2019-20 board of directors & committee members...and roanoke - blacksburg technology council....

2019-20 Board of Directors& Committee Members

Democratically Elected. All Volunteer.


Dan Merenda has experience in strategic planning, data analysis, education policy, community development, non-profit board

development, and a vast network of organizations in the Roanoke Valley. Dan has also been involved with Healthy Roanoke Valley Steering Committee and Partnership for a Livable Roanoke Valley Steering

Committee. Dan will soon be retiring from the Council of Community Services where he served as President.

Dan currently serves as Chairman of the Board.

Dan Merenda


Brent is a Roanoke native and social entrepreneur committed to developing sustainable solutions through triple-bottom-line

business methods. Brent has already served one term on the boardand a few months on the Executive Committee.

He holds an MBA in Sustainable Business,is an active entrepreneur and business leader, and a millennial. Brent is the Founding Director of LEAP, the Founding Advisor of

the Grandin Co-Lab, General Manager of River Rock Climbing Gym, andCo-founder and Director of Community Sourced Capital.

Brent currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board.

Brent Cochran


Melinda has lived in the Roanoke Valley her entire life andhas dedicated a great deal of time to volunteer

service. She truly believes in giving back. Melinda has chaireda number of major organizations in the community and is currently

dedicating her time and talent to associations that serve the indigent and persons with disabilities.

Melinda currently serves as Secretary of the Board.

Melinda Payne


Wayne Strickland has served as the Executive Director of The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission since February 1987. He has served on various community organizations over the

years, including the Roanoke Regional Chamberof Commerce, Council of Community Services, among many others.

Wayne currently serves as Treasurer.

Wayne Strickland


Judith has had many years in the Credit Union movementon local and state levels and brings almost

40 years of experience serving on the Supervisory andBoard of Directors positions. Judith represents the Credit Union well

to our employees, members, potential members and the communityat large. She is passionately involved in the

Mountain View neighborhood preservation and revitalization efforts.

Judith Harrison


Michelle is a Roanoke City Council member with experience in small business financing and development, event planning, board

leadership, marketing and communications. She serves on the XPYP Planning Committee Board, Community

Christmas Store Chairman of Children’s Gifts, Roanoke Valley Allegheny Regional Commission, Legislative/Audit/Personnel committees on Roanoke City Council, Interactive Achievement Foundation for Kids,

Making Foundation, and President of the Mountain View Neighborhood Association. She is also involved in the Virginia Municipal League, the

Roanoke Chamber of Commerce, and Roanoke - Blacksburg Technology Council.

Michelle Davis


Ron has been in Sales Management, Broadcasting, Communicationsand Marketing. He is a certified Toastmaster and conducts

leadership sales coaching for excellence. He is a member of theApple Ridge Farm Board, Family Preservation Services, Roanoke

Regional Homebuilders, volunteers for the American Cancer Societyand the American Heart Association and serves on the Trustee

Board for the Roanoke Tribune newspaper. Ron worked as Regional Advertising Manager for the Roanoke Times.

Ron Williams


As an immigrant, young professional, and female engineer, Andrea offers a diverse cultural knowledge and technical expertise to

the Board. After housing, transportation is on averagethe largest household expense for American families. Andrea helps shape

the way the Credit Union understands transportation, and brings new ideas on how transportation

options can benefit members. Andrea has also served on the Supervisory Committee.

Andrea Garland


John is President and Managing Director of Budd CPA in Roanoke. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with degrees in

Economics and Finance and completed his post graduate work in Accounting, Auditing, and Taxation at Virginia Tech.

John serves on the Foundation for Roanoke Valley and the Grandin Theatre Foundation. He is a member of the Virginia Society of

Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of CPA’s.

John Budd


Jay Lanz has been a member of Freedom First Credit Union for over five years. He is a Certified Public Accountant with 25 years of experience and is currently employed as the Controller/Director of Accounting of a local manufacturing plant. Jay has been invited by the Board of Directors to

serve on various committees as part of the Freedom First Board.

Jay serves as the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee

Jay Lanz


Mike Williams retired as Accounting Director from Carilion Clinic after 29 years of service. Mike graduated from James Madison University in 1979

with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and minor in Economics.

He has served a term as President of the Roanoke Chapter of CPAs and as a Board member of the Virginia Society of CPAs. Mike has also worked on various non-profit boards during his career including the Bradley Free

Clinic and President of the Carilion Clinic Credit Union.

Michael serves as the Secretary of the Supervisory Committee

Michael Williams


Jerry has served on the Freedom First Board of Directors. Jerry is retiredfrom the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as Director of Operations HQ

Washington D.C. Civil Engineering, and on call consultant in Water Infrastructure for World Bank. Jerry is involved on the Board of Directors for F.R.A.M.E., a Roanoke nonprofit that assists disabled homeless veterans and families, Society of

American Military Engineers, and is a CUNA Certified Credit Union Volunteer.

Jerry serves on the Supervisory Committee.

Jerry Barnes


Adrienne Sowers is the Director of Strategic Payment Relationships and previously Financial Operations Manager with Carilion Clinic.

She graduated from Virginia Tech with a MS in Public Health Education and a BS from the Pamplin College of Business. Adrienne is familiar with finance and auditing processes, as well as working with stakeholders to

mitigate the negative impact of changes due to regulatory requirements. She has great passion and involvement for the local community.

Adrienne resides in Roanoke with her daughter and loves spending time outdoors and with her dogs.

Adrienne serves on the Supervisory Committee.

Adrienne Sowers

Freedom First would like to thank present and past members of the all-volunteer Board for their leadership, guidance and committment

to the Credit Union ideals.

P.O. Box 1999, Salem, VA 24153(540) 389-0244

Federally insured by NCUA.

2019-20 board of directors & committee members...and roanoke - blacksburg technology council....

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