The Boardcast

Director Profile - Bob Gertsch

Bob Gertsch has a significant role at UFirst FCU. Not only is he a director, he is also chair of the supervisory committee. Bob has been a member of the committee since the late 1990’s and has chaired the committee for over 5 years. His service on the board and this important committee followed many years of membership and involvement in the credit union. Bob is a native of Plattsburgh and, except for the years he spent in the US Navy, he has lived his entire life on Elizabeth St. in Plattsburgh. He has worked for Plattsburgh State University in the computer information systems department for 30 years and has been a member of the credit union for almost as long. He was recruited by Tom Mercadante, one of the charter members of the SUNY Plattsburgh FCU, to serve on the loan committee in the late 1980’s. His experience in overseeing credit union operations has been invaluable in our recent years of growth. Bob believes that his dual roles as board member and supervisory committee chair complement each other. His board involvement helps him keep his finger on the pulse of the credit union assists him in his work as supervisory chair.

Bob related a wonderful story that illustrates the unique, personalized service provided by staff to UFirst members. A member with whom he was acquainted took a trip out of state to visit a relative who became very ill during the visit. The member had to extend her visit while she cared for her relative. Meantime, she had to arrange bill payments and other transactions at home while she was away. She called the credit union who set up daily contacts with a UFirst staff person who helped facilitate the necessary transfers and payments to meet her obligations. Bob noted that this member’s loyalty to UFirst is likely to remain solid for life.

I asked Bob what factors he thinks will be most significant for the credit union going forward. Bob believes that the growth we have seen in the past year and anticipate in the future challenges the credit union. We need to assure the credit union’s solid fiscal foundation by increasing capital while providing financial services to our members. We need to remain true to credit union goals and ideals. Bob believes that it is a real challenge for credit unions to remain distinct from other financial institutions like banks. He encourages members to take pride in their membership in UFirst. The beautiful operations center that they use on a regular basis belongs to them and represents their share in the growth and success of UFirst.

During my interview Bob provided Boardcast readers (and listeners) with a wonderful explanation of the role of the supervisory committee. Below is an audio clip which includes this excerpt. He mentions that the supervisory committee has its own unique email address (supervisory@ufirstfcu.net) for members to use in communicating concerns to the members of the committee. Bob invites members with concerns regarding their accounts to email him.

Director Profile - Jennifer Breyette

Jennifer (Jenn) Breyette is the third in the Boardcast series of Director Profiles (read profiles for Martha Cashman and Bill Laundry, too). Ginny Brady spoke with her at the UFirst Operations Center on March 13, 2008.

Jennifer Breyette is a North Country native who was born and raised in Redford, NY. After having lived in Florida and Albany, she returned to Plattsburgh in 1989. Jenn began her career at Plattsburgh State University as a secretary and has advanced to her current position as Grants Manager and Compliance Assistant.

Jennifer Breyette was elected to the UFirst Board of Directors in June 2005. She joined the board during an exciting time in UFirst's history. She came onboard in time to join in our renaming process as well as make the cirtical decisions required for our building process.  Jenn believes that moving out of the basement of Hawkins Hall has added to the welcoming spirit of UFirst . She pointed out that our new operations center is convenient, cheerful and has ample parking.  In addition , Jenn observed that our new location has stimulated products and services to attract younger members.

Jenn mentioned that the board and management team face an important challenge in increasing young adult membership at UFirst. Jenn's daughter Amanda, who is a UFirst member, represents the 20-30 year old cohort that our credit union is targeting. Amanda is a recent graduate of SUNY Canton with a BS with honors in Veterinary Technology.  Jenn stressed that getting our young adults like Amanda to become active members of the credit union and to understand what credit unions can do for them now and in the future is an important goal.

I asked Jenn to describe the best experience she or someone she knows has had at UFirst. In response she talked about the financial challenges she had to face as a single parent. Listen to the personal experience that Jenn shared about the difference UFirst has made in her life.

Jenn would like UFirst members to know that

The very dedicated staff, management team and the board are working hard to provide the best products to members...

In addition, she mentioned the youth educational programs that are now available for young members and their families. These include Burghy Kids Club, Teen Cardinal Savings Club and the College Student Survivors Kit. Finally Jenn expressed hope that members will remember the UFirst motto, "Helping You Get There", and not be shy in giving staff and board feedback about the products and services we offer.

Director Profile - Martha Cashman

Martha has deep roots in the North Country as well as many years of service at Plattsburgh State University and as a director on the board of Ufirst Federal Credit Union. Martha graduated from Chateaugay Central School and grew up on beautiful Chateaugay Lake. After graduating from Albany Business College she returned to Plattsburgh and worked in a variety of positions at Plattsburgh State until her retirement in 2007. Martha and her husband Craig have one son, Brian, who graduated from the New England Culinary Institute and is a pastry chef in Burlington, VT.

Martha has been a UFirst FCU director since 1994. She held the position of secretary of the board for 4 years and is currently the board treasurer. Martha chairs the Budget and Finance Committee and is also an active member of the Personnel and Loan Committees. As we talked, Martha reflected on the numerous changes she has witnessed as a board member at our credit union. The most significant change has been our move from the basement of Hawkins Hall on the Plattsburgh State Campus to our current location on Rugar St. In addition, she mentioned the increase in our membership and staff as a result of Ufirst's change to a community charter which has allowed us to welcome members who live, work, attend school or worship in Clinton County, NY. Our membership growth has stimulated an increase in services and products for our members as well as the need to implement advanced information technology and marketing strategies.

Martha is enthusiastic when she speaks about her UFirst membership and her role as a director. She spoke about the excitement of planning, monitoring and moving into our new building as an example of the wonderful way our Ufirst staff, management and board work together for the benefit of members. She is continually gratified by the support that the board and staff receive from members for the new initiatives at UFirst.

Martha stated that the board and staff will continue to be challenged by our mission, "...to provide excellent personal service to our members." She believes that UFirst will need to provide increased educational services to members in order to assist them especially during the current, challenging economic times. She voiced her admiration for our CEO, Linda Bourgeois, who is at the forefront of this effort. She reminded me of a recent Boardcast post in which Linda said, "We are trying to be proactive with members that we know are beginning to or have been treading water financially. If they call needing to add on to an existing personal or debt consolidation loan, we are offering to help them with a budget as well."

Martha would like UFirst members to know that,

UFirst is a strong highly-respected credit union offering superior products and services. The staff is professional and dedicated and is under the leadership of an outstanding CEO, Linda Bourgeois.

Martha feels that UFirst's success stems from the fact that Linda is supported by an outstanding managment team and a committed Board of Directors dedicated to "Helping You Get There."

Director Profile - Bill Laundry

William (Bill) Laundry is the first in the Boardcast series of Director Profiles. Ginny Brady spoke with him at his office on January 9th, 2008.

Having served the Plattsburgh State University community for almost 39 years, Bill Laundry is a well known figure on campus. Bill's story began in the mountain hamlet of Hawkeye, NY  where he was born in a small, close knit community.  He attended Ausable Forks High School and went on to get a BA and MS degree in History from the State University of NY at Albany. Bill returned to Clinton County in 1969 and began his career at PSUC as the Housing Director. Through the years, he has held several positions of responsibility culminating with his appointment as the Vice President of Student Affairs in 2003.

Bill remembers the founding of our credit union. He mentioned how much we owe to the college and the members of the college community whose foresight and dedication led to SUNY Plattsburgh Federal Credit Union's success and growth. He reminded me that our credit union began operation out of the briefcase of our founding director, Clara LaRose. Credit union services in those days consisted of savings and small loans. PSUC then offered the credit union the first of two office spaces which provided opportunities for growth in staff and services. Bill is proud to be a member of the Building Committee, overseeing the planning, construction and opening of UFirst FCU, our new Rugar St. operations center. Bill has enjoyed serving on this committee but, he said, that he has learned most from  his membership on the Asset Liability Management (ALM) Committee. Bill observed that his membership on the board and this committee has given him an opportunity to learn more about the importance of fiscal balance for the operation of our credit union.

Bill mentioned that he is proud of the personal level of service provided by the staff of UFirst. Bill related a story from his own life that illustrates how he has benefited from this superior level of service. He said that, not long ago, he was driving in Plattsburgh and hit a raised manhole cover and broke the frame of his car. He was faced with having to buy a car quickly and unexpectedly. The first place Bill turned for help was UFirst. He said that the loan staff helped him choose the loan that was best for him, facilitated processing the loan quickly and explained the loan documentation thoroughly. Bill reflected that, "There aren't many institutions that treat individuals in such a personal, respectful way".

Bill mentioned that he knows that UFirst faces many challenges in the years to come. He reminded me that strategic planning is crucial if we are going to retool old services in new ways, provide new and improved services and remain competitive.

In closing, Bill wanted to speak to members, personally. Here is his message: