Paul Kinghorn (incumbent)
I am honored to present my candidacy for re-election to the Board of Directors of our credit union. Since joining the Board in 2021, I have been committed to fostering innovation, collaboration, and thoughtful, member-focused decision-making. With more than twenty-five years of experience in leadership and consulting across organizations of varying sizes, I have worked extensively on improving operations, supporting business growth, and developing strategic solutions to complex challenges.
I bring a strong passion for innovation, efficiency, and continuous improvement, along with a deep appreciation for the important role credit unions play in supporting their members and communities. As a Board member, my goal is to work collaboratively with fellow directors and management to ensure our credit union remains financially strong, responsive to the evolving needs of our membership, and positioned for long-term success. I look forward to continuing to serve and support the mission of our credit union and the financial well-being of our members.
Jaime Williams
Jaime Williams serves as the Strategic Sourcing Manager for Vermeer Corporation where he leads a procurement team that is responsible for supplier selection and qualification, supplier performance, supply contracts, and supplier relationship management. Jaime joined Vermeer in 2019 as Senior Materials Manager and has been serving in his current role since February 2022. Vermeer Corporation utilizes more than 1200 active suppliers for their plants in 4 states in the United States, as well as major operations in Goes, Netherlands and Tianjin, China. Vermeer spends more than $1B annually on direct and indirect materials.
Prior to joining Vermeer Jaime spent 5 years with Polaris Industries in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area, where he led supply chain and operations teams. He began his career with Emerson where he held various roles of increasing responsibility in supply chain and operations functions over a 10-year period. His career accomplishments include significant international business and negotiation experience, manufacturing product launches, and opening an office in Shanghai, China.
Jaime is a University of Northern Iowa alumnus with a BA in Economics and an MBA, and he currently serves on the UNI Marketing Department Advisory Board. Jaime holds certification from the Association for Supply Chain Management and has completed ISO:9001 Lead Auditor training from Bureau Veritas.
Jaime and his wife Jessica have 3 kids and have lived in the Marshalltown area since 1999, except for their 5-year experience in Minneapolis. The Williams family is actively involved with their Catholic parish in Marshalltown and various Catholic organizations throughout the Archdiocese of Dubuque in northeast Iowa. In their free time the Williams family enjoys UNI sporting events, traveling, and spending time outdoors.
Christopher Knudson
Chris Knudson serves as the chief marketing officer and director of the Marketing & Communication Office at Wartburg College, a position he has held since 2016. Earlier in his career he served in three separate institutional divisions as director of creative strategy, new media strategist and web manager, and web developer and manager. Outside his administrative responsibilities, he served as a senior lecturer for 11 years, teaching various courses in graphic design, public relations, and business programs.
Recently, he managed major marketing and communication strategies, including the successful Experience More brand launch and a new institutional logo and visual identity. He also served on the leadership team behind The Wartburg Commitment, a new pricing model and value proposition ensuring greater access to funding and experiential education. He is currently managing the marketing launch of two new graduate programs in health and human performance, which follows the successful launch of the college’s first master’s degree in leadership four years earlier.
Knudson has been an active volunteer with the Council for Advancement & Support of Education (CASE) District VI since 2007, serving in both Cabinet and conference roles. In 2020, he was tapped by CASE national leadership to serve as a co-chair for the first international All Districts Conference, which set the record for the largest CASE event in its history with more than 19,000 registrants.
He also has served in many local and regional volunteer roles, including the Iowa Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America board and the Waverly Chamber of Commerce and Main Street board of directors. In 2023, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Main Street Iowa recognized him with a leadership award for his strategic leadership with Main Street and economic development in Waverly and the State of Iowa.
As a strategic thinker and innovator, he has been a nationally featured presenter on the topics of branding, online communication, strategic planning, design, and public relations through various professional associations. He has written chapters in two published college-level textbooks with other prominent communication leaders from around the U.S.
Knudson holds a Master of Arts in public relations from the University of Northern Iowa and a Bachelor of Arts in graphic design and online communication from Wartburg College. He resides in Waverly with his husband, Corey.
Natalie Kracht
Natalie brings diverse background spanning healthcare, administration, sales, and marketing, along with hands-on entrepreneurial experience. She spent many years in the healthcare industry in administrative and business development roles, where she gained a strong foundation in operations, relationship-building, and strategic growth. Over the last eight years, she applied those skills as the owner of Natural Grind, growing it from a single coffee shop into a multifaceted small-business brand that includes retail, events, and community partnerships.
In addition to brick-and-mortar retail, Natalie has expanded into online sales and brand representation as a Cabi stylist, blending digital marketing, customer experience, and personal branding. As a board member of the Unite Credit Union, Natalie looks forward to learning more about the financial industry while offering insight from a small-business and entrepreneurial perspective—particularly in marketing, customer engagement, and community-driven growth.
Chase Lyons
Chase is a driven and accomplished real estate professional with a strong foundation in financial management. As a 2024 graduate from UNI with a Bachelor’s degree in Financial Management, he developed expertise in financial planning, investment analysis, budgeting, and organizational strategy.
Currently, Chase serves as a real estate agent for Oakridge, the leading real estate firm in the Cedar Valley, where he quickly established a reputation for integrity, market insight, and client-focused service. In recognition of his exceptional performance, dedication, and measurable results, he was honored with the company’s Rookie of the Year award in 2025.
Combining his background in financial management and my insight into the real estate market. Chase believes that he would be a great addition to the Board of Directors at Unite Credit Union. He would be honored to both contribute to and learn from the experienced leaders guiding both your organization’s mission and the surrounding community.