2023 Board of Directors Election and Annual Meeting

We are pleased to announce that all eligible Members as of March 31, 2023, will be invited to have a voice in the future of Vantage West during our upcoming election.

Three board seats are up for regular election. The Nominating Committee has announced their four nominees, listed in alphabetical order by last name. Personal statements from each nominee are provided below.

Tony Kitt

Stephen Peary (Incumbent)

Jose Rincon (Incumbent)

Hope Jensen Schau (Incumbent)

There were no nominations by petition. To ensure all eligible Members are given the opportunity to cast a ballot, regardless of where they live or work, this year’s election will again be primarily held online. We have selected Survey and Ballot Systems to administer this process.

IMPORTANT ELECTION DETAILS

Eligible Members will be invited to cast a ballot in one of three ways between May 15 and June 21, 2023:                                                                                                            

  • For eligible Members who are actively enrolled in online banking: You will have an option to link directly to your ballot once you have successfully logged in to online banking.
  • For eligible Members who have opted to receive eStatements: Survey and Ballot Systems will send an email to the email address we have on file for you on May 15 with a link and a unique PIN that you may use to participate in the online election.
  • For eligible Members who have not opted to receive eStatements and are not actively enrolled in online banking: You must request a paper ballot between April 1 and April 30, 2023. Paper ballots will be mailed to Members who requested them by Survey and Ballot Systems no later than May 15. Request a paper ballot using one of these methods:
    • By filling out a form.
    • By visiting any Vantage West branch
    • By calling our Member Solutions Center at 800.888.7882

Regardless of the voting method you choose, each eligible Member will only be permitted one vote.

DEADLINE TO CAST YOUR BALLOT

Members who choose to vote online must submit their ballot online no later than 11:59 pm Tucson, Arizona time on June 21, 2023, for it to be counted. Paper ballots from those Members who requested one must be received at the address that will be specified in the ballot materials no later than 11:59 pm Tucson, Arizona time on June 21, 2023, for it to be counted. Survey and Ballot Systems will conduct all ballot counting activities.

ELECTION RESULTS AND ANNUAL MEETING

The results of Member voting will be announced at the 2023 annual meeting which will be held:

Wednesday, June 28, 2023 | 3:0 pm

Doubletree Hotel Reid Park | Bonsai/Boojum Room

445 S. Alvernon Way | Tucson, AZ 85711

Members interested in attending the annual meeting must register in advance, and registration details will be sent to Members via email later this spring. During the annual meeting, no votes will be cast and no call for nominations from the floor will be made for these seats.

Whether you choose to vote online or request a paper ballot, we hope you will add your voice as a Member-Owner during this year’s election!

NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR – PERSONAL STATEMENTS

Tony Kitt

I am honored to be nominated for the Vantage West Board of Directors, and I am asking for your vote to become a board director. I was raised in Tucson, graduated with a B.S. Business Administration from Northern Arizona University, and went into the United States Air Force. I served 20 years, retiring as a Lt Colonel, and the Chief Financial Officer for North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in Colorado Springs. As a financial management officer, throughout my career I volunteered and worked with credit unions on military installations in the United States and abroad. I helped guide their strategic initiatives, often providing valuable knowledge on the unique aspects of serving members in the military community.

Following my military career, I joined the staff of a large corporate credit union as the Chief Operating Officer (COO). I’ve also served as a senior executive with the California and Nevada Credit Union League and was responsible for their business strategies and innovation in their quest to advocate for the 300+ credit unions in California and Nevada. Currently, I’m the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Plexcity, a Credit Union Service Organization providing Accounting, Information Technology Services, and Human Resources Administration for credit union related organizations across the country. I am steeped in industry knowledge and understand the financial and social impact a credit union can have on the communities it serves.

I am so impressed with Vantage West, especially their remarkable investment in the community, and their commitment to improving the financial lives of Members to achieve a better financial future.  I seek your vote, since I know I can provide valuable strategic leadership and financial services expertise to help shape Vantage West strategies in advancing the credit union philosophy…“People helping People.”

Stephen Peary

As an experienced corporate executive, I look forward to further serving the Vantage West Credit Union Membership. Initially, I served on the Vantage West Credit Union Supervisory Committee beginning May 2019 becoming its Chairman in July 2019.  Serving on the VWCU Board of Directors since May 2020 and as Chair of the Governance Committee since June 2020 has been one of the truly rewarding experiences of my career. 

I hold a B.A. in Economics, a Juris Doctorate and LL.M. (Taxation). Having experience in all forms of debt and equity financing including multiple IPOs, venture capital, bank financing and structured debt instruments, and having served as both Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel to several public and private entities, I hope to continue to bring a deep financial and governance appreciation to the Vantage West Board of Directors.

I serve on the Board of Directors and asChair, Audit Committee, for the Northern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE), the medical research joint venture between the San Francisco VA and University of California San Francisco Medical Center. At NCIRE, I have helped bring a broad understanding of financial and governance management principles to a non-profit, organized around brilliant medical doctors and researchers leading to increased research and funding that has had far reaching health benefits for our Nation’s veterans.  I also serve on the Arizona selection committee for the Evans Scholarship Foundation, the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies.

Jose Rincon

Born in Mexico, I moved to Tucson in 1976 when I was 10 years old. I attended the University of Arizona where I met my wife of 34 years (Adriana). I graduated with a BS in Business Administration and completed the Entrepreneurship program. A few years later, I obtained a Master of Arts in Business Management.

My professional career incudes 30+ years in medical sales with Fortune 500 companies. I have worked for Pfizer, Boston Scientific, and Bristol Meyers Squibb. In addition, ever the entrepreneur, I own two companies; a Real Estate company focusing on residential property management and brokerage, and a temp staffing agency for healthcare facilities.

As a community stakeholder, I have volunteered with various non-profits serving the needs of children. These include Boys-n-Girls Clubs, Tu Nidito services for children, and The Tucson Conquistadores. 

In my 3+ years as a Board Director with Vantage West, I have seen firsthand the recent challenges, opportunities, and successes of Vantage West. We hired and on-boarded a new and dynamic CEO whom, with the help of a highly skilled executive team and dedicated employees, successfully navigated the organization through a pandemic. As past Chair of the Board nominating committee, we have assembled a talented Board of Directors dedicated to the success of the Credit Union and to enhancing the Member experience. 

As we look to the future, there’s still work to do. Competitive and operational challenges like FinTech, cybersecurity, recruitment, retention, and labor shortages are just a few of the important issues facing the industry. As a returning Director, I believe I can bring value and strategic vision to continue the strong momentum we have developed in recent years in order to deliver a quality experience for our Credit Union Members.

Hope Jensen Schau

I grew up in the credit union movement. My father was an Air Force veteran, farmer, high school science teacher, and coach who was deeply committed to community service. He took me to our local teachers’ credit union to open my first savings account. His goal was to teach me about personal finances and civic responsibility. His lessons became a part of my belief system.

I am proud to be a business professor at the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management, and the Executive Director of the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship. My research is at the intersection of technology and markets. I also served as a Filene Research Institute (credit union industry think tank) research fellow examining the impact of technology on financial markets. Later, I led Filene’s Center of Excellence in Consumer Decision Making. My Filene experience focused on issues facing credit unions and how to strengthen credit union performance. My work with Arizona entrepreneurs increases my awareness of the financial needs of entrepreneurs and small business owners, and to consider what Vantage West can do to better serve this community.

I have continued my commitment to the credit union movement by serving on the Board of Directors for Vantage West. My knowledge of finance, marketing and the technological advances that impact financial markets help me contribute to enhancing Vantage West. I am honored to serve with passionate and diligent Board colleagues, and to work with the talented Executive Coalition to enhance Member experience and safeguard Member assets.

If re-elected to the Vantage West Board of Directors, it would be my privilege to represent my fellow Members and their needs to the Executive Coalition, to actively pursue new financial services that will benefit Members on various stages of their journey, and to vigilantly protect Member assets.