Our Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is elected by the membership to oversee Westerra’s strategic direction in serving members.  They serve as unpaid volunteers representing the members who comprise our credit union.  Each Board Member brings their unique experience, talents, knowledge and perspective:

Kathy Betts, Chairman
Kathy Betts worked with Safeway Stores for 32 years in a variety of positions including retail management, employment and recruiting.  She is currently employed with Land America.  Prior to joining the Board of Directors, Ms. Betts served for six years as the Safeway Rocky Mountain Federal Credit Union Supervisory Board Chairman.  She has been involved with several community committees including the Red Rocks Community College Employee Advisory Council.  She currently sits on the Board of Trustees for the Denver Children’s Home and the Board of the Krewe de Colorado, a fund-raising committee for not-for-profits.

Kevin McCasky, First Vice Chairman 
Kevin McCasky was elected Jefferson County Commissioner (District 2) in November 2004.  Prior to being elected Commissioner, Mr. McCasky was elected and served as Jefferson County Assessor from 1998 - 2004.  He was the 2006 Chairman of the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners and the Jefferson County Law Enforcement Authority Board, and represents the county on the Jefferson Economic Council Board, the Boundary Control Commission and the Noxious Weed Advisory Board.  The West Chamber recently honored Mr. McCasky as the Elected Official of the Year—he is the only person in the Chamber’s 60 year history to receive the award twice.  Mr. McCasky also served on the staff of Congressman Joel Hefley in Colorado's 5th District and has worked as a Legislative Budget Analyst for the Joint Budget Committee of the Colorado General Assembly.  He served on the Gateway Credit Union Board of Directors prior to joining the Westerra Board. 

Karin Riggins, Secretary/Treasurer
Karin Riggins retired with 26 years of experience in the Denver Public Schools Internal Auditing Department. She was the department manager for six years. She also served as the Assistant to the Treasurer of the Board of Education. Mrs. Riggins is a Certified Public Accountant, retired status, and has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants since 1970 and a member of the Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants since 1975. She is currently Treasurer of the Denver Public Schools’ Retired Employees Association.  Mrs. Riggins has served on the credit union’s Board of Directors since 1992. She also served on the Supervisory Committee for three years and the Credit Committee for four years. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Emporia State University.

Loyal Darr
Loyal Darr was a teacher and administrator in the Denver Public Schools for 32 years. He is currently an adjunct faculty member in the Teacher Education Program at the University of Denver. While serving as the Supervisor of the K-12 Social Studies program, Mr. Darr served as a member and Chairman of the credit union‘s Board of Directors and the Credit Committee. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 1992.  Mr. Darr volunteers his time to a number of activities in the community. He teaches an adult issues Bible class each Sunday at his church. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Council on Economic Education, the Ann Frank Statewide Art and Writing Competition, and the Holocaust Awareness Institute at the University of Denver. Mr. Darr is also actively involved with the Young Ambassador Student Exchange Program and the Constitutional Scholars Program.

Connie Ephland
Connie Ephland has been a credit union member since 1964.  She was elected to the Jeffco Credit Union Board of Directors in 1989 and served as Chairman for seven years.  Prior to serving on the Board, she volunteered on the Jeffco Credit Union Supervisory Committee for four years. Connie was employed with Jefferson County Public Schools for 26 years in a variety of positions including principals’ secretary, executive assistant, project manager and Human Resource administrator. Connie has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Colorado Christian University.  Her undergraduate studies included business administration, accounting and human resource management. Connie also volunteers with her homeowners’ association and a women’s philanthropic society in Loveland.

Vi Martinez
Vi Martinez began her career with DPS in March 1966 at Cheltenham Elementary School as a Kindergarten aide.  She then accepted an administrative position in the Department of Food and Nutrition Services. Mrs. Martinez was promoted to a Bookkeeper II position in 1978 where she stayed until her retirement in December 1999. Mrs. Martinez served on the credit union’s Supervisory Committee for 10 years and also served as a Goodwill Ambassador and a member of the Scholarship Committee. She joined the credit union Board of Directors in 2005.

Larry Ottele
Larry Ottele is retired teacher and administrator with 32 years of service in Jeffco Public Schools.  He joined Jeffco Credit Union in 1968 and was elected to the Board in 2005, serving as Vice Chairman for two years.  Larry has an undergraduate degree in business administration, a master’s degree in economics and additional graduate work in school administration with an emphasis in school finance. 

Bert Pedri
Bert Pedri spent 38 years in various management positions with Safeway including Store Manager and District Manager.  He has been a member of the credit union since 1959.  Mr. Pedri has served on the Board of Directors since 1994 including serving as Chairman.  He now spends his time ranching, farming and traveling.  During tax season, Mr. Pedri prepares taxes at no charge for low income families, or anyone over 60, through the VITA program.  He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and Human Resource Management. 

Mike Robinson
Michael Robinson joined Gateway Credit Union in 1984 and began serving as a volunteer on the Board of Directors in 1998. Mr. Robinson is a former army officer and served during the Gulf War. He holds a Masters Degree from the University of Washington and currently is the Director of Implementation Services with McKesson Corporation. He has also held leadership positions with Qwest Communications, IBM, and Anderson Consulting. 

Our Supervisory/Audit Committee

Members of the Supervisory/Audit Committee are volunteers appointed by the Board of Directors to periodically review the credit union’s financial position.  Each brings a strong background and excellent experience to their important role with the credit union:

James Kullhem, Chairman
Jim Kullhem has been with Denver Public Schools for 33 years as a teacher and administrator. He has worked at both the elementary and secondary levels and is currently Principal at the new Grant Ranch School K-8. Mr. Kullhem served on the DCTA negotiations team in the late 1970s and 1980s, the DPS Retirement board in the 1980s, and as Principal at Gust Elementary in the 1990s. He is a past president of both the Denver Elementary Principals Association and the Southwest Denver Kiwanis organizations.  He has served on the Supervisory Committee since 2001.

William S. Abbey, Vice Chairman
William Abbey graduated from Regis University and received a Masters degree from the University of Northern Colorado. He retired from Denver Public Schools in 2001 after serving most of thirty-five years as an elementary principal. He was elected to the credit union’s Credit Committee in 1997 and served two years on the Nomination/Election Committee. He has served on the Supervisory/Audit Committee since 2003.  He is currently an educational consultant and continues to be active in professional, civic and community organizations.

Barry Beal, Jr., Secretary
Bear Beal, Jr. has been a member of the credit union for over forty years. He has over 20 years of corporate accounting experience. Throughout his professional career, he had the responsibility of working with auditors and legal counsel addressing financial reporting, internal control, and operational issues. Mr. Beal’s beliefs are to maintain a high level of ethics, work hard, and protect the members’ assets.  Mr. Beal has served on the Supervisory Committee since 2005.

Jimmy Ivey
Jimmy Ivey served as a member, Secretary and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee for Gateway Credit Union since 1996. Mr. Ivey served in the US armed forces as a technician on bombing and navigation computers airborne and as a Training Technician. He is retried from Civil Service with the Department of Defense. He wrote career development courses on air to air missiles and supervised the development of training courses in metrology and weapons and armament systems in fighter aircraft. Mr. Ivey holds a degree in business from Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

Johnny Lydia
Johnny Lydia has 32 years experience in DPS and concurrent membership in the credit union. His work experience includes service as Chief Personnel Officer in Human Resources, personnel supervisor, and teacher. His relevant administrative work experience in budgeting, policy interpretation, and compliance with governmental regulations supports his commitment to serve on the Supervisory/Audit Committee.  Mr. Lydia has served on the Supervisory Committee since 2003.