Announcement of Nominating Committee Candidates

The Nominating Committee is announcing the six candidates it has nominated for the Board of Directors. The five candidates receiving the most votes will be elected for a three-year term. 

Emsad Begic – Cedar Falls, IA  

Emsad, a Cedar Valley resident since immigrating as a refugee in 1997, is seeking re-election to Veridian’s Board of Directors. He’s passionate about community service and is focused on enhancing member experiences and employee engagement. Emsad holds a Master’s in Technology Management from UNI and leads 16 agents as the managing broker of Vine Valley Real Estate. His previous role as Global Supply Base Manager at John Deere complements his strategic approach. Married with three daughters, Emsad is committed to using his diverse expertise to ensure Veridian continues supporting and uplifting its members.

Cindy Sprole – Waverly, IA

Cindy has been a dedicated Veridian Board member since 2021. She has contributed her skills across several committees, including Nominating, Governance, Credit, and Audit and Risk. With a diverse background in human resources and insurance, she brings expertise in operations, strategic planning, IT, leadership development, succession planning, and people operations. Her passion for making a meaningful impact on others and driving organizational effectiveness is evident in all her efforts. As she seeks re-election, Cindy remains committed to leveraging her experience to continue shaping Veridian’s strategic direction, ensuring its long-term success and sustained positive impact.

Reed Mick – Clarksville, IA

Reed has been a dedicated Veridian Associate Director for the last two years. He brings 15 years of professional experience supporting credit unions. His background in financial services and his professional licenses in the securities industry have equipped him with an understanding of member needs and a commitment to enhancing value. He successfully led teams focused on relationship management, fostering growth and efficiency. His passion for empowering the community and improving Veridian’s services motivates him to continue serving on the board. He’s eager to leverage his expertise to support Veridian’s growth and ensure members' needs are met.

Nick Waters – Johnston, IA

Nick is seeking re-election to Veridian’s Board of Directors because he wants to continue advocating for the credit union movement of “people helping people.” During his 12 years on the board, Veridian has focused its efforts on finding new ways to exceed members’ and employees’ expectations. As a segment manager for Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in Des Moines, Nick applies his financial, strategic and relationship-building skills to help Veridian deliver successful results. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and a minor in Economics.

Stephanie Atkin – Des Moines, IA

Stephanie has served on Veridian's Board of Directors since 2019, currently as Board Chair and previously as Treasurer and Chair of the Audit Committee. She is passionate about advancing the credit union movement and its philosophy of “people helping people”. Outside of Veridian, Stephanie works as a Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at Apex Analytix and holds a Master of Public Administration from Drake University and Bachelor's Degree from Simpson College. Stephanie lives with her husband, Kevin, and their 17-year-old daughter, Halle.

Traci McBee – Elkhart, IA

Traci is the Chair Elect for Veridian Credit Union's Board and is seeking re-election to continue serving Veridian's members. Traci has been an active part of Veridian's board and is most proud of Veridian's "people helping people" philosophy which offers products and services to members at every stage of their financial journey. Traci will continue to ensure the board focuses on members and employees. She is employed by LCS Holdings and spends her spare time traveling and volunteering in the community. Traci is a UNI graduate and has completed the Leadership Iowa and the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute programs.

Nominations from the floor will not be accepted during the virtual Annual Meeting.  Nominations for vacancies may also be made by petition.  Nominations by petition require the legal signature of at least 1,500 Veridian members and must meet all other requirements under Iowa law.  Nominations by petition are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 21. If you have any questions, contact Jaci Hamlett at (800) 235-3228, ext 5604.