Self-Help’s Randy Chambers Elected as New Chairman

(June 22, 2009 – Phoenix, AZ)  Last week, during its recent 35th Annual Conference on Serving the Underserved, the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions (Federation) held elections for its Board of Directors.  The elections resulted in a new director in two of the Federation’s regions, and re-election of incumbents in the remaining two regions and in the at-large (nationwide) category. 

The Federation’s Board of Directors continues to be one of the most diverse in the credit union movement by gender, race, institution type and size.  There are currently 8 females and 7 males on the Board of Directors; 8 are African-American, 1 is Asian, 1 is Latino, and 5 are White/Anglo.  Directors represent community development credit unions (CDCUs) ranging in size from less than $1 million in assets, to one of the nation’s largest CDCUs, with $346 million in assets.

This year’s elections also marked a transition of leadership, with Eunice J. Rogers retiring as Chairman, per established term limits.  Rogers is succeeded by Self-Help CU (Durham, NC) CFO Randy Chambers, who has been serving as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors for the past three years.

“I am humbled to be selected to lead the Federation over the next year. Following in the footsteps of visionary leaders like Eunice Rogers and Rita Haynes is an awesome task,” said Chambers. “The passion that our members and staff bring for disadvantaged communities is unparalleled in the credit union movement. In these troubled times, the Federation is as committed as ever to helping our credit unions and the communities and people we serve to weather this economic storm.”

The Vice-Chairman position has been filled by the former Corresponding Secretary, Lynda Milton, CEO of Team Financial FCU (Houston, TX);  Michael Chan, Board President of Northeast Community FCU (San Francisco, CA) has been selected as the new Treasurer, a position he held previously;  Deyanira Del Rio, Board Chairman of the Lower East Side People’s FCU (New York, NY) will remain as the Recording Secretary on the Executive Committee; and the Corresponding Secretary position has been filled by new Executive Committee member Gregg Brown, CEO of South Side Community FCU (Chicago, IL).

In Region 1 (East), Sharon Saulters, CUDE, President/CEO of Triumph Baptist FCU (Philadelphia PA) was elected by acclamation.  A former Federation Board Member, Saulters has continued to be active in the Federation’s Faith-based Credit Union Task Force, and despite the small size of her credit union (under $1 million in assets), she manages to offer many products and services that would traditionally only be available at larger credit unions.  Saulters, a graduate of the Federation’s CDCU Institute™, is also a Credit Union Development Educator, or CUDE.

In Region 2 (South), Mississippi State Senator Robert L. Jackson, Treasurer and CEO of First Delta FCU (Marks, MS) was reelected to the Federation’s Board of Directors.  Jackson has been a long-time director with the Federation, serving non-consecutive terms, incuding several as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors.  His credit union serves 5,500 residents in the low-income Mississippi Delta, and has collective assets of $6.1 million.

In Region 3 (Mid/South West), Gregg Brown, President/CEO of South Side Community FCU (Chicago, IL) was reelected to the Federation Board of Directors.  Brown’s credit union was organized in 2003 to serve the predominantly low-income population of Chicago’s South Side community.  Since that time, the credit union has grown to more than $4 million in assets and currently serves more than 1,300 community residents.

In Region 4 (West), Daniel Scott, President/CEO of Faith Based FCU (Oceanside, CA) is the newly elected Director for Region 4.  Scott operates a small faith-based CDCU chartered in 2003.  The credit union currently has just under $1 million in assets, and is primarily a volunteer-run operation.  Scott was elected in a contested election and is the newest member on the Federation’s Board of Directors.

In the At-Large (nationwide) category, Randy Chambers, CFO of Self-Help FCU (Durham, NC) was elected by acclamation to another term.  Chambers, who was the previous Vice-Chairman of the Federation’s Board of Directors, will now serve as the new Chairman of the Board.  Self-Help CU is one of the largest and most recognizable CDCUs in the nation with more than $346 million in assets and a multi-billion dollar affordable mortgage secondary market.

Directors may serve up to three, three-year terms.  Board officers serve one year terms and are elected among their peers.  The Federation is proud to welcome all new and returning directors to its Board of Directors.  A full listing of the Federation’s Board of Directors is available by clicking here.

© 2009 National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions.