CANDIDATE PROFILE

"As a current Servus board director, I have experience and passion for Servus and the members we serve. I have served on several committees and chaired two of them. Through my personal education and experience, I bring a unique set of skills including legal counsel and interpretation."

Statement of intent

Completing my four-year term as a board director for Servus Credit Union has prompted both reflection and introspection as I look toward the future.

I have had the opportunity to sit on five committees — two as chair — and appreciate the breadth of the work Servus does. This exposure has been a privilege and has served to confirm for me that this is exactly where I want to be.

The last two years have been challenging with never-before-seen hurdles to overcome. Servus’s steadfast and people-centred approach continues to be a source of pride and serves to inspire and motivate me daily.

Contributing to my community is how I find meaning and the opportunity to serve my community through my work with Servus is incredibly rewarding.

I have loved chairing the Governance Committee and am incredibly proud of the work we are doing to support the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives being undertaken by the organization. Making these strides is powerful and being a part of this progress in real-time is both empowering and humbling. It is my utmost hope that I will have the opportunity to continue this important work as a director for Servus.

Servus’s Noble Purpose is “Shaping member financial fitness.” What does that mean to you?

Most experts would agree that a universal approach to health and fitness works more effectively than a piecemeal approach. The same holds true for our finances.

Money is frequently a stressor in relationships and life; so, having a healthy relationship with finances or “financial fitness” is a crucial element to living a healthy life.

As part of our commitment to support and enable our members to live their best lives, we work to highlight the need for financial fitness and all that Servus can do to facilitate this through both education and resources. The value that Servus places on people, and the health of its individual members, is what sets Servus apart from other financial institutions.

What makes Servus Credit Union different than other financial institutions?

There are some key differences that set Servus Credit Union apart from other traditionally chartered banks.

The obvious differences are those that make it a credit union. A credit union is member owned as opposed to driven by shareholders. The shared ownership of the credit union allows for shared goals and vision setting and is ultimately a community-focused resource.

The cooperative nature is not the most significant factor, however. In my experience, what sets Servus apart from all other financial institutions, including other credit unions, is its unparalleled commitment to its membership as evidenced by both its employees and board members. The willingness to have difficult conversations, check assumptions, and make the right choices for the right reasons is ultimately what sets Servus apart from its peers.

What are the key issues or challenges facing the credit union system today?

There are some key challenges facing the credit union system today.

We have seen, in Alberta, the collapse of several smaller credit unions in the last few years. Membership growth continues to be a huge issue for many, and Servus is not immune.

Access to improved digital services and innovation in keeping with some of the larger banks is expected by our membership, which is challenging in light of aging infrastructure.

The current COVID situation is unfortunately dominating most of the world’s industries in terms of challenges to existing protocols and infrastructure. Servus is no different. This will require a focus of resources and manpower never previously imagined as we navigate this new reality to the best of our ability. Finding the balance necessary to continue to grow and thrive as we support our membership through this pandemic is key.

How will your skills and life experiences bring value to the collective Servus board?

My education was pursued with the intention of being an advocate for those in need, which is a valuable resource when advocating for our membership at the board table.

I have a strong foundation in reading and writing developed through my degree in honours English. I also have a solid basis in critical analysis skills and law and policy derived through my legal education and training. I value education and appreciate the increased global understanding through courses such as Indigenous Canada and the Immigration, Laws and Policies certification that I have achieved.

I’ve appeared before boards as legal counsel and have worked on the other side actually writing and interpreting legal arguments as the decision maker.

The combination of both my experiences and education have provided me with a unique skill set and offers a higher understanding of the needs of this board as well as its administration and governance.