Center for Financial Empowerment
Annual Meeting & Designation of Officials
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Thursday, May 22, 2025
4:00 pm (PDT)
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This meeting will be held online by virtual attendance.
*Register to receive meeting login details.​​
MEETING AGENDA
Reports
The meeting will include reports from the Board Chair and the Executive Director on the organization's 2024 activities and accomplishments. ​
Elections
Per the bylaws, two open positions are designated by Rize Credit Union and are not subject to the election process. Rize Credit Union has appointed Kenji Coleman and Julio Jimenez-Wenz to the designated positions.
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Two additional board positions are open for election. The Nominating Committee has nominated incumbent director David Dan and newcomer Celina Santiago for election to serve a three-year term. The biographies of the designated appointees and the election nominees are included below.
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Nominations By Petition
Members who wish to be nominated to serve on the Board of Directors may do so by submitting a petition signed by at least five percent (5%) of the total CFE membership (approx. 80 signatures) to the Chair of the Nominating Committee, Mr. Pascual Garrido (c/o Abby Ulm, Center for Financial Empowerment, 12701 Schabarum Avenue, Irwindale, CA 91706). Nominations by petition must be accompanied by a signed certificate from the nominee stating they are agreeable to nomination and will serve if elected to office. This petition must be received by 5:00 pm on Monday, April 7, 2025. Nomination questions may be directed to 800.866.6474 x2321.
The names of all nominees will be posted at the Center for Financial Empowerment office on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
The election will be conducted by ballot if the number of nominees exceeds the number of positions to be filled. Nominations will not be accepted from the floor. When the number of nominees equals the number of positions to be filled, the Chair will declare each nominee elected by general consent at the annual meeting.
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BIOGRAPHIES
​M. Kenji Coleman
Kenji has been a Credit Union member since 1998, has served as a Board Member since 2001, and is currently the Center for Financial Empowerment Board Chair. Kenji has been a Credit Union volunteer since 2000, serving two years on the Supervisory Committee and 22 years on the Board of Directors. During his time on the Board, he has held various positions, including Vice Chair, Financial Officer, and Secretary. In addition, he has also served on several Board Committees, such as Budget, Governance, Board Development, Nomination, Investment, Legislation, and CEO Compensation & Succession.
Kenji brings 29 years of experience with Southern California Edison in the areas of strategic planning, corporate governance, finance, internal controls, and disaster recovery. He was the Senior Manager of Project Development and Management in Edison’s Transmission department when he retired in 2019.
​Julio Jimenez-Wenz
Julio has an excellent background with a strong commitment to foundations and volunteer work. He is deeply familiar with the CFE mission, actively participating in initiatives like Mad City Money, raising funds, and engaging staff. He volunteered for financial counseling certification and has long-standing community ties in Las Vegas, earning respect and recognition both internally and externally. His diverse representation and market awareness, coupled with a robust grant writing background and connections with Grant Lab, will offer valuable free training for CFE.
Julio has a strategic understanding of how to position the CFE for private grants from other Southern Nevada foundations and has national foundation experience. Serving on boards, he brings insight into governance principles and is willing to commit time to CFE's success. The synergy between Rize and CFE missions, alongside his energetic, communicative, and contributive nature, makes him a strong asset.​​
​David Dan
David is the owner of a software company based out of Glendora, Ca. that has an off-the-shelf software solution for electric power companies that participate in the wholesale electric power markets. Dan has expertise in managing a staff of a few dozen people, performing sales, working with financial forecasts, working with legal contracts, and interacting with and listening to customers. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting.
David does work with the Azusa Pacific University advisory board and for years Dan has volunteered at a local church to count the congregational offerings and to deposit the offerings. He also donates regularly to multiple Southern California-based community organizations.​
​​Celina Santiago
Celina is a passionate & experienced development professional with over 20 years of experience working in the philanthropic, nonprofit, and political sector. She is skilled in communications, crisis management and high touch relationship management helping individuals, families and corporations achieve meaningful charitable impact with their giving focus on the intersections of where philanthropy, policy and advocacy converge leading to strategic engagement and positive impact in the community.
Celina is passionate about fundraising, outreach and supporting the right cause at the right time. With her connection to the Y, she will bring further relationship building to the Southern California area.