like mine,
establish roots and stability in our communities.
Thank you for your support.
Connect with Louis
Louis Grenier @LouisGrenier
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Carey Taubert, CPA, CCD, B.Comm ENDORSED
To view Carey’s candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection
I have a passion for the health of our “neighbourhood” credit union.
It’s at the core of my community of Hussar and it has been my
sincere pleasure to serve as a Director for the past 11 years with
constant dedication to ensure our rural members have a voice
at the Board table.
In the past, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to the Board as
the Board Secretary, Chair of the Audit & Finance Committee and
member of the Governance and Nominations committees.
I am a self-employed Chartered Professional Accountant, who recently
completed the Certified Credit Union Director Program to show my
commitment to serving this thriving organization. I am proud that Connect
First Credit Union was announced as “Credit Union of the Year” for 2016
and honored to be a part of it.
As a seasoned Director of Connect First Credit Union, I have a strong
understanding of the governance structure and openly advocate for
the credit union system as a whole. I annually attend the Alberta Central
Conference to strengthen my relationships within the credit union
system and advocate for our members.
Connect First Credit Union’s vision to be “Alberta’s neighbourhood credit
union” strongly resonates with my personal values as I volunteer extensively
for the betterment of our community. I strongly believe in our values-based
way of caring about our members and our rural and urban communities.
I am committed to representing you, our members.
“I strongly believe in our values-based way of caring about our members and our
rural and urban communities.”
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Bas Wheeler ENDORSED
To view Bas’ candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection
I’m running for the Board of Directors because I believe in our
credit union. I have the education, experience, time and energy
to be a strong contributor to the Board.
With 20 years experience in the credit union system as Vice President,
Chief Information Officer, Executive Vice President, and Chief Executive
Officer, I had many responsibilities in Information Technology, Marketing,
Human Resources, and Communications. I spent 12 years as a consultant
to credit unions, to regional and national financial institutions as well as
to other industries. I was responsible for up 350 staff, annual operating
budgets up to $60 million and capital budgets up to $100 million.
I collaborated with Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions,
Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation, and other external audits
as a senior executive and served on a number of for-profit and not-for-
profit Boards, including as Governance Committee Chair.
Additionally, I was a consultant to a number of organizations on Board/
management governance issues, and carried out ‘Value for Money’ IT
audits for credit unions, other FIs, and other industries as well as an
executive responsible for several multi-million dollar IT projects. My
experience in IT oversight and governance as a CIO, CEO and consultant
was strengthened by my undergraduate degree in Economics and
Commerce, and Master’s degree in Business Administration.
My community involvement includes volunteer service with the
United Way, the Prostate Cancer Centre and the Calgary Food Bank,
among others. As a credit union member for the past 30 years, I look
forward to serving you as your representative on the Board of Directors.
Thank you for your consideration.
“I’m running for the Board of Directors because I believe in
our credit union.”
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Doug van SpronsenENDORSEDTo view Doug’s candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection
I’ve had the pleasure of serving on the Board of Directors for
Connect First Credit Union since 2013 and it’s been an honour to serve
our credit union and our members. Growing up in a small town, I have
witnessed firsthand the amazing impact a credit union can have on
the local community.
As a local business owner, I understand the dynamic nature of our
business and how it impacts our communities and I’m committed
to ensuring the credit union continues to serve its local community
members and organizations.
During my time as a Connect First Credit Union Board Director, I acted
as Chair of the Human Resources Committee, Chair of the Nominations
Committee, Vice-Chair of the Risk Committee and Vice-Chair of the
Governance Committee. Looking forward to the years ahead, as a
credit union we face stiff competition, increased regulation and a host
of other challenges. My diverse committee experience has enabled me
to understand our credit union from the inside out and help us navigate
the next three years.
My background in the technology industry provides me with firsthand
experience of the risks and complexities of IT environments and the
impact the constantly shifting technology landscape has on Connect First
Credit Union. I will continue to work hard to ensure our members’ voices
are being represented in all aspects of our business, especially as they
relate to member experience, growth and information technology.
Thank you for taking part in the director election process, I appreciate your
time and consideration. I would welcome the opportunity to represent our
members as we continue to build our credit union.
“I will continue to work hard to ensure that our members’ voices
are being represented.”
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Cindy Skrukwa ENDORSED
To view Cindy’s candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection
Thank you for considering me for Connect First Credit Union’s Board
of Directors. I offer a record of business success, strong credit union
sector experience, and a passion for helping others.
In 1991, I graduated as the top MBA student from the Ivey School of
Business. Ever since, I have created and led successful business strategies
for many organizations. My clients have included international Fortune 500
financial institutions and, closer to home: ATB Financial, North Peace Credit
Union, Bridgewater Bank and Celero Solutions – a banking technology
provider for credit unions. I help organizations understand and adapt to
rapidly changing environments. My expertise in understanding banking
product and technology trends will be a key strength for the Connect First
Credit Union Board.
My personal values match credit union values. In my 30’s, I wrote “She
Laughed all The Way to the Bank,” as a labour of love, to inspire young
Canadian women to make good financial decisions. I volunteer extensively.
I’ve been a Big Sister, Boy Scouts treasurer, organizer of over 15 silent
auction fundraisers, and Board member of Peer Support Services for
Abused Women. I also founded a private refugee sponsorship group
in 2015, raising over $27,000 and taking the lead in welcoming a refugee
family to Canada.
I care about people, I’m passionate about business, and I hope, with
your vote, to be able to contribute to Connect First Credit Union’s
continued success.
My name is Cindy Skrukwa and I hope you’ll vote for me. Thank you.
Connect with Cindy
Cindy Skrukwa @strategyhouseca
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Andrew Eberl ENDORSED
To view Andrew’s candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection
It’s been an honour and pleasure to serve as the Board Chair for
Connect First Credit Union’s Board of Directors for the past 2 years.
I was first elected to the Board of Macleod Savings & Credit Union
(2003), leading the credit union through future mergers with Chinook
Financial (2010), First Calgary Financial (2015) and Legacy Financial
(2017) as Board Chair.
I’ve gained valuable experience serving as a member of the Governance,
Risk and Human Resources committees and Board Chair. This experience,
my education in agriculture and business, the many credit union courses
I have taken and the governance designations I have received, have
equipped me to effectively serve as a Director of the credit union.
My family and I have been proud to call the Claresholm area home for
60 years. The credit union has always played an important role in the
success of our family farm and for many others just like us.
I’m proud to have been part of Connect First Credit Union’s past
successes and am eager to be part of its future success. With strong
leadership, I believe we can continue to “Make Money Make a Difference”
in the lives of southern Albertans.
I’m hopeful for your support. Thank you for your consideration.
“With strong leadership, I believe we can continue to “Make Money Make a Difference” in the lives of
southern Albertans.”
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John Lindsay ENDORSED
To view John’s candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection
It’s my pleasure to be running for a Connect First Credit Union
Board position and I’m grateful for endorsement by the
Nomination Committee.
I’ve been a proud credit union member for 35-years, the last 9 years
have been spent as a Board member of Legacy Savings & Credit Union
(which recently merged with Connect First Credit Union). During my
service to Legacy Savings, I sat on every Board committee, chairing
many committees.
My employment background includes over thirty-four years in municipal
management with a focus on property appraisal. As well as, over
twenty-five years of service on professional Boards and committees
in Canada and the United States. Through my career, Board and
committee activities, I have garnered the skills and experience sought
by Connect First Credit Union including; strategic planning, technology
project oversight, risk analysis and mitigation.
I’ve enjoyed the past few months serving our members on the
Connect First Credit Union Board and, with your support would like
to continue to represent the best interests of our 104,000 members
across southern Alberta. Thank you for your consideration.
“During my service to Legacy Savings, I sat on every
Board committee, chairing many committees.”
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How To VoteStart by visiting ConnectFirstCU.com/DirectorElection. From here,
you can enter our voting site where you’ll be prompted to provide your
member number and postal code to cast your vote. While you’re here,
you can view each candidate’s personalized video before making
your selection.
Note If you have any difficulties logging on, please contact the
Member Care Centre.
Chinook Financial Member Care Centre 1.844.685.6225
First Calgary Member Care Centre 1.866.923.4778
Legacy Financial Member Care Centre 1.844.753.7900
For every vote cast, a donation will be made to a local charity!
EligibilityTo cast a vote, members must meet the eligibility requirements
as of October 31, 2017:
1 Be 18 years of age or older
2 Be a member in good standing as of the voting cut-off date
3 Must have $1.00 in common shares
4 The signer on a business account is able to submit a vote on
their personal membership as well as on the business membership
Election results will be shared at the Annual General Meeting at TELUS Spark
on March 14, 2018.
Think Big.We embrace new ideas to create the greatest possible value for our members.
Act Local.We actively seek out local ways to positively impact the communities we live, work and thrive in.
Make It Easy.We listen, seeking to understand and find every opportunity to make your experiences with us helpful and easy.
Take Charge.We succeed when you succeed. We’re accountable, and take ownership over situations to deliver results.
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