Board Member Profiles

Bill Goodman, President
Serves on the Budget, CEO Evaluation, Growth, Supervisory and Governance Committees

Bill joined Alternatives in 2001, even before he moved to the Ithaca area. Bill became involved in helping to develop the Second Neighborhood at EcoVillage (which is also set up as a cooperative) and decided he would join Alternatives and GreenStar so he could do his banking and shopping at cooperatives as well. Bill is an attorney with his own private practice, working mostly in the fields of Trusts & Estates, Real Estate and Not-for-Profit Corporation law. Bill served on a number of Boards for various community organizations in Buffalo, where he lived before moving to Ithaca, and he looks forward to bringing that experience to the Alternatives Board.

Ian Schachner, Vice President
Serves on the Loan Policy and Governance Committees

Ian holds a BS in Management from Ithaca College and a Masters in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. He is a strong supporter of Alternatives, not only because of its ability to help underserved people, but also because it is an example of how an organization can pay its employees a living wage, contribute to the community, serve a noble mission, and still be financially successful. Ian’s research interests include the effects of the rising cost of higher education, and examining effective and fair ways to support economic growth in small, unique communities like Ithaca. He currently works as an Admissions Counselor for Cornell.

Kenny Christianson, Treasurer
Serves on the CEO Evaluation, Governance and Budget Committees

Kenny holds a Masters of Arts in Political Science and a Masters of Public Administration from Syracuse University. He is a lecturer of Economics at Binghamton University and Ithaca College and holds a position as Academic Consultant in the Office of Multicultural Affairs at Ithaca College. Kenny has been a member of Alternatives since 1992 and is committed, through his work on the Board, to meeting the needs of the underserved population in our area.

Alison Christie, Secretary
Serves on the Human Resources, CEO Evaluation and Governance Committees

Alison joined the Alternatives' Board in 2001. She enjoys many training opportunities available to Board members. Alison brings Marketing and Cooperative experience to the Board. She worked at Greenstar Cooperative Market for twelve years, during which she became Marketing and Member Services Manager. Alison is drawn to participate as a board member at Alternatives to support our vital and worthy mission and also because she is captivated by the cooperative movement and its capacity to transform peoples' lives and offer a democratic economic alternative in our capitalist economy. Alison is honored to be a steward for such a precious community asset.

 Yvette Rubio
Serves on the Human Resources, Growth, and Community Relations Committees

Yvette is a native of New Orleans and comes to the Alternatives Board with an expansive background in German Literature, modern dance, Advertising and Public Relations. She studied at Tulane University, Cornell, the University of Vienna and the Free University in Berlin. She was instrumental is founding the dance program at St. George's School in Newport, Rhode Island. and opened and ran the spa and fitness center at the Sheraton New Orleans hotel. With this background, Yvette began a consulting business and completed her Masters Degree in Organizational Development at the Fielding Graduate Institute in California. She also holds a Masters Degree from Cornell. Presently, she works at Cornell as an internal organizational effectiveness consultant, is a course specialist and instructor for eCornell; and continues her consulting practice in organizational development. Yvette came to Alternatives because she sees it as a model of how organizations can be successful with a democratic mission at its core of existence. 

 Jim Fravil
Serves on the Budget, Growth and Loan Policy Committees 

Jim has been a member of Alternatives for many years. He has been on the board since 1997.  Jim leads a quiet, private life.

Leslie Strebel

Serves on the Member Service, Growth, Community Relations and Loan Policy Committees

I was initially asked to join the board of Alternatives in 1997, due to my extensive experience in financial planning for individuals and business owners, and business development strategies for entrepreneurs.  I served for eight years, and served as board President from 2004-2006. After taking a hiatus from board service, I was pleased to be asked back in 2008.  I immediately agreed to return, as I have been thinking about ways to help the local community to thrive in what I foresee as difficult economic times.  I see Alternatives as playing a major role in supporting the vitality of our community, and I'm thrilled to be back on the board.  I graduated from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and has been running a financial services/accounting and business consulting firm with husband Paul and brother-in-law Chris, and have been living in Ithaca since relocating here from Long Island with my family in 1992. 

Peter McCracken

Serves on the Member Service, Nominating, and Community Relations Committees

 Peter is a recent transplant to this area, having followed his wife to her new position at Ithaca College. He's excited about being more involved in a new community, especially through his participation with the Alternatives Board of Directors. In 2000, Peter and three others started a company in Seattle that provides services to libraries – including IC, Cornell and TC3.  He's familiar with the challenges of starting and growing a small company, and believes that entrepreneurship, coupled with financial education and careful planning, can be an effective path to financial success for many. Peter looks forward to helping Alternatives achieve that goal for the people of Tompkins County and beyond.

Kirtrina Baxter
 
I have my Master’s degree in Ethnomusicology, the study of music and culture.  I have worked with youth and adults in human services for the past 10 years, being in service to a diverse population from at-risk youth, to folks suffering from mental illness. In my studies and personal life, I am an experienced drummer who researches drumming of the African Diaspora, as well as women and the drum. I have taught drumming classes and workshops for elementary schools, high school students, colleges, women’s and spiritual groups, each with a focus of community building, anti-race issues, personal growth and empowerment. In my current role as Program Manager at Southside Community Center, I coordinate programs for children of all ages and the community at large. I am also Program Director of GreenStar Community Projects, where I champion causes of food dignity in Ithaca’s local food justice movement.

As a community organizer and activist, I am motivated to empower my community towards healing and wholeness. Part of this relies on economic growth and stability. I see Alternatives Federal Credit Union as being influential in making this a reality in our area. With its commitment to serving historically marginalized peoples and my dedication to community progression, my serving on the board of Alternatives will benefit the community and the institution. I will share my passion for neighborhood development and understanding of issues affecting low-income populations to the board process at Alternatives, and in return I hope to get an understanding of the financial institutions that shape our economic futures.

Leonardo Vargas-Méndez

I am the Executive Director of the Cornell Public Service Center (CPSC), and as such, am a member of Cornell University’s Division of Student and Academic Services’ senior management team. I am Co-Principal Investigator for the Cornell Upward Bound Program. I am Co-Director of the Faculty Fellows-in-Service learning programs. I am Cornell University’s liaison to the New York Campus Compact Advisory Board, and a member of the founding Board of this statewide higher education membership institution. I am also a Carl L. Becker House Faculty Fellow at Cornell University.

In addition to my Cornell responsibilities, I have served on the boards of many Tompkins County non-profit agencies and governmental committees, including the Board of Trustees of the Tompkins County Public Library; the Founding Board of the Latino Civic Association of Tompkins County Inc.; the Ithaca Alliance for Community Empowerment; the Advisory Board of the Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service of Tompkins County; the Tompkins County Workers Rights Center; the Board of the Tompkins County Human Services Coalition; the City of Ithaca’s Board of Public Works; and the Board of Planning and Development; the Board of the Tompkins County Human Rights Commission; and the Board of Planned Parenthood of Tompkins County.  I am currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Tompkins Community Action, and also a member of ATTAC International, Chile’s chapter.

I enjoy being a Board member for Alternatives because:

• My family has been a member of the Credit Union for many years
• I believe in socially responsible small businesses like Alternatives, dedicated to advancing economic justice   
  
• I support use of community assets to serve the underserved, low income and minority communities of Tompkins County and beyond
• I can help to expand outreach to financially marginalized families who nevertheless are talented, creative and eager to share their experience, knowledge and culture, and become productive and engaged members of our community