Thomas Reck
Tom Reck is chairman of the board of Mazuma Credit Unnion. He has been a Member of Mazuma Credit Union since 1972 and was elected to Mazuma’s board of directors in 2003. He became a Member of the Credit Union after moving to Kansas City from St. Louis to begin his career with the federal government.
Tom earned his bachelor of arts degree in St. Louis, and his master’s degree from the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy.
In Kansas City, Tom has worked for the Department of Health and Human Services in programs benefiting the poor and disadvantaged, such as Head Start, foster care and adoption, state subsidized child care, temporary cash assistance, job training programs, and developmental disability services. He also worked in the Office for Civil Rights. Tom retired in 2002 as a federal teams administrator after 30 years of service.
Tom currently lives with his wife Kathy in Independence. His vision for Mazuma is one of financial strength and service to Members.
Billy Wilson
Billy Wilson is secretary of the
Board for Mazuma Credit Union. He has been on the
Board for 20 years, serving the last 19 years in his
present position.
Billy retired from AlliedSignal, one of Mazuma’s
Select Employee Groups, as a supervisor in Program
Management after 41 years of service. Previous to
his retirement, Billy sought an appointment to the
Credit Union’s Supervisory Committee to ensure
representation of the AlliedSignal associates.
He serves on the Board because he enjoys working
with other dedicated board members and staff to help
resolve issues and improve Credit Union products offered
that will better serve the Members. One of his most
enjoyable tasks has been his liaison assignments in
helping to build Mazuma’s new facilities. During
construction of the Main and Northland offices, he
was on site almost every day, working diligently to
make the new facilities user friendly, functional
and beautiful. The shovel that hangs in the Mazuma
Main office lobby was given to Billy for his outstanding
dedication in seeing these projects through. It bears
the inscription, “Our thanks to Billy Wilson
for guiding this expansion from its first turn of
soil. September 1994 – December 1996.”
He was also instrumental in assisting with the planning
and construction of the Raymore and Lee’s Summit
East buildings.
Billy and his wife Juanita have two sons and five
grandchildren. All are enthusiastic credit union members
and supporters.
Gerald Rosenblum
Jerry Rosenblum is treasurer
of the board for Mazuma Credit Union. He is our longest
serving board member having been on the board since
October 1966. After serving just a year, the board recognized
his financial savvy, and he was asked to take over as
treasurer, a position he has held ever since.
Jerry's education includes a B.S. in business administration
with a major in accounting, along with graduate studies
in banking and finance. His work years include positions
as a national bank examiner for the U.S. Comptroller
of the Currency, and as a senior computer systems analyst
for the US Department of Agriculture.
Jerry joined the Credit Union in 1962 when the Pinkertons,
our founders, were still running the Credit Union. He
has seen a lot of changes in those years. "When I started,
the Credit Union had only $6 million in assets and 6,000
Members. With more than $343 million in assets now, Mazuma is sure to experience even more growth. That was my
primary reason for wanting to join the board in 1966—I
thought I could help improve Mazuma's investment opportunities."
Jerry is proud to be a supporter of credit unions, because
he feels that "educating Members is the best thing we
do." He truly believes the mission of credit unions
is to help Members achieve financial growth and security
of their own.
William Akright
Bill Akright has been
a board member since 1987. He decided to volunteer
his time, because he felt he had abilities in accounting
and financial services that would benefit the Credit
Union and its Members. He served as a supervisory
committee member during his first year, and ran for
the board the next year and was elected. He also served
as chairman of the board for 10 years.
Bill retired in 1986 after working for the Internal
Revenue Service for 33 years. He started out as a
revenue agent in Kansas City, transferring to other
cities inbetween and finally returning to Kansas City
as taxpayer service division chief. He also spent
three years in Saudia Arabia helping set up a national
tax program.
Bill enjoys going to the local, state and national
credit union educational meetings. "I always bring
something back with me from each of these meetings
that I think would benefit the Members and help them
achieve their financial goals," he stated. One of
Bill's most enjoyable experiences was serving on the
selection committee for Mazuma's past president. "It
feels wonderful to know that I had a part, however
small, in bringing Nancy Pierce on board. Nancy was
very dedicated and definitely committed to the credit
union movement. She is a real asset to Mazuma," he
declared.
Bill and his wife Mary Lou have been Mazuma Members
for more than 30 years. They have three sons and 10
grandchildren, all of whom are loyal credit union
members.
John Walls
John Walls has been on the board since 1977. John first volunteered for the credit committee, then ran for the Mazuma board because he said he felt he had a great deal to contribute to build a better financial institution. John has been a member supporter of credit unions since 1956 when he was in the service overseas. "I feel strongly about credit unions,” John said. “They have always been there when I needed them.”
John is retired from the active workforce, but he still keeps busy as an Alderman for the City of Belton, Missouri and is currently serving as Moderator for the Heartland Presbytery. John is also an Elder in his church, The Belton Presbyterian Church.
John and wife Ann have two adult children, Chris and Valerie, and all have true commitment to Mazuma Credit Union and the credit union movement.
William Player
William (Bill) Player
has been a board member since 1998. He decided to
volunteer his time because he had been a Member of
Mazuma for many years and liked the philosophy of
people helping people. He was most impressed that,
with a credit union, a person's character was more
important than income. Also, with his management background,
he thought he had some valuable experience to offer
Mazuma's board of directors.
Bill retired in 1997
after 34 years of government service, most recently
with the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
as acting director of the multifamily housing division.
Bill enjoys the teamwork
aspect of serving on the board. "It's a team. Decisions
are made by the team to keep Credit Union operations
running smoothly and to make sure everything is safe
and sound," he stated. He also appreciates Mazuma's
community involvement, especially the children's reading
programs and teaching teens strong financial habits.
He knew when he retired he wanted to do something
useful, and high on his list was working with children.
Mazuma's junior achievement, tutoring elementary schools
and the HeART reading programs give him that opportunity.
Bill's wife Imogene
is a teacher in the Shawnee Mission school district.
They have two sons, William and Charles, and one granddaughter.
All are members and enthusiastic supporters of credit
unions.
Deborah Stumpff
Deborah Stumpff feels
very strongly about volunteering and helping the local
community as much as she can. Not only does she serve
on Mazuma's board of directors, she volunteers on
the board of the Garden Center Assn. of Greater KC
as well. Debi's also a Johnson County K-State Research
and Extension Master Gardener, which means she informs
the public on research-based horticultural practices.
As with Mazuma Credit Union, one of the primary goals
of this organization is education.
Debi has worked for
Honeywell Federal Manufacturing and Technologies for
20 years. Currently, she's a staff engineer in the
Office of Business Partnerships, which is responsible
for developing new business opportunities for the
plant.
Debi was already a long-time
Member of Mazuma when she was elected to her seat
on the board 13 years ago. She had just completed
her MBA with an emphasis in finance and wanted to
contribute to Mazuma and help make it an even better
Credit Union. "I like serving the Members," said Debi.
"It's great to be a part of Mazuma's growth and to
know that Member service is utmost in our minds when
changes are considered and implemented."
One of the things Debi
is most proud of during her tenure is serving on the
selection committee for Mazuma's new CEO, Rob Givens.
Knowing that she was helping to select the person
who could affect the future of the Credit Union was
a daunting, but very rewarding task. "It's an exciting
time to be on Mazuma's board of directors and I feel
honored to be involved in decision-making that will
benefit our Members for years to come," she concluded.
Bob Durbin
Bob
was elected to the board in 1997 and was serving as
vice-chairman when he resigned in 2002 to devote more
time to heading an all-volunteer cancer charity organization.
With that responsibility over, he was re-elected to
the Mazuma board in 2005. Bob and his wife Freda joined
the Credit Union back in the 1970s when she was with
SBA. They have both been involved with and supporters
of the credit union mission since that time. Many
changes have occurred over that period and new challenges
regularly arise. His goal is that every Member-owner
be able to become informed and comfortable with all
aspects of their financial dealings.
Bob retired, with more than 35 years of service, from Allied Signal (now Honeywell) in 1992 as a Manager in Program Management. He has a degree in Business Administration from UMKC, which he acquired at nights. In efforts to continue to improve his service to the Credit Union and the Members, he completes self-study courses offered by the state association and attends appropriate training conferences.
In addition to serving on the Mazuma board, Bob is currently fulfilling his commitment to helping others as a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society Road to Recovery, by working with community projects of the Red Bridge Lions club, and through work with his church’s work crew. He also is on the Strategic Planning committee for the church and represents the Center School District in hearings at the Jackson County Board of Equalization.
Bob and Freda have two children, Janet and Jim, who are Members of the Credit Union, and they have five grandchildren. In addition to time with family, church, volunteer and board duties, he enjoys time with friends, traveling and a little golf.
Albert Ruiz
Albert Ruiz was elected
to the board in 2001. Mr. Ruiz has fifteen years of
government service and degrees in business administration
and Spanish literature from California Lutheran University.
Mr. Ruiz's experience with credit unions began in
1974 while he was still in college and working part
time. "I was considered a good risk and was given
the opportunity to purchase a new car. I was so proud
- not even out of college yet, and with my independent
spirit I now had what most of my friends could only
dream about. This was the beginning of a life-long
relationship with credit unions."
In the summer of 2000, Mr. Ruiz accepted a position
with the Corps in Kansas City and relocated from El
Paso, Texas. "Moving to a new city is difficult, but
the experience was made more pleasant by my first
encounter with Mazuma. Mr. Tom Hand, manager at the
601 office, personally came out to greet me when I
stopped in to open an account. His friendliness and
willingness to help me get established in the community
made me realize once again, I had made the right choice.
Tom sets the standard for member service."
Mr. Ruiz enjoys his
service on Mazuma's board because every action, every
activity that is demanded of him as a board member
draws from all his employment experience. And, he
enjoys the camaraderie among board members. "My upbringing
was based on the philosophy that I am here to serve
my fellow man in every possible capacity. The entire
board feels this way, and it's wonderful to know there
is a common thread that ties us together. This bond
makes us a stronger board as we work together toward
fulfilling the Mazuma mission of Turning Dreams Into
Reality."
Thomas Reck
Tom Reck is chairman of the board of Mazuma Credit Unnion. He has been a Member of Mazuma Credit Union since 1972 and was elected to Mazuma’s board of directors in 2003. He became a Member of the Credit Union after moving to Kansas City from St. Louis to begin his career with the federal government.
Tom earned his bachelor of arts degree in St. Louis, and his master’s degree from the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy.
In Kansas City, Tom has worked for the Department of Health and Human Services in programs benefiting the poor and disadvantaged, such as Head Start, foster care and adoption, state subsidized child care, temporary cash assistance, job training programs, and developmental disability services. He also worked in the Office for Civil Rights. Tom retired in 2002 as a federal teams administrator after 30 years of service.
Tom currently lives with his wife Kathy in Independence. His vision for Mazuma is one of financial strength and service to Members.
David H. Kudrin
David was elected to the board in 2007, but his family has been a part of Mazuma Credit Union as members since 1974. David and his wife Laura have been in the Lee’s Summit community for the past eight years, and they have two daughters. David first learned about cooperatives from his father who worked for a grocery cooperative. Through this he learned the benefits of being a member versus a customer. With more than a decade of experience in the financial services industry, and a life long love for credit unions and the cooperative spirit, it only seemed natural for David to get involved as a volunteer with his Credit Union. “One of my proudest days was when our daughters became Money Bunny Club Members of Mazuma,” he said. “I think it is important that parents get their children involved with the credit union so the education process of financial stewardship can begin as early as possible.” David believes it is crucial that the Credit Union continues to educate young adults about the benefits of being a Member. “Through my volunteer involvement, I hope that I can set an example and encourage more young people to get involved with their Credit Union.”
Jose Diaz
Supervisory committee
member Jose Diaz is the longest running member of
the committee, having served since 1993. Before his
service to the Credit Union, Jose worked for 35 years
as a computer specialist for the FAA (Federal Aviation
Administration), retiring as a supervisor in data
systems in 1994. Before his work with the FAA, he
also served in the Air Force. These experiences now
help him with his duties on the supervisory committee.
Jose enjoys working
with the other committee members and board members.
He encourages qualified Members who are interested
in serving on the committee to volunteer for a position.
The supervisory committee serves Mazuma and its Members
by ensuring the Credit Union is run correctly. Members
of the committee investigate each area of the Credit
Union and respond to all questions, complaints, suggestions
and praises they receive. Jose said he had an interest
to serve at the Credit Union before he volunteered,
but waited until he had more spare time to devote
to the committee because it's such an important aspect
of the Credit Union.
A Member of Mazuma Credit
Union since the 1960s, Jose said he has always preferred
credit unions to banks because credit unions are good
for the people. "At credit unions, you're a person
before you're a number," he said. Jose and his wife
Carol have three daughters and four grandchildren,
all Members of the Credit Union.
He encourages anyone
with comments or questions to direct them to the supervisory
committee. He says any feedback, positive or negative,
Members can contribute is appreciated, but he especially
enjoys the positive ones!
Mike Weinrich
Supervisory committee member Mike Weinrich is enthusiastic about many things—his wife, three children, three grandchildren, two dogs, former career as a meteorologist and his relationship with Mazuma Credit Union.
Mike joined the supervisory committee in December 2001 as a way to give back to the community.
“Many people volunteer their time to hospitals, day care centers, etc.” he said. “And I volunteer also, but in addition, my way to give back is through Mazuma.”
Working with the board of directors, supervisory committee and Mazuma staff is something Mike said he really enjoys. He said he is pleased to have the opportunity to work with them because they make him feel very welcome. He also said he has learned much and is very impressed with Mazuma as a financial institution.
Mike came to Kansas City from Burlington, Iowa 1966. It was then that he began his career as a meteorologist for the National Weather Service (NWS)—a career that would last for 37 years. His interest in meteorology sparked in high school and continued during the summers when he would come home from college at Saint Louis University and participate in a student trainee program in Burlington. He said he is very lucky to have been able to stay in Kansas City through the duration of his career because it’s something that is very rare with the NWS.
His relationship with the Credit Union began almost 30 years ago when he and his wife Betsy opened an account with Mazuma, then known as Federal Employees Credit Union. Mike looks forward to continuing his relationship with the Credit Union in the coming years.
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