Voluntarily Served on Credit Union Board of Directors for 30 Years
Bay Federal Credit Union is celebrating 30 years of volunteer service by Bob Bugalski on the Credit Union’s Board of Directors. Mr. Bugalski retires having seen the Credit Union grow and thrive under his leadership. He remains in an advising capacity as Director Emeritus.
“It has been a true honor for me to work with Bob,” said Carrie Birkhofer, President and CEO of Bay Federal. “I first met him almost 26 years ago when I was hired as Vice President of Finance. I have found Bob’s charisma and passion for service inspirational.” That passion has fueled Mr. Bugalski’s many accomplishments throughout his tenure at Bay Federal and through his personal life and career in education.
After graduating from St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, Mr. Bugalski and his newlywed wife, Barbara, left their home in Milwaukee for a position at Mora and then Watsonville High Schools in Watsonville, California. Mr. Bugalski was then hired by Cabrillo College in Aptos, where he coached the basketball team for 32 years. “They treated me like a native-son,” Mr. Bugalski says of the people of Santa Cruz County.
In 1986, Mr. Bugalski was elected to Bay Federal’s Board of Directors. During his 29 years, Mr. Bugalski remained focused on Bay Federal’s commitment of “people helping people” and serving the community. He consistently campaigned for education and training for all of the employees at Bay Federal. Mr. Bugalski championed many of the training initiatives that remain today and give the Credit Union a strong core of committed staff and leaders.
With characteristic humility, Mr. Bugalski does not see his great accomplishments as individual achievements, but rather as collective “team” efforts. During his tenure as a Director, Mr. Bugalski saw the Credit Union grow from under $50 million in assets to almost $750 million today.
Bay Federal Credit Union has named their headquarters’ boardroom the Robert A. Bugalski Board Room to honor his exceptional service. “Bob has always challenged me and inspired me,” said Mrs. Birkhofer on the night of the dedication, “and his countless volunteer hours have been instrumental to the ongoing success of Bay Federal Credit Union.”
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Bay Federal is a full-service, not-for-profit financial institution that serves over 59,000 members and 1,000 local businesses throughout Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey Counties. With over $725 million in assets, Bay Federal Credit Union is the largest member-owned financial institution in Santa Cruz County.