Our Board
Shambhala Credit Union is governed by a Board of Directors elected from our membership at the annual meeting each May. We are regulated by the State of Colorado Division of Financial Services and the National Credit Union Association (NCUA), the federal deposit insurer. All members are invited to inquire about participation in credit union governance, review our financial statements or simply stop by the office and jawbone with us!
Alexander Halpern, President
Alex Halpern has served as the President of the Board since 1976. He has been a member of the Shambhala community since 1972. Alex received his juris doctor degree from Denver University in 1976, and practices law in Boulder specializing in representing non-profit organizations. He also serves on the governing boards of the Shambhala mandala and Shambhala Mountain Center. Alex and his wife Carol have three adult children and three grandchildren.
Reese McKay, Vice President
Reese McKay has been a member of the credit union since 1979, serving on the Board since 2011, currently as the Vice President. He has been a member of the Shambhala community since 1977, serving in various volunteer capacities over the years. Reese received a Bachelor of Science degree in geology in 1974, and helped start and manage a small business during the 1980s. He currently works as a land surveyor for a commercial construction company.
Melanie Klein, Director
Melanie joined Shambhala in 1996 and served a 3-year term as Co-Director of the Los Angeles Center starting in 2008. Years earlier, with an undergraduate degree in astrophysics, Melanie enjoyed a 23-year career with the Boeing Company, primarily as Director of Business Development. In 2014 she graduated from Naropa University’s Master of Divinity program. On Shambhala Day 2015, Melanie took her seat as Executive Director of the Boulder Shambhala Center.
Dan Cooper, Director
Dan joined the Shambhala community in 1975. While an art student at CU Boulder, he was Comptroller at Karma Dzong. In 1985 he received his MBA and moved to New York to be an apprentice bond trader. Dan returned to Boulder in 1991 and he has been employed as a portfolio manager and fixed-income trader. More recently he served on the Boulder Center’s Finance and Strategic Planning Committees. Dan is also Co-Chair of the Boulder Shambhala Community Trust.
Melissa Mckay, Director
Melissa is a core staff member specializing in program coordination at Shambhala Mountain Center. Melissa brings her deep contacts in the Shambhala Community and experience with marketing and promotion to her work as Director. Melissa is currently involved in assisting staff with social media and digital advertising.
Chris Stockinger, Director
Chris is a computer software expert and longstanding member of the Shambhala Community. Originally from Austria, Chris now lives in Loveland, Colorado. He says he is inspired to serve the credit union to “compassionately and intelligently help people with their money needs.” Chris asked to be considered for the Board after attending our open house for our new office at the Boulder Shambhala Center.
Jacob Taylor, Director
Jacob spent 5 years working in the business and accounting offices at Shambhala Mountain Center, and is currently the Controller and Secretary of the Board of Global Healthcare REIT. Jacob brings an important perspective from a new generation of customers. Jacob is interested in how the credit union can be of service to the Shambhala Community for another 40 years
Our Staff
Bob Sutherland, CEO
Board Secretary / Treasurer
Bob Sutherland has been in Boulder for over 20 years, and a member of the credit union for almost as long. He lives near Boulder with his wife and two daughters. Bob brings 25 years of experience in competitive businesses. His priorities in the job as CEO are good customer and partner relationships and sustained profitability. He has a BA from Wesleyan University, where he was Captain of the Varsity Cross Country Team.
Sarah Luna, Manager
Sarah’s introduction to finance and accounting was as bookkeeper at Karme Choling in Vermont. Her first experience at the Shambhala Credit Union (then Ashoka) was when her father, Simon Luna, helped her buy her first car by guaranteeing a loan. She started as an employee of the credit union in 2008, and has since completed the prestigious Western CUNA Management School. She is a highly trained and versatile expert on the operations and regulatory details of the Credit Union. Sara brings both excellent judgement and a high level of personal and professional integrity to her job.
Sierra Hill, Administrative Assistant
Sierra is an environmental studies major at Naropa University. She joined the staff in early 2019 and assists Sarah Luna in the daily operations of the credit union.
Supervisory Committee
Corinne Brown, Chairperson
Felice Owens, Member
