WEST

River City Federal Credit Union, San Antonio,announced that Matthew Russell was recently hiredas chief financial officer. Russell has held the position of CFO atboth CASE Federal Credit Union in Michigan and at Alamo FederalCredit Union in San Antonio. Russell earned his BBA in finance fromWestern Michigan University and an MBA from Michigan StateUniversity.

Solarity Credit Union, Yakima, Wash., has hiredLori Beador as its new chief financial officer.This position oversees accounting, information technology, centraloperations, card services, compliance, facilities and projectmanagement. Beador joined the former Yakima Valley Credit Union(now Solarity) in 2007 as the controller and was promoted to vicepresident of corporate services soon after. Prior to joining thecredit union, Beador was a state auditor in the central Washingtonregion and a manager of a farm store. Beador has a bachelor ofscience in accounting and actuarial science from Central WashingtonUniversity and an MBA from Washington State University. She alsoholds a CPA license.

MIDWEST

Highmark Federal Credit Union, Rapid City,S.D., has created the position of assistant vice president of salesand service and appointed Vincent Tyson. Tyson hasa banking background beginning with Royal Bank of Scotland, wherehe held a variety of positions, each with increasingresponsibilities. There he was internal communications manager,responsible for financial service training, coaching anddevelopment for his staff. Tyson holds a bachelor of science degreein media production as well as other certifications related tocoaching, training, information technology and businessadministration.

Gateway Metro Federal Credit Union, St. Louis,announce that Anita Napier recently retired asdirector of member support after 46 years of service. In 1966,Napier took a part-time job with MEC Credit Union, later known asSt. Louis Federal Center Credit Union in north St. Louis. Shelearned about the credit union through her father, an employee ofthe U.S. Treasury Department. Her part-time status didn't lastlong. Within two weeks, the credit union manager convinced her tobecome a full-time teller. The credit union served about 2,000members, mostly federal employees, in the then-thriving governmentcomplex. It wasn't long before credit union management recognizedNapier's talents. Soon, she was handling not only teller duties butalso several back-office operations, loans, even accountingfunctions. SLFCCU consolidated its operations with Gateway Metro in1999. Napier has opened accounts for multiple generations. “Just afew weeks ago I opened an account for a young gentleman. I used toknow his father, who was also a credit union member. Now, I'mopening accounts for his children and grandchildren…three familygenerations.” Napier said that, while she looks forward toretirement, she'll miss what has been a big part of her life for 46years. “My co-workers are like family. So are our members. They arenumber one.” 

SOUTH

Redstone Federal Credit Union, Huntsville,Ala., has appointed Richard L. Morris to its boardof directors to fill the seat left vacant by the recent death ofClyde Bean. Morris has been a member of the Credit Union since2005. Morris is a shareholder with the multi-state law firm Siroteand Permutt PC. As an attorney in private practice since 1997, herepresents businesses, lenders and government entities. He earned abachelor's degree in business administration from Athens StateUniversity and a JD from the University of Alabama School of Law,where he was inducted into the Order of Barristers.

Virginia Credit Union, Richmond, Va., announcedthe appointment of Deb Wreden as senior vicepresident of product and delivery strategy. She is responsible fordeveloping product, payment and channel strategies that focus ontechnology, industry trends and the preferences of Virginia CreditUnion's membership. Her marketing experience for national andinternational companies includes 13 years in the financialindustry. Wreden joined VACU in 2003 and was most recently vicepresident of product development and marketing. She previouslyworked at Capital One Financial. The credit union also announcedthe appointment of Todd Feldman is vice presidentof marketing. He brings more than 20 years of marketing ande-commerce experience to Virginia Credit Union. He was previouslyvice president of marketing and strategic commerce services forAAXIS Commerce, a consulting firm providing strategic business andtechnical services to retail and business-to-business companies. Healso served Circuit City Direct as head of social media andemerging channels. Feldman leads the marketing and membercommunication strategy for Virginia Credit Union through the use ofsocial media, digital marketing, and traditional channels. AndMike Noble joined Virginia Credit Union as vicepresident of business services. Noble leads the effort to designand launch business services for Virginia Credit Union beginning in2013. Noble brings more than 12 years experience in commerciallending and 17 years in the financial services industry. He wasmost recently senior vice president of commercial banking for TowneBank in Williamsburg. 

VENDOR

Symbionce Financial Solutions LLC, EastHanover, N.J., a home loan CUSO serving credit unions nationwide,announced the promotion of Stephen DiGioia to vicepresident of mortgage operations.