Our Board

Leslie joined the staff of Alternatives in 2000, drawn by its mission that aligned with her values. She quickly became the director of the Business CENTS program, supporting thousands of entrepreneurs for over a decade. In 2015, Leslie left Alternatives to start her own consulting practice. Despite her departure, she continued her commitment to community development by serving on the Economic Development Committee of the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency and co-founding Local First Ithaca. Later, she returned to Alternatives to join the board, bringing her extensive experience and dedication full circle.

Brian has been a member of the credit union community since 1984 and has been a valued member of Alternatives FCU for many years. With a strong commitment to community service, he has volunteered at Willard Drug Treatment Center for over eight years. Brian is passionate about promoting the credit union’s beneficial programs and expanding its member base. With a lifetime of experience in building, designing, and selling homes, he understands the significant impact of real estate on the economy, making him a valuable asset to the board.

Jessa has been a resident of Ithaca since 2006, taking on diverse roles ranging from library staff to fine artist, which has given her a firsthand perspective on financial stability. Passionate about equitable financial services, she actively participates in community initiatives such as Artist Alley and is deeply committed to Alternatives’ mission of empowering and including underserved communities. As a member of the board, Jessa believes that by amplifying the voices of marginalized groups and creating inclusive financial opportunities, she can help foster a more equitable environment for all.

Having grown up in Elmira, Michele draws on over 30 years of experience in accounting, HR, and community advocacy. Currently, Michele works at Corning Incorporated’s Office of Racial Equality and Social Unity, where she focuses on addressing racial and socioeconomic disparities. Through this role, she was introduced to Alternatives’ mission, which she passionately supports and promotes. Michele is eager to guide Alternatives in its vital efforts to build wealth and create economic opportunities for underserved communities.

Amina joined Alternatives in 2005 to escape predatory banking practices and found a supportive, community-oriented institution. Recognizing the importance of collective strength, she is committed to helping rebuild the local economy sustainably and equitably through Alternatives.

Her extensive career began at Gimme! Coffee, where she progressed from barista to Chief Operating Officer, embodying roles that spanned training, marketing, and operations, always with a focus on community and sustainability. Since 2018, she has directed the Food Business Incubation Program (FoodBIP), supporting food manufacturers in their growth and regional economic development. Amina’s experience also includes community service with the Telluride Association and the Ithaca Shakespeare Company, where she leveraged her expertise in finance, training, and strategic development to foster equitable economic opportunities and enhance community engagement.

Leon Holden (he/him) is the Director of Equity, Inclusion & Belonging at Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca (F&CS), and the first Human Resources professional to hold this role in the history of the non-profit organization. In addition to his 8+ years of HR experience, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, from Brooklyn College, and is a Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP).

Leon is currently the President of the Diversity Consortium of Tompkins County (DCTC), and a sitting board member for several other organizations within the county, including FoodNet Meals on Wheels (PEP Committee Chair and Executive Committee), SHRMTC (DEI Director), Tompkins County Workforce Development, and Alternatives Federal Credit Union. This is in addition to his membership on several other committees and working groups throughout Tompkins County. The Brooklyn, NY native is a recent transplant to the Ithaca community and has been a resident since 2021. He is committed to fostering a culture of equity, inclusion, and belonging among his collaborators and within the communities that he serves.

Veronica began collaborating with Alternatives’ Business Support services after co-founding the Civil Advocacy Project, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. Through both the Civil Advocacy Project and her collaboration with Alternatives, she has provided free and affordable access to legal consulting for small businesses and micro-entrepreneurs. She continues to be inspired by the level of care and support Alternatives provides to small businesses.

Having grown up in one of the small communities surrounding Ithaca, where 1960s-era grain silos are scattered across the landscape, she pursued a career in law. After law school, Veronica worked at a small firm in Central Pennsylvania for a few years. However, as her children became toddlers, she wanted to live closer to her parents and moved back to the Ithaca area. She secured a job at a contracting office at Cornell and began the long process of founding the Civil Advocacy Project, where she wears many hats: employee, executive director, strategic planner, grant writer, and sometimes janitor. In these roles, she consults with entrepreneurs, educates them about the potential risks of their businesses, and helps them mitigate those risks.

Veronica has served on the board of the Civil Advocacy Project as well as Ithaca Community Recovery, Inc., a community non-profit that hosts 12-step recovery meetings. She brings a strong background in business support services and a deep commitment to sustainable economic development. She is honored to support Alternatives’ mission and impact in the community.

The Operations Committee monitors issues and discusses strategies to deliver efficient, high-quality member service, whether in-branch, mobile, online, ATM, or any other medium.

Members of the Loan Policy Committee review loan policies, recommend new programs, and analyze lending trends to develop products that support individuals with diverse identities historically marginalized by the financial industry.

This committee is responsible for all program and marketing activities, and sourcing community members and organizations to collaborate with Alternatives and for potential board/committee members.

The Finance Committee reviews budgets, audits, capital expenditures, delinquency, collection, investments, and financial statements. The committee works closely with Alternatives’ top-notch staff to review financial trends, develop policies, and oversee how the credit union’s funds are invested and spent.

Alternatives bylaws mandate the establishment of a supervisory committee to oversee internal audit functions. The responsibility of the committee is to ensure the financial safety and soundness of the credit union on behalf of the credit union’s members. This committee performs one of the most important jobs associated with the credit union. The Supervisory Committee has two general goals:

• • Ensure management’s financial reporting presents a fair and accurate picture of the Credit Union’s condition.

• • Ensure management practices, and procedures safeguard member’s assets.

The primary tool used by the Supervisory Committee to accomplish its goals is hiring external auditors to perform an annual audit of the credit union’s finances and accounting controls. Each year the committee solicits bids, then hires an accounting firm or other qualified auditing organization. The committee also reviews internal controls, audit, and Federal examination findings, and follows up on recommendations made during the audit and examination.

Supervisory Committee members are volunteers, appointed by the board of directors. A committee member must be a member of the credit union and be bondable by the credit union’s bonding company. Accounting or bookkeeping experience is not required, though it would be helpful in carrying out the mission of the committee.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about your account or the credit union’s operations, you should first contact the credit union directly. However, in the unlikely event you are not satisfied with the response, you can appeal the matter to the Supervisory Committee, which will conduct an additional review.

Contact:

Alternatives FCU Supervisory Committee 
PO Box 462 
Ithaca, NY 14851

Note: Please use this address for Supervisory Committee correspondence only. Do not send deposits, loan payments, regular mail, etc. to this address.

The Assets Liability Committee (ALCO) conducts quarterly reviews of the credit union’s asset-to-liability ratio, monitoring risk and capital structure.

Recruits and nominates a field of candidates for election to the Alternatives Board of Directors, to be voted on by Alternatives’ general membership on an annual basis. Three-year board terms are staggered, with approximately three or four seats elected each year, plus any vacancies filled by nomination in the current cycle. It is the goal of the Nominating Committee to promote contested elections and nominate about 40% more candidates than seats up for election

Convened to conduct a performance evaluation of the CEO.

Convened to handle situations that arise between board meetings.

Responsible for overseeing staff policies, compensation, benefits, engagement, DEI, metrics, culture and other issues in that realm. Any change which is anticipated to have a significant financial impact would also be reviewed by Finance.