Spend a moment with Mical Brenzel: Chairman of the Board
A native New Yorker, Mical Brenzel has been in the Bay Area for over 25 years. She has been a member of the Technology Credit Union Board of Directors since 1989, where she has served as Chairman of the Board (a position in which she still serves) and as Chairman of both the Investment and Finance Committees. eMoney recently sat down with Mical to learn more about her role, and what she does when she’s not at Tech CU.
How did you become a Tech CU Board member?
At the time, I was working in the Treasury Department at Amdahl Corp., formerly one of Tech CU’s larger member companies. Someone from Amdahl had always sat on the credit union’s Board. When the then-Treasurer of Amdahl left the company and the credit union Board, I was asked if I might be interested in running for his seat. It has been a wonderful, long-term experience that I am grateful for.
What have you enjoyed most about being on the board at Tech CU?
I feel very lucky to have watched the organization grow and develop from a small company into the leader — both as a financial institution and within the technology community — it is today.
How much time do you spend in your role as Board Chair?
It depends on the week and what’s happening. Various issues come up all the time that the Board needs to discuss. Before each monthly Board meeting, I read the Board package and other materials, as well as plan the meeting agenda with the CEO and other members of the Executive Committee. I also participate in conference calls and many legal and executive meetings, and meet with our regulators. My role involves strategic planning and decision-making, and oversight of the activities of the credit union’s management. The work comes in bursts — some weeks are busy, some more quiet.
Do you volunteer with other organizations as well?
Since my retirement from corporate treasury work, I have spent quite a bit of my time volunteering — focusing on three organizations. I am involved with the San Francisco Symphony’s Youth Orchestra, including one of the Symphony’s ten Bay Area Volunteer Leagues. These leagues work to build community awareness of the Symphony, and provide outreach and education in the field of classical music. I also work with Peninsula Volunteers, which focuses on adult day care services and Meals on Wheels in San Mateo County. Finally, I am still active as a volunteer with Saint Francis High School, where my son graduated in 2011. I help with the school’s fundraising efforts, which ensure that tuition remains at a reasonable level.
Any hobbies?
In my spare time, I enjoy attending classical music and ballet performances, participating in aquatic exercise, reading, and traveling with my husband and son.