ITS TIME TO GO!
It's election time again at the Priority One Credit Union and some of the seats on the Board of Directors are up for re-election. Of course, we can't forget that in 2009 and 2010, Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, ruined the integrity of the electoral process when she violated state law in her zeal to ensure none of the Directors and Supervisors lost their seats. Mrs. Harris-Brooks is immensely interested in all things political though she doesn't possess the same fervor for the well-being of the credit union, it's members and it's employees.
Not only did the incumbents all choose to retain the employment of President Wiggington after evidence proved he sexually harassed a former employee, but it was the Board that has for over four years, approved what is wasted spending on numerous failed projects and who have intentionally ignored violations of security perpetrated by the corrupt President. Some of these include:
- Illegally took possession of a former member’s automobile
- An attempt to reinstate a business relationship between the credit union and Henry Justice, the former owner of Justice Sales who in 2003, absconded with more than $80,000 of credit union money
- The hiring of COO, Beatrice Walker, at a salary of over $100,000 per year and whose "streams of income" have either failed or performed poorly.
- The purchase of a $600,000 technically flawed phone system
- Remodeling of the South Pasadena and Burbank branches; and
- Construction of what has proven to be a failed phone system
As you read the incumbent biographies, note they avoid being specific, often speaking to their qualifications in the most general of terms.
TAMPERING
This past week, members began receiving ballots which were mailed out late. Ballots were accompanied by a page containing the biographies and photographs of incumbents and nominees. Mrs. Harris-Brooks arranged the order of the biographies and photographs and as might be expected, her biography and photo are at the top of the list.
In October 2009, in our post titled “Hiding Facts, Pushing Lies, we reported how the Chairperson and President attempted to limit publication of the notice mandated by the state of California which informs members about the annual election and invites members in good standing to nominate themselves to vie for available seats on the Board of Directors or Supervisory Committee.
After their plot was exposed on this blog and in the weeks following the mailing of ballots, a meeting was conducted at Priority One’s main branch in South Pasadena, during which the Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee convened to try the remedy the illegal act committed by the Chairperson and the President. Having been given ample time to concoct an excuse, the two informed the Board that publication of the notice in only the Winter was unintentional and a mere oversight. The Supervisory Committee, whose failures to perform due diligence and who, since 2007, have turned a blind eye to the acts, scandals, and cover-ups committed by the Chairperson and the President, decided to resolve the embarrassing problem by conducting a new election. Of course this came at a time when the credit union’s financials were beginning to unravel and amidst increasing ominous signs that the credit union’s future seemed less than promising. Ballots were ordered reprinted and a letter was sent to all members advising them that the election was to be repeated and expending an invitation for nominations. New ballots were also ordered. The attempt to correct what the Chairperson and President caused came at a cost of thousands of dollars, constituting yet another financial loss resultant from the unethical acts committed by this shameful and inept duo.
During what became the “second annual” election, the Chairperson and President were joined by Director, Bobby Thomas, who oddly enough, is a representative at the National Association of Postal Carriers’ (“NALC”) Branch 24, serving as a liaison between the carrier’s union and U.S. Postal Service and whose key responsibility is to ensure adherence by the U.S. Postal service to the ratified bargaining agreement entered into with mail carriers of the U.S. Postal Service.
As we reported in 2010, Mr. Thomas solicited a nomination from a postal carrier all in an effort to reduce the amount of votes which might potentially go to David Davidson and Janice Irving. When the carrier failed to submit his application, the Chairperson mailed a letter, reminding him to submit his application BEFORE the mandated deadline.
Several days after the deadline passed, the member walked into the South Pasadena branch with his application in hand. President Wiggington ordered the application brought to him even though the deadline had expired. When handed the application,, the President happily exclaimed, “I’ve been waiting for this”. Despite evident violation of state law, the always dishonest Chairperson and President included the member’s name and biography in last year’s election. The Chairperson would later laughingly state, “We got what we wanted” even though her actions were a violation of state law and complete disregard for ethics.
During the electoral process, COO, Beatrice Walker, and her former business associate, "friend" and confidant, Yvonne Boutte, urged employees of the South Pasadena branch not vote for David L. Davidson or incumbent, Janice Irving, describing both as trouble-makes and bad for the credit union. It's more than a little hypocritical that neither woman, both of who have had a polarizing effect on the working environments of all branches, could point crooked fingers at Mr. Davidson and Mrs. Irving.
When the election's results were announced Mr. Davidson lost by a small margin though Mrs. Irving garnered the highest number of votes amongst all the incumbents in part because current and former employees rallied on her behalf.
THE BOARD CHAIR'S PLOT
Having been “outted” has never forced Harris-Brooks to alter her unethical proclivities. In fact, exposure of her illegal and unethical behaviors seems to fuel the Chairperson’s resolve to hide her tendency to violate laws. Rather ironically, it is her vigorous efforts to hide wrong doing that most attest to her malicious tendencies.
Each incumbent and nominee is required to submit a biography and a description of the reason they wish to serve on the Board or Supervisory Committee along with their photograph. You'll note that Mrs. Harris-Brooks has made certain her biography and photograph appear first and before those of any other incumbent or nominee.
Each incumbent and nominee is required to submit a biography and a description of the reason they wish to serve on the Board or Supervisory Committee along with their photograph. You'll note that Mrs. Harris-Brooks has made certain her biography and photograph appear first and before those of any other incumbent or nominee.
Mrs. Harris-Brooks may not intellectually bright but she is cunning. On the backside of the page containing the names of incumbents are the names of first-time nominees which this year are former CFO, Manny Gaitmaitan, and Jimmy R. Cummings. Mr. Gaitmaitan resigned on 12/31/09 after being ostracized by the President for refusing to reduce actual reported financial losses and fraudulently increase reported profits.
You'll also notice that the biographies for Harris-Brooks, Thomas Gathers, Richard Hale, and first-time nominee, Jimmy R. Cummings, are ALL written in the third person. Mr. Saffold’s is written in both the third and first person. We recently learned that the biographies for each incumbent were composed by Turner, Warner, Hwang, and Conrad AC. though apparently, the biographies were not proofread.
We've also recently learned that Mrs. Harris-Brooks is the recipient of all nominations and suffered a bout of angst when she received Mr. Gaitmaitan's application. According to AVP, Rodger Smock, Mrs. Harris-Brooks consider Mr. Gaitmaitan a threat. A threat to what? Her lack of integrity or dishonest proclivities? According to President Wiggington, Mr. Gaitmaitan was interviewed by the Board at which time, he was asked questions composed by CFO, Saeid Raad. According to the President, the questions were designed to disqualify Mr. Gaitmaitan from participating in the election. Their plot failed.
Unable to control her dishonest proclivities, the always corrupt Board Chair sent all but Mr. Gaitmaitan's biographies to be rewritten by Turner, Warner, Hwang, and Conrad AC which is why Mr. Gaitmaitan’s biography is shorter and written in the first not third person.
On the positive side, we wouldn't be able to write about Mrs. Harris-Brooks if weren't for her incessant need to tamper with the electoral process.
You'll also notice that the biographies for Harris-Brooks, Thomas Gathers, Richard Hale, and first-time nominee, Jimmy R. Cummings, are ALL written in the third person. Mr. Saffold’s is written in both the third and first person. We recently learned that the biographies for each incumbent were composed by Turner, Warner, Hwang, and Conrad AC. though apparently, the biographies were not proofread.
We've also recently learned that Mrs. Harris-Brooks is the recipient of all nominations and suffered a bout of angst when she received Mr. Gaitmaitan's application. According to AVP, Rodger Smock, Mrs. Harris-Brooks consider Mr. Gaitmaitan a threat. A threat to what? Her lack of integrity or dishonest proclivities? According to President Wiggington, Mr. Gaitmaitan was interviewed by the Board at which time, he was asked questions composed by CFO, Saeid Raad. According to the President, the questions were designed to disqualify Mr. Gaitmaitan from participating in the election. Their plot failed.
Unable to control her dishonest proclivities, the always corrupt Board Chair sent all but Mr. Gaitmaitan's biographies to be rewritten by Turner, Warner, Hwang, and Conrad AC which is why Mr. Gaitmaitan’s biography is shorter and written in the first not third person.
On the positive side, we wouldn't be able to write about Mrs. Harris-Brooks if weren't for her incessant need to tamper with the electoral process.
Also, this year's ballots were intentionally mailed late. According to the always talkative President, if the ballots were mailed late, this would reduce the amount of time members would have to respond and return these to Turner, Warner, Hwang, and Conrad AC. By the way, the ballots must be submitted to the accounting firm, no later than midnight, May 24, 2011.
THEIR BIOGRAPHIES
As you read through the biographies which follow, please note that Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks' biographies is being far too modes. She fails to mention that it was she who single-handedly orchestrated the reinstatement of Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. to his post as President and CEO even after an investigator from EXTTI, Inc. provided evidence proving he sexually harassed a former employee. It was also she, who tried to suppress the evidence against Mr. Wiggington which might have succeeded had Director, Janice Irving, not disclosed that he had been found guilty of violating federal law.
- She also make no mention of her plot to control which members received notification of the 2009 and 2010 elections or her efforts to ensure former Director, David L. Davidson, was not reinstated. She also fails to mention how she allowed member, Jeffrey M. Chen, to submit his nomination application more than a week after the deadline for submissions had passed.
- She also omits all reference to how she authorizing more than $600,000 to be spent on a technically defective phone systems and how in mid-2008, she authorized the borrowing of more than $20 million from the credit union's line-of-credit which forced the credit union to spend more than $30,000 to $58,000 each month, paying interest charges against the principle.
- It was also Mrs. Harris-Brooks who allowed the President to refuse posting of the credit union's Monthly Income Statements in "conspicuous locations within each branch" even though refusing to post the statements was a violation of state law.
- She also omits any reference to the fact that she and the Board ignored evidence that President Wiggington repossessed an automobile from former member, Mr. Danny Wafa, and afterwards, transferred ownership to his name without paying a cent for the vehicle. Yes, it was fraud, but the board not only ignored the illegality of the transaction but has year after year, granted the President raises.
- She also fails to mention that while she has served as Board Chair, the credit union's asset size has declined by more than $15 million.
- She also conveniently omits that while she's been Board Chair, the credit union has closed the Redlands and Valencia branches.
FUN FACTS
January 1, 2007
(On the date Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began serving as President)
$172,250,649
December 31, 2007
$166, 872, 190
December 31, 2008
Total asset worth after applying $20 million loan borrowed in mid-2008 from the credit union's line-of-credit
$172,119,164
(Actual asset worth: $152,119,164)
December 31, 2009
$165,835,129
The credit union paid $10 million of the $20 million borrowed in mid-2008, thus reducing their asset size $155,835,129. This constitutes a decline in assets of approximately $17 million since January 1, 2007, the date Charles R. Wiggington his appointment to President.
December 31, 2010
$154,486,638
Their actual asset size was $145,486,638 after deducting the remaining unpaid $10 million balance due on the $20 million loan borrowed in mid-2008 from the credit union's line-of-credit.
Mrs. Harris-Brooks, like the President, has proven to be plutonium to the credit union. Despite her unscrupulous behaviors and immense business failures, she has garnered the gall to again run to defend her seat on what has to be one of the industry's most ineffective Boards.
DIEDRA HARRIS-BROOKS
Mrs. Harris-Brooks is not just the Board's Chair, she is it's despot and has proven she will not tolerate Directors who disagree with her mode of administration, i.e., Robb Shipley, Dave Davidson, Janice Irving.
In her biography she emphasizes that she is "approaching" her 9th year as a Director of the Board and has served as it's Director for 6 years. That actually might be impressive if the credit union had grown and thrived under her leadership. The fact is, Priority One never thrived because of her and the other Directors. If she truly were a competent Director, then the credit union would have continued to grow after 12/31/06, the date William E. Harris retired as President and CEO of the then, $172 million credit union. The credit union's decline began on 1/01/07 the date Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became President and inarguably, she and the other Directors don't possess the knowledge, intelligence, or imagination to direct the credit union.
She also states that she attended the University of Phoenix where she "completed Business Management and Marketing courses and holds a 3.5 GPA. Her knowledge and marketing skills has proven to be an asset to Priority One." Actually, it should have stated, "Her knowledge in marketing and computer skills have proven to be assets to Priority One."
Mrs. Harris-Brooks provide no evidence of what knowledge she is referring to. Clearly, it's not financial knowledge. And what marketing skills? The former Retail Manager at the United States Postal Service never references where she studied marketing or what she's ever accomplished in marketing. Her statements are not evidenced by anything that would validate her claims.
She again provides absolutely nothing to prove she held a 3.5 GPA while enrolled in classes offered by the University of Phoenix. Based on her performance as Board Chair, we doubt her statement but of course are open to looking at the evidence of what she alleges.
And what computer skills is she referring to? This is such a general statement that it really says nothing about her alleged expertise.
Mrs. Harris-Brooks biography also states “she left a 20-year legacy of exceptional managerial service and earned the respect of her employees” before retiring from the U.S. postal service. We'll have to take her word on that and of course, we won't. We've spoken to some employees of the Los Angeles Postal Distribution Center on the corner of Florence and Central Avenues who had worked for and with Mrs. Harris-Brooks and many describe her as caustic and haughty. She also was not on friendly terms with the Postal Manager of the facility, James Smith.
What's more, this is the same woman who tampered with the 2009 and 2010 elections and who reinstated Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. after he was found guilty of sexually harassing a former employee. How then could anyone respect Mrs. Harris-Brooks?
She concludes by stating she “continues to expand her knowledge of the operations of this credit union and is looking forward to continuing her voluntary services to the Board of Directors, Priority One Executive staff, employees, and members.” Since 2007, we've seen absolutely nothing to attest that her knowledge of the credit union's operation is expanding or that she is committed to serving the credit union and in particular, employees and members. Mrs. Harris-Brooks is of course, lying.
From a business perspective, is the credit union's $100,000 CD which pays 0.00% an example of her wonderful financial savvy? We think it's time Mrs. Harris-Brooks leave and try selling her wares to people who don't know her and who are ignorant of her devices.
THOMAS GATHERS
THOMAS GATHERS
Thomas Gathers panders to Diedra Harris-Brooks. That seems to define the extent of his contributions to the Board. He, like Mrs. Harris-Brooks, has bent over backwards to ensure Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. remains President even in the light of evidence that Mr. Wiggington violated state and federal laws. If we could describe Mr. Gathers in one word, it might be fixture. He just occupies a chair on the Board and unless he can provide proof, he is a non-contributor to the betterment of the credit union. In 2008, he was one of four officers who voted to reinstate his "friend", Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. to his post as President, even though he was presented with evidence proving Mr. Wiggington sexually harassed a former employee and in spite of the fact the investigator from EXTTI, Inc. recommended the President's termination. Mr. Gathers is a tool.
Mr. Gather’s biography states he is “currently serving as the Chairperson of the Bylaws Committee…. and various other committees.” Which various other committees is he referring to? He is as general in his references as is the Board Chair. We're uncertain why he chose to disclose that he attends “Holy Trinity Lutheran Church” when he often uses profanity, ogles female employees of the South Pasadena branch and is often the brunt of jokes by the other Directors who mock his personal hygiene.
RICHARD HALE
The incumbent has at times, found it difficult to attend Board meetings, in part, because he resides in Riverside, California, miles away from Priority One’s South Pasadena office. This begs us to ask, “Why then are you on the Board if you can’t attend on a regular basis?” His absences should have resulted in his removal from the Board, but then again, President Wiggington’s embarrassing conduct and long record of failures, should have led to his termination.
According to his biography, Mr. Hale has served as a member of the Board “for many years.” How many years, Mr. Hale?
He alleges to have “devoted a considerable amount of his personal time to the credit union and understands financials needs of its members.” How much personal time, Mr. Hale? And if you understand financials, then please explain in detail versus general terms, why the credit union has lost millions of dollars in assets over the past four years? And why would the credit union have deemed it necessary to close the Redlands and Valencia branches in 2010, if Mr. Hale's financial knowledge was at it's disposal?
O. GLEN SAFFOLD
Mr. Saffold is known by some employees for his 2006 statement that he selected Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. to succeed former President, William E. Harris, because "the credit union needs a black President." Not exactly a Rhodes Scholar, Mr. Saffold chose skin color over competency. Nothing racist about that, is there?
Mr. Saffold also spent years expounding his belief that O.J. Simpson was targeted by the White man and was innocent of his former wife's murder. Why he deemed this an appropriate subject to discuss while at the credit union is inappropriate and inexplicable.
His biography states the brings “a broad range of American economic and social expertise to the POCU Board of Directors.” General and in his words, "broad", Mr. Saffold doesn't state specifically what alleged "American economic expertise" he brings to the Board of Directors. Well? He is as evasive in stating he brings "social expertise to the POCU Board of Directors." What social expertise and where, pray tell, has it been applied in elevating the organization?
Mr. Saffold's alleged expertise is certainly not attested to by the credit union's current financial state which is less than stellar. Mr. Saffold is a postal carrier. He was the supervisor of the postal carrier unit at the facility where he worked but following cut-backs implemented by the postal services, was offered a position to serve as a carrier or be laid-off. He accepted the former. We're surprised that he alleged expertise didn't garner him an executive position at the postal service.
Mr. Saffold also states he is "steadfastly involved in the financial and member service improvements implemented by Priority One Credit Union.” Steadfastly? The credit union is in decline. Does this mean that Mr. Saffold's alleged involvement in delving out financial improvements is failing? Currently, complaints citing poor member service are at an all-time high. Should we blame Mr. Saffold's so called involvement for the deterioration of member service standards.
Mr. Saffold was also one of the four officers who voted for reinstatement of Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. even though evidence proved he sexually harassed a former female employee. It was also Mr. Saffold who along with Diedra Harris-Brooks, who agreed to hire caustic COO, Beatrice Walker.
Mr. Gaitmaitan's biography was not composed by Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad. Unlike the biographies of the incumbents, Mr. Gaitmaitan's was kept intentionally brief by Mrs. Harris-Brooks.
In his biography, Mr. Gaitmaitan states:
”I was the Chief Financial Officer of Priority One Credit Union for 19 years. Mr. William Harris took me into the Credit Union when its name was still Postal Credit Union of Los Angels. I would like to save the Credit Union and can share my over 30 years of financial background. The Credit Union needs my help.”
We would have to agree with Mr. Gaitmaitan. Unlike Diedra Harris-Brooks, Thomas Gathers, Richard Hale or O. Glen Saffold, he actually possesses financial knowledge. Mr. Gaitmaitan is not perfect but he understand Priority One's operation and proved while serving as CFO, that ethics are critical to his performance and business decisions.
While employed by Priority One, he also oversaw the Accounting Department and credit union investments. He was also involved in strategic planning and project management. He also introduced strategies that reduced spending and risks and revised business designs. Some of his contributions included:
- Elimination of fees paid by Priority One to the Credit Union COOP and instead, transferring maintenance of ATM’s to the credit union. This resulted in savings approximating $100,000 per year; and
- Conversion of the Wide Area Network Computer system into Voice-over-Internet Protocol (IP) which resulted in an approximate decrease of phone costs by about $100,000 per year.
Unlike each incumbent, Mr. Gaitmaitan did not try to avoid alluding to specifics. That's because unlike the four incumbents, he has nothing to hide.
The four incumbents provide nothing specific to evidence their claims to expertise and knowledge. The proof of their performance is best attested to by the financial losses bombarding the credit union over the past 4-years. Their addresses are empty and each, is a ruse hoping members will embrace what they claim to have achieved, at face value.
In the end, it's the members who will determine whether or not the four horrendous and ignorant officers remain on the Board or are removed. If the credit union is ever to regain its competitive edge, it requires the removal of these four officers.
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108 comments:
O.Glen Saffold couldn't pass the bar exam and I Gathers needs to go to the glu factory. Its not because he's old but because he's useless. And its so true, people who used to work with Diedra at the LAPDC talk about her snotty attitude. The woman was horrible to work for.
Vote for Manny!!
Diedra a joke.
The whole board should be kicked out. They shouldn't be allowed to run. I don't get how the DFI or NCUA get away with everything they do from letting useless Wigg steal a car to not posting financials. Its awful but this group is so sick they act like they've done nothing wrong. That alone should keep you from voting for any of them. At least two of them will be on the board again, but it time to kick DIEdra to the curb.
I'm curious as to what the NCUA and DFI think about this blog and everything that has been revealed here. Do they even know? I used to work with Priority One years ago, and they were wonderful. The last time I saw Wigg, he was swigging down martinis at a CU function and was just "not right".
Why haven't members written to the DFI and kicked this useless bunch of not so funny clowns on their butts? You know the supervisory committee knows because they read the blog but as long as Cornelia Simmons heads them up, they'll always look the otehr way. I've believe for a long time that members either don't care, they're on Chexsystems so they can't open an account somewhere else, or they agree its okay to be racist. So which is it?
Diedra tampering with the election? Oh no, not Diedra. That's like saying Bea is a backstabber and Wigg a loser and Smock likes latin boys. Never.
They’re doing bad thanks to Diedra and her clown board but they haven’t learned that when you’re not making money you don’t continue wasting money. Their looking for a full-time Director for Lending/Risk Management. If you go to their web page, the ad is on the careers page. They need someone who “plans, organizes, and directs the activities of consumer and mortgage lending departments.” Really, because if that’s the case then what is exactly that Joseph Garcia gets paid to do? He’s the consumer loan manager so it seems Mr. Garcia should be planning, organizing and directing “activities” for his department. If he’s not, then why is he on the payroll? Same for Saeid, the CFO. He supposedly oversees mortgage lending and “plans, organizes, and directs” their activities. If he’s not doing that, then why is he being paid a salary? The ad also says the person has to ensure “the credit union operations are in compliance with credit union and regulatory compliance policies, procedures and legal requirements.” Isn’t Patti Loiacano overseeing compliance? If she’s not doing that then what is she being paid to do? The ad also says that the person will also ensure “established profit” and “risk management.” Well that’s what Saeid Raad and Beatrice Walker are supposed to being. If they’re not doing it, then why are they still getting a salary? They also want to ensure compliance to “delinquency ratios.” So what is Yvonne Boutte being paid to do?
They want someone with a Bachelor (it’s Bachelors) degree. Doesn't Bea have an MBA and Charles and Smock BA’s and they all helped sink P1, didn't they?
At P1 management is their own priority that's why Wigg, Bea, Smock, Saeid, Randy, and West get paid for doing squat. I saw that ad. Esmeralda couldn't have written it. Smock used to write job descriptions by going on the internet and copying them from other companies. It was funny because if you googled what he wrote you sometimes got descriptions for firemen and once he copied a ranger's job description.
Saffold didn't only say P1 needed a black man, he said OJ was setup by the white man. Thats always the excuse with the stupid board. Sure Wigg sexually harassed but it wasn't his fault, it was the employee because she asked for it. Surprise they didn't blame the white man or the Mexicans or the asians. Its never about them because we all know black people never do any wrong its always everyone else that sets them up, that's if you believe Saffold. Hey, isn't Wigg married to to a white woman?
Those bios are nothing but a bunch of lies. They should be ashamed but Diedra, Thomas, Richard, and O. Glen have no shame, no scruples, no morals, not ethics.
Bold face liars and such pretty pictures.
Oh, and go Manny go! Win that election!
When I left P1 in 2007, you could see that Wiggington was turning the place into a ghetto. The board just proves that Wigg destroy the place.
Diedra look like she should be wearing a hoop skirt and big bonnet. And what happened to Gathers? Yikes. He turned into Fred Flinstone. Wow Mr Hale. Now I know what Erkel is going to look like when he's old. And kids if you don't study you're going to grow up to look like Saffold.
Hoop skirt? That's hysterical. She looks like she's audiioning for a remake of "Gone with the Wind."
Hale says he devoted a lot of his personal time to the credit union? Well isn't that what you do when you are on the board? What a stupid comment. Then he says he understands what members need? Do members need a credit union that doesn't pay squat % on savings accounts & cd's and do members need an A-- hole like Wiggington?
NORMALLY, board members are supposed to give up some of their time to help the credit union but for some reason at priority the board members think they're doing everyone a favor WHEN they do decide to show up.
At least we now have faces to go with the names. They all look alike... like liars.
I am happy to retrieve your extraordinary way of writing the post. Now you make it easy for me to understand and implement the concept. Thank you for the article.
Shame on members if Diedra gets re-elected.
Right after Bea got hired she started planning on remodeling South Pas. One of the things she wanted to do was install cubicles in the old credit resolution dept but all the stuff that came up in the blog made her stop. Now their doing it again and getting ready to put up the cubicles and higher a compliance person (even though they got one already). They haven't learned anything and are just wasting money while we're not getting raises because stupid old Wigg says they can't afford it. So they can't afford to pay for raises but they can afford to buy cubicles hire a new manager and keep paying Wigg, Smock, Bea, West, Esmeralda, Sylvia, Saeid and useless Randy big fat salaries none of them earn.
Bea? Whatever happened to that witch?
Bea hangs around with Gema and Georgina. She went ghetto. She was friends with Suzana until that ended. Then her buddy Yvonne kicked her to the curb. You can still see her shoe prints on Bea's face. Nobody trusts her or wants to be her friend so Gema and Georgina is all she's got left. That's until she gets tire of them or they get tire of her.
Anonymous said...
Gathers is a drunk and an embarrasement to the credit union. He has been spotted at several credit union events statewide being drunk and obnoxious. He was at a POCU planning weekend, going to his room every break, and as the day wore on, being more & more intoxicated to the point that no one would listen to his rants or supposedly good ideas at the planning event. He thinks he is God's gift to the credit union. Get rid of him.
May 2, 2011 7:42 AM
Anonymous said...
What does it take to get a ballot? I haven't received mine and called the credit union. I have a savings (member) account and loan but was told I was told I didn't qualify to vote. All of my accounts are current and I have never been late on my loan. Another fixing of the votes?
May 2, 2011 7:48 AM
To the person who only has a savings account but was told by POCU you can't vote, if that's what you were told, that's a violation of state law. When you called the credit union, they should have said they were going to send you a ballot. Because the election date line is coming up, filing a written complaint might take too long. POCU’s state license is 9530183. You can fax them at 916.445.2123 or email them at consumer.complaint@dfi.ca.gov. You can also call them at 800.622.0620.
You can also call Rodger Smock at his cellular at 626.260.6006
or you can call Wiggington at 626.260.6004 or you can call Diedra Harris Brooks at 310.505.0491. You can leave her a message at the main office but Wiggington and Bea intercept messages for the Board and Supervisor Committee. You can also write to Cornelis Simmons the Spvr Commtee Chairperson. Her email is csimm60857@aol.com. I'd contact the cu one more time, get the name of the person you speak to and then tell them you will file a complaint with the dfi. Then I'd call Diedra or the others if they keep telling you that you can't get a ballot.
Gathers isn't the only drunk at P1. Wigg drinks his Chivas like its water. Smock had a big problem too. Gathers amd Wigg smell. One time after a board meeting Diedra came out and said Gathers was "ripe." And Wigg's office smells when he sits in there with the door closed. And Gathers is a complainer. He talks shit about everyone. Guess he doesn't own a mirror like the rest of them. Even old Smock complained about the way Gathers talked to him. The board act like they're paid directors at Citi Bank. Attitude with none of the brains and they are ALL ghetto.
John, I'm sending you a complaint I found on the internet. You might want to use it in your next post.
If Gathers is a drunk, Hale is a scammer, O. Glenn is an idiot,and Diedra is a sneaky old troll. What a great group of representatives!
So is anyone a Diedra supporter?
Diedra is the worst thing to hit P1. If it wasn't for her failures or her dishonesty, P1 wouldn't gone into the hole. In Jan-March they made some money but that's because they cut back branches, aren't giving raises, not paying benefits, and they stopped ordering supplies. Have you looked at their marketing? It sucks big time and you have somone like Smock designing and writing when he sucks at those like he did at HR.
PS: whoever wrote "call Rodger Smock at his cellular at 626.260.6006 or you can call Wiggington at 626.260.6004 or you can call Diedra Harris Brooks at 310.505.0491....write to Cornelis Simmons...csimm60857@aol.com" are those their private cells and email? LOL
Does someone have Bea's cell #?
Priority One's biggest problem is they don't know anything about money management even though they say their a financial fitness center. The last time they were fit was whey Mr. Harris was president after that they endedd up hospitalized. Robert West became a big liar when he suggested they call themselves a financial fitness center and that they could help members win with money. Look at their rates, they're low- really low. Their employees aren't winning with money and like you said, Gathers ran and hid when you started publishing all those documents they knew anyone had. Same for West, the moron who used to call the bloggers haters now doesn't say anything because he got caught with his pants down. Priority needs a whole new board, even Mrs. Irving needs to go because she's weak. If the DFI were doing its job they would have come in and kicked all of them to the curb.
I'm not sure that's their biggest problem but that is a problem.
A LOT OF CU's DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT P1 IS STILL IN BUSINESS. THEY THINK IT WENT UNDER A LONG TIME AGO. SHE'S THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE INDUSTRY AND WIGG IS A JOKE. ONE THING FOR SURE, THEY LOOK LIKE THEY GREW ON PAPER BUT PEOPLE AT THEIR SEGS AND AT THE POST OFFICE SAY THEY DON'T COME AROUND OR OFFER ANYTHING.
They're still doing bad. Look at their repot on the NCUA web site.
What do they offer? Did Mr Harris come back and visit after he retired? I know he loved that credit union. Their website is a big yawn. They only advertising their 4.49% auto rate and the Revlon Walk, the newsletter, and invite to the annual meeting. Other than that, they don't so anything about how they can help members. What happened to their finacial planner and that company they signed up who was supposed to help members with their debts?
OMG. I saw Wigg this past week. What the h--! He looks HORRIBLE. He looks as bad as Saffold, Hale and Diedra. Woo, woo, wee. I can't believe he's working. Dragging that leg around, he should be staying home. And his face. He looks like krap.
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Ballots are due supposed to be back by midnight on 5/24 and they are supposed to announce the winners and losers at the annual meeting on 5/25. Talk about calling it close and talk about not trusting them or that accounting firm.
Can the Chairperson decide if the president stays?
If the board is in agreement. At Priority, the whole board should have been removed. They didn't do anything for 3 years to fix the messes Wigg created and in fact they enabled him. The supervisory committee is invisible and they let Diedra run the show. Diedra got her "tribe" to do her bidding and for what? Members aren't being offered anything they can't get somewhere else at a better rate and employees suffer. That letter Diedra wrote to Wigg should have said he was being fired but either he's got something on her or she knows another CEO won't let her run the show.
Notice how quiet Wigg is. You don't see him posting anymore, saying "I'm still here" or shut-up and "do you job." Same for O.Glen and Gathers and Bea. Guess all those documents that got posted finally shut them up.
Get Diedra out!! Cut the snake's head off. Anyway, she says she's been on the board 9 years and their performance sucks so time for fresh blood and maybe people who know that losing money is not a good thing.
The state is still rating them badly. No big surprise there. And they're still solvent meaning they are above the 6.0% (I think they're about 6.7%) which is an improvement because last year they were at 6.3% and they were scared. That's why they unloaded but there's only so much you can unload and at some point you better bring in new business or else. And if they don't have a marketing person in place, then their in more trouble because no committee or inexperienced SVP is going to cut it for them.
I sometimes wonder what Mr Harris thinks. He doesn't keep in touch with anyone at South Pasadena. He must be so embarrassed but he shouldn't be because he did a great job. He could never imagine what Diedra, Wiiggington and Rodger would do to the place. Priority One is a big embarrassment and no one respects them.
Mr Harris like half their employees are probably embarrassed by Wiggington and Walker.
How old is the picture of Diedra? Looks like it was taken in 1812.
It couldn't be that new. I hope she loses.
Their still falling. Wigg has been bragging they're on the road to recovery but they're not because new business is just not happening. They're saving because of cut-backs but that's not making them money. Sylvia is nervous and Bea is hiding. Smock walks around the office like he's the good fairy and dq's aren't doing good.
Wigg needs to retire he can hardly walk around now days.
To the person who was wondering why they won't send you a ballot, Wigg told Irma his assistant, Rodger, Bea, and the others that if anyone calls asking for a ballot that they check their accounts. If they have a missing payment on a loan for example, then they are not to get a ballot. That includes if you had a delinquency but are now current. I don't think that's legal but he's scared that if the board changes that could effect what he's allowed to do. And Diedra backed him up on that because she doesn't want to lose her chair.
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They do need new blood. If you visit South Pas, the place is horrible. People look miserable, no one's friendly or cross-selling. They're just there. The Los Angeles office is doing good but that because its really a check cashing office. Business at Burbank is down and Sylvia is even doing bd work problem is people don't like her because she's pushy and loud. Now they're supposedly going to open the new branch in Santa Clarita sometime in June but they lost so many member when they closed Valencia. The $ they make is from cut backs so I don't see how they can grow.
Wigg shouldn't be workingg anymore not just because he can't lead the credit union but he's walking around dragging one leg. Lucky for him he's left-handed otherwise he wouldn't be able to write. He needs to stop worrying about the board changing because lets faceit he ruined Priority's reputation and as long as he's there it will never change.
Does anyone really believe that they won't rig the election? Wigg and Bea don't want Manny to win because they drove him out in 2009 when he wouldn't fix the numbers. I don't trust the accounting firm anyway, because they are paid by Priority 1 and it would be in their best interest not to do what Priority 1 wants.
Used to be such a nice place to work at.
It was a differnt place before Wigg showed up, ruined the credit union, and before he started dragging his leg around.
snakes need to have their heads cut off and it's really up to the staff to keep good recoreds and write down everything that happens at P1
The staff should keep written notes just in case they get fired and need to sue or file a complaint with the EEOC or Dept of Fair Emp/Housing. I would never recommend they take their notes to HR because as long as Rodger Smock, Esmeralda Sandoval or Robert West are in control, policy will be broken people will get fired and everyone's rights will be squashed. Just the way it is at P1 under Wiggington.
Does anyone remember Aaron Cavazos? He and Wigg were buddies. Wigg knew people had said Aaron was a sexual harasser but he promoted him anyway but the minute Aaron yelled at Wigg, the ooooollllddd president, backstabbed his buddy and got rid of him..... with the help of Rodger Smock. Ah, those were the days at P1, when backstabbers did each other in.
Wiggington has gotten everything he had coming to him. Well, maybe not everything. He fired a lot of people using lies and making up stories about them. He bragged he was better than Mr. Harris but he wasn't even better than low life Rodger Smock. He's sick and no body cares. He uses it to milk pity but no one feels sorry for him. He's pathetic. And that moron Robert West suddenly keeps his big hypocritical mouth shut. What happened Robert, all the documents showing your "boy" was guilty knocked you off your soap box? People like West, Smock, Esmeralda and old Sylvia Perez will back up Wiggington because they are dishonest and they know no other comnpany would pay them what they get paid at P1. They're all liars like Diedra, Gathers, Hale, Saffold, and Cornela so they have to do everything they can to keep the black board in place. Its pathetic. Wigg used to say that a lot of people wanted to be president but he played the game and beat them all. Great job Wigg, even though it cost you your health. Dragging your leg around and your arm just don't seem worth it.
Wigg was greedy and ruined Priority 1 and Bea has finished it off. Now everyone knows how awaful she is and he is sick. Wait to pick your battles, Wiggy.
Wigg and then Bea did make the place the mess it is today witgh the help of Rodger and West and even old stupid chola Sylvia.
The place is just awful. What happened to the teller line? Seems like they only have 1 teller. What happened to all the ones they used to have. Isn't Bea supposed to be over operations?
I don't believe this will be an honest election because Diedra is not about to do the right thing and risk losing her seat.
VOTE FOR MANNY, HE'S OUR MAN, HE CAN KICK THE BOARD RIGHT IN THEE ASS.
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Vote for Manny and hope Diedra and the Hwang, Turner, Warren and whatever their name is don't help her and Wigg cheat. Anyway, Wigg needs to take his limpy ass and retire. I am so tired of seeing him. He looks horrible.
Hey whats up with Bea? I work in Valencia and I saw her in her car one time and another on the street. Doesn't she have a job to do in South Pasadena? Bitch get your ass back to SPas and start earning your pay.
Manny, Manny, he's our man-
If you think he can do it-
Then Wigg sure CAN'T .
Let's get leashes on Bea and Wigg. Its still not too late.
Does it matter if Bea, Wigg or Rodger are work? They don't do anything and when they do something they make things worse. Throw in Esmeralda, West and Randy too.
So what happened to big bad Bea? All that talk she was going to make changes down the drain like everythin Wigg did. Good job!
You're right, Bea isn't around and Wigg just spends the day talking people's ears off and none of them do a damn thing they get paid to do, but they're not the only ones. Have you wondered what fat Esmeralda Sandoval does? She sends out stupid, useless memos but they got her tail wagging when they gave her Dane's old office. Now the high school HR clerk thinks she's somebody. Only at P1 because you wouldn't hire that chola at a company where you have to actually work and speak like you're not from the barrio. And what about Missy Rodger? She goes around the office passing out coupons to El Pollo Loco (no reference to Bea) or some hamburger place. Is this what an old fat man/woman gets $115,000 a year to do? Give me her job.
I worked with Sylvia Perez for years and that woman has to be the biggest embarassment in the industry. She's bossy, rude, and not to smart. What she has going for her is she goes out of the branch and tries to get business, though she is so pushy and rude, I wouldn't open an account with her. Smart and educated people don't gravitate to her her. You can see at the Burbank chamber lunches where she was disliked because she is obnoxious. She lies to get what she wants but praises the Lord at the same time. You see the same thing with Robert West and Esmeralda who says she's Christian but shacking up with her baby daddy. Anyway.... Sylvia has always been liked by Wigg, that's why she wasn't fired a long time ago. Smock used to dislike her because he thought she saying she was a Christian meant she didn't like gays (which she doesn't), but then again, she's not a Christian, is she? She says horrible things about employees (she forgot gossip is sin) and she has driven so many employees away. George finally left after dummy realized that he was never going to get promoted to management. Really George? She gave him such a bad time for years and years but when he left she was upset but thought he was going to leave his list with all his contacts which he took with him. Nosw the old lady has to figure out how to get new business when P1is not approving money for attending events. Go figure. Bea is her boss and Sylvia says Bea is treating her a lot better than she used but her only complaint is Bea doesn't know anything about developing business. Just found that out did you Sylvia?
Wow, they made $28,000 in April! What's that, the cost of a medium size auto? LOL.
Did Bea transfer money again from the loan allowance like she did last year?
Probably. Pretty sure Saeid does whatever she asks, after all he owes his job to her.
You're right their numbers are higher but not that much higher than when they started 2010. And you have to consider they're down two branches and they're not paying out benefits to a lot employees but didn't they convert some of the staff to part-time? No, the numbers don't show that they're on the road to recovery. In fact they're monthly profit is so little it's not going to make up for what they have to pay-out including % on that $10 million loan. What you can see is that they're not bringing in enough new business and if you notice, they don't tell you the amount of their monthly delinquencies. No, nothing changed except their smaller and forgettable in a market with a lot of better, even smaller, better run credit unions. They're too top heavy and need to kick off some of the executives beginning with the AVP and COO and no doubt, the CEO.
That will never happen as long as uselss, bend the rules, backstabbing, I want the board one color, Diedra stays on the board.
Amazing how there so much dishonesty in management. No one leaves P1 and ever says "I miss working for Charles or Bea or Rodger."
Why would you expect more. We're not making money thats why they moved Pattie L to LAPDC. Joseph is useless. He can't get new loans and he does nothing to make service better for members. Same for Wigg whose dragging his leg around and yakking it up but not working. Smock walks around looking older and fatter and Esmeralda is lazy. Bea? Where is she and what is she doing? Its not getting better but they are smaller.
Does anyone know what Less Strategic Default Reserve means? Its on their latest balance sheet? It shows a negative -$294,372. Is separte from their loan allowance.
Less Strategic Default is a voluntary financial strategy intentionally made by a property owner. Since P1 deals with home mortgages and not business mortgages, then it probably relates to a house. When someone picks Less Strategic Default it means that they have looked at whether its better to continuing making their mortgage payments or if its better to default. A lot of times its not because the person can't afford the payments but rather that the value of their property has dropped since they bought the property. Basically what they decidecd is "the heck with it, I’m not making payments on a house that’s not worth what I bought it for.” If Less Strategic Default appears on P1’s reports this means a member has walked away from their propety. If the amount P1 is reporting is less than $300,000 it might just be one property, but for a any credit union particularly one like P1 which has shrunk in size and is having trouble getting new business and depends on cut-backs as the main means to make money, its not good news. Too bad because it doesn't look like things are getting better, does it?
Any body think Diedra's going to be re-elected? Any takers on whether the election is rigged? Anyone think Manny going to win?
Diedra and Wigg cheated in last years election. First they tried to control who was going to be notified. Then they caught so they do the whole election over again And cheating, good for nothing Diedra lets Mr. Chen turn in his nomination even though the election was over. I don't think anyone should expect a fair eleciton. The ballots are being counted by the accounting firm they hire do their audits. I think there's a conflict of interest and don't be surprised if they say Manny didn't win even if he did. You can't trust Diedra.
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I think few people trust them and a lot think the whole things going to be fixed because Wigg and Diedra will do anything for things not to change. Poor Bea, she's stuck in a ghetto cu.
Someone tell Sylvia to shut-up!!!
Does anyone know who won?
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The incumbents won. Useless, dishonest, conniving Diedra, good for nothing liar, O. Glen Saffold, Gathers whose ready for the glu factory, and stupid, dumb ass. Hale. You can kiss this credit union good-bye again.
Employees know there's no way Diedra and her goons could have won unless the election was fixed like she did in 2009/2010. They should have a recount.
Did Manny campaign?
They cheated. You know it. The ballots were sent to their same accounting firm, the ones that do their audits and help them respond to the DFI and NCUA. Conflict of interest?
We are looking for people with passion: people with heart.
If you have ever desired to work in a professional environment with people you truly care about, and to produce meaningful results in the lives of others while experiencing the transformation of your life in the process, now is your chance.
We are Priority One Credit Union, and we are looking for a Director of Lending/Risk Management to join on our team.
This job advertisement is on Calif. Credit Union League website.
First, what are they doing hiring more executives when they are losing money? Second, is this description of the company a bunch of bull?
Esmeralda, Smock and West COPIED parts of that job description from some ads for medical jobs and from
http://www.career.caltech.edu/resources/handouts/Interviewing%20Techniques.pdf. The Career Center has pamphlet named "interviewing techniques". They can't even be original and find a way of describing their own credit union. They forgot to mention a miserable place where the President and COO break to rules, where there is not growth, where employees are miserable, where lying and backstabbing is just what you do, where executives get salaries they don't deserve and where HR backstabs you. At least that would be telling the truth.
Charles is really embarrassing! He walks around and tells everybody about all his medical issues and procedures (sparing no details). The employees have to edure listening to him talk about his enlarged prostate, analexams, urinating problems and much more. I believe that in no other company employees have to endure that, not even in sweat shops. He interviews the Risk job candidates for hours probably telling them all about his medical issues. He interviewed Yvonne Boutte's friend for atleast 6 hours.
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I so agree. The other day he was talking about his prostate and said he can still get erections. Yuck. Who wants to think of him with an erection. And I do think they rigged the election. That Diedra would do anything to win. Loser. But by the same token what did Manny do to tell people he was running? If he didn't even do that then maybe he wasn't the guy for the job.
You would have thought that after being found guilty of sexual harassment that he would keep away from talking about his crotch.
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He's a big joke. He should just retire and take care of himself outside POCU. Why do the employees have to be submitted thru such stories.
That is gross!! 6 hours for an interview?? He probably didn't let that person talk. Looks like Yvonne is taking over P1. She is Charles "buddy" and lets not forget any buddy of Charles is Rodgers buddy the CFOs buddy and let's not forget she replaced her white girl with Patty L the internal auditor.
I remember when Yvonne got interviewed to head collections, that Charles kept her in the interview for hours! Then after she got hired, he would call her to his office supposedly for business and then shoot the breeze telling her about his wife, his son, his house, the shack he lives in, his aunt, his uncle and everythng but business. Got the point she would ask his assistant to call her if the meeting went on for more than 1 hour and to say she had an important collections call. She kisses his ass that's why she got where she is, but she couldn't stand him either. She probably thought she had it made when Bea showed up and they became close until she realized Bea's a big useless bitch and dumped her ass too.
Patty L is just happy someone likes her.
Wow, Gathers and Diedra are so good-looking.
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