SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Golden 1 Credit Union is mourning theloss of longtime board director Donna L. Giles.
Elected to the board in 1978, for more than 30 years Giles has heldnearly every position on The Golden 1 board. She was elected toserve a two-year term as board chair in both 1989 and 2003. Shealso served terms as vice chair and secretary/treasurer.
During her time as a board member, the credit union grew from $100million in assets to more than $7 billion in assets.
“Donna's influence and wisdom played a vital role in The Golden 1'sgrowth into California's leading credit union,” says Teresa A.Halleck, The Golden 1 president/CEO. “Her insights into thecommunity and gracious leadership will be greatly missed.”
In addition to her service to the credit union, Giles donated hertime to several other organizations, including the American Societyof Public Administrators. Before working for the city ofSacramento, Giles worked for the state of California in theCalTrans, Health and Personnel Departments.
“Donna's many experiences allowed her to wear many different hatswhile serving on the credit union's board of directors,” addedHalleck. “Her great impact on both The Golden 1 and the city ofSacramento will not be soon forgotten.”

CUSO Financial Hires
SchoolsFirst FCU Exec

SAN DIEGO — CUSO Financial Services LP has hired SandradeChastain as its Western region program manager to help creditunions start and expand their investment programs.
DeChastain most recently served as vice president of investmentservices at $8 billion SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union.
In her new role, deChastain will be responsible for assistingcredit unions from San Francisco to San Diego and in Hawaii indeveloping and growing their existing investment programs. She willalso oversee the performance of CFS-registered representatives, andwill help start-up investment programs get off the ground. Herfirst clients include USC Credit Union, Priority One Credit Union,L.A. Financial Credit Union and Credit Union of SouthernCalifornia, according to CFS.
This is not the first time deChastain has worked with CFS. As theformer president/CEO of Rockwell Credit Union Services Inc., shewas employed by the CUSO in an office of supervisory jurisdictioncapacity. SchoolsFirst FCU partnered with CFS for several yearswhile deChastain was there.
“We're very excited to welcome Sandra as part of our programgroup,” said Kevin Mummau, executive vice president of CFS. “Theprograms she manages will receive direction from a true industryveteran who offers expertise and knowledge from both thebroker-dealer and credit union perspectives.”
DeChastain is also chairman and one of the founders of the CreditUnion Program Managers Association, a four-year old volunteerorganization focused on raising professional standards forinvestment program managers through educational forums. She bringsmore than 20 years of investment, insurance, financial planning andprogram management experience to CFS, according to thebroker-dealer and investment adviser.
CFS serves more than 120 credit unions through 325 representativesnationwide.