Through the Looking Glass, Part 2

STRATEGIZING

In an effort to try and clinch new business, President Wiggington and his “executive” staff (a misnomer if ever there was one) are considering several new options that could, in their opinion, potentially raise new business. These include:

• Opening the main branch located in South Pasadena, on Saturdays.
• Easing the requirements qualifying members for loans.
• Giving new members $70 to $80 to deposit into their newly opened savings account.
• Opening a checking account for members previously referred to ChexSystems but who have not sustained an adverse referral in more than two years. 
• Amending the requirements qualifying an applicant for membership to Priority One.

The suggestion to open the main branch on Saturdays may have been a good idea 2007, 2008, 2009, and in 2010, but in 2012, the idea is more than a little stale dated and will likely, if implemented, crash and burn like so many of the other, not so brilliant endeavors undertaken by and under President Wiggington. The South Pasadena location is now widely known for its depressing environment and unhappy and unhelpful staff. Members who once proudly referred to the location as “home” now often avoid visiting the branch all together.

Evidently, President Wiggington has forgotten about the pitfalls of subprime lending. His first mistake was to take the advice of CLO, Cindy Garvin and extend the timeframe a member has to fund a loan from 30 to 60 days (please refer to our previous post). As we’ve previously pointed out, the President’s decision-making abilities are heavily tainted by desperation.

The proposal to deposit $70 to $80 into newly opened savings account will further undercut the credit union’s ability to reap a profit. They currently are floundering to clinch new business and are experiencing problems retaining existent business. Furthermore, their product portfolio is failing to attract the member interest. The credit union’s implementation of monthly sales quotas is failing to achieve its intent and amidst declining sales, someone at Priority One has been inspired to suggest depositing money into newly opened savings accounts. More evidence that there is a gross inability to exercise common sense amongst the credit union’s chronically deficient, management sector.

Qualifying members who have previously been referred to ChexSystems and who have made no effort to resolve the adverse reference is foolish and risky. The President is again throwing caution to the wind and hoping that through sheer luck, members who were formerly referred to ChexSystems will somehow garner the discipline to manage their Priority One checking accounts in a responsible manner.

When Cindy Garvin was hired in August 2011, Mr. Wiggington made certain that all employees were informed of her expertise in consumer and mortgage loan funding, marketing and advertising, and business development. Thus far, Ms. Garvin’s few ideas have like those of her predecessor, Beatrice Walker, teetered and none has yet to achieve any notable record of success. Recently, Ms. Garvin suggested amending membership requirements. Under her plan, applicant’s who contribute to a specific charity, would qualify for membership. The idea is hardly novel and one Ms. Garvin plagiarized from her former employer, Clearpath Federal Credit Union.  

Ms. Garvin, like President Wiggington, seems incapable of comprehending the impediments facing Priority One Credit Union. As we’ve mentioned time and time again since January 2009, a key obstacle undermining the credit union’s ability to grow and prosper is the failure by President Wiggington, his executive staff, AVP’s, and Branch Managers, to convert non-active members into active participants of the credit union and recipients of the services and  products it offers. At Priority One little effort is exerted to tap into this large undeveloped sector because President Wiggington is incapable of understanding that real growth cannot be achieved through quick fixes or without exacting the time to build relations with members.

As reported in our previous post, in February, Ms. Garvin and AVP of Sales and Business Development, Joseph Garcia, ordered that staff begin calling members on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings, for the purpose of cross-selling products. Ms. Garvin, Mr. Garcia and President Wiggington decided to target members who first opened accounts in 1995 but who have never acquired other products or services offered by the credit union. Thus far, all efforts to induct these members have failed, quite miserably. In the interim, the officers also discovered that as a result of the credit union’s lackadaisical attitude towards this sector, these members have little if any interest in the products offered by the credit union. Its literally a case of stagnation resulting from the executive’s sector inability to comprehend the importance of building relationships with their members.

Being a creature of bad habits, in April, President Wiggington’s officers decided to focus again, on acquiring new members. As the President should have learned from the credit union’s November 2011 and December 2011, production reports, opening only new savings accounts may increase capital but it doesn’t produce profit unless members open checking accounts and obtain financial products which generate interest which translates into profit.

Another impediment to the credit union is in the gross inexperience of AVP of Sales and Business Development, Joseph Garcia. His ineptitude, lack of knowledge and lack of education along with his bad temper and his threats to issue written warnings and/or terminate employees who fail to meet their assigned goals, are further exacerbating the already brittle and deteriorating state of employee morale. It is quite clear that both Ms. Garvin and Mr. Garcia are devoid of the imagination, patience, and knowledge of Priority One’s marketplace, to implement anything which might help dredge Priority One out of its financial rut. 

SCHEMES

In mid-April, President Wiggington disclosed that the Burbank branch will as stated previously, close its doors on May 31, 2012. He also revealed that the staff assigned to Burbank and the newly opened, Santa Clarita branch, are failing to meet their assigned monthly goals. The always verbose President also revealed that he may have to lay-off the entire staff currently assigned to the Burbank office along with some of the staff assigned to the recently opened Santa Clarita location due to their failure to achieve their assigned goals.

Amidst the ray, the also verbose AVP of Region 3, Sylvia Perez, has stated that in her opinion, she will probably be reassigned to the Santa Clarita branch. Ms. Perez’s statement is pure conjecture, at least at present. She has admitted that neither President Wiggington or Employee Development Director, Robert West, have advised her if her employment is to continue. With the scheduled closure of the Burbank office, the credit union hardly requires the assistance of an AVP to oversee the very small branches in Van Nuys and Santa Clarita. Furthermore, over the past two years, Mrs. Perez’s role as an AVP have primarily required that she act as a Branch Manager and FSR, two positions hardly justifying continuation of her hefty salary.

Also rather conspicuously, since 2007, Mrs. Perez has been assigned to the Burbank branch and at no time during the past five years, has that office performed on anything other than a subpar level. Mrs. Perez certainly has had more than sufficient time to prove her competency. In sharp contrast to her lackluster performance while at Burbank, the Van Nuys branch under management of Branch Manager, Cecilia Peryera, has prospered, with employees achieving their assigned goals. The evidence shows that Mrs. Perez lacks the competency which could have transformed the Burbank office into a highly productive and lucrative branch.

In late 2011 and early 2012, former Manager of Lending, Joseph Garcia, began a personal campaign promoting his abilities and asserting that through a well-conceived plan, he could actually reverse the obstacles impeding Priority One’s ability to acquire new business and create real and viable profit. President Wiggington took the bait and in February promoted the unaccomplished and bad-tempered Mr. Garcia, to the newly created position of AVP of Sales and Business Development.

In February, Mr. Garcia and CLO, Cindy Garvin, implemented mandatory overtime, forcing employees to remain at work until 7 p.m., each and every Wednesday, and working on alternating Saturdays. During overtime and as reported previously, employees are required to call members at their homes and invite them to obtain financial products offered by the credit union.

By March, it became more than a little evident that these latest scheme is failing to capture member interest. In an effort to motivate employees, Mr. Garcia and at times, Ms. Garvin, began conducting surprise visits to branches, in an effort to monitor employee activity and issue reminders that every employee is expected to reach their assigned monthly goals.

By early April, Mr. Garcia began declaring that if goals aren't met, the credit union may be forced to merge, employees will be issued written warnings, and/or, employees may be laid-off.

Understandably, the results of Mr. Garcia’s aggressive efforts have alienated staff who are complaining about his incessant harping and excessive tactics. The problem plaguing Mr. Garcia’s “efforts” is quite simply that he is unqualified to serve in an AVP capacity and has never proven that he is able to create innovative strategical planning that might hope to capture member interest in the few products offered by the waning credit union. If his stint as Manager of the Consumer Loan Department is an indicator of his abilities and of the future, then you can expect Mr. Garcia to fail again, just as he did in all his previous capacities.

To be fair, business at the Burbank branch has been in decline for over four years, not because members lost interest in the location or because staff is incapable of cross-selling products and services but because AVP, Sylvia Perez, is an incompetent manager. 

Following her appointment to AVP on January 1 2007, Mrs. Perez relocated to the Burbank branch after having served for several years as branch manager of the Van Nuys office. 

Within a few weeks following her transfer, a new branch manager was hired to oversee operations of the Van Nuys office and almost immediately, he discovered that Mrs. Perez's former staff had never been taught to count money compliant with state-mandated banking standards or to comply with security measures designed to reduce and eliminate the incidences of monetary losses. The discoveries caused Mrs. Perez to document fraudulent accusations against the new branch manager who she successfully terminated with the assistance of then AVP of Operations, Rodger Smock.

For years, Mrs. Perez has publicly proclaimed her wonderful skills in business development and publicly shamed her staff because according to her, none possess her abilities to sell the credit union's financial products and services. And though the President embraced Mrs. Perez's statements at face value and without ever demanding evidence to support her self-exalting proclamations. 

Recently, this all changed with the advent of monthly sales quotas assigned to every single employee. Records show that at the end of February 2012, Mrs. Perez, the self-proclaimed business development crackerjacket, failed to meet her monthly assigned sales quota. AVP, Joseph Garcia, issued a mandated warning advising her that she must meet her quota by the end of March or suffer further disciplinary action including termination. 

Upset, she returned to Burbank and complained to her staff that she was being singled out and treated unfairly by Mr. Garcia. What we find peculiar is that her monthly quota is $150,000, the same amount assigned to most other employees yet unlike other staff members, she has suddenly most her mojo and is no longer able to produce the immense levels of new business she boasted about for many years, She has also complained that her "friend" and  long-time ally, President Wiggington, is not responding to her emails or voicemails left at his office and company cellular. 

At the end of March 2012, Mrs. Perez again failed to meet her quota and was issued yet another warning by Mr. Garcia but unlike all other employees, she was not terminated and instead asked to try and attain her quota by the end of April 2012. Don't expect Mrs. Perez to achieve her quotas. Her years of boasting and even shaming her staff who she said lacked her sales acumen are over. Who could ever have imagined that when required to provide evidence of her accomplished monthly sales that Mrs. Perez would be found out to have been a liar and exaggerator? 

But the Burbank branch is not the only location failing to meet its goals. Not-so-surprisingly, South Pasadena is fairing poorly and is now known for it's depressing work environment and rude and unhelpful staff. This is also the home of the now infamous Collection Department, who have become notorious for their abusive treatment of members.

Alex Suarez, the recently appointed Supervisor of Collections, is best known for her abusive and disparaging treatment of members and recently revealed South Pasadena may begin opening on Saturdays. She has said that opening the branch on weekends will provide Priority One with a window of opportunity to clench new business. Unfortunately for Ms. Suarez, her conclusions are more than a little skewed.  The credit union appears the last to realize that closure of three branches in less than a two year period and a fourth which is scheduled to close, has created a negative and indelible impression that Priority One is a failing financially. Then again, what other conclusion could one come to? The result has been increased account closures and rumors that Priority is preparing to close down. It may never have occurred to President Wiggington that closing several branches over a short period of time could impact the credit union negatively and even impede their ability to attract new business. As we've often pointed out, the President is immovably oblivious to the reasons why Priority One is a credit union in rapid decline. 

In January 2011, then COO, Beatrice Walker, promoted South Pasadena Branch Manager to AVP and appointed her management of the Riverside branch and the Call Center which had been under supervision of Ms. Walker's former confidant, Joseph Garcia. 

The decision to promote Mrs. Pleitez had absolutely nothing to do with competency because Mrs. Pleitez is known to be lazy, irresponsible and a chronic policy-breaker. She was promoted because Ms. Walker and Mr. Garcia had a falling out. Not only did their one-year friendship come to an abrupt end in 2010, but Mr. Garcia informed co-workers that he knew that Ms. Walker was  seeking his termination. What's more, when Mrs. Pleitez was promoted to AVP, Mr. Garcia complained that in 2010, Ms. Walker had promised to promote him to the post of AVP and with that, to grant him a heft increase in salary. 

Ms. Walker is evidently emotionally so undisciplined that she can't refrain from exacting vengeance on whoever offends her sensibilities, even from the likes of someone like Joseph Garcia. But Mr. Garcia isn't without his own devices and in early 2011, he called the former Valencia Branch Manager, the same officer Ms. Walker is alleged to have stalked, and asked her to help him formulate an excuse he could use to request a medical leave of absence. The former Branch Manager assisted him and Mr. Garcia fled the credit union in an effort to escape Ms. Walker's planned reprisal. 

However, Mrs. Pleitez promotion to AVP was short-lived. Though she retained her title of AVP, in February she was stripped of her title of supervisor over the Call Center and authority over the Member Services and Teller departments. Mrs. Pleitez is now required to monitor incoming calls to the Call Center and in assisting her supervisor, Yvonne Boutte, in running the Member Services Department. To date, Mrs. Pleitez has yet to visit a single Select Employer Group or postal facility. She remains in her small and constricted in the South Pasadena branch. So has Mrs. Pleitez been reduced to the capacity of a glorified Financial Services Representative, that of Call Center Supervisor  or Mrs. Boutte's valet? One thing is certain, the continuous juggling of titles, positions and responsibilities is hardly an example of the President's so-called efforts to create a bigger, better and more efficient credit union. 

FIRED AND HIRED

When any business is struggling financially, the one strategy that is not usually guaranteed to reverse financial losses is to fire staff and then rehire their replacements. Since early 2010, the credit union has used the excuse it must implement lay-offs because it cannot afford to continue paying certain salaries. It might have been believable had they not replaced many of the employees who were terminated. Replacement employees have often been hired on a part-time basis, reducing the amount the credit union has to pay for their services and eliminating the payment of all benefits. 

Starting on February 2, 2012, the President has authorized the hiring of an Internal Auditor, two collection representatives, one new loan officer and one new loan processor. It's peculiar that despite closing three branches and preparing to close a fourth that Priority One is hiring more staff. What's more, the Human Resources Department which was for years staffed by only one person now requires a staff of three people- Rodger Smock, Robert West and Esmeralda Sandoval. 

What's more, despite her polarizing personality and lukewarm performance, the President has expanded the authority of Yvonne Boutte and along with her added responsibilities, increased her salary. 

ONCE UPON A TIME

In 2009, then COO, Beatrice Walker, informed the President that if you wish to drive unwanted employees out of the credit union, then assign them to work out of branches located far from their homes.  Ms. Walker also taught the President and other managers that if the company lays-off personnel off, they can replace them in six-months commensurate with California state law. According to Ms. Walker, hiring replacements after six-months precludes laid-off employees from being able to sue the credit union. 

In 2011, President Wiggington and then Consumer Loan Manager, Joseph Garcia, ordered reassignment of a South Pasadena Loan Processor to work out of the credit union's Los Angeles branch despite the fact the processor worked just a few blocks from the credit union. The transfer was allegedly to be temporary and intended to help AVP, Lynnette Fortson, whose branch was allegedly short-staffed. However, after several months it became apparent that the reassignment was not temporary. 

Frustrated that the loan processor did not resign, the President ordered the loan processor to be laid-off and using the excuse her position was being phased out. The President also informed Mr. Garcia that in January 2012, he could begin searching for a replacement for the loan processor. 

Though the Loan Processor was told the transfer was temporary, it became a permanent move. Later that same year, President Wiggington ordered that the employee be laid-off. For years, the President complained rather hypocritically, that the Loan Processor was the source of gossip and while assigned to the Los Angeles branch, the employee allegedly made certain adverse statements about President Wiggington and Mr. Garcia. It was then that President Wiggington ordered her ouster. During her exit interview she was informed that the credit union was performing poorly and could not afford to continue her employment. After being laid-off, the employee called Board of Directors Chairperson, Diedra Harris-Brooks, to complaint about her termination. The Board Chairperson assured her she would look into the matter and even stated that she “might” be able to reinstate her employment in two to three months.

This past February, while visiting the South Pasadena branch, the former Loan Processor noticed a new employee working in the Loan Department. She asked if the employee had been recently hired and in what capacity. She was promptly informed that the new employee had been hired to process consumer loans.

Stunned that she hadn't been recalled to work, the former Loan Processor called Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, who told her that she would not only look into the situation but promised that if possible, would do everything to ensure the former employee was reinstated. As one could predict, the dishonest Mrs. Harris-Brooks did absolutely nothing and instead called the President and told him to bring an end to the situation. 

The President called the former employee and told her that the reasons for her termination were legitimate and that the person she saw in the Loan Department was not a loan processor. Actually, that was completely untrue because the employee processes new loan applications. The President also assured her that if a new position becomes available, he would recall the employee to work. He has yet to call. Don't expect the former loan processor to ever be recalled. 

REINVENTING THE WHEEL

On Thursday, March 22, 2012, recently appointed Manager of Member Services and the Teller Department,f Yvonne Boutte, went on an exploratory trek accompanied by AVP, Gema Pleitez, and Assistant South Pasadena Branch Manager, Virginia Contreras, and Jennifer Preciado, to allegedly discover how other credit unions do business in a quest to try and reverse the effects of President Wiggington's horrendous business decisions. 

The problem with the excursion that all four women are horrendous and caustic personalties at the credit union who are known for being haughty and rude to employees. All also are known to be rude to members and unwilling to respond to member complaints and concerns. And though Human Resources has received numerous complaints about all four women, the President has appointed them to create strategies that increase new business and heal morale problems. 

Mrs. Boutte and Mrs. Pleitez are known for their condescending treatment of employees. Mrs. Pleitez has spent years refusing to speak to members who request her assistance. She is also known to spend hours shopping on the Internet from the comfort of her desk and having her purchases delivered to the South Pasadena branch. In the weeks after January 2011, following her promotion to AVP, Mrs. Pleitez was known to visit the credit union's Accounting Department and loudly refuse to carryout certain procedures which she found beneath her, often proclaiming, "I don't do that. I'm an AVP!"

Long time employee and friend of Rodger Smock, Virginia Contreras, has served as Assistant Branch Manager in South Pasadena, however, she is best known for micromanaging employees and speaking to them rudely and publicly  ridiculing them. Though abrasive, curt, and ill-mannered, she is knowledgeable about Member Services Department procedures. She certainly is more knowledgeable than either Mrs. Pleitez and Mrs. Boutte. Unfortunately, her caustic personality has impeded her upward mobility. It hasn't helped that while temporarily assigned to the Burbank branch, she has openly criticized Mrs. Pletiez who she describes as lazy and ineffective. 

Unfortunately for Miss Contreras, Mrs. Boutte has already targeted her for future termination. It isn't a secret at the main branch and it'll be interesting to see how much longer Mrs. Contreras remains employed by Priority One. 

What we find most interesting is that none of the women remembers that the credit union has a policy in place governing confidentiality and forbidding slander. 

OFFERING NOTHING

The credit union's dividends, as shown above, aren't impressive. Yet, the credit union is using these to promote new membership. Where's the motivation that would inspire a person to want to become a member of Priority One Credit Union? Could it be that this is a reason why the credit union's asset value has declined by more than $24 million since January 1, 2007? 

CLO, Cindy Garvin has informed employees that they "must do your part bring in new business." Maybe Ms. Garvin should have said, “Everyone has to help clean up the mess created by Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.” 

The problem is not employees but the President, the horrendous board and a long line of incompetent executives, none of who has to date, contributed anything to resolve any of the debacles created by the President. The President is too obtuse to comprehend that he has to acquire an understanding of the credit union's demographically diverse marketplaces and create products and services that meet the needs and wants of the people in those communities. 

Though the credit union was founded in 1926 (not 1929) by postal carriers, at no time has President Wiggington ever implemented a single program that reaches out to this large and influential sector. If the President has proven anything, it's that he is oblivious to the needs of the credit union's members or expressing gratitude for their long patronage of the credit union.

From the date he was first appointed, President Wiggington's focus has been self. The power hungry oligarch's focus on his personal indulgences has caused millions of dollars in losses and the closure of three branches with a fourth branch slated to close either in May or June of this year. 

His grandiose aspirations and boastings that he would take the credit union to new heights evidently backfired. What's more, he's provoked the filing of three lawsuits. What he has achieved is a reputation for indulging in wasteful spending, gossip, backstabbing, and violating policies and laws. In the end, his behaviors, mistakes, fumbling, and horrendous personal behaviors have placed Priority One exactly where it should be. 

Through the Looking Glass–Part 1

RUMORS

On April 2, 2012, Priority One Credit Union's President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. revealed that Paul F. Schimley, one of the credit union's overpaid attorneys from the firm of Richardson Harmon Ober PC had allegedly proclaimed a victory in the complaint filed by a former Business Development Representative against the credit union. Allegedly and according to Mr. Schimley, the Plaintiff had become uncooperative and refused to enter into a settlement offered up by the credit union. 

According to the giddy and elated President who knows about as much about the judicial system as he does about developing new business, the Plaintiff's attorney had not only agreed with the terms offered by the credit union's attorney but had suddenly changed his mind about his client's case and declared that it was indeed frivolous. The President's statements were later repeated by Director of Project Management, Yvonne Boutte, who said the Plaintiff's case had "been thrown out by the court." Evidently, the intellectually challenged President has found equally incompetent allies in Attorney Schimley, in the brash Mrs. Boutte and in the Plaintiff's attorney, Joseph L. Lovretovich. 

So why would Attorneys Paul F. Schimley and Joseph Lovretovich possibly violated ethics and set themselves up for a potential lawsuit and divulge information that can only be determined by a judge? And why did the President and Mrs. Boutte choose to commit slander and violate the credit union's own hypocritically guarded policy governing confidentiality?  

Not only did the undisciplined attorneys and executives choose to conduct themselves unethically, but on April 3, 2012, Priority MC, a frequent poster on this blog and a company insider, posted the following comment about the Plaintiff:

"P1 just crushed another frivellous suit from you folks. Last week Qunones lawyer announced he's quitting. Se ya Qunones. Wouldn't wanna be ya. You bloggers best be paying attention and learn something from this lesson. Ok Linda [Nisely] got a little something broke off but it was so little that it didn't matter.After her attorney got what they got, she'd have been better taking the severence offer that she wouldd've got. Think people think." 

It's not difficult to guess the ethnicity of Priority MC or for that matter, her level of education. The comment contains highly confidential information that could only have come from President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. Priority MC's inane and presumptuous statement also provoked an avalanche of reader comments. 

A few days after publishing her comment, Priority MC tried to rescind what she wrote and published the following statement:

Priority One MC said...

It's nothing related to you bloggers. All you are done with. Sharnese Nylonda got P1 involved iwht an auto insurance situation that's in court. That's all there is. Now try doing what you suppose to be doing for a change.

April 10, 2012 7:38 PM

Priority MC did a 180. Her attempt to retract what she wrote on April 3, 2012, was an extremely lane attempt to deter attention away from the President as the culprit who divulged confidential information about the former Business Development Representative and a former member named Sharnese Nylonda. Priority MC as an employee of the credit union violated the Privacy Act. 

The ploy constitutes a possible violation of the Privacy Act which is a federal offense. Priority MC has indicated that Sharnese Nylonda has involved the credit union in an auto insurance case which has proceeded to court. Evidently, the only reason why the credit union would be involved is if Sharnese Nylonda had obtained an automobile loan from the credit union. The subject is deemed confidential under the law. well maybe not to the credit union but it is a serious breach. 

As stated below, the Privacy Act states that it is a violation to share confidential information.

Financial institution regulators are to establish "standards" (related to the physical security and integrity of customer records) that would (1) ensure the security and confidentiality of customer records; (2) protect against any anticipated threats to the security of such records; and (3) to protect against unauthorized access to such records that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to the customer.

On April 13, 2012 an anonymous poster who we believe is Priority MC, posted the following comment:

Anonymous said...

Nylonda Sharnese had an auto loan with priority one. She ran with a car for two years without making a payment and when we got close to repossessing her car she made a partial payment and ran again.

April 13, 2012 8:53 PM 

The possible violation of the Privacy Act which occurred when Priority MC posted a comment on April 10, 2012, was exacerbated by the comment posted on April 13, 2012. It doesn't take any great ability in deducement to see that whoever posted the information about Sharnese Nylonda is a member of the Credit Resolutions Department. Only someone who has access to member accounts that have been referred over to collection proceedings would possess intimate knowledge about Sharnese Nylonda. 

Segueing for a moment, the credit union's attorneys at Richardson Harmon Ober PC reminded us that in 2011, the firm fabricated a defense in the lawsuit filed by former Burbank Branch Manager, Linda Nisely, which attempted to portray the Plaintiff as a racist, as incompetent, and as insubordinate despite the conspicuous fact that while employed by the credit union, Mrs. Nisely never received a single warning alleging her failure to fulfill her assigned duties nor was she issued a single warning which accused her of racism. Furthermore, she was promoted from Assistant Branch Manager of the Valencia office to Branch Manager of the Burbank office. Despite proclamations by the law firm that Mrs. Nisely's case would be thrown out because it was frivolous, Priority One voluntarily settled the lawsuit. Evidently, the credit union has found attorneys who are as ethical, as dignified and as ethical as is President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.  

In our post, titled "A Lawsuit, Hiding the Facts, and Misrepresentation, Part 2 of 2”, published on Monday, July 18, 2011, we described some of the allegations contained in the lawsuit filed by the former Business Development Representative. Here is an excerpt from our original post:

The second lawsuit, filed this past June by a former Business Development Representative and who wrote the credit union’s policies and procedures. The former employee, Qunones, alleges that in 2010, he was advised by a non-employee of the credit union, that his employment was being terminated based upon three key violations of credit union policy. These are: 

• Having downloaded pornographic images from his company assigned PC;
• Sexually harassing his co-workers; and
• Being the blogger, a blogger, an acquaintance of the blogger or bloggers or possessing knowledge of who the blogger or bloggers are, and knew who the blogger’s confederates are.

In January 2011, then Human Resources "clerk" Esmeralda Sandoval, denied the credit union ever committed any of the allegations described in the lawsuit though based only on the documented record of egregious acts committed by and under President Wiggington over the past five (5) years and with consideration of Miss Sandoval’s own reprehensible conduct over the past few years, we doubt the veracity of anything she has to say 

JUGGLING ACT

In addition to complicating their legal problems, the talkative President and some of his 
managerial staff recently disclosed information pertaining to the lawsuit filed by the last Branch Manager of the no longer existent Valencia office. That lawsuit differs from the lawsuits filed by the former Burbank Branch Manager and Business Development Representative in that it reveals the disturbingly obsessive behaviors of former COO, Beatrice Walker. 

President Wiggington; Director of Project Management, Yvonne Boutte; and AVP, Joseph Garcia, have recently actually admitted that Ms. Walker tried to force a "friendship" with the Valencia Branch Manager and when her unwanted efforts failed, the slighted COO launched a ruthless and scathing campaign intended to destroy the reputation of the branch manager. Not only did the COO allegedly violate federal and state laws her schemes against the branch known became common knowledge at the main branch in South Pasadena and though Human Resources was well aware of her tirade, neither Senior Vice President, Rodger Smock, who oversees Human Resources or his assistant, Esmeralda Sandoval, chose to remind Ms. Walker that her behaviors were violating the branch manager's rights as described under state and federal law. 

What's more, the President, under direction of Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, invalidated the branch manager's allegations against Ms. Walker, determining that the conflict between both women was simply a "personality conflict.:" It's the same methodology employed by Mrs. Harris-Brooks in 2008, when she determined that President Wiggington had been encouraged to verbalize sexualized statements and inappropriately place his hands on a former employee's thighs over a period of years. Mrs. Harris-Brooks is apparently a one-trick pony. 

The President has also recently disclosed that at the time the Branch Manager was allegedly being persecuted by Ms. Walker, that he conducted a fair and impartial investigation. Yes, the man who was found to have sexually harassed a former employee conducted a fair and impartial investigation. He's also recently stated that Ms. Walker acted on her own volition without knowledge of the credit union and reminded some of his staff that she was terminated last year, due to insubordination.

It's not surprising that the President is again trying to escape accountability and declare his innocence. This is after all the same old tactic always resorted to by the immature and undisciplined President. The President may have forgotten that Ms. Walker was his friend long before she was hired to work for the credit union on June 1, 2009. He apparently doesn't remember that he hired her to identify and target "enemy" employees for expulsion. The President also disclosed that Rodger Smock was the recipient of the notice that the credit union is being sued by the last Valencia Branch Manager. 

SEX AS A WEAPON

The former Business Development Representative alleges that on the day he was terminated, the President accused him of downloading same-sex pornography from the Internet using his  company assigned computer; and of sexually harassing coworkers. The employee was terminated by the President while an unidentified forensics investigator was present. 

We've learned that the forensics investigator, an Asian male, was never introduced by name by the President and participated in the meeting as a type of witness. What's more, the forensics investigator had visited the South Pasadena branch over a period of weeks during which he was exempted from signing the visitor roster located atop the reception desk. What's more, he was seen leaving the branch in the company of Esmeralda Sandoval and Joseph Garcia, both of who provided him with "testimonies" of employees they both "knew" were the blogger or bloggers and "confederates" of the blogger/bloggers. 

What we find interesting is that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., a proven sexual harasser, accused and terminated an employee for sexual harassment though refusing to provide evidence proving his accusations. What's more, at Priority One the subject of "sex" seems pervasive.  In addition to the 2008 investigation which proved Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. sexually harassed a former employee, there are other male officers of the credit union who have brought their indulgence with sex into the credit union. 

• Director of Human Resources, Rodger Smock, had a relationship with a young male employee assigned to the South Pasadena Member Services Department. Then South Pasadena Branch Manager, Gema Pleitez, and Consumer Loan Officer, Georgina Duenas, told staff that they were invited to a party at Mr. Smock's home during which several female employees swam in the pool while Mr. Smock remained in the house with the male employee. Periodically, Mr. Smock would emerge from his home and refill the women's glasses with alcohol. One of the women was so inebriated, she stripped off all her clothes. Mr. Smock would meet the male employee in the Member Services Department during which he would straighten the younger man's tie and straighten his collar. Their relationship was sufficiently conspicuous to prompt then South Pasadena Branch Manager, Betty Hilliard to ask"Why are they carrying on like that?" 

• Over the years, the former CFO in South Pasadena would tell Mr. Wiggington, Mr. Smock and other officers about the pornographic websites he visited while at work, using his company computer. 

• For years, Mr. Smock received numerous complaints from mostly female employees which alleged that the Director of Lending was sexually harassing and abusing them. Mr. Smock refused to investigate the complaints. 

• In 2010, Mr. Smock was forced to speak to Joseph Garcia regarding complaints lodged by female employees accusing the Loan Manager of touching them inappropriately. 

• In 2010, COO, Beatrice Walker was accused of same-sex sexual harassment and of stalking the Valencia Branch Manager. .

BEATRICE STALKER

According to the President, amongst the many heinous accusations leveled against the credit union, are allegations that former COO, Beatrice Walker, stalked the last Valencia Branch Manager. We're not surprised by the accusations nor it particularly shocking that sex is again an issue which the credit union is apparently unable to extricate itself from. And though we are not surprised, the real question that should be asked is why is sex such a problem in Priority One's workplace? 

Is it so difficult for some of the credit union's executive sector to control behaviors that are wholly inappropriate in the workplace? One reason why the problem is so prevalent can be attributed to Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, who intentionally suppressed evidence in 2008 proving Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. sexually harassed a former employee. Her actions may have been construed as a green light by some executives that if they violate state and federal laws prohibiting sexual harassment in the workplace, that they will readily be protected by the Board of Directors and in particular, it's Chair, Mrs. Harris-Brooks. 

Apparently, Ms. Walker did not respond well to having her overtures for an alleged friendship, rejected. The emotionally wounded COO, easily recruited the assistance of AVP, Sylvia Perez, who was desperate seeking acceptance by Ms. Walker who had chided her and often treated her with disdain. 

Ms. Walker and Mrs. Perez visited the Valencia branch will the branch manager was away on medical leave. During their visits, the two met with staff at that location and easily manipulated them into believing that they each had a more promising future at the credit union if they would distance themselves from their branch manager. It worked. The reason why their conspiracy succeeded is easy to deduce. Priority One has underpaid staff and under Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., collusion festers. 

The single White woman went further. She ordered all AVP's and Branch Managers not to communicate with the Valencia Branch Manager upon her return and they all complied, including then Loan Manager, Joseph Garcia; AVP, Joseph Garcia; and Van Nuys Branch Manager, Ceclia Pereyra. Ms. Walker felt validated though she had no idea that within a year, she would succumb to termination. 

So the credit union which ignored the Valencia Branch Manager's pleas, now has to contend with a lawsuit that accuses Ms. Walker of creating a hostile working environment; of harassment; of same-sex sexual harassment; of retaliation; coercion; and stalking. What's more, the President and Board Chair were well aware of the campaign perpetrated by the disturbed Ms. Walker but both not only chose to enact remedial measures and stop her violations of state and federal law, they actually tried to invalidate the branch manager's complaints and relegate them to nothing more than a conflict of personalities. 

Many employees were aware that both Ms. Walker and the Valencia Branch Manager both live in the Santa Clarita Valley but what few people know is that after the branch manager resigned and left the state with her husband on vacation, someone entered her property and poisoned her dogs. One dog died and the other survived after remaining hospitalized for several days. Coincidence? 

Hell Hath No Fury Like a COO Scorned

BOARDING UP ANOTHER BRANCH 

Irked that we reported the Burbank branch would close it's doors on May 31, 2012, President Wiggington has rescheduled it's closure to take place in June 2012. Yes, his decision is fueled by pride and more than a little inane. Like former COO, Beatrice Walker, President Wiggington has many issues with controlling his emotional reactions to almost any stimuli. 

With new the Burbank branch will remain open for just a few more days, AVP, Joseph Garcia, disclosed that the credit union intends to mail letters to all members in the city of Burbank announcing the branch's impending closure. According to Mr. Garcia, the letter will help "avoid problems." Problems? What problems does the credit union foresee happening?

Mr. Garcia's statement is a reflection of the gross ineptitude marring the credit union's managerial sector. It's really a statement that says absolutely nothing other than the credit union expects something bad to transpire as a result of the branch's closing. 

We don't see many problems arising from the closure. The largest sector of members in Burbank are employed by Providence St. Joseph Medical Center and as we've reported since 2010, they have grown increasingly displeased with the caliber of service being dispensed by Priority One. The hospital's administrators has also limited the amount of time representatives of the credit union can meet with it's staff and no longer allow the credit union to attend new hire orientations.

To justify closure of the Burbank branch, the President has recently maligned the entire staff of the Burbank branch, stating they have all failed to meet their assigned monthly quotas. According to Mr. Garcia, as a result of the staff's failure, none will be offered employment at any of the credit union's remaining branches including AVP, Sylvia Perez. 

The President has also offered a solution to members who wish to continue using their credit union accounts. He has disclosed that members can utilize Shared Branching, surcharge free ATM's or visit the Van Nuys branch. Contrary to what the President believes, none of these are solutions, they are quick, ineffective fixes.  The concept and purpose of Shared Branching is apparently something the President is unable to grasp. Shared Branching can be a wonderful convenience if you'd like to deposit or withdraw money when you are nowhere near one of your credit union's branch locations. It is however useless if you wish to resolve disputes involving your accounts or loans. You also can't apply for a loan using Shared Branching or provide proofs of documents requested by your credit union. It has it's limitations. We advise closing your Priority One accounts and opening an account with a bank or credit union conveniently located to your home or where you work. 

As we predicted, the new Santa Clarita branch is faring poorly. Members are not interested in it's inconvenient location. In late 2011, the President boasted that there is no reason to advertise the location because people would want to be become members of the credit union. He was of course wrong and his statement reaffirms that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. is ignorant about the importance of marketing. Who would have guessed? 

In 2010, when the beautiful and successful Valencia branch closed, the President told some of his staff that it was unimportant to him if members in the Santa Clarita Valley closed their accounts because in his opinion, they were disloyal to the credit union and many had only become members to obtain one of the special promotions, i.e., low APR vehicle loans, periodically offered by the credit union. Evidently, the credit union needs business from people living and working in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Another problem we cited in 2011 concerns the location of the Santa Clarita branch which is outside of downtown Valencia, in a primarily agricultural zone and located at the base of the hill where the Santa Clarita mail processing center stands. Only two months after it's opening, the President is starting to complain that if business doesn't improve dramatically in the very near future, he may have to close the location. We predict it will close in the very near future. 

To be continued........