Making a Meaningful Difference

Fiercely passionate about WECU’s membership and community, Jennifer Kutcher leads the WECU team and ensures the credit union is aligned with its mission of making a meaningful difference in the lives of its members. Currently WECU’s President & Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer started out as an Accounting Intern before moving through a variety of roles within the credit union. Those roles included VP of Lending and Chief Financial Officer. She assumed her current position at the helm of the Credit Union in 2014. As a lifelong learner, Jennifer graduated from WWU with a degree in finance and has also earned the Certified Chief Executive distinction from the Wharton School of Business, Cornell University, Darden Graduate School of Management, and MIT’s Sloan School of Management.

Growing up and working in Whatcom County, Margo values volunteering as a way to give back to the community. Being a member of the WECU Board is a way to support WECU as an amazing financial institution leader within our community. Margo has served on the WECU Board as Secretary and Nominating Committee Chair and enjoys participating in the WECU Community events and visiting with WECU members.

Since 1995, Ashok has volunteered his time serving WECU. During his tenure, he has served on WECU’s Supervisory Committee and Board in a variety of capacities, such as Supervisory Committee Chair, Board Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary. Ashok has also served on the Nominating Committee and the CEO Compensation Committee. In India, Ashok worked as a banker, but in Bellingham, he has been involved in restaurant and retail management.

Carol served on WECU’s Supervisory Committee from 2006 until early 2014, when she was appointed to WECU’s Board of Directors. Throughout her years of service, Carol has served in various positions, most recently as the chair of the WECU Governance Committee. Carol taught business and computer classes at Nooksack, Sehome, and Bellingham Technical College for over 25 years. She was the Dean of Health, Sciences, and General Education for 5 years at BTC and ended her career serving as the Vice President of Instruction for 3 years.

Gabriel was appointed in August 2019 after serving as an Associate Board Member the previous year. Dr. Mast currently serves as the Associate Vice President for Planning and Institutional Effectiveness at Skagit Valley College. He previously worked as an administrator and faculty at Bellingham Technical College, Whatcom Community College, Sehome High School, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Mount Vernon High School, and the Universidad del Quindío in Colombia.  His dissertation analyzing the role of community colleges in promoting student success was awarded the Washington Education Research Association’s Outstanding Dissertation of the Year. Dr. Mast’s research focuses on institutional contributions to student success and the role of higher education in social mobility and equity.

Stephanie is the newest member of the WECU Board of Directors, having joined as an Associate Board Member in November 2022. She was appointed a Director in October 2023. Stephanie is a long-time Bellingham resident and WECU member. She currently serves as the General Manager of the Bellingham Bells, a role she has held since late 2015. In her role with the Bells, Stephanie oversees the day-to-day operations of the team and works closely with many community organizations. Stephanie is very involved with the West Coast League and was awarded the league’s Executive of the Year award in 2021. Stephanie is also a member of the City of Bellingham’s Tourism Commission and a past board member of the Kiwanis Club of Bellingham.

Kristi has served as Board Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and on a variety of board committees in the past. Dr. Tyran’s research, teaching, and consulting focus in the areas of leadership and team development. Prior to pursuing her Ph.D., Dr. Tyran was Vice President of Public Finance and Commercial Lending at Bank of America and Key Bank of Alaska. In October 2012, Western Washington University’s College of Business and Economics selected Dr. Tyran as its 2012-2013 Distinguished Teaching Fellow. In addition to her professional work, she has over 30 years’ experience volunteering on a variety of community boards.

David retired from Ershigs after 26 years in various positions, including Contract Manager, JBR Manager, and Senior Project Manager. In his tenure on the WECU Board, David has served on various committees, in addition to serving as WECU’s Board Chair, Vice-chair, and Secretary. His other WECU involvement has included working on the Executive, Partnering, Social Responsibility, Strategic Planning, Nominating, and Credit Committees. WECU’s Team WECU (formerly known as SET) projects have been particular favorites of David’s.

Kurt was elected to the Supervisory Committee in 2013 and has served as a member and chair. He has also served on the Board’s Governance Committee and Nominating Committee. Kurt retired after serving 35 years at Western Washington University (WWU), most of it as Associate Director of Housing, responsible for the finance and technology matters of the university’s housing and dining system, overseeing financial planning, budgeting, capital financing, audits, multiple contracts, campus ID program, and technology. Prior to that, he served in other student housing positions at WWU, the University of Washington, and the University of California, Davis.

Dale is a retired Healthcare Chief Executive. He spent 37 years with PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, a Washington not-for-profit corporation sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. During his tenure, Dale built a distinguished and diversified career in the health care industry developing impressive credentials in operations and finance. Dale is well versed in strategic planning and has a deep understanding of all aspects of healthcare operations and management. He is viewed as a servant leader; confident, patient, determined, and constantly aspiring to learn new things. Dale received the Whatcom Business Alliance 2015 Business Person of the Year Award, and in 2011 was the recipient of the rare “John Tiscornia Award” – honoring at least 20 years of service modeling outstanding leadership, stewardship, and exemplification of PeaceHealth values.

Shonda was elected to the Supervisory Committee in 2014 and has served as the Supervisory Committee Chair for two terms. She has also served on the Nominating Committee. Shonda serves our community as the Finance Director for Whatcom Transportation Authority. Prior work experience includes Whatcom County Public Works and Western Washington University. Shonda has also worked in public accounting and holds her CPA license. Shonda resides in Bellingham with her family and has been a WECU member for over 30 years.

Jennifer joined the Bellingham community and Metcalf Hodges in 2009 where she specializes in tax and estate planning. Active in the community, Jennifer serves as treasurer on the boards of the Whatcom Land Trust and the Whatcom FC Rangers, and has served as Chair of the Supervisory Committee. She has also served on the boards of the Northwest Washington Estate Planning Council and Common Threads Farm.

John Sternlicht, attorney and certified economic developer, has served as the CEO of the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County since July 2015. John brings senior executive expertise in many areas, including law, economic development, community relations, public policy, finance, strategic planning, and government relations with a domestic and international focus. Originally from Barrington, Rhode Island, and raised primarily in Fayetteville, North Carolina, John earned his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and studied journalism and communications at the Université de Fribourg in Switzerland on a Rotary International Graduate Fellowship before completing his Juris Doctorate at the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill. John has served on the Board of Directors of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Washington Economic Developers Association, Anacortes Arts Festival, Skagit Valley College Foundation, Skagit Population Health Trust, Northwest Workforce Council, and The Greater Seattle Business Association, among others.