Making a Collective Impact: GoWest Foundation Introduces New Board Officers

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on August 27, 2025

On Tuesday, Aug. 19, the GoWest Foundation Board of Directors met and new officers were appointed to serve one-year terms.

The Foundation’s board, a group consisting of thought leaders, regional stakeholders, and community partners, convenes to help credit unions achieve greater community impact in the areas of asset building, economic empowerment, and cooperative development.

“There is deep collective experience and expertise among our board members that is helping support the evolution of the Foundation as we deepen our strategic focus on supporting credit unions across the region’s housing, small business support, and rural access to financial services initiatives,” said Sharee Adkins, Executive Director of the GoWest Foundation.

“The work the Foundation does is in direct alignment with why I love being a part of the credit union movement,” shared Charlotte Nemec, Canopy Credit Union’s President and CEO and the Foundation’s new Board Chair. “Supporting projects and programs that credit unions are doing to better our communities across our 6 states is rewarding to me both personally and professionally.”

GoWest Foundation Board of Directors

Charlotte Nemec, Canopy Credit Union – Chair
Todd Pearson, Global Credit Union – Vice Chair
Tyler Valentine, StagePoint Federal Credit Union – Treasurer
Arick Williams, Columbine Federal Credit Union – Secretary

Nora Carpenter, Friend of Foundation – Director
Ning Duong, Credit Union West – Director
Larry Ellifritz, CCCU – Director
Ali Migaki, iQ Credit Union – Director
Gene Pelham, Community Partner – Director
Kelly Schrader, Community Partner – Director
Tracie Wilcox, OnTap Credit Union – Director

The meeting also marked the last for Directors Jackie Hoonjan of Pacific Cascade Federal Credit Union and Eric Renaud of Pima Federal Credit Union. The GoWest Foundation and its Board of Directors thank Jackie and Eric for their dedication to and hard work on behalf of the Foundation.

For more information about the GoWest Foundation, please visit gowestfoundation.org/.

Posted in GoWest Foundation, GoWest News, Top Headlines.