Annual Meeting
Each year, we hold an Annual Meeting and invite all Verity members to attend. At this meeting, new board members are elected and Verity leaders discuss the state of the credit union.
The 90th Annual Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held virtually.
There are five candidates for five open positions on the Board of Directors. Please see the list of candidates and their statements, here.
Nominations are not accepted from floor on the day of the Annual Meeting. If you would like to be a nominee on the annual candidate listing, please call (206) 361-5343 to request a petition form. A petition for a Board of Directors nominee must have signatures from at least 1 percent of the membership of Verity Credit Union as of the end of the prior year. Petitions for 2023 are due February 1, 2023.
Candidates for Board of Directors
Will Collins has been a member of Verity for 15 years. He has served as a Board Associate since September of 2021 and is an interim member of the Verity Supervisory Committee. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington in Industrial Engineering. Will is a software professional with 30 years of experience and currently works as a Senior Architect at West Monroe Partners with a specialization in financial services.
Statement: I was originally attracted to Verity Credit Union because its mission closely aligns with my own personal mission statement. I am driven by my desire to build relationships and to create community. Serving with Verity allows me to scale my contribution, which includes empowering individuals and organizations to make a difference for people in our community. I intent to use the technical, leadership, and business process skills I have learned to help achieve measurable, breakthrough result for Verity Credit Union and the communities that it serves.
Nick Etscheid has served as a Verity Board Director since 2020, starting as a Board Associate in 2019. He currently serves as the Board’s Secretary, and in addition, he chairs the Technology Committee and is a member of the Executive and Finance committees. A Seattle native, he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Washington and currently manages international real estate expansions at Amazon Web Services.
Statement: As a 4-year member on Verity's board and an avid user of Verity's services, I know firsthand what makes Verity special and how much work we must continue to do to delight our members. Through also serving on the Technology, Experience, Finance, and Executive committees, I am able to leverage my background to help guide and support Verity's talented management team in their bold plans. With your support, I hope to continue dedicating my time toward furthering our mission of enhancing members' lives by building trusted relationships and vibrant communities.
Tom Holz joined Verity after moving to Seattle in 2019 and began volunteering as a Board Associate in 2020. He joined the Supervisory Committee in 2022. Tom is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional and the Director of IoT (Internet of Things) Solutions at Keyfactor, a cybersecurity technology startup. He has a background in engineering with experience in both the private and public sectors. He holds a master's degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Florida and an MBA from the University of Virginia. Tom thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2010, and he is also an Eagle Scout and 9-time veteran of Burning Man.
Statement: I joined Verity in 2020 after relocating to Seattle and volunteered as a Board Associate. I have served on the Governance, Experience, Technology, and Supervisory Committees. Now I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve on the Supervisory Committee and Board of Directors providing oversight as we work together for the benefit and financial well-being of our members and communities. The credit union movement offers a sustainable and equitable alternative to traditional banking and Verity exemplifies the core values of this movement.
Wesley Nguyen began volunteering at Verity Credit Union in 2021. Since then, he has served as a Board Associate on various subcommittees including Finance, Technology, and Governance. Wesley earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Georgetown University and a MBA from La Trobe University in Australia. Wesley currently works for the City of Lacey as their Economic Development Liaison. He also serves on the Social Justice and Equity Commission for the City of Olympia. Wesley just finished a 4-year term as President of the Board for Project Feast; a non-profit that supports workforce training for immigrants and refugees in King County.
Statement: I am a professional with a 25 years career history that expanded through various roles in the private, non-profit, and government sector. I have a strong background in finance and possess a broad range of small business development. As a child immigrant and a person of color, I have a passion for immigrant issues and DEIB and bring with me a lived perspective to the Board. I am excited to join the Verity Credit Union's Board to advance DEIB without sacrificing financial success. It would be an honor and a privilege to serve.
Michelle Pham has served as a Verity Board Director since 2020 and previously served as a Board Associate. She currently serves as the Board’s vice Chair, and in addition, she chairs the Experience Committee and serves on the Executive and Board Development committees. Michelle earned a BA in psychology and art history from the University of Washington and a JD from Seattle University School of Law. She is a partner at Seattle-based firm Helsell Fetterman LLP, and practices intellectual property law and commercial litigation. In her spare time, she coaches UW Law’s national mock trial team, serves as Chair of the Washington State Bar Association's Litigation Section, and enjoys cooking and traveling.
Statement: Over the last few years, I have had the honor and pleasure to serve on Verity’s board. I would like to continue serving as a Director at Verity because of its commitment to banking on values, particularly its focus on supporting the well-being of the community our members live in. I have learned firsthand how the Verity board guides and prioritizes values-based banking and works with executive staff to make it happen. I am excited about the growth and direction at Verity and hope to continue serving as a board member.
I believe that my personal upbringing, professional background as a lawyer, and experience serving on local nonprofit boards will be an asset to the credit union. As a daughter of Vietnamese refugees, I did not always have the distinct advantages and connections others had. I tailored my professional and nonprofit experience to help those who are disenfranchised and disadvantaged. As a lawyer at Helsell Fetterman in Seattle, I advise clients on business and financial issues, speak up for them in court, and volunteer my legal services to those who cannot afford it. For the last 6 years, I served on the board of local nonprofit, VFA, which provides educational programs to immigrants and refugee students and their families from all over the world. My community-oriented mindset and my background in the law and business are uniquely suited to support Verity’s commitment to values-based banking.
I would be honored to continue serving Verity Credit Union and the community. Thank you for your consideration and support.
Annual Impact Report
Verity produces an Annual Impact Report for distribution at our Annual Meeting. This report contains statements from the board of directors and supervisory committee, as well as the previous year’s financials. It also highlights how your membership at Verity is helping your communities.
The 2022 Annual Impact Report is now available.
Read the 2022 Annual Impact Report
If you would like a copy of a past Annual Report, please contact the Marketing Department at (206) 440-9000 or (800) 444-4589 to have one sent to you.
Banking for good
Join Now