Raymond White Jr.
Raymond White Jr. serves as the Chairperson of the Board. He was elected to the position in August 2013 and has been a board member since 1999. He was first elected to the Supervisory Committee in 1993 and served as its chairperson.
In 2023, Mr. White received two prestigious awards. The Michigan Credit Union League named him their first-ever Board Member of the Year. This award recognizes a Michigan credit union board member who has demonstrated outstanding service over the last 12 months. The Macomb County Board of Commissioners also honors valuable volunteer contributions. The Commissioners selected Mr. White as a 2023 Volunteer of the Year for the 8th District.
Mr. White spent over 34 years with the United States Air Force Reserve. He retired as a Chief Master Sergeant and later enjoyed a successful career as a business consultant. He is a lifetime member of the Air Force Association, Air Force Sergeants Association, and Disabled American Veterans. Mr. White is a graduate of Leadership Macomb XXII. He also serves on the Deacon Board at the Church of the Living God in Clinton Township.
Charles Larsen
Charles Larsen has been a member of FreeStar Financial Credit Union since 2005. Dr. Larsen was elected to the Board of Directors in 2019 after serving as a Supervisory Committee volunteer since 2015. He was appointed to serve as Board Vice Chairperson in November 2023. Dr. Larsen was drafted into the U.S. Army, served in Vietnam with the 116th Assault Helicopter Company, and retired from active duty in 1993 as a Colonel. He completed a second career with the Department of the Army Federal Civil Service as the Combined Arms Training Strategies Program Manager.
Dr. Larsen earned a Ph.D. at Columbia Commonwealth University, a Master’s at Chapman University, and a Bachelor’s at Regis University. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College.
Catherine Patyi
Catherine (Cate) Patyi joined the Board of Directors in 2018, and was appointed as Treasurer in July 2024. Before her election to the Board, Ms. Patyi volunteered on the Credit Union’s Supervisory Committee since September 2016. She has been a member of the Credit Union since 1980.
Ms. Patyi earned two Master’s of Science degrees from Walsh College in Management and Accounting. She works as a Senior Revenue Management Analyst at Trinity Health in Livonia. Ms. Patyi also volunteers with the Accounting Aid Society to prepare income taxes for low-income community members.
Jeffrey Bruss
Jeffrey Bruss serves on the Board of Directors and has volunteered at the Credit Union since 2012. In 2017, he was appointed as Secretary of the Board. Jeffrey specializes as an estate planning attorney at Stewart and Bruss, PC. He was selected as a Michigan Super Lawyer Rising Star in the area of Estate Planning in years 2018-2022. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan's Probate and Estate Planning Section, the Macomb County Probate Bar Association, and the Macomb County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Leadership Macomb XXIII.
Jeffrey has a thorough understanding of personal finance through his experience as an estate-planning attorney and as a licensed financial advisor and licensed real estate broker. He is a proud graduate of Notre Dame High School (Harper Woods), Central Michigan University, and Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
Ashley Ciamillo
Ashley Ciamillo was appointed as Board Director in 2022. Mrs. Ciamillo is a Key Account Manager at Shell and has held management roles at global businesses such as Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), Volkswagen, and HP (Hewlett-Packard). She has overseen product development and program management, developed and executed multi-channel sales and marketing programs, and been a business and financial analyst. Mrs. Ciamillo is also an entrepreneur who co-founded Joe’s Italian Takeout in Shelby Township.
Mrs. Ciamillo received a Master of Business Administration from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Oakland University. She also earned a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification and uses this methodology to drive process improvement.
Marc Alexander
Marc Alexander is a visionary leader and accomplished serial entrepreneur dedicated to fostering growth and innovation in business and community initiatives. As the Founder of Lite Tuition and Co-Founder and CEO of Lite Raise, Marc is reshaping educational funding and nonprofit support, enabling organizations and students alike to achieve their full potential. His commitment to community impact is further demonstrated through his role as a Board Member of FreeStar Credit Union and the Amour Women Foundation, where he champions financial literacy and empowerment.
Marc has also made a significant impact within Kiwanis, serving as a past president of a notable Kiwanis club and receiving the prestigious Hixson Award in recognition of his service and contributions to the Kiwanis mission. Recently named one of Macomb County’s 40 Under 40, Marc is known not only for his professional achievements but also for his dedication to inspiring others through his work as an author, social entrepreneur, and motivational speaker. His mission is deeply rooted in using technology to drive global change, transforming challenges into opportunities for future growth. With his unique ability to connect across diverse audiences, Marc leads with vision and passion, inspiring those around him to reach new heights.
Gail Mazzone
Gail Mazzone has served as Board Secretary at Eastpointe Community Credit Union. She became a FreeStar Financial Credit Union Board Director upon its merger with Eastpointe CCU, effective September 1, 2024. Gail has a background in accounting, purchasing and sales fulfillment.
Brian Eisbrenner
Brian Eisbrenner joined FreeStar Financial Credit Union’s board of directors in July 2024 as an Associate Director. As the founder and Chief Executive Officer of The CEO Business Coach since 2021, he is a business coach and consultant who helps execute an organization’s strategic vision. His background includes prior executive leadership positions, and he has served on the advisory boards of several privately held businesses.
Mr. Eisbrenner studied Finance and Accounting at Walsh College, earned an Associate degree from Macomb Community College, and is a Notre Dame High School Graduate. His extensive professional training includes Keller Williams Coaching Skills, Sandler Management Training, and Dale Carnegie. He is a member of the International Coaching Federation of Michigan (ICFMI), the Detroit Economic Club (DEC), the Private Directors Association (PDA), and The Detroit Executives Association.