Soarion Credit Union has been selected to receive $11M as part of Inclusiv’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) program. This important stream of funding will help credit unions expand their portfolios to offer affordable clean energy financing that can reduce energy costs for the families and businesses they serve.

San Antonio-based Soarion Credit Union was selected among 108 credit unions from around the U.S. and Puerto Rico to receive a combined $651 million in the first round of CCIA awards by Inclusiv. This award is a significant investment that will allow low-income and disadvantaged members to afford energy-efficient home and business upgrades that help reduce high energy costs, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. The CCIA award for Soarion will be part of the credit union’s HomeX loan products, which launched in 2024 and enable homeowners to finance sustainable improvement projects.

“Soarion Credit Union is honored to be among the first credit unions to receive the CCIA award, which will allow us to continue offering valuable resources and innovative financial solutions to our members,” said Justin Eddleton, Soarion’s Chief Lending Officer.

Funding from the CCIA award will help low-income and disadvantaged community consumers, homeowners, and small businesses through upgrades such as: efficient heating and cooling systems, efficient appliances, electric vehicles, electric vehicle charging stations, and solar panel systems. Individuals who are interested in learning more about Soarion’s sustainable lending products can call the credit union at (210) 673-5610. 

As a member-owned and not-for-profit organization based in San Antonio, Soarion Credit Union is passionate about assisting the communities it serves through volunteer work, scholarships, and sponsorships. Soarion Credit Union is federally insured by NCUA and an equal opportunity lender. For more information, visit soarion.org. 

Soarion Credit Union is celebrating the promotions of four of its staff to roles on the leadership team. Soarion’s President and CEO, Ric Ledezma, recently announced the following appointments ahead of an exciting year for the credit union:

• Monica M. Benavides, Chief Member Experience Officer
• Justin Eddleton, Chief Lending Officer
• Felipe Mayoral Jr., Assistant Vice President of Member Experience
• Sierra Saldaña, Assistant Vice President of Finance

“A strong core leadership team is important to any organization, and I am proud of the dynamic and experienced team we have with these latest promotions,” Ledezma said. “As we enter a new chapter in the long legacy of our credit union, this team of talented individuals will not only focus on enhancing our member experience but also on developing and engaging every one of our staff members.”

Benavides has been promoted from Assistant Vice President of Loan Servicing & Credit Solutions to Chief Member Experience Officer. With nearly 38 years of financial industry experience, Benavides has worked to drive member satisfaction and optimize the credit union’s operations since joining Soarion in May 2023. In her new role, Benavides will continue to enhance the member experience by overseeing all the credit union’s financial centers, call center, digital banking, deposit products, training and deposit, and loan servicing areas.

Eddleton, who was previously Soarion’s Assistant Vice President of HomeX Lending, is now Chief Lending Officer (CLO). In this role, Eddleton will oversee all the credit union’s lending operations, leveraging his extensive expertise to drive growth and support the members’ financial needs. He joined Soarion in May 2024 and has nearly 17 years of financial industry experience.

New to Soarion’s leadership team are Mayoral and Saldaña. Mayoral is an 18-year veteran in customer operations, with seven of those years spent in the credit union industry. He joined Soarion in May 2023 as Director of Member Experience. In his new role, Mayoral will lead the credit union’s financial center and contact center teams with the goal of enhancing member engagement by delivering meaningful improvements to the customer journey, leveraging a strategic blend of people, processes, and technology.

Saldaña began with Soarion Credit Union in October 2022 as the Treasury Manager and, after a successful tenure, was promoted to Director of Finance and Accounting. Now, in her new role as Assistant Vice President of Finance, Saldaña will manage payment operations and continue overseeing Soarion’s accounting and procurement departments with a focus on enhanced reporting, data-driven analysis, and the continuous optimization of accounting processes. She has five years of experience in the financial industry.

This spring, Soarion Credit Union will open its sixth financial center in San Antonio, while work continues on its new headquarters building, both at Soarion Plaza near the city’s downtown. Later this year, the credit union also plans to open its seventh San Antonio location.

As a member-owned and not-for-profit organization based in San Antonio, Soarion Credit Union is passionate about assisting the communities it serves through volunteer work, scholarships, and sponsorships. Soarion Credit Union is federally insured by NCUA and an equal opportunity lender. For more information, visit soarion.org. 

Sharlene East has joined Soarion Credit Union as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Soarion, East was the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Kirtland Federal Credit Union in New Mexico. With more than 22 years of experience in the financial industry, East is a proven expert in planning, financial oversight, and risk management, while ensuring compliance and boosting profitability through innovative solutions and collaborative team efforts. In her new role at Soarion, East will oversee the San Antonio-based credit union’s overall financial strategies, marketing, and operations.

“Throughout her career, Sharlene has demonstrated exceptional skills in orchestrating teams to achieve efficiency while promoting innovation and collaboration,” said Ric Ledezma, Soarion Credit Union President and CEO. “She is deeply committed to continuous improvement, ensuring not only the success of her projects, but also the development of the people she works with. We are thrilled to have Sharlene join Soarion at such an exciting time for the credit union.”

This spring, Soarion Credit Union will open its sixth financial center in San Antonio, while work continues on its new headquarters building, both at Soarion Plaza on Mulberry Avenue near the city’s downtown. Later this year, the credit union also plans to open its seventh San Antonio location.

“I am honored to join such an energetic and collaborative team at Soarion Credit Union,” East said. “Their dedication to the members and their passion for finding innovative solutions really shines through. It really is an exciting time for Soarion, and I’m glad to be part of this next chapter in the long legacy of the credit union.”

East, who is a Certified Public Accountant, spent 22 years with Kirtland Federal Credit Union in various roles, including Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer. She holds a master’s degree in management and leadership from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a minor in economics from New Mexico State University.

As a member-owned and not-for-profit organization based in San Antonio, Soarion Credit Union is passionate about assisting the communities it serves through volunteer work, scholarships, and sponsorships. Soarion Credit Union is federally insured by NCUA and an equal opportunity lender. For more information, visit soarion.org. 

Soarion Federal Credit Union will have three 3-year term vacancies on the Board of Directors in 2025. The Nominating Committee has nominated the following qualified candidates to fill these positions:

James Goodgion

Incumbent Director and 33-Year Volunteer

Since 2006, James E. Goodgion has served as Vice Chairman of the Board and is an active member of several committees, including the Executive, Strategic Planning, Succession Planning, Merger, and Building Committees. He has previously held the position of Treasurer and has contributed to all the Board’s committees.

Mr. Goodgion retired in 2003 as Chief, Wing Programs, 37th Training Wing at Lackland Air Force Base, following over 33 years of federal service. His career spanned roles as an intelligence officer, investigator, personnel officer, and program analyst. At Lackland, he led numerous base-wide projects and served for more than 17 years as a non-affiliated member of Wilford Hall Medical Center’s Institutional Review Board. From 1988 to 1992, he also served with the Air Force Reserve at the 433rd Airlift Wing.

In addition to earning a Bachelor of Arts in History from the Virginia Military Institute, Mr. Goodgion completed the Air Command and Staff College and pursued graduate coursework in Education at Angelo State University. His private-sector experience includes roles as a small business owner, licensed real estate agent, teacher, aircraft manufacturing analyst, and multi-family residential property manager.

Mr. Goodgion’s extensive volunteer work includes serving as a docent for the Institute of Texas Cultures, a radio announcer for Trinity University’s KRTU, and a creative writing class leader at San Antonio’s Northeast Senior Service Center since 2010. He has also served as a non-affiliated member of the University of Texas Health Science Center’s Institutional Review Board since 2013. Additionally, he worked part-time as a substitute teacher at Randolph Field and other local school districts from 2004 to 2017.

Joan Lopez

Soarion Board Secretary and Longtime Member

Joan B. Lopez, a member of Soarion Credit Union (formerly AFFCU) for over 50 years, was first elected to the Soarion Board of Directors in March 2005 and has been reelected five times. She currently serves as Board Secretary, bringing a wealth of experience and dedication to the organization.

Ms. Lopez retired in January 2003 after a distinguished 37-year career as a Civil Service employee at Lackland Air Force Base. Early in her career, she performed administrative and secretarial duties before earning a bachelor’s degree in management from Southwest Texas State University in 1986. This achievement led her to transition into a Management Assistant role and eventually to a Program Analyst position as Base Plans Officer, where she managed the installation’s war and contingency planning program.

In 1995, Ms. Lopez joined the 37th Training Wing Programs Division, where she developed program action directives and plans for various recurring base-wide activities and short-term special events until her retirement.

An active member of the Alamo Chapter Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) for over five decades, Ms. Lopez has played a key role in planning annual chapter events with area bases and community organizations. In 2002, she was elected AFA Texas Executive Secretary, a role in which she continues to support 12 AFA chapters across Texas. In 2003, she co-founded the Lackland Gateway Heritage Foundation, now known as the Airman Heritage Foundation, where she serves as Foundation Agent and a member of the Board of Directors.

Georgia Snodgrass

Experienced Real Estate Professional and Credit Union Volunteer

Georgia Snodrass’ credit union experience includes membership on the Supervisory Committee of California Coast Credit Union from 1991 until her retirement in 2003, during which she served as Secretary for six years and Chair from 1998 to 2001. Ms. Snodgrass has completed extensive training with CUNA (now America’s Credit Union), earning her CCUV designation through the Volunteer Institute in 2010 and the Edward A. Filene Award for Excellence in continuing education. Most recently, in May 2024, she attended America’s Credit Union National Board Conference in New Orleans, LA, where she earned the Credit Union Board Member (CCUB) designation.

Ms. Snodgrass brings decades of expertise in real estate acquisition, asset management, and credit union governance. From June 2015 to June 2021, she served as an IRWA Instructor and Senior Project Agent for Public Sector at Contract Land Staff in Sugar Land, TX, a full-service land acquisition company. Prior to this, she worked as a Real Estate Representative III for the San Antonio River Authority from October 2004 to December 2014, where she specialized in property acquisitions for the Bexar County Capital Improvement Program and occasionally managed assets and properties.

Before relocating to Texas in 2003, Ms. Snodgrass dedicated 32 years to the San Diego Unified School District, where she was the chief negotiator for real estate acquisitions and oversaw the district’s asset and property management program. She retired from this role in June 2003.

Ms. Snodgrass has been actively involved with the International Right of Way Association (IRWA), serving as Chair of Region 2 (encompassing Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas) and Region 1 (including California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii).

In addition to her professional career, she currently serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Funeral Consumers Alliance of San Antonio, Texas, Inc., an all-volunteer nonprofit organization.

In accordance with Article V of the Bylaws, when only one candidate is nominated per position, elections will not be conducted by ballot or floor nominations. The nominees will be elected by general consent at the Annual Meeting on March 24, 2025.

Nominations by Petition

Members may also nominate candidates by petition. Petitioners must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Be a member in good standing of Soarion Credit Union.
• Possess areas of knowledge, experience, or interest pertinent to the credit union’s future.
• Have good credit standing and no felony criminal convictions.
• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
• Be willing to accept the responsibilities of a Director.
• Have a physical capacity to carry out the duties of the office.
• Be able to act independently and objectively regardless of external relationships with other volunteers and employees.
• Understand that regular attendance at the committee meetings is imperative.

Petition Submission Requirements

• A petition signed by at least 1% of eligible primary members (approximately 533 signatures as of November 30, 2024). Signatures must include names, addresses, and phone numbers.

• A completed Director Application and signed Agreement to Serve form.
• Signed consent for a Consumer Credit Report and Background Screening Disclosure.
• A brief bio (250 words max) outlining qualifications.

A Petitioner’s package may be requested by calling 210-678-5221.

The completed Petitioner’s package must be submitted to the Supervisory Committee by February 1, 2025 at:

Soarion Federal Credit Union

Supervisory Committee

P.O. Box 760699

San Antonio, TX 78245

Important Notes

• Petitioners may not campaign or collect signatures on credit union premises.
• Petitions will be audited within 10 days of the submission deadline, and petitioners will be notified of acceptance or rejection.
• Incomplete or insufficient petitions will not be eligible for resubmission after the deadline.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael Buecher

Nominating Committee Chair

We are excited to announce the promotion of Hisham Eid to Vice President – Chief Technology Officer. Eid joined Soarion Credit Union in April 2024 as Assistant Vice President of Tech Innovation and Integration.

“In his short time with Soarion Credit Union, Hisham has already led several major technology initiatives to great success,” Ric Ledezma, President & CEO, said. “As the highest-ranking technology executive at the credit union, Hisham will continue to play a critical role in aligning our technology initiatives with our strategic business goals – in particular, identifying and implementing innovative financial solutions for our members.” 

In this new role, Eid will be responsible for leading the credit union’s technology strategy, overseeing the development and implementation of innovative solutions, and ensuring the secure and efficient operation of its technology infrastructure. He will play a key role in driving the credit union’s digital transformation initiatives, enhancing the member experience, and strengthening Soarion’s competitive position in the market.

“I am honored to take on this new role, especially during an exciting time for Soarion Credit Union as the organization continues to expand and evolve,” Eid said. “I am committed to leveraging technology to provide exceptional member service and achieve our strategic goals.” 

Eid brings more than 17 years of expertise in building and optimizing programs. His background encompasses a wide range of disciplines crucial to technology leadership, including project management, process improvement and integration, data analytics, and community research. Eid’s experience in community development and economic analysis provides valuable insight into the credit union’s role in serving its members and the broader community. He holds a bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Texas at San Antonio and is also a 2023 Consumer Bankers Association Executive Banking School graduate. Prior to joining Soarion Credit Union, Eid served as the Manager of Project Delivery at Credit Human Credit Union in San Antonio.