Nominees for the FAIRWINDS Board of Directors
The Nominations Committee has nominated three candidates to serve on the FAIRWINDS Board of Directors for 2027–2030: Jason Albu, Richard Leigh, and John Mahony. There will be no election conducted by ballot and no nominations from the floor when there is only one nominee for each position to be filled. Nominations may be made by qualified petition beginning October 2, 2026.
Members interested in becoming candidates may utilize the petition method. Each qualified petitioner must be a primary member at least 21 years of age, have been a member in good standing for at least one full year, be willing to serve in a volunteer capacity, and be available to attend monthly meetings held in Orlando, FL. All completed applications, biographical information, and petitions (containing the names, addresses, dates of birth, last four digits of their Social Security numbers, and signatures of 500 eligible FAIRWINDS members) must be received by the FAIRWINDS Board of Directors Nominations Committee at 135 W. Central Blvd., Suite 1220, Orlando, FL 32801, no later than November 6, 2026, for validation. Official applications and petition forms may be obtained by contacting [email protected]. If no other candidates qualify by petition, the three open positions will be filled by the nominees selected by the Nominations Committee and will be formally announced at the Annual Meeting to be held on February 9, 2027, at the FAIRWINDS Corporate Tower, 135 W. Central Blvd., 2nd Floor, Orlando, FL 32801.
Jason Albu (Incumbent)
I have been a member of the Central Florida community since 1981, attending Central Florida schools and graduating from the University of Florida. I own a second-generation small business with my brother, Albu & Associates, Inc., a general contracting and commercial construction management firm. I have had the opportunity to work on landmark projects such as the Kia Center, Citrus Bowl Reconstruction, and the Orange County Convention Center, as well as many other retail, office, school, and light industrial projects. Under my leadership, Albu & Associates, Inc. has had the honor of winning several awards, including the “Gator 100” (University of Florida), a “Best Places to Work” award (Orlando Business Journal), CEO Nexus Cup (GrowFL), and the Don Quijote Award (Hispanic Chamber). I am married with four children. I enjoy volunteering with A Gift for Teaching, the National Association of Minority Contractors (Board Member), and Associated Builders and Contractors. I served for two years on the FAIRWINDS Audit Committee before joining the Board of Directors. I value the opportunity to continue serving the membership in this volunteer position as Treasurer.
Richard Leigh (Incumbent)
I have an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and a Juris Doctor degree. I served in the U.S. Navy for almost five years as a Judge Advocate, with service in South Vietnam. I practiced law in Central Florida for 50 years and have actively served FAIRWINDS Credit Union since 1993, including on the Board of Directors since 1999. I have been certified by the Credit Union Executives Society (CUES) as a Certified Credit Union Director since 2003. I have served the local community through several nonprofit and service organizations, including Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida, Florida Hospital Altamonte Foundation, Florida Safety Council, and Rotary International. I currently serve on the Board of Directors of Waterman Communities in Mt. Dora, FL. I retired from the active practice of law in 2023 and have even more time to serve FAIRWINDS. FAIRWINDS continues to prosper and, through good and challenging times, provides members with exceptional value and service. It is my desire to continue serving on the Board of Directors to help our members achieve financial freedom.
John Mahony (Incumbent)
As a member for more than 18 years, I have seen the amazing growth of FAIRWINDS in the Central Florida area. I have served on the FAIRWINDS Audit Committee for more than 14 years and I currently serve as Chairman. I have been a member of the Board of Directors for more than three years and currently serve as Vice Chairman. I am a graduate of UCF with a BA in Organizational Communications and continue to serve my alma mater by supporting the UCF Foundation. I have been married to my wife, Diane, for 27 years, and we have three children. I have been a business owner in Orlando for more than 23 years and am co-founder and managing partner of Kavaliro. My experience includes all aspects of business operations. I give back to the community through Kavaliro, the title sponsor of the charity Kick Off for Kids, which supports food pantries and their backpack programs. My wife and I also support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. My experience in Orlando’s business community can help provide support across all aspects of the credit union. I believe in the mission and values of FAIRWINDS and look forward to the opportunity to continue serving.