United Federal Credit Union, St. Joseph, Mich., has appointed  Matthew Kester to the position of internal communications specialist. In his new role, Kester will develop and execute long-term strategic communications plans and activities to promote workforce coordination and continued mission alignment within the organization. Kester was previously a senior communications manager at the Timken Co. There he managed marketing communications for the global automotive, heavy truck, construction, mining, agriculture and locomotive groups. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from William Tyndale College in Farmington Hills, Mich. 

SOUTH

Charlotte Metro Credit Union, Charlotte, N.C., announced that three CMCU employees have been promoted recently. Leatra White is now branch manager at the main Central Avenue branch, and Jennifer Jarrell is branch manager at the Matthews branch. Andrea Jordan is assistant manager at the Central Avenue branch. White, who has been with CMCU since 2001, previously served as manager of the Matthews branch. White began her career in banking in 1996 as a teller for the credit union service center. She's served in several roles during her tenure at CMCU and has worked in various roles at the main branch previously. Jarrell, hired in January, was previously teller supervisor at the Central Avenue branch. She has been in the credit union industry her entire career. She previously worked at Carolinas Telco Federal Credit Union for 18 years. Jordan has been with CMCU since 2005 and previously served as member service advisor at the Matthews branch. When she moved to Charlotte eight years ago, she became a credit union member and an employee in the call center 

121 Financial Credit Union, Jacksonville, Fla., has selected Kathleen Junker as the  mortgage manager. In her position, Junker will be responsible for managing all mortgage department functions from origination to servicing. Junker came from the State of Florida's Office of Financial Regulation where she spent the past two years as a Financial Control Analyst I. Previously, she worked at First State Bank and Trust in Bayport, Minn., for 24 years. 

ORNL Federal Credit Union, Oak Ridge, Tenn., has appointed  T. Wayne Hood senior vice president and general counsel. Hood will provide senior leadership in regards to compliance, policy amendments, internal controls and overall risk management for the credit union. Hood's responsibilities at ORNL FCU will include reviewing credit union policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all related laws and regulations, recommending policy changes to senior management that will facilitate the credit union's compliance program, reducing risk, reflecting changes in regulations, updating and disseminating information regarding laws and regulations and providing legal counsel/handling legal matters. Hood most recently served on the banking, real estate and financial services and business services groups of Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens and Canada, a law firm in Nashville. He holds a bachelor's degree from Harding University and a law degree  from the University of Mississippi.

EAST

First Heritage Federal Credit Union,  Painted Post, N.Y.,  recently promoted Christine Francis to vice president of information technology. In this position, she will continue to oversee, direct and budget for the credit union's technology and communications functions and continue to identify areas of process improvement/efficiencies within the institution. Francis comes to this new role having held positions of increasing responsibility since joining the First Heritage information technologies department in 1995. Her most recent position was assistant vice president of information technology. She graduated from Mansfield University in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and began working at the credit union shortly thereafter. 

Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., announced the addition of Susan Lyke Cooper to its team of certified mortgage loan officers. Cooper has more than 10 years of experience in the mortgage industry. Prior to joining HVFCU, Cooper was employed with Key Bank in Orange County. She is a member of the Mortgage Bankers' Association, National Women's Board of Realtors, New York Builders Association, and an affiliate of the Ulster, Dutchess and Greene County Boards of Realtors. She attended SUNY Purchase to study real estate practice, appraisal studies and computer studies.

Northeast Credit Union, Portsmouth, N.H., announced the promotion of two of its vice presidents. Robert Wester, vice president of  operations, has been promoted to senior vice president of operations, and Thomas J. Weaver, vice president of lending, has been promoted to senior vice president chief lending officer.  Weaver joined the credit union in 2007 and has over 25 years of lending experience. Prior to joining Northeast, Weaver  worked at TD Bank as vice president, northern New England sales manager. Wester is a graduate of Northampton Junior College with a degree in business management. Wester joined the credit union in 2006 and brings over 38 years of banking experience.