2024 Board of Directors Candidate Biographies
In 2024 there are three three-year Director terms open for election to the Board of Directors. Elections will occur at the Guardian Credit Union Annual Meeting, which will be held virtually on Thursday, June 20 at 2:00 p.m. Additional information on voting eligibility, RSVPs for the meeting and absentee voting can be found here.
Robert Jelinek
Board President
Mr. Jelinek is retired from Bucyrus International, an OE Mining Equipment Manufacturer. During his 38-year tenure, Mr. Jelinek held the positions of Vice President of Sales and Integration, General Manager Eastern US, Director of Aftermarket Sales, and Manufacturing Production Control Manager.
Mr. Jelinek has served on GCU’s Board of Directors since 1984, having held the positions of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and secretary. Mr. Jelinek enjoys providing support to management to continue GCU’s mission of helping people gain financial advantages, and he offers particular expertise in general business management and facilitating the ideas and resources that are necessary for GCU’s continued growth.
Mr. Jelinek earned associate degrees from Milwaukee Area Technical College 1973 and Marquette University in 1997.
Darci Middaugh
Board Director
Ms. Middaugh is a Partner and member of Ritz Holman LLP’s tax and outsourcing teams. Since Joining the firm in 1989 and becoming partner in 2020, Ms. Middaugh has focused on providing personalized tax and consulting services to individuals and closely-held businesses. She works directly with her clients on issues such as tax compliance and planning, entity choice, retirement plan, considerations, and general business planning. She also performs audits of 401(k) plans and HUD and low-income housing tax credit properties.
Ms. Middaugh has led presentations on payroll and income tax compliance and has served as an instructor at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Small Business Development Center, where she taught courses on financial management to business owners and managers.
Ms. Middaugh received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She is a member of the American and Wisconsin Institutes of Certified Public Accountants.
Rosemary Bartkowiak
Board Director
Ms. Bartkowiak has over 30 years of experience in the manufacturing industry and is currently serving as the Chief Financial Officer of Drive Source International, Inc. located in Sturtevant, WI. Ms. Bartkowiak’s core competencies include budgeting and pricing strategies, cash management and banking relations, capital planning and management, customer, vendor and supplier relationships, financial statement preparation and analysis, human resource management, and oversight of information technologies. In addition, she is a hands-on leader skilled at streamlining general and administrative procedures and is passionate about process improvements.
Ms. Bartkowiak served as a Board member for Guardian Tax Services from March 2014 until her appointment to GCU’s Board of Directors in November 2015. She enjoys being able to support the GCU management and staff with her varied business background and expertise.
Ms. Bartkowiak received her bachelor’s degree in accounting and in business administration from Lakeland College, Sheboygan, WI, and holds a master’s in business administration from Carroll University.