Board of Directors

Kate Brown was appointed to the Elevations Board in November 2015 and elected in 2016.

Kate is the Founder and President of Boulder Organic Foods LLC and has been developing the brand Boulder Organic! since 2006. Having grown a consumer brand with help from the local industry, Kate is a member and sponsor of Naturally Boulder, and board member for the Boulder Chamber of Commerce. She also has a passion for education and sits on the advisory boards of the Center for Women’s Health Research and the Center for Western Civilization, Thought & Policy, both affiliates of the University of Colorado. Kate earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Naropa University as well as a bachelor’s degree in technical journalism from Colorado State University. A Colorado native, Kate and her family live in Boulder and enjoy the community of natural product entrepreneurs and a variety of activities like hiking, snow sports and running.

Don Cheyne joined the Elevations Board in 2011 following its merger with St. Vrain Valley Credit Union, where he served as a board member for three years. Don also serves as vice chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Don has spent his career in manufacturing management and was an owner of Mountain Molding, a Longmont-based plastic injection molding business. After selling the company to Tenere, Inc., Don is now a manufacturing business consultant. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering and a master’s degree in business administration, both from the University of Colorado Boulder. He lives in Broomfield with his wife and daughter, and he enjoys spending his time playing ice hockey and traveling.

Ray Martinez was appointed to the Elevations Board in August 2014 and elected in April 2015. He also serves as chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee.

Ray is a retired Fort Collins police sergeant, as well as a former three-term mayor of Fort Collins. He most recently served as City Councilmember for District 2 in Fort Collins from 2015 to 2019. He is a U.S. Army veteran, having received the Army Commendation Medal. Ray has dedicated significant time working closely with Hispanic community leaders, youth and athletes to improve the relationship between the community and law enforcement. He co-founded an organization that works directly with at-risk youth to provide them with positive educational and recreational experiences while keeping them active within their neighborhoods and communities. He was a member of the National League of Cities Public Safety and Crime Prevention Committee until 2019 and has been a member of several boards and organizations over the years, including the chair of Colorado’s Minority Business Advisory Council under Governor Owens and Governor Ritter, a member of the Colorado Mesa University board of trustees, and a White House appointee on the Defense Advisory Board for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Ray lives in Fort Collins and enjoys writing.

Eric Jones was appointed to the Elevations Board in 2007 and elected in 2008. He served as board chair from 2008 to 2011. Eric currently serves as chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and as treasurer of the Elevations Foundation Board of Directors.

Eric is President of Jones Mertsching CPAs, PC, a Colorado-based firm specializing in the credit union industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and was inducted into the Credit Union Executive Society’s Volunteer Hall of Fame in December 2011. Eric lives with his wife and two dogs in Evergreen, where he enjoys playing classical piano, skiing, golfing and all Colorado activities including cheering on the CU Buffs.

Natalie Baumgartner was appointed to the Elevations Board in November 2015 and elected in April 2016. She also serves on the Governance and Nominating Committee.

Natalie is the Chief Workforce Scientist at Achievers, an international Employee Recognition and Engagement Platform, where she serves as an engagement thought leader working to translate engagement research into SaaS-based software. Prior to joining Achievers, she co-founded and served as Chief Psychologist at RoundPegg. She has spent over a decade consulting on engagement and corporate culture with C-suite executives, boards of directors and private equity investors. She holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Denver, a master’s degree in clinical psychology from UCLA and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition to her work at Achievers, Natalie serves on the board of the Consulting Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association and is a popular speaker on culture, engagement, mergers and acquisitions, and change management, as well as a TEDx speaker on culture fit. Natalie and her family reside in Boulder.

Carroll Beach was elected to the Elevations Board in 2010 and served as chair from 2011 to 2014. He also serves on the Governance and Nominating Committee.

Carroll retired as president and COO of CO-OP Shared Branching in 2011, following a three-year tenure as president of the Credit Union Service Corporation. He was previously president and CEO of the Colorado Credit Union System for 30 years. Carroll holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree from Emporia State University. He served on boards and committees for the Credit Union National Association, the Association of American Credit Union Leagues – from which he received the “Eagle Award” – and the Credit Union House LLC, for which he was chairman of the board. He also received the “Herb Wegner Lifetime Achievement Award,” the most recognized award given in the credit union industry. Carroll lives in Westminster with his wife, and they enjoy spending time with their two children and five grandchildren. Carroll is an avid golfer and also enjoys reading and participating in activities at his church.

Katie Cowan was appointed to the Elevations Board in 2008 and elected in 2009. She also serves on the Audit and Risk Committee. She served as board chair from 2014 to 2017. Katie has been an Elevations member since 2002 and previously worked as a teller at two Elevations branches. Before joining the board, she served on the Finance and Supervisory Committees at Elevations.

Katie works for Arrow Electronics, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Centennial. As treasury manager with a focus in global treasury operations, Katie manages and supports treasury functions for Arrow business units worldwide. Before joining Arrow in May 2016, Katie worked in treasury for 10 years at the headquarters of Chipotle Mexican Grill. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics with an emphasis in finance from St. Olaf College and has served on the boards of directors for the St. Olaf Alumni Association and the Colorado Treasury Management Association (now RMAFP). Katie lives in Denver with her husband and daughter, and enjoys running, biking and spending time in the mountains.

Todd Gleeson joined the Elevations Board in 2012. He has been an Elevations Credit Union member since 1981. Todd also serves as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Todd has been a member of the faculty at the University of Colorado Boulder for more than 30 years and is a professor in the Department of Integrative Physiology. He also served as the university’s dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and associate vice chancellor for faculty affairs. Todd holds a Ph.D. in developmental and cell biology from the University of California at Irvine. He lives with his wife in Louisville, where they enjoy live theater and all that the Colorado outdoor recreation scene has to offer.

Nancy Herbert has been a member of the Elevations Board since 2011 and served as chair from 2017 to 2019. She previously served as the chair of the St. Vrain Valley Credit Union Board until its merger with Elevations that same year. She currently serves as a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee.

Nancy is the owner of Communication Strategies LLC, where she’s an organizational and board development consultant. A former school district administrator and municipal elected official, she has served on more than 24 community boards of directors. Nancy is a candidate for a Ph.D. in organizational development and leadership specializing in innovation and entrepreneurism, and also holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational management and a master’s degree in education. She resides in Longmont with her husband and enjoys travel to learn about different cultures.

Jim Menghi was elected to the Elevations Board in 2008. He has been a member of Elevations Credit Union since 1985 and served on the Supervisory Committee 18 years in total, including several times as chair. He currently serves as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Jim was the finance officer of the Joint Office for Science Support with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research from 2002 until 2016. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Delaware. Jim and his wife live in Frederick and have three grown daughters who bring them much pride and joy. When possible, he runs, bikes and hikes, taking advantage of the great Colorado outdoor lifestyle.