Board of Directors
Stephen L. Proia, Chair
Steve retired from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in January 2016. He was the Chief Financial Officer and Director for Business Operations at JPL. He joined the Lab in 1979, and spent five years in the mid-1980s as the Director of Contracts for a defense contractor in the San Diego area. Originally from the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., Steve has an MBA from the University of Maryland. Steve’s years of experience encompassed all facets of government contracting and finance, and he was directly involved in the negotiation contracts for the operation of JPL.
Laurice Balian, Vice Chair
Laurice is currently the Senior Director of Audit at the California Institute of Technology, and has also been employed in other operational positions at the Caltech campus since 1999. Prior to becoming a Board Member, Laurice served on the Supervisory Committee from 2008 through 2020. Laurice received a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Accounting Degree from California State University, Northridge, and graduated Cum Laude. Laurice further holds the professional designations of Certified Public Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor.
John K. Meeker, President/Treasurer
John currently serves as the President/CEO of the Credit Union. He joined the Credit Union in March 1999 as Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer and assumed his current role in April 2024. John received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics as well as a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey. He previously served on the CFO Council Committees of NAFCU and CUNA, now America’s Credit Unions, which represents the credit union industry. He championed CEFCU membership in the Federal Home Loan Bank San Francisco, which has helped to enhance revenue and provide additional contingent liquidity sources to the Credit Union.
Peter Rinde, Secretary
Peter is currently the Division Manager for Enterprise Business Information Services at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He was appointed to the Board of Directors in October 2021. Peter has been in various positions at JPL and the Caltech campus since 2000. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and his MBA from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School.
Joseph Courtney, Director
Joe’s career at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory has spanned over 35 years. He has been in his current role as the Division Manager of Protective Services since 2019. During his tenure, Joe has held numerous leadership and management positions including Facilities & Logistics, Security Operations, Personnel Security, Investigations, Emergency Management, and Special Events planning. Joe earned a Master’s in Management from Azusa Pacific University in addition to a bachelor’s degree in History from UCLA.
Dlorah Gonzales, Director
Dlorah retired from the California Institute of Technology in January 2012. She was the Director of Employment and Employee Services and managed employment and hiring functions. She joined Caltech in 1970 and has served the Caltech community for 42 years. She received her bachelor’s degree from California Polytechnic School Pomona in Human Resources. She is a Board or committee member of various community organizations, including the Athenaeum and the Foothill Presbyterian Hospital in Glendora. Dlorah became a CEFCU Board member in 2003.
Ann Martin, Director
Ann is currently the Senior Associate General Counsel for the California Institute of Technology. She specializes in labor and employment law Title IX and is the group lead for the Education and Workforce Practice Group. Ann has been employed in various capacities at JPL and at the Caltech campus since 1988. She served as Caltech’s Director of Employee Relations from 1992 to 2000. She received her bachelor’s degree from UCLA and her JD from Loyola Law School.
John Patterson, Director
John is currently a Senior Finance Analyst-Public Finance and Investments for the Treasurer and Tax Collector of the County of Los Angeles. He joined CEFCU as a family member of a Caltech employee. John received his bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Siena College and Master of Public Administration degree from New York University. He holds the professional designation of Certified Treasury Professional (CTP). He was elected to the Board in August 2010.
Theresa Slowskei, Director
Theresa is currently the Associate Controller at the California Institute of Technology. She has been employed in various capacities at the Caltech campus since 2012. Theresa received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from California State University, Los Angeles and an MBA from Loyola Marymount University. In 2014, Theresa was appointed to the CEFCU Supervisory Committee and continues in her role as Chair of the committee. She was appointed to the Board of Directors in May 2022.
