Fred Casissa, Chairman of the Board, EFPN

Fred Casissa is the Vice President and CTE (Controls, Testing & Evaluation) Senior Analyst for MUFG Union Bank in San Francisco. He has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has served on a number of nonprofit boards that support community activity.
Mr. Casissa has been involved in EFPN as a founding partner since its inception in 2000 and has served on the board for 11 years. Photo Credit: Mona T. Brooks

Phillip E. Holmes

Phil Holmes’s career at Bank of America spanned more than 25 years in paper and electronic banking payments processes. His responsibilities at the bank included electronic cash management sales support for California middle markets, and Chicago and Houston corporate cash management clients.

That assignment also assumed product development responsibilities for ACH-based electronic cash management products and services. Prior, Mr. Holmes served as systems manager for the Bank’s 62,000 employee payroll/personnel computer systems professional staff. Earlier, the bank developed the first MICR computer-based check processing system at the San Jose ERMA center, where he was the operations manager responsible for supporting more than 60 BofA branches’ item processing needs in the early 1960s. After a second career at WesPay, Mr. Holmes retired in 2005, completing more than 18 years with the Association. During his WesPay tenure, he served as senior vice president and manager for Member Services & Education. In that capacity, he was responsible for the day-to-day management and oversight of WesPay’s operational areas, including development of its educational product offerings and related curricula, as well as services for delivery to members via the customer service help desk, other communications media, and WesPay’s member calling program. He represented WesPay’s member interests at the national level as a participant in the ACH Regional Payments Association’s Leadership Forum Group.

Sharon Tallon, Secretary, EFPN Board of Directors

Sharon Tallon currently currently serves as the Community Outreach Officer with Patelco Credit Union, a leader in the credit union industry with over 300,000 members and over 5 Billion in assets. Her dedication over the past 13 years at Patelco has been directed toward community service and education with a distinct focus on financial well being for it’s members, employees and the community at large. This interest and passion to serve led to her appointment on the EFPN Board of Directors in 2007 to help steward more attention and education toward Elder Financial Abuse issues. A graduate of San Diego State University with a BA in Art, a graduate from the San Francisco Culinary Academy in 1981 with 14 years in the catering business, and 9 years in the wine industry, she brings a varied and unusual element to her financial outreach and the communities she serves. A mother of two daughters, her passions lie with family, cooking and community outreach.

Steve Vallejo, EFPN Board

Steve Vallejo is a Senior Vice President and Corporate Security Director of Investigations with Bank of the West. In this position Steve manages all investigations to include: external and internal fraud; elder abuse investigations; and identity theft investigations. Prior to Bank of the West, he worked in investigative, supervisory, and managerial level positions in federal law enforcement. This included positions as an FBI Supervisory Special Agent and Program Manager, responsible for the implementation of the FBI’s Intelligence Program post 9-11. In this capacity, he managed teams of agents and analysts responsible for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information based on national and local intelligence requirements. In addition to this managerial experience, Steve has investigated and directed complex domestic and international investigations involving sophisticated criminal activities and security matters. Steve is very excited to serve as a new board member and will use his experience and abilities to promote the important mission of the EFPN.

Ruth Robeson, CEO/Executive Director EFPN

Wills, Trusts & Probate

• An Attorney who works with individuals to establish estate plans.
• Discuss claims of elder abuse.

Professional Fiduciary

• A professional for seniors and their families who need a trusted individual to serve as Financial Fiduciary, Trustee and/or Agent for Durable Powers of Attorney.

Real Estate Advisor

• An Attorney experienced in all facets of real property law, including reverse mortgages, co-tenancy agreements and resales.

Elder Abuse Prevention Specialist

• A former Long-Term Care Ombudsman and abuse prevention advocate.

Executive Director of Elder Financial Protection Network

• A nonprofit that works to fight elder financial abuse, train financial institution employees about ways to recognize and report suspected elder financial abuse.
• www.elderfinancialprotection.org