ABOUT US

Southern California Credit Union Alliance (SCCUA) is a forum for collaboration and cooperation for credit unions. It was founded in 2008 due to the need to reduce operating cost and leverage buying power for the viability of credit unions. The SCCUA brings together credit union members to openly discuss topics effecting the industry.

In addition, individual efforts and issues by credit unions of all sizes are discussed and members work together to tackle all issues, maintaining our goal of what the Credit Union movement was created on, “people helping people”. The SCCUA continues today under the vision and leadership of our Board of Directors.

Board of Directors

Daniel Penrod

Chair

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Robert Einstein

First Vice Chair

Darin Woinarowicz

Second Vice Chair

Diane Kotlewski

Treasurer

Alen Torosyan

Secretary

Jill Mahany

Board Member

Jon Hernandez

Board Member

Shannon Workman

Board Member

Chuck Papenfus

Board Member

Michelle Hunter

Board Member

Kimberly Diaz

Board Member

Gary Perez

Board Member

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Jill Erps

Board Member

Hector Martin

Board Member

Kevin Posey

Board Member

Aron Harrington

Administrator

Briana Fao

Administrator

Jay Lee

Administrator

*Denotes founding Committee Member

Administration

Collaborator of the Year

The SCCUA Collaborator of the Year Award is to acknowledge Credit Union Leaders that are exercising and promoting collaboration through innovative ways that provide significant benefits to their credit union or organization and to the credit union movement as a whole.

2025 Winner: Jon Hernandez, CalCom, Nikkei & Mattel FCUs

With over 30 years of service, this individual has truly embodied the CU philosophy of “people helping people” and has made a lasting impact in their credit union member’s lives, community, and cooperative movement as a whole. They are a steadfast advocate and champion for small credit unions.

The following are the Past Recipients of the Collaborator of the Year Award:

2014 - Bill Birnie, Frontwave CU
2015 - Diana Dykstra, California Credit Union League
2016 - CU Northwest
2017 - Robert York, ILWU Credit Union
2018 - Eileen Rivera, Sky One FCU
2019 - Patrick Miller, CBC FCU
2020 - None (Pandemic)
2021 - Dave Gunderson, CU So Cal
2022 - Linda White, Upward CU
2023 - Gary Perez, USC CU
2024 - Erica Stuppa, SCCUA
2025 - Jon Hernandez, CalCom, Nikkei & Mattel FCUs