2023 - 2024 Board of Directors
Williams Lake and District Credit Union is overseen by a Board of Directors elected by and from the membership. The Board of Williams Lake and District Credit Union is comprised of nine Directors elected for three year terms. Directors are members who reside in the communities served by the credit union. The Board makes the leadership decisions required to maintain a successful operation, including the approval of long-term strategic plans. Directors undertake extensive personal development through the Credit Union Director Achievement program.
Meet our Directors
Erik Zwiers
Board Chair
Williams Lake Representative
Bill Collins
Board Vice-Chair
Williams Lake Representative
Crystal Hoelzler
Director
Williams Lake Representative
Linda Martens
Director
100 Mile House Representative
Surinderpal Rathor
Director
Williams Lake Representative
Beth Veenkamp
Director
Williams Lake Representative
Karen Weightman
Director
100 Mile House Representative
Erik Zwiers is a co-owner / operator of Papyrus Printing Ltd. and works from its Williams Lake location. Erik resides in Williams Lake and has been a member of the Credit Union since 2004. During his tenure with Williams Lake and District Credit Union, Erik has served on the majority of the Credit Union’s board committees and has served as Board Vice-Chair, Chair of the Audit Committee, Chair of the Enterprise Risk Management Committee, Chair of the Investment and Lending Committee, and Chair of the Nominating Committee.
Erik holds a Bachelor of Technology degree (Graphic Arts Management 1985) from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. Erik has volunteered with numerous community groups over the years and served on various boards of directors in the communities he has resided in including Prince George Savings Credit Union (now Integris Credit Union), Rotary Clubs, Chambers of Commerce, local church board, and minor sports associations.
Williams Lake and District Credit Union Director since 2021.
Bill retired in 2015 after nearly forty years working in the credit union system and returned to Williams Lake in 2019 so that he and his spouse could be closer to family and friends. Working within the credit union system allowed him to gain hands-on experience in the areas of governance, strategic planning, anti-money laundering legislation, privacy, and the legislation governing the day-to-day operation of a credit union. Bill feels that serving on the Williams Lake and District Credit Union Board of Directors will give him a chance to give back to the credit union system. He commenced a one year term at the close of the AGM. Bill's volunteer resume includes time with Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, and various golf clubs. He volunteered for the BC Winter Games in Williams Lake (2002), and Kamloops (2018) and now that he is retired, he spends a considerable amount of time on the golf course.
Bill feels that serving on the Williams Lake and District Credit Union Board of Directors will give him a chance to give back to the credit union system. His volunteer resume includes time with Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, and various golf clubs.
Bill is the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors.
Williams Lake and District Credit Union Director since 2020.
Crystal is a former esthetician with a big passion for people. Experience in the service industry, including being a gym owner and fitness instructor, makes being a Director on this community-minded board a great fit.
Crystal maintains an active lifestyle that includes running, skiing, and weightlifting, leading her children by example, and supporting their soccer teams as a parent coach. Her love of personal and professional growth led to her certification in Enneagram Coaching. Crystal has lived in Williams Lake almost all her life, knows it is a great place to raise a family, and wants to see it flourish.
Linda is also a School District 27 Trustee, a Royal Canadian Legion branch 261 (Forest Grove) member (retired Canadian Forces) and the Regional Mentor for the BC Community Response Networks. Linda resides in 100 Mile House and has been a member of the Credit Union since 2015. Linda attends Continuing Education courses offered through the Credit Union Director Achievement program and currently has achieved Level C of Director Achievement.
Surinderpal retired from Tolko Industries Ltd. as a certified journeyman electrician after serving for 46 years. He resides in Williams Lake and has been a member of the Credit Union since 1989. Surinderpal holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in Political Science, English and Military Science, and an honours degree in Political Science.
Surinderpal is familiar to many because of his 21 years as a Williams Lake City Councilor. He has been an active volunteer throughout his life, serving on a variety of boards including the Cariboo Memorial Hospital Board, the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple, and the Williams Lake Museum and Historical Society. Surinderpal has been involved with the Canadian Volunteer Income Tax Preparation Program since 1975 and has been the Williams Lake and District program coordinator for over 20 years.
In the Fall of 2022, Surinderpal was elected and sworn in as Mayor of Williams Lake.
Beth grew up in Williams Lake and moved back with her family in 2017, taking on the role of Economic Development Officer with the City of Williams Lake. Her role with the City is to assist in developing a business climate that will attract investment and residents to the area. She works directly with businesses to link them to local services and supports and brings with her a strong entrepreneurship development background. Beth is keenly interested in community development and sees joining the Williams Lake and District Credit Union as a way to support achieving better economic prosperity and investment in the region. She is looking forward to learning more about the financial industry, co-operatives, and the benefits to be had by communities with a robust roster of Credit Union members.
Beth is keenly interested in community development and sees joining the Williams Lake and District Credit Union as a way to support achieving better economic prosperity and investment in the region.
Karen retired in 2018 and after taking several quilting classes now works one day a week at the quilt store in 100 Mile House where she continues to take classes. Karen resides in the 100 Mile House area and has been a member of the Credit Union since 1992.
Karen has extensive business, marketing, sales, management, and facilitation experience from a diverse work history. She believes in the philosophy of cooperative systems and the benefits to the communities they serve.