Our Team

Bob Petryk was first appointed to the board of Alberta Central in 2011 for a one-year term and was then reappointed in 2013. He has been on the board of Connect First Credit Union for more than seven years.

For the past 12 years, Bob has served as the Managing Director of Petwin Capital Group, a Calgary based investment and Real Estate Company. Petwin has 17 employees and operates in Calgary, Edmonton, Phoenix and Las Vegas. Prior to this, Bob practiced corporate and commercial law with an international law firm in Calgary.

During his terms on the board of Connect First, Bob has served as chair of the Audit & Finance, Investment and Credit and Governance Committees. He has also served on the Human Resources and Nominations Committees. His time has also included terms as board secretary and vice chair. At Alberta Central, he served as chair of the Governance Committee. Earlier board experience includes being a member of the Board of Governors of the University of Calgary and the University Senate.

Bob's educational background includes both a Bachelor of Commerce and a Law degree from the University of Calgary and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. He has also taken numerous programs from the Credit Union Director Achievement Program.

Perry has been supporter of the credit union system in Alberta for many years and truly believes in the importance of collaboration. To help ensure credit unions have greater relevance and impact in years to come, Perry joined the board for Alberta Central, elected in April 2018. He brings an inquisitive and strategic focus and is committed to holding the board accountable to its mandate.

A small business leader and active community member, Perry has extensive experience in board governance, audit and finance, and compensation. He previously sat on the boards for Calgary Opera Association, Learning Disabilities of Alberta, Alberta Central and Servus Credit Union. He holds a Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge and the Institute of Corporate Directors Designation. Pragmatic, open and direct, Perry brings strategic focus and an understanding of the trade-off between risks and returns.

“Credit unions are different. We care deeply about our members and the communities in which we do business. We have a huge opportunity to tell our story, leverage our difference and grow the credit union market share in Alberta.”

Badriea is committed to contributing to Alberta credit unions – as the system has been an important part of her life for more than 25 years. She believes that the inclusiveness of the credit union model truly sets the system apart from the competition and this spirit must be protected and maintained moving into the future. This belief is what spurred her to put her hand up for a role with Alberta Central’s board, to which she was elected in April 2018.

Badriea is a warm and genuine leader, who enjoys building relationships and brings operational and strategic experience to her role with the board. She has worked at both small-and mid-sized credit unions and understands what it means to be a lean financial institution working in a constantly changing and very competitive industry.

“Breadth of perspective is a big contributor to the value of a board, and this is what I hope to bring – not just because of my gender, but also because I led a mid-sized, closed-bond credit union.”

Randy joined the Alberta Central board in order to support the continued success of the Alberta credit union system. He feels that the strength of credit unions comes from their member-owner structure: while banks benefit shareholders, credit unions benefit members.

With his 25 years of experience in banking and finance, Randy brings a diverse background to the board that has included member-facing roles, management at large accounting firms, enterprise risk management leadership, and internal and external audit expertise. A collaborative leader, he is the Senior Vice President of Risk and Audit at Servus Credit Union. Randy has worked in Canada and the United Kingdom in both customer-facing and leadership roles in banking, and as a Chartered Accountant.

“Changes are coming to the banking industry and credit unions need to focus on what they do best – serving members - to prosper in the new environment.”

Robert Bhatia joined the board of Alberta Central in 2019 because he believes in the importance of community-based financial institutions like credit unions. He has extensive financial leadership experience and is known for asking thoughtful questions and working collaboratively to solve problems.

Inquisitive and analytical, Robert is a professional Executive Coach and Consultant with Clover Point Consulting Inc. A Deputy Minister for more than ten years with the government of Alberta, he led four major portfolios: Finance and Enterprise, Revenue, Seniors and Community Supports and Government Services. He has a strong interest in supporting the Alberta financial sector and has experience as a member of the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation board, the Alberta General Insurance Council and the City of Edmonton Audit Committee. He is also a member of the Local Authorities Pension Plan Corporation board.

 “I believe I bring a broad perspective and the ability to see the big picture to the board, but I’m not afraid to dive into the details when required.”

Dan wanted to join the board of Alberta Central to positively impact the credit union system. Raised in a rural community, he was exposed to cooperative principles from a young age and believes that the credit union business model is the best way to increase financial well-being for members and ultimately, the community as a whole.

Appointed to Alberta Central’s board in 2014, Dan has more than 30 years’ experience working with cooperative organizations, including ten years as a credit union executive. He is the current Chief People and Corporate Services Officer for Servus Credit Union, and he previously worked with Federated Cooperatives Limited and the Cooperative Retailing System, as well as holding roles with the City of St. Albert. Dan has the broad business expertise, effective listening skills and communications know-how required to drive change across the system. Dan is a CUES Certified Credit Union Director, a Certified Chief Executive, holds a Masters Certificate in Enterprise Risk Management and Business Performance and is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR). Dan also holds a Society of Human Resources Management – Senior Certified Professional Designation (SHRM-CP).

“I am willing to ask the tough questions and I openly value other people’s opinions. I aim to be an ambassador for decisions made, working hard to support the entire credit union system.”

Iris joined Alberta Central’s board to listen, learn and help address the challenges faced by the credit union system by offering practical and realistic solutions. Committed to establishing best practices to guide the board, Iris believes in the power of working together to benefit members and build communities.

Appointed in 2016, Iris is the president of an executive solutions company and has board experience with Servus Credit Union and the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. She was an elected official for more than 33 years, working as a school board trustee, chair and association president, municipal councilor and reeve, and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). As an MLA, Iris held six provincial government portfolios including Health, Employment, Industry and Immigration, Finance and Enterprise, Municipal Affairs, and International and Intergovernmental Relations and honed her skills in governance. Her time in office reinforced for her the importance of teamwork.

“When every member of the system contributes to each other’s successes and learns from each other’s mistakes, we all benefit.”

A strong belief in the cooperative principles – especially working together to make Alberta credit unions stronger – is what drove Doug to join Alberta Central’s board. An honest, inclusive and thoughtful leader, he is dedicated to credit union success and brings passion and integrity to his role.

Elected in April 2018, Doug has more than 20 years’ experience as a director with Servus Credit Union. He served as vice chair and chair of the Servus board and sat on the board for Commonwealth and Border Credit Unions. Doug has also played a leadership role in negotiations, mergers and strategic planning.

“I have been a Director and Chairman of $400 million, $1.5 billion and $14 billion size credit unions – this helps me understand the challenges and needs of credit unions of all sizes around Alberta.”

Sandi has been a part of the credit union system for more than 10 years. Passionate about the industry, she joined the board to act as a support and guide for Alberta Central. She believes that working together to better the entire system is an important goal to ensure long-term success. The Chief Financial Officer of Connect First Credit Union, Sandi has more than 25 years’ experience in finance. With an in-depth appreciation of how to communicate complex ideas in easy to understand terms and expertise in board governance and reporting, she is a hard worker who is dedicated to the credit union cause. Sandi believes in the importance of listening and understanding both sides of any conversation and brings hands-on familiarity of Alberta Central’s operations and management group to her role with the board.

“I understand the importance of knowing when the board must step in and offer advice, and when the board should step aside to not get in the way of innovation and change.”

Brett Oland was elected to Alberta Central’s board of directors in April 2014 and was chair of Alberta Central’s board from 2016-2019. He brings a wealth of knowledge from his days in a senior management role at Canadian Western Bank and working with other financial institutions in Edmonton and in the Cayman Islands. Brett has been a credit union member all of his life. He is currently the Interim CEO of Bow Valley Credit Union.

Brett is a Chartered Professional Accountant and gained extensive experience working with many industries while articling with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Calgary. Brett also holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary.

Although Brett was born and raised in Medicine Hat, he feels very fortunate to now call Canmore home with his wife and two children.

Ron Pilger was elected to Alberta Central’s board of directors in 2015. Ron is no stranger to the credit union system, both as a life-long member in Camrose and by serving on the board of Vision Credit Union since 1993. In the capacity of Audit and Finance chair, Ron was on the committee that oversaw the 2014 merger between Caisse Horizon and Vision Credit Union.

Ron is a graduate of the Mouser School of Advertising in Crewe, Virginia. Throughout his 38-year career in publishing, Ron has earned an impressive variety of honors and awards in advertising, marketing, and photography. Currently, Ron is Sales Manager and Associate Publisher for Camrose Booster Ltd.

As part of his on-going commitment of giving back to his community, Ron served on the board of St. Mary’s Hospital for 11 years. As board chair, he was a driving force in locally raising $1 million, to purchase a CT scanner for the hospital. Ron resides in Camrose with his wife and three children. He is passionate about songbird conservation and is an avid restorer and collector of vintage cars.

Kurt joined the Alberta Central board in September 2018 because he believes in the cooperative business model and how it drives value for its members. A proud advocate for the energy industry, Kurt is the Principal Owner and General Manager of KUDO Energy Services, specializing in pipeline and facility construction, oilfield transportation, electrical, and instrumentation. Kurt is also the Principal Owner and General Manager of Steel Ridge Homes, a new home, industrial and commercial contracting business serving the Lakeland area.

Kurt brings a grassroots view of doing business in Western Canada, with a deep understanding of its cycles. A long-time credit union supporter, Kurt sits on boards and committees for Lakeland Credit Union, Lakeland CO-OP, and Bonnyville Flying Club. A passionate and driven leader, he strives to always put others first and meet challenges head-on. Kurt is committed to continually developing himself and encouraging his peers to do the same.

“I aim to be an advocate of credit union members to ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of the system as a whole.”

John joined the board of Alberta Central in 2017 to be a voice for small and medium-sized credit unions, working to promote the best interests of all credit unions across the system. As the CEO of Christian Credit Union since 2008, John’s experience makes him aware of the past, present and future challenges facing credit unions, particularly those in Northern Alberta. Striving to be a servant leader, John uses his analytical skills to understand all sides of an issue before taking a position and always ensures that any decision he makes has a positive impact on the people involved.

“I love that the cooperative model keeps the member at the centre of all that we do. I believe we can create even more value for our members when we all work together.”

Mark joined Alberta Central’s board because he believes in supporting a vibrant credit union system. For Mark, it’s the cooperative, member-ownership model and commitment to giving back to the community that positively differentiates credit unions from other financial services organizations.

With more than 35 years’ business experience, Mark was Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of EPCOR Utilities Inc. from 2001 to 2013. He brings to the board expertise in finance, governance and the financial services industry as well as risk and people management skills. His board and committee work includes time leading multiple executive committees while at EPCOR and serving on various provincial and municipal level boards.

“I believe collaboration and being a team player, combined with a strong work ethic, will get things done.”