The Supervisory Committee has the responsibility of serving as the guardian of the best interests of all members of the credit union.  It is comprised of several members who volunteer their service, and operates independently of the board of directors.  It conducts a continuing series of internal reviews to ensure that records are maintained accurately, honestly, and in a timely manner; that policies established by law and by the board are carried out faithfully; and that members are receiving the best possible service.

Members:

David Breecker: I am currently President and Principal Consultant of David Breecker Associates, a strategic planning firm specializing in business, industry, and economic development. I am also the founder and President of the Santa Fe Innovation Park, a laboratory for social systems innovation.

I was the principle author and architect of the New Mexico Media Industries Strategy Project (MISP) for Governor Bill Richardson’s office, and worked with that office supervising the plan’s initial implementation.

More recently, I led the team that created the Technical Resources for Energy and the Environment (TREE) plan, a Santa Fe regional strategy for energy and water technology and industry development, and the “Energy from the Sun” clean tech industry road map for the New Mexico Technology Commercialization Council.

I also facilitated the Santa Fe Regional Telecom Coalition (which I helped to organize), and its efforts to plan for advanced telecommunications infrastructure for the region in support of economic and community development.

My earlier background forms a tapestry of business and creative elements, which are the basis for my professional practice. I devoted nine years to the Hollywood feature film industry, after earning an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A. in communications media from New College, Florida. My pre- and post-Hollywood careers included music, printing, graphic design, video, and creative writing.

Susan Coulter: As the youngest of six children in a working class family, I grew up understanding the fundamentals of thrift and reuse. Our family home had a cistern that was fed by the downspouts on the house, which was used to water the grass and wash the cars. My clothes were almost entirely hand-me-downs from older sisters – and brothers – for a large part of my childhood. My family always had a garden, even if it was small.

Those patterns have repeated in my adult life.  My husband and I catch all our rainwater in a cistern system installed in 2001; I enjoy buying clothes from thrift stores; growing herbs, vegetables and fruit is a fundamental part of my life.  In town I am committed to using a bicycle as my first choice of transportation, however, necessity requires a fossil fuel burning vehicle, so in 2001 we bought a Prius. That Prius purchase led me to the Permaculture Credit Union where I spent 5 years as a member of the Board of Directors, 2 of those years as Chair.

I am committed to continuing my volunteer activities with the PCU and other organizations as a way of contributing to the community and effecting the change I would like to see in the world.  In November of 2008, I was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Permaculture Guild, Inc and elected as Vice-Chair and Secretary.  In May 2011 I agreed to chair the Supervisory Committee for the PCU.

Joseph Ellis: recently (May, 2003) joined the Supervisory Committee. He has over 20 years' experience as an administrator in residential treatment in Texas. After completing a Permaculture Design Course, he and his wife, Kay, moved to Torrance County, New Mexico, where they built a permaculture homestead at the base of the Manzano mountains. Hobbies include beekeeping, organic gardening, and chicken ranching. Joseph is manager of the Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority, and serves on the board of the New Mexico Recycling Coalition.