MEMBER PROFILE

Amy Walton

Amy Walton got a loan for a new car before she started looking. “I called the Anytime LoanPhone. It only took 10 minutes and I was tentatively approved right away, pending confirmation of my information. When I found the car I wanted, the dealer told me I could get a better rate through dealer financing. He made me an offer that was ¾ % less than my Alternatives loan. I called Amy Smith, my loan officer, and she matched that rate immediately. I had no idea that Alternatives has a policy of matching rates to stay competitive. I was really glad. This policy allowed me to keep all my banking at Alternatives.”

Board Hires Tristram Coffin

We’ve done it. Searching almost a year, going two rounds, reviewing many qualified candidates and interviewing the best of the best, we are happy to report that Tristram Coffin will be the next Alternatives CEO. Until his arrival, Leni Hochman, Alternatives Chief Operations Officer, is acting as interim CEO.

Tristram comes to Alternatives with over ten years of CEO experience, most recently with One Washington Financial, an organization that provides mortgage, investment and loan products to 34 credit unions in the Pacific Northwest. In that role he guided the development of an innovative short term loan product to provide Washington credit union members with a lower cost alternative to payday lending. He also helped build a partnership between credit unions and a non-profit community action agency to deliver financial services to underserved people in Eastern Washington. Tristram has been recognized as one of the "40 Under 40" outstanding business leaders in the Seattle metropolitan area. Previously he had served for five years as CEO of CUSERVE, a subsidiary of Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union that gained national recognition as the Credit Union Service Organization of the Year.

Thanks are due to the eight dedicated members of the Search Committee who spent many hours for well over a year planning and conducting the search.
Staff: Leni Hochman, Melissa Pollack, Lenore Olmstead and Karl Graham.
Board: Yvette Rubio, Brian Hunt, Alison Christie and Joe Greenberg.

Tristram comments on his new journey at Alternatives:

“Alternatives has made a unique mark in the world of credit unions and the Ithaca community by offering innovative programs with a different approach. I am looking forward to working with a talented and dedicated staff and board to maintain and enhance Alternatives' position as a force in community asset building.”