Board of Directors

I moved to California in 1993 after being born and raised in Estonia. Equipped with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and master's degree in Business Administration, I have filled diverse positions in both private and public industries. I am driven, dedicated and passionate about contributing to the progress and success of the local government and public utilities industry. Since March of 2023, I have been at the helm of the Salinas Valley Basin GSA focusing on groundwater sustainability in the region. Before that I spent close to 20 years working for two public water systems in Santa Cruz County. 

Bay Federal Credit Union has been my primary financial institution since my arrival to California and I have been serving on its Board of Directors for over a decade. I am privileged to be part of the thriving organization's leadership team and excited to help shaping the future of the credit union industry.

I am an attorney in Santa Cruz practicing in estate planning, real property, and fine art transactions and am also currently teaching at CSUMB as a lecturer in the University’s Business School. I was born and raised in Santa Cruz County and attended Cabrillo College, UC San Diego, and Santa Clara University School of Law, where I was an Emery Merit Scholar and served as a Policy Fellow with the Panetta Institute for Public Policy in Monterey, California. My law practice is driven by a passion for helping clients navigate complex legal issues and taking a pragmatic and results-driven approach to legal practice. 

I have been a member of Bay Federal since the late 1980s, when my parents opened a small savings account to help teach me about financial management. I come to the Board inspired by Bay Federal’s focus on serving and investing in our local community, and I look forward to continuing to advance the Credit Union’s mission of “making a real difference.”

I am a Certified Public Accountant with more than 25 years of experience in business finance, accounting, and taxation. I earned my M.S. degree in Taxation and a B.A. degree in Accounting from San Jose State University, and I am a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. 

I was drawn to take a volunteer role with Bay Federal due to the Credit Union’s unwavering commitment not only to its members but to the entire community. Bringing knowledge and experience from advising others as well as operating my own business, S.J. Kellerman & Associates, I feel I can actively contribute to the goals of the Credit Union. As a member-owned not-for-profit, Bay Federal is in the business of reinvesting in its people and the community through superior member service, excellent employee benefits, and a large network of community support and financial wellness. I am honored to do my part on the board to continue to support and uphold those values.

I am an estate planning and business transaction attorney practicing since 1994, and am originally from MA. I graduated from Tufts University with a BS in Clinical Psychology, and then from Boston University School of Law, with a Juris Doctor in 1994. In 2000, I moved to California, and after almost four years at a local firm, opened my own law practice in December of 2003. In my estate planning practice, I focus on helping individuals and families plan for today as well as “tomorrow,” giving them control over their lives and assets, including addressing such issues as gifting, business succession planning, and avoiding the probate court. This overlaps well with my business practice, which focuses on assisting clients regarding entity formation, contract negotiation, and purchase and sale of businesses, and matters related thereto. I see serving on the Board of Bay Fed as a chance to continue to learn about the financial industry in a hands-on way, as well as to give back to our local community. Being able to contribute to our community through working with such a solid financial institution as Bay Federal Credit Union is an ideal combination and I enjoy the positive challenges serving on the Board continues to bring.

I am the Community Development Director for the City of Scotts Valley where I have worked since 2001. I have a B.A. in History from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Master of Public Administration from San Jose State. While serving on the Board of Bay Federal, I want to continue the long tradition of bettering the financial lives of the membership. I have utilized the financial services of member-owned institutions for most of my adult life and have seen firsthand the difference that credit unions can make. I am a strong supporter of the Bay Federal philosophy of "people helping people" and the exceptional service and financial products that this creates.
 

 

I was born and raised in Santa Cruz and graduated from Harbor High School. I earned my B.A. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from San Jose State University and am a licensed CPA. I’m the Controller at Watsonville Community Hospital and I was formerly the Decision Support Manager at Dominican Hospital where I worked for 20+ years in a variety of finance/accounting related positions. For a brief time, I worked for the County of Santa Cruz in the Human Services Department and the Auditor Controller's Office. I live in Corralitos with my husband and our spoiled pets. My favorite pastimes include hiking, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.

Having lived most of my life in Santa Cruz, I am called to work and volunteer my time and energy with institutions who are committed to improving people’s health and wellbeing. Bay Federal Credit Union is one such institution that is dedicated to improving the financial health of those in our communities.

I graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). I then continued my education, obtaining my Master's degree, also in EECS. I have worked for the semiconductor giant Intel, and the small company SEI, designing chips for PC motherboards and consumer electronics. In my spare time, I volunteer for various Chinese charities and non-profit organizations. I am very impressed by the culture and philosophy of Bay Federal Credit Union, and as a Board Member, I will endeavor to share that with the community. My commitment to the community and to supporting a local Credit Union will be fulfilled by my contributions to Bay Federal's future successes in developing great loan and deposit products that meet the criteria of people helping people.

I first volunteered to serve on the Supervisory Committee in 1998 and joined the Board of Directors in 2006. I have had the privilege of serving as Board Chairperson among other officer roles. It is gratifying to work so closely with an organization of people that have a strong record of accomplishment serving members as well as the communities of the area. I am committed to maintaining strong community ties in the Credit Union’s charter areas to ensure the institution remains responsive to the needs of members. I work as Executive Director of Central Coast Energy Services, Inc., a nonprofit that helps low-income people with their energy bills in Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz and Marin counties and in the City and County of San Francisco. I have served as the Mayor of the City of Watsonville and Fourth District Commissioner on the Santa Cruz County Planning Commission. I serve on Central Coast Community Energy’s Community Advisory Council. My wife Laurie and I live in Watsonville. We are the proud parents of two adult children and are welcoming the next generation with the addition of grandchildren.

I have worked in higher education for over twenty years and currently serve as Program Lead, Digital Accessibility and Equity in the Experience, Strategy and Design group in Information Technology Services at UC Santa Cruz.

I received a Ph.D. from Duke University in Romance Studies (1997), a M.Ed. in Instructional Technology from Kent State University (2001), a Masters and a B.A. in French, as well as a B.S. in Business from San Diego State University. In addition to technology, my interests also include real estate and financial investing. Working with my three brothers, I help oversee a family property management business in San Diego.

My family and I joined Bay Federal as soon as we moved to the area because of our longstanding ties with credit unions. Bay Federal's values and community involvement make it a good place to be on all fronts.

As the Chief Executive Officer of United Way of Santa Cruz County, I lead multiple countywide initiatives focused on the building blocks of a thriving life – education, economic mobility, health, and community engagement. I am an experienced nonprofit executive with a career spanning over 20 years in community development, education, youth success, and philanthropy throughout the United States. I am a graduate of the University of Washington and the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders.

I serve on several boards that reflect my values of equity, integrity, compassion, and dignity. In addition to Bay Federal Credit Union, these include the United Way Worldwide Equity Advisory Council, Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce, Santa Cruz County Health Improvement Partnership, Digital NEST Advisory, Dignity Health Dominican Hospital Community Advisory, and Nonprofit Connection of Santa Cruz County.

I am grateful for my decade plus relationship with Bay Federal Credit Union as a genuine community partner to “make a real difference”. I am honored to have the opportunity to leverage our skills and passion for community to support Bay Federal and its members.

I am excited to  join BayFederal and continue "making a real difference" in our community. I grew up in Watsonville and the broader Monterey Bay area. My professional work experience has focused in the nonprofit sector where I have contributed to local efforts in environmental conservation, education, and economic justice. 

I hold a BA in Communication Studies from University of California, Santa Barbara. I attended graduate school at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and have dual degrees, an MA in International Environmental Policy and an MBA in International Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Sustainable Development. Outside of work, I enjoy relaxing with family and friends, reading, and spending time in nature.

My professional career in Santa Cruz includes serving as City Administrator for Scotts Valley, Executive Director of the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), and Senior Engineer for Ifland Engineers in Santa Cruz.

I was appointed to the Bay Federal Supervisory Committee in 1992; then joined the Board of Directors in 1996. I retired from the Board and was appointed as Director Emeritus in 2014.

Bay Federal and its members continue to be essential parts of my life. I am passionate about supporting its goals and leadership. I am very proud that the Board of Directors and employees of Bay Federal Credit Union are dedicated to serving and assisting members with their financial needs and decisions.