Dear Salal Members,
At the end of this month, I’ll be retiring from my role as President and CEO of Salal. It’s a milestone that naturally comes with reflection—and a lot of gratitude. First and foremost, I’d like to take a moment to thank Salal members for the opportunity to serve you and to make a difference in our communities. Without the trust and support of members like you, none of what we’ve achieved during my time at Salal would have been possible.
Looking back at my 13 years as Salal CEO, I’m immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished together. We helped over 100,000 families afford home improvements or invest in solar power. We pioneered essential banking services for employees and businesses in the licensed and regulated cannabis industry. We helped many thousands of new members build their savings, manage their everyday finances, and make the most of new opportunities. And, because of members like you choosing to do your banking and financing with Salal, we’ve been able to give back to the communities we serve through meaningful charitable donations of over $1.5 million.
Through it all, we’ve stayed focused on our mission: eliminating financial obstacles and helping people thrive in their financial lives and beyond. Credit unions like Salal are built on a simple but powerful idea—that when people work together, they can accomplish big things. I’ve seen this power firsthand. I believe that now more than ever, our communities need strong, cooperative institutions like Salal, where the well-being of our neighbors comes before the pursuit of profits.
Now it’s time for a new chapter in Salal’s 77-year history. As I step away from the helm, I’m confident that Salal’s future is in great hands. In October, our Board of Directors announced that Kevin Skinner has been selected as Salal’s next President and CEO. Kevin brings over 25 years of financial services experience and a deep commitment to the values that make Salal unique. He joined our team earlier this month to begin the leadership transition and will officially step into the CEO role on January 1.
I’d like to give thanks to our dedicated Salal team, volunteers, and Board of Directors—your hard work and commitment has made all the difference, and we’re deeply grateful for everything you do. And finally, to you, our members: thank you for letting me be part of your financial journey. It’s been a privilege and an honor to serve you. I hope you and your family have a healthy and happy holiday season.
Sincerely,
Russell Rosendal
President & CEO
Salal Credit Union
