Angie Simonetti is a native of the Shenandoah Valley and has served on DCCU’s Board of Directors since 2017. She is passionate about the Credit Union’s mission to help improve the financial wellness of our members and the community. In 2023, she was appointed Board Chair, however Angie’s relationship with DCCU started at an early age.

“I have been a DCCU member since I was in middle school, when I opened my first savings account,” said Angie. “Even then, I appreciated how the Credit Union provided education around financial wellness, making the most of your accounts and how to best utilize the resources available to members. The knowledge they shared helped set me on the right path for long-term financial success.”

During her senior year of high school, Angie started working for DCCU as a Teller at the Verona Member Center, and she continued working at the Service Center and Kaylor Drive locations after she enrolled at James Madison University (JMU). “I spent my entire college career working solely for DCCU and it was a fantastic experience,” said Angie. “Working at DCCU was such a unique experience because I was able to see so many aspects of business. Without a doubt, the Credit Union laid the foundation for my understanding of business and greatly influenced my career path.”

Equipped with a degree in Communication Studies and Public Relations from JMU along with the business acumen and problem-solving skills she learned during her time at DCCU, Angie entered the workforce. As she journeyed through her career over the next several years, Angie never forgot about her experience at DCCU and her desire to continue serving the Credit Union and its members. “When I was a college student working in the Service Center, I had aspirations of being a member of DCCU’s Board of Directors one day,” Angie said. “From becoming a member at a young age, to working there as a young adult, then continuing to see the great work DCCU was doing – it instilled a passion for improving the financial wellness of our members and the community. It made me want to come back and serve.”

In 2016 Angie applied and joined the Board as an Associate Director in 2017. Since then, Angie’s role as a volunteer has continued to expand, becoming a Board Director in 2018 and serving on the Asset Liability Management (ALM), Governance, and Personnel Committees.

2023 brought historic changes to DCCU’s Board of Directors when Angie was appointed Board Chair following Everett Campbell, Jr. who served on the Board for 21 years, 17 as Board Chair. “The knowledge that Everett brought to the Board Chair role is immeasurable,” Angie said. “He was happy to share historical Credit Union knowledge, as well as insights and advice from his experience. I appreciate the way he instilled his confidence in me – it meant a great deal.”

As Angie continues her tenure as Board Chair, there are some key values from Everett that she keeps top of mind. “Our membership is number one. We are here to look out for their best interests,” said Angie. “That is followed closely by supporting our staff, who are key to our success as a cooperative because they are passionate about our mission, members, and community.”

Looking ahead, Angie is excited about what’s on the horizon for DCCU and encourages anyone who is interested in serving on the Board to apply. “We don’t expect Board volunteers to be an expert in credit unions or finances. Truly the most important thing is that they are passionate about the work of DCCU and the community,” Angie said. “We are representing over 118,000 members and serve as their voice while ensuring that the Credit Union continues to be good stewards of our members’ resources. Board volunteers choose to serve because it’s incredibly rewarding to see firsthand the work that DCCU is doing for our members and the community.”