Our members make great leaders.
Our Board isn't made up of a group of faceless executives in glass offices. Instead, they're all Frontwave members, just like you. They volunteer, you elect them, and they don't get paid a penny. Their mission is to set the overall direction of the credit union and make sure it operates in the best interest of its members. So what have these folks been up to lately? Take a look at our 2020 annual report.Active members with a valid email address on file will receive an email with an electronic ballot link on February 24, 2022. Active members may request a paper ballot by calling 952.974.2339 or emailing support@directvote.net no later than February 18, 2022. Electronic voting will close on March 24, 2022. Paper voting will close on March 18, 2022.
We encourage you to make a difference by casting your vote. You can get to know more about the candidates by reading their bios here.
Note: Cezary Goch, previously listed as a candidate for Board of Directors, has accepted an appointment to the Supervisory Committee and will no longer be running for a position on the Board.
Board of Directors
Chairman Michael Brigagliano
Mr. Brigagliano has served the credit union since October 2014, when he was appointed to the Board of Directors as an Associate Director. He became a full Board member in early 2015, was elected to the Vice Chairman’s post in March 2018 and to the Chairman's post in March 2020.
Mr. Brigagliano has spent more than two decades in the consumer finance, mortgage lending and loan servicing industries. His experience includes direct management of a $4 billion-plus loan servicing portfolio. In his current role as Senior Vice President of Veterans Choice Home Loans, he assists veterans across the country in obtaining affordable home loans.
His education includes study of Business Management in New York. Mr. Brigagliano has been trained in the Six Sigma business management method, studied at GE Mortgage University, and completed the Dale Carnegie advanced course “Skills for Team Success.” He is currently licensed by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System.
Mr. Brigagliano believes in giving back to the community. He has made charitable contributions to the Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Doctors Without Borders and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Vice Chairman Brian Sutton
Brian Sutton joined the credit union’s Board of Directors as an Associate Director in 2015. He was appointed as a full Board Director in November 2017, and elected to the Vice Chairman's post in March 2020.
As a seasoned technology professional, his international experience implementing complex, secure technology solutions make his contributions to the credit union and its member uniquely valuable.
Mr. Sutton graduated from Baylor University with a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems. He also earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California. He holds a number of internationally recognized technical, operational, and project management certifications and is a Certified Board Member through the National Association of Federal Credit Unions.
Mr. Sutton currently serves as an Operations and Program consultant for a global provider of healthcare information technology software and services. He has extensive experience developing strategy, planning, and delivering scalable solutions to fast-growing organizations in both the public and private sectors. His consulting experience includes more than 10 years of driving strategy and implementing secure systems for the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers worldwide.
Secretary Joseph Mitilieri
Mr. Mitilieri has served as a Frontwave Credit Union volunteer since 2016 as both an Associate Board member and as a Director on the Frontwave Board of Directors.
Mr. Mitilieri received his undergraduate degree from Elmhurst College in Chicago, and earned an M.B.A from the University of Southern California. He has over 25 years of effective and proven success in strategic planning with the ability to identify trends, proactively address ambiguous business problems, and blend disparate sourced data with creativity to conceptualize consumer centric strategies for growth, enhanced customer lifetime value, and overall customer loyalty. He brings a unique skill set to the Board as an innovative and influential leader with exceptional analytical, strategic, marketing, consumer insights, and revenue management experience.
Mr. Mitilieri currently works as a consultant focusing on extracting information to evaluate and understand the customer’s journey as it relates to a specific customer’s experience and engagement with a business or corporation in order to assist organizations in identifying pain points or situations that would cause customer angst and create effective customer service tactics to eliminate it.
Mr. Mitilieri also participates in several charitable organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, The Walk to End Alzheimer’s and Tracy’s Paws.
Treasurer Kelley Mayer
Kelley Mayer was appointed to Board of Directors of Frontwave Credit Union in 2019 and is a longtime member of the credit union. She was elected to the Treasurer position in March 2020.
Ms. Mayer has lived in San Diego County since 1985 and has a Finance Degree from California State University, Long Beach. She is a Certified Public Accountant and has been in public accounting for more than 30 years. Additionally, she has a Juris Doctor degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law and is a published writer. Her life work has been counseling and educating others to achieve their financial goals and preserve their family wealth.
Ms. Mayer believes in giving back to the community and is looking forward to serving on the board and acting as a liaison for members of Frontwave. She plans to enable members to have a voice in the future growth and development of products and services, while concurrently ensuring a strong financial future for our Credit Union.
Director Sally L. Arnett
Mrs. Arnett first joined the Board of Directors as an Associate Director in 2011. She was appointed as a full Director in 2012 and served until 2017, before rejoining the board in 2021.
Mrs. Arnett holds a Master of Business Administration in Marketing from Golden Gate University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management - Personnel from San Diego State University. She has also earned the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Certified Credit Union Volunteer (CCUV) and National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU) Certified Volunteer Expert designations. In 2020, she was approved to be a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Arbitrator.
Mrs. Arnett is affiliated with a number of groups outside the credit union, including as a Sustainer for the Junior League of Riverside, and Alumna of Kappa Delta Sorority. Additionally, she is an Alumnus of Golden Gate University and a member of the San Diego State University Alumni Association.
Director Gary Greving
Mr. Greving has been a member of the credit union’s Board of Directors since 2009. He served as the Board’s Treasurer from 2011 to 2019.
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Mr. Greving graduated from California State University San Marcos with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance. He went on to earn a master’s degree in Accountancy from San Diego State University. Additionally, Mr. Greving has earned a Project Management Professional (PMP) designation from the Project Management Institute and has completed the Credit Union National Association’s Volunteer Achievement Program.
Mr. Greving currently works in the Program Management Office of a global firm that provides information technology services and solutions to government clients. He has more than 24 years’ experience managing people and projects around the world.
Mr. Greving is an active member of the San Marcos community where he resides with his wife and two children. He serves as volunteer treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors for the Mission Park Homeowners Association. He also volunteers at Father Joe’s Villages, helping the less fortunate in his community.
Director Gerald Polyascko
Mr. Polyascko was first appointed to the credit union’s Board of Directors on Jan. 1, 2010. For six months before that, he had served as a member of the credit union’s Supervisory Committee.
Mr. Polyascko attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and earned a master’s degree in Human Resource Management. He spent 33 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, retiring as a colonel in 1992. He then served for three years as Vice President at Dynagraphics, the printing division of Dynamed Corp. in Carlsbad, California. From January 1995 to January 2009, he was the senior instructor of the Marine Corps Junior ROTC program at Eisenhower High School in the Rialto Unified School District.
Mr. Polyascko also has been involved with community service efforts. He’s a member of the American Legion and the Marine Corps League, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Vice President of Camp Pendleton Historical Society.
Director Richard Rothwell
Mr. Rothwell joined the credit union’s Board of Directors in February 1991. He served as Board Chairman from January 2010 to February 2020.
In 1961, Mr. Rothwell graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor’s degree in Engineering. He later earned a Master of Science in Management from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval War College.
During Mr. Rothwell’s 29 years of active duty, he held a variety of command and staff positions, including Commanding Officer of the 5th Marine Regiment. His service decorations include the Legion of Merit, three Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, and the Navy Commendation Medal. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1990 with the grade of colonel.
Following his military career, Mr. Rothwell served for 15 years in the legal departments of San Diego Gas & Electric Co. and Sempra Energy. He is also the President of the Camp Pendleton Historical Society, a former Commissioner of the City of Escondido Housing Advisory Committee, and a former member of the Escondido Friends of the Pioneer Room Board of Directors.He and his wife, Ann, live in Escondido where they have enjoyed volunteering in several civic activities. They have two children, five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
Director Leandro Festino
Mr. Festino has served the credit union since July 2021, when he was appointed to the Board of Directors as an Associate Director. He became a full Board member in January 2022.
Mr. Festino has spent nearly two decades in the investment consulting industry, advising on over $80 billion in assets on behalf of retirement plans, endowments, and foundations. In his current role as Managing Principal and Consultant at Meketa Investment Group, Mr. Festino guides decision makers to implement effective investment choices. Key focus areas for Mr. Festino include socially responsible investing, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion.
Prior to working in the financial services industry, Mr. Festino was a world ranked tennis player on the ATP Tour. He received an MBA degree with honors from Boston College and a summa cum laude undergraduate degree in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Evansville.
Mr. Festino believes in giving back to his community. He currently serves as a Trustee at the University of San Diego, where he chairs the Investment Committee and the Socially Responsible Investment Task Force. He also serves on the University’s Finance and Executive Committees. Previously, Mr. Festino served in the CFA Society of San Diego Board in multiple roles, including as its President.
Ever since boot camp you have always treated me right. I have also had 3 car loans through you guys and it’s always been easy and you have had the best rates.
— Jeremiah C. Livermore, CA
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