2026 Board Election – Nominations By Petition

To become a nominee by petition, you must:

Be at least 18 years of age as of April 21, 2026. (The date of the 2026 Annual Meeting.)

Submit a valid petition as noted below by January 31, 2026. A valid petition will contain the signatures of at least 429 current NIHFCU members of age 18 or older ^{1, 2}

Submit a completed BOD Petition Application/Statement of Understanding. All requested information is required, including the completed petition and a biographical statement

Duties and Responsibilities of the Board of Directors include, but may not be limited to:

The Board of Directors is responsible for the general direction and control of the NIHFCU, including ensuring that the credit union operates with the highest ethical standards in conformance with all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations. The Board may delegate operational functions to Senior Management.

• Ensures the NIHFCU maintains its sound financial condition;
• Reviews and supervises the President /Chief Executive Officer’s progress in achieving goals and objectives;
• If necessary, participates in hiring a President/CEO and determines responsibilities and compensation;
• Provides strategic leadership and sustains and supports the NIHFCU vision, mission, values, and strategic direction;
• Approves the NIHFCU Strategic Plan and ensures that the annual business plan and budget are in line with the strategic plan;
• Requests approval of the NIHFCU charter and non-standard bylaw amendments from the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA);
• Appoints members to all Board of Director’s Committees;
• Approves and oversees operating policies and procedures to ensure they comply with legal and regulatory requirements and are consistent with the NIHFCU vision and strategic direction;
• Meet at least monthly.

General Duties of Each Individual Director. Each Director must:

• Carry out his/her duties in good faith, in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the membership, and with such care, including reasonable inquiry, as an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances;
• Administer the affairs of the NIHFCU fairly and impartially, and without discrimination in favor of, or against, any particular member;
• Within six months of appointment, demonstrate a working familiarity with basic finance and accounting practices, including the ability to read and understand the NIHFCU balance sheet and income statement, and the ability to ask, as appropriate, substantive questions of management and auditors;
• Conduct the operations of the NIHFCU in conformity with the Federal Credit Union Act, NCUA’s Rules and Regulations, other applicable laws, and sound business practices;
• Review and evaluate information/data prepared or presented by employees or consultants and make inquiries to ensure an understanding of the information/data. Directors may rely on information/data provided by employees or consultants in performing their stewardship and fiduciary responsibilities.

Primary Responsibilities of Each Individual Director. Each Director must:

• Understand, support, and promote the NIHFCU’s vision, mission, values, and strategic direction, and its products and services;
• Follow trends and important developments in the financial services industry and NIHFCU’s marketplace. Be aware of local and national economic and social trends, and their possible effects on the NIHFCU;
• Contribute proactively and constructively to the Board’s success in carrying out its governance responsibilities as described; hold self and the Board accountable for acting to ensure the long-term competitive success of the NIHFCU;
• Prepare for, and actively participate in Board and Committee meetings; meet the Board’s established attendance requirements;
• Actively participate on at least one standing Board Committee;
• Avoid, in fact and in perception, conflicts of interest that might embarrass or call into question the integrity of the Board or the NIHFCU, and disclose to the Board, in a timely manner, any possible conflicts;
• Focus attention on long term and significant policy issues but be flexible to focus on short-term administrative matters if/when appropriate;
• Respect the responsibility of the President/CEO to manage the staff and operations of the NIHFCU. Ensure that any communication with staff below the President/CEO level does not undermine the relationship between the President/CEO and the staff or Board;
• Demonstrate a willingness to learn, fulfill the educational requirements established by the Board, and attend and participate in conferences and educational workshops;
• Take advantage of opportunities to enhance the NIHFCU’s public image and market its services in the community and with sponsor officials;

Respect the confidentiality of members’ business with the NIHFCU;

• Act at all times in the best interests of member-owners and customers.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities of a Director
• Maintain NIHFCU membership in good standing and meet all NCUA-established Director requirements as noted in Section 1761 of the Federal Credit Union Act. Adhere to the requirements of the NIHFCU Bylaws, as enacted and modified;
• Professional background in a discipline important to the NIHFCU’s success, e.g., finance, planning, marketing, customer service delivery, human resources, information systems, etc.;
• Familiarity with the financial services industry, and an understanding of the basics of the business, and how a credit union achieves profitability, builds capital, develops and prices products, delivers service, and in general, mediates between savers and borrowers;
• Willingness to commit time and actively participate, both in attendance and meeting contributions;
• Ability to balance the need for managing the NIHFCU as a business with the need to understand and be responsive to the short and long-term interests of the NIHFCU’s members and customers;
• Commitment to the ideals and values of the credit union movement, and desire to contribute to the movement’s continued viability and growth.

Make copies as needed of the official Nomination By Petition form.

Click here to access the official Nomination by Petition form

• A completed petition will contain the signatures of at least 429 current NIHFCU members of age 18 or older ^{1, 2}
• Upload the completed petition form onto your completed Nomination Application and submit

Submit the BOD Petition Application/Statement of Understanding

• All requested information is required, including the completed petition and biographical statement

Please thoroughly review the statement of understanding to ensure your awareness of the role, time commitment, and behaviors required of our volunteer Board of Directors.

Click here to access the Petition Application and Statement of Understanding

Nominating Committee has nominated the following NIHFCU members for the 2026 Election Ballot

Mr. Steven J. Berkowitz is the current Chairman of the Board of the NIH Federal Credit Union. He has previously served as NIHFCU Board Treasurer and Secretary, and he has chaired the Executive Committee, the Asset Liability Management Committee, and the Strategic Planning Committee. He has participated on numerous additional committees over his 35 years as an NIHFCU Board member. Mr. Berkowitz is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Master in Business Administration degree from the University of Maryland. Mr. Berkowitz supported the National Institutes of Health for over 41 years. He has received many NIH and IC Directors Awards and Awards of Merit, including the Secretary of DHHS’ Distinguished Service Award. In 2025, Mr. Berkowitz received the notable MD|DC Credit Union Association’s Volunteer of the Year Award.

Mr. Don Christoferson has served on the NIHFCU Board in multiple leadership roles including Vice Chair, Secretary, and is currently Treasurer. Additionally, he chairs the Asset Liability Management Committee. With his expertise in financial management, business process improvement, and human resources, he provides strategic guidance helping to shape NIHFCU financial and organizational policies. During his career at the NIH, that included Executive Officer of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and Deputy Executive Officer of the National Cancer Institute, Mr. Christoferson received numerous awards such as the US Public Health Service Special Recognition Award, NIH Director’s Award, and the Senior Executive Service Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive. Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Christoferson is dedicated to community service, volunteering with the AARP Tax-Aide Program to assist elderly and low-income families. His commitment to excellence and service continues to benefit the NIHFCU and its members.

Ms. Ann Fitzpatrick has been a member of the NIHFCU Board since 2017. She has served as Board Secretary for the past six years. She served as a volunteer on the Asset and Liability Management Committee from 2014 to 2025 and has served on the IT Steering Committee since 2017. She has been a member of NIHFCU for over 30 years. She has worked for the NIH for over 35 years. She worked in the NCI Office of Budget and Finance for 22 years and has been the Budget Officer at NHGRI for the past 15 years. She currently serves on many trans-NIH wide committees and participates as a mentor in both the NHGRI Mentorship and NIH Budget Mentorship programs. She is excited about the NIHFCU Strategic Plan moving forward. Ms. Fitzpatrick graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in sociology from the University of Maryland.

Ms. Sarah Porter is a business executive with more than 15 years of leadership experience supporting the federal scientific and research community, including the NIH. She currently serves as Vice President at Kelly Government Solutions, where she leads a 75-person national team responsible for delivering strategic workforce, scientific, technical, and operational solutions to federal agencies. Sarah has a strong record of business transformation, including directing the integration of three government contracting businesses, designing new organizational structures, and implementing enterprise technology systems to strengthen performance, efficiency, and long-term growth. Sarah has secured and managed multi-billion-dollar federal programs, built successful partnerships across civilian and DoD agencies, and advised C-suite leaders on strategic planning, financial stewardship, and governance. Sarah holds an MBA from Texas A&M University, is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and SHRM-SCP and serves on the Board of BioHealth Innovation, Inc. Sarah has been an NIHFCU member since 2018.

Ms. Vivie Yen holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources from the University of Maryland University College and a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies from the University of Maryland. In addition to her degrees, Ms. Yen holds certification from SHRM and HRCI. With over 15 years of experience in Human Resources across corporate and nonprofit organizations, she is known for building trusted partnerships with mid- and senior-level leaders to deliver practical, people-centered solutions. Ms. Yen’s expertise also extends to adding business value through collaborative problem-solving, clear communication, and sound judgment with a leadership style that inspires confidence and supports organizational goals. Ms. Yen has been an NIHFCU member for many years and serves on the Montgomery County Society of Human Resources BOD as Membership Director.