MEMBER PROFILE

Robert Berkley, Your Daily Soup

A few years ago, Robert took a realistic look at business growth and decided he needed a financial boost for expansion. He owns his home, free and clear, and decided a Home Improvement Loan was a good choice to get the funds he needed. "I had to get all new kitchen appliances; everything from a stove to a microwave- and a new roof also."

"Alternatives made it so easy- I felt like they answered my questions before I even asked them." Robert says of his experience. "I was already in a good place with my business. I just needed to get to the next level. Without the loan from Alternatives I couldn't have done it. I was able to make the home improvements I needed, and have money to buy the necessary equipment to expand my business to include ice cream and sorbet."

Board Hires Tristram Coffin

We’ve done it. Searching almost a year, going two rounds, reviewing many qualified candidates and interviewing the best of the best, we are happy to report that Tristram Coffin will be the next Alternatives CEO. Until his arrival, Leni Hochman, Alternatives Chief Operations Officer, is acting as interim CEO.

Tristram comes to Alternatives with over ten years of CEO experience, most recently with One Washington Financial, an organization that provides mortgage, investment and loan products to 34 credit unions in the Pacific Northwest. In that role he guided the development of an innovative short term loan product to provide Washington credit union members with a lower cost alternative to payday lending. He also helped build a partnership between credit unions and a non-profit community action agency to deliver financial services to underserved people in Eastern Washington. Tristram has been recognized as one of the "40 Under 40" outstanding business leaders in the Seattle metropolitan area. Previously he had served for five years as CEO of CUSERVE, a subsidiary of Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union that gained national recognition as the Credit Union Service Organization of the Year.

Thanks are due to the eight dedicated members of the Search Committee who spent many hours for well over a year planning and conducting the search.
Staff: Leni Hochman, Melissa Pollack, Lenore Olmstead and Karl Graham.
Board: Yvette Rubio, Brian Hunt, Alison Christie and Joe Greenberg.

Tristram comments on his new journey at Alternatives:

“Alternatives has made a unique mark in the world of credit unions and the Ithaca community by offering innovative programs with a different approach. I am looking forward to working with a talented and dedicated staff and board to maintain and enhance Alternatives' position as a force in community asset building.”