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
