facebook logo
ONLINE LOGIN Cash Management LOGIN
Obee credit union in Olympia Board & Supervisory

Directors & Supervisory Committee

Meet Our Board

 

O Bee Credit Union’s Board of Directors is made up of nine volunteers who are responsible for setting the direction of the credit union and have ultimate control of its functions. These nine are member-owners. The Board of Directors serves without compensation. Any member in good standing is eligible and encouraged to serve on the Board. Credit union elections are based on a one-member, one-vote structure, and only members can be on the Board of Directors.  Directors are not required to make any investment in or have any deposits in the credit union beyond the minimum membership share balance. There are also two non-voting Associate Directors.

Prabakaran Manoharan

Prabakaran-Manoharan, board first chair at OBee Credit Union in Olympia Washington

Board Chair

Prabakaran has more than twenty years’ experience in software engineering. His work with the Board focuses on IT security, stability and customer satisfaction. He enjoys being a part of the O Bee Board, especially through community involvement, and looks forward to helping O Bee continue to grow by providing excellent value to its members. Prabakaran and his wife, Dr. Devi, are blessed with twins; a boy and a girl.

Christy Kriegsman

Christy Kriegsman, board member at OBee Credit Union in Olympia Washington

2nd Vice Chair

Christy owns a farm and manages residential and self-storage rentals. In the past she worked as a registered nurse. She previously served on the Board at Olympia's Nova School and earned a B.A. from the University of Alaska.

Steve Blankenship

Steve Blankenship, board member at OBee Credit Union in Olympia Washington

Steve graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a Bachelor’s degree in Business. He began his career at the Olympia Brewing Company as their Master Scheduler before taking a position with Tacoma Paper Board. After seven years in Tacoma, he worked with the California Paper Board in Santa Clara as their Plant Manager for 18 years. Steve currently works in Olympia for the Department of Corrections in their Risk Management Department.

Barry Murray

Barry Murray

Barry grew up in Madison, WI, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Communications, emphasizing Public Speaking. His career has focused on the corporate restaurant industry. He has served on the corporate launch teams for new restaurants in Washington, Utah, Idaho, and Nevada. His experience includes that of lead Regional Trainer for all management trainees in the Northwest. He has managed multiple units for a large corporate restaurant company, including oversight of two full-service casino operations built from the ground up. Barry has lived in Olympia since 2001 and is the owner-liaison of a successful retail cannabis company in Thurston County. Barry and his wife Khristie have a blended family of four, three of whom are grown and in the workforce in Washington State. He and his wife enjoy sports immensely, including boating, and are avid college football fans.

Ryan Bedford

Ryan Bedford, Assoc. board member at OBee Credit Union in Olympia Washington

Ryan is an attorney with experience in private practice and more than 20 years involvement in legislative affairs and public policy. Some of Ryan's most rewarding experiences in private practice and business development have been working with members of the community trying to develop practical steps to meet the needs of those around them, the essence of the credit union motto, "People helping people." Ryan and his wife, whose father was a long-time employee of the Olympia Brewery, enjoy investing in the lives of their family and others in the community through volunteering, mentoring, and collaboration.

Frieda Ray

Frieda Ray

Frieda is semi-retired and works part-time at Providence St. Peters as a nutrition assistant. She retired from state government after a 30-year career in communications. During that time, she spent 12 years as a reporter and editor in Olympia and Guam, five years doing community engagement and fundraising for a local nonprofit, and ten years in state government as a communications manager for the Washington State Broadband Office, and as Communications Chief for the Division of Child Support with the Department of Social and Health Services. Before starting her communications career, Frieda was a licensed insurance agent, managed properties and sold real estate, and worked in the credit and collections industry. She is a long-time member of O Bee Credit Union and hopes to continue O Bee's long-standing community engagement.

Will Saunders Jr.

Will Saunders Jr., board member at OBee Credit Union in Olympia Washington

Will is an attorney with international business and regulatory experience. He has worked for the state of Washington on technology, regulation and transparency policy since 2005. Before coming to Olympia, Will was based in Russia working on projects for General Dynamics, Middlebury College and the International Finance Corporation. He also advises on cyber security and technology issues before the Board.

Carolyn Caruso

Carolyn Caruso - Board Director at O Bee Credit Union in Olympia, WA

Carolyn began her “love affair” with O Bee Credit Union in 1969 working in a career that lasted 34 years. She was initially hired as head cashier and worked in almost every capacity during her many years with the credit union, until finally serving as Vice President from 1988 to her retirement in 2004. Her service to the Board is motivated by her wish to give back to the Credit Union whose leadership, growth and member loyalty have been an inspiration. She has been a tireless advocate for our members and the credit union. Carolyn is the unofficial historian of O Bee, having worked with all four CEOs including Ted McGill, who founded the credit union in 1955. She can tell stories of when there were bats in the old brewery and the excitement of payday when the lobby was buzzing with brewery workers making deposits. The credit union has changed a lot since then, but Carolyn has remained the same: warm, intelligent, and always ready to help.

Meet Our Supervisory Committee

O Bee Credit Union’s Supervisory Committee is made up of five volunteers that are member-owners. They serve without compensation and eligibility requirements to serve on the Committee are the same as for the Board of Directors. The Supervisory Committee has three general goals: 

  1. Assure management’s financial reporting objectives have been met.
  2. Assure management’s practices and procedures safeguard members’ assets.
  3. Assure a fair and unbiased third-party audit of financial reporting.

Martha Prestin, Chair

Martha Prestin, Supervisory Committee Chair at OBee Credit Union in Olympia Washington

Martha, a certified public accountant, brings a strong financial background to her work as a volunteer at O Bee. She is Chief Financial Officer for the Chief Seattle Council Boy Scouts of America. Her great grandfather, Ted McGill, founded O Bee Credit Union while working in Bottlehouse “A” at the Olympia Brewery. Martha is proud of her strong family ties to the Credit Union and is honored to be part of a team that has helped to grow O Bee to where it is today and maintain its history in Tumwater and the surrounding areas.

Sonja Winkelman

Sonja Winkelman, Supervisory Committee member at OBee Credit Union in Olympia Washington

A proud member of O Bee Credit Union since 1977, Sonja has family ties to the Olympia Brewery. She has worked for the State of Washington in the Audit/Analyst/Investigator fields for more than 25 years. Sonja is passionate about the Credit Union and is proud to be a part of an organization that plays such an important role in the community, while helping members with their financial needs.

Miriam L Bausch

Miriam L Bausch, Supervisory Committee member at OBee Credit Union in Olympia Washington

Miriam is a dedicated volunteer at O Bee and has served in many roles on all Board Committees to enhance members' financial needs. Her service is inspired by the "People Helping People" motto of the credit union movement. Born, raised, and educated at nearby colleges in Olympia, she was employed for many years with the executive and legislative branches of state government. Along with her work on the Board, she pursues community involvement through volunteering.

Kari Summerour

Kari Summerour, Supervisory Committee member at OBee Credit Union in Olympia Washington

Kari is a certified public accountant and graduate of The Evergreen State College and South Puget Sound Community College. She is a long-time Olympia resident and has worked for local public accounting firms, providing tax and accounting services. Kari has also worked for the State of Washington, including time with the state Legislature, in higher education and as an auditor, examining state agency compliance with state and federal law. Most recently, Kari has managed external audits for state agencies. She lives in Olympia with her husband and bulldog and enjoys gardening and exploring all parts of our beautiful state.

Forbes Awards - Best Credit Union in Washington State
 


 
O Bee Mobile

O Bee Mobile

 

Bank on-the-go with O Bee Credit Union's mobile app. Check balances, transfer funds, deposit checks, pay bills, and more - all at your fingertips!

Apple Store App Google Play App