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Our experienced senior leadership team manages Desert Financial in collaboration with our talented board members.
Jeff joined Desert Financial in 1994 and became CEO in 2017. He is a certified public accountant and launched his career with Ernst & Young, specializing in audits of financial institutions. His tenured career at commercial banks, savings banks and credit unions was solid preparation to lead a $8 billion company that’s built a culture of performance and philanthropy.
Cathy Graham brings a unique blend of creativity and strategy to marketing and brand loyalty. Her tenured expertise in the credit union movement grew from a passion for the not-for-profit mission that drives community engagement. Cathy earned a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising from Pennsylvania State University and studied at the CEO Institute at the Cornell, Wharton and Darden Schools of Business.
Ron is a 38-year credit union veteran who has been with Desert Financial since 1998, leading several lines of business during his tenure. Ron was directly responsible for the development and implementation of online banking and bill payment services for the credit union — as well as a revitalization of the organization’s brand image in 2001. He also led the organization through two core processing conversions, in 2009 and 2015.
Desert Financial’s board members help oversee the credit union’s financial performance and assist in developing long-range strategic plans for the credit union.
Kevin Haskew, Amkor's CIO since December 2021, previously served as CIO at ON Semiconductor, Biomet and ArvinMeritor. He holds an MBA from Sheffield Business School and an MSc from Sheffield Hallam University. Since 2017, he has volunteered on the Desert Financial Board and is on the SwitchThink Solutions Board.
Dr. Jeffrey J. Smith, an Arizona resident for 60+ years, retired as Balsz School District Superintendent after a 38-year tenure. He earned his degrees from Arizona State University. On the Board since 2014, he holds the current position of Vice Chair, having also served as Secretary.
Laura Watson, COO at CCS Presentation Systems, is a CPA since 2005. She sits on Desert Financial's Board since 2012, holding roles as Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary. Laura also advises TD Synnex, a Fortune 500 company, and is deeply committed to community service.
Janet Bioletto retired from teaching business education at Dobson High School in Mesa and is a dedicated Board Member since 1991. Currently Secretary, she has also held roles as Chair, Treasurer and Vice Chair.
Matthew Fehling is the President and CEO of BBB Pacific Southwest. He served on Desert Financial Wealth Services Board and Define Mortgage Solutions Board and was appointed to the Desert Financial Board of Directors in 2020.
Dr. Claudette Gronski, retired Madison Heights Elementary School principal, has been a Desert Financial Board Member since 1992. She held key roles, including Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary, and currently serves as Vice Chair on the Wealth Services Board.
Richard Johnson, a military veteran, manages Simulator Equipment Financing, LLC and Fleetwest Transferable Truck Bodies, LLC. Certified in Cyber Security Board Oversight, he's been a Board member since 1992, serving as Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary.
Chris Miner, General Counsel at ArborWorks, previously held executive roles at WillScot Mobile Mini and worked as a corporate partner at DLA Piper. He serves on the Board of A New Leaf and teaches mergers and acquisitions at ASU's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. He holds degrees from Brigham Young University and joined the Board in 2017.
Carrie Young, CEO of UnravelMyTravels since 2017, previously held senior roles at Salt River Project and served in the U.S. Air Force. She chairs the Better Business Bureau's Executive Board, sits on the Military Veterans Commission for Phoenix and joined the Desert Financial Board in 2022.
Donna Fagan serves as Sr. Director of HR for North America at onsemi. Previously, she held HR leadership roles at Honeywell and various industries. Donna holds a Business Administration degree from the University of New Mexico and joined Desert Financial as an Associate Board Member in November 2022.
David Hawkins, a Partner at SEI Phoenix, LLC, has 25+ years of experience in enterprise application implementations, formerly with Accenture. He holds a Bachelor's in economics from Arizona State University and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He’s served on Desert Financial Credit Union's Supervisory Committee since 2017.
Joe Miller, Desert Financial Credit Union's Supervisory Committee Chair since 2012, has 25+ years of finance leadership experience. He's the Finance Director at Teradata Corp, holds a BA in Accounting from Western International University and divides his time between Phoenix and Flagstaff with his wife, Jolynn.