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Board of Directors

Explore Leadership Opportunities at Point West

Help shape the vision and growth of Point West.
View the Board of Directors Job Description
Interested in overseeing the credit union’s financial health?
View the Supervisory Committee Job Description
Ready to apply for a volunteer leadership position?
Complete the Application

Pete Hand, Point West’s Board Chair

I am honored to be a part of and work with three different groups of people as the Board Chair at Point West. First, are our fantastic members who have been the foundation of the Point West community for 90 years and counting. Second, are the executive team and employees at the credit union who do the hard work every day to serve our members by providing financial education, prudent financial management and community engagement. Lastly, are the highly skilled and motivated group of volunteers on the Board and the Supervisory Committee that contribute their time and varied expertise to aid management, act as a conduit to the members and formulate the strategic direction. It is only through the combined efforts of these three (overlapping!) groups that Point West can strive to being a vital and important community of membership. Thank you all.

headshot of board chair pete hand

Volunteer Philosophy & Responsibility

Serving as a volunteer Board or Supervisory Committee member is a commitment to advocate for the membership, demonstrated via a commitment towards continuous learning and regular volunteer hours.  Specific training in governance, industry trends, financial literacy and Supervisory Committee duties give a strong foundation for volunteer initiatives.

Volunteers serve three-year-terms, and meet monthly to perform the following primary functions:

Number 1

Provide

Strategic direction for the credit union, ensuring alignment with its mission, vision, and long-term goals.

 

Number 2

Promote

The credit union’s growth by supporting initiatives aligned with our vision, core values, and objectives.

Number 3

Advocate

For the membership by communicating transparently, representing members’ interests, and championing cooperative principles.

 

Number 4

Monitor

The CEO’s performance by overseeing progress on short-term objectives and long-term organizational goals.

A Word from the Board of Directors

Our beliefs start at the top of our cooperative structure with the vision and guidance of our board of directors. These beliefs are integrated into every part of our mission and organizational makeup: to pursue financial empowerment for our members and member businesses by embracing our cooperative roots and providing exceptional service rooted in equity and inclusion. Our volunteers believe the diversity of opinions, histories and experiences that each member brings to our credit union makes us stronger.

Point West Credit Union has for decades stood beside underserved communities – in fact, it’s part of our history and unique story. In a 1991 merger, we welcomed the membership of the Portland NAACP Credit Union, enriching the diversity of our membership and increasing our outreach to an underserved and underrepresented part of our community. In 2004, we merged in the members of Hacienda Community Credit Union, and brought on board bilingual/bicultural staff and members, and a commitment to providing products and services to the Hispanic/Latino community, including non-citizens. These actions, along with changes in local demographics and credit union members, is a part of our cooperative’s evolution, and no doubt will continue to be.

Regardless of race, creed, age, nationality, gender or socioeconomic status, we stand with everyone who calls Point West home. As member-owned organizations, credit unions in general, and Point West in particular, have always advocated for their members and their rights. This was true over 90 years ago when Point West was founded to serve Multnomah County employees and their families, and it’s true today of a Point West serving 10,000 diverse members and stories across the Portland Metro area.

We will continue to seek out constructive conversations to build shared understanding, and to work together with all members to create not only the best credit union possible, but the best community for all of us to live in and thrive.

Point West Board of Directors

headshot of board chair pete hand

Pete Hand

Board Chair

Pete has been a member and volunteer of Point West since 2018.

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Oscar Porras

Vice Chair

Oscar has been a member since 2017 and a volunteer since 2022.

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Sonya Judd

Secretary

Sonya has been a member and volunteer of Point West since 2023.

 

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Vito Cortese

Director

Vito has been a member and volunteer of Point West since 2024.

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Kat Kogan

Director

Kat has been a member and volunteer of Point West since 2024.

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Kristy Mayer-Mejia

Director

Kristy has been a member and volunteer of Point West since 2018.

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Cynthia Novelo

Director

Cynthia has been a member and volunteer of Point West since 2021.

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Monica Santoyo

Director

Monica has been a member and volunteer of Point West since 2023.

Point West Supervisory Committee

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Stephanie Shao

Supervisory Committee Chair

Stephanie has been a member and volunteer since 2018.

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Samantha Downing

Supervisory Committee Secretary

Samantha has been a member and volunteer since 2023.

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Katherine Hart

Supervisory Committee Member

Katherine has been a member and volunteer since 2021.