FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Benchmark Announces Peter Urscheler Joins Board of Directors and Melissa Hawes Joins Supervisory Committee
WEST CHESTER, PA – September 16, 2020 – Benchmark Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce that Peter Urscheler, the Mayor of Phoenixville, PA has been appointed to the Benchmark Board of Directors. In addition, Melissa Hawes, President of Miles Financial Management, Inc. in Malvern, PA has accepted appointment to the Benchmark Supervisory Committee.
About Peter Urscheler:
Peter’s passion is to serve his community. He demonstrates this through his leadership with the Phoenixville Jaycees, his Consultancy practice which provides Marketing and Strategy services to small business and non-profit groups, and his current service as Mayor of Phoenixville. Peter is uniquely positioned to help Benchmark achieve our goals of affordable real estate financing, reducing the educational gap for economically disadvantaged families, and providing leading edge financial services to the residents and businesses in Chester County, PA.
“I am extremely honored and excited to join the Benchmark Board of Directors. Benchmark has an exceptional reputation for extraordinary service to their members and also to the communities in which they serve. As Phoenixville looks to increase its commitment to Affordable Housing and Economic Diversity, I’m looking forward to working with Benchmark to provide resources to improve financial literacy throughout our growing and diverse communities,” says Urscheler.
About Melissa Hawes:
As the founder of Miles Financial Management, Melissa is an outsourced CFO and Controller with expertise in tax and accounting operations, policy, procedures, strategies, and government compliance. She is a member of the AICPA and the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce where she sponsors the Women’s Roundtable. Melissa is former Board Chair for Daemion Counseling Center, a member of Chester County 100 Women Who Care, and volunteers for various clubs and non-profit organizations. As a CPA, Melissa lends her accounting and auditing expertise to our Supervisory Committee, whose major responsibility is to verify that Benchmark’s financial reporting accurately reflects our financial condition and results of operations; as well as to provide fiscal oversight to the Benchmark Board of Directors.
“Credit Unions offer a warm, community based financial service to its members as an alternative to a traditional for-profit bank. I am honored to serve the Chester County community and Benchmark as a member of the Supervisory Committee,” says Hawes.
These Board appointments were made as part of Benchmark’s Board Succession planning and talent management program, led by Nominating Committee Chair, Elva Bankins-Baxter.
“As the Mayor of Phoenixville, Peter embodies the spirit of community. He’s a visionary and will bring innovative ideas, new social media strategies, and community engagement for Benchmark in the Phoenixville area. Additionally, Melissa will bring entrepreneurial, financial expertise, and her passion for the community to our Supervisory Committee. We are truly fortunate to have them join us as we continue to improve the economic well-being of our members in Chester County,” says Bankins-Baxter.
“We are excited to welcome Peter and Melissa to the only credit union exclusively servicing Chester County. As Benchmark continues to grow and provide premier financial services and products to the communities we serve, Peter and Melissa will be integral team members in our mission,” says Daniel J. Machon, Jr., President and CEO of Benchmark Federal Credit Union.
