"After conducting a thorough succession planning process and evaluation, the board of directors is excited to have John take the lead in carrying on Westerra's rich tradition of serving members," Board Chairman Jim Kullhem said in the announcement.

Peppers said, "John has been an integral part of our success at Westerra and I am enthused and optimistic about John serving in this new role.  He is a highly effective leader and will carry forward the Westerra vision of helping members achieve financial success."

In other people news from around the industry:

EAST

The $183 million Aspire Federal Credit Union in Clark, N.J., hired Joseph Riccardo as its first chief information officer. Riccardo's hiring follows the credit union's decision to convert to the Corelation KeyStone core processing platform next year, Aspire said. Riccardo has more than 30 years of financial and technology experience, including serving as a product line executive for Fiserv Advantage, Aspire's current core processor. The $135 million GHS Federal Credit Union in Binghamton, N.Y., promoted Christine Cresci to assistant branch manager at the Norwich Branch. Cresci joined GHS in 2012 as a member service supervisor for the Norwich Branch. The $187 million First Financial Federal Credit Union in Wall, N.J., promoted Matthew Brazinski to business development manager. He joined the credit union in 2013 as branch manager for the Howell and Freehold locations. 

SOUTH

The $315 million NSWC Federal Credit Union in Dahlgren, Va., hired Bruce Six as its new CEO. Six has 24 years of credit union experience, most recently as chief investment officer at Mid-Atlantic Corporate Federal Credit Union in Middletown, Pa., and before that at Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union in Harrisburg, Pa. The $413 million First Florida Credit Union in Jacksonville, Fla., promoted Debbie Pelletier to branch manager of its Northside Branch in Tallahassee, Fla. Pelletier has 28 years of industry experience, including the past 12 at First Florida, most recently as a loan officer at the Tallahassee Blair Stone Branch.
The $444 million BrightStar Credit Union in Sunrise Fla., named Greg Cassamajor as branch manager of its Pompano Beach Branch. He was previously assistant vice president at TD Bank in Lauderhill.

MIDWEST

The $532 million Centris Federal Credit Union in Omaha, Neb., named Steve Swanstrom its new president/CEO. Swanstrom joined Centris in 2009 as vice president and director of mortgage services and was promoted in 2012 to SVP of retail financial services. He also worked for several regional and community banks after beginning his career as a teller. The $2.6 billion Michigan State University Federal Credit Union in East Lansing, Mich., promoted Samantha Amburgey to chief information officer and Dennis Dorogi to vice president of remote services. Amburgey has been with MSUFCU since 2004, most recently as SVP of remote services. Dorogi has been with MSUFCU since 2008, most recently as assistant vice president of remote services. MSUFCU also promotedBrian Grapentien to facilities operations assistant manager and Kyle Wright to consumer loans operations assistant manager. Grapentien joined MSUFCU in 2013 and had been a facilities maintenance specialist. Wright was hired in 2012 and most recently was a financial services representative.

WEST

The $474 million Greater Nevada Credit Union in Carson City, Nev., promoted Marcus Wertz to vice president of consumer lending. He began his career at Greater Nevada in 2002 as a loan servicing manager and has also served as a senior loan officer, consumer lending manager and dealer sales manager. He is a graduate of Western CUNA Management School and is a member of the CUNA Lending Council.  The $4 billion Ent Federal Credit Union in Colorado Springs, Colo., promoted Victoria Selfridge to vice president of corporate communications. Selfridge has been with Ent since 1999 and had served as Ent's director of marketing since 2007. Ent also promoted Joseph Nelson to loan portfolio analyst. Nelson has 15 years of financial services experience, most recently as a lending specialist at Ent's Stetson Hills Service Center.

VENDORS

eDOC innovations in Middlebury, Vt., promoted Mark Fierro to EVP. Fierro joined the CUSO in 2000 as an account manager and most recently was vice president of client development. He also has served as CFO at Sharon Credit Union in Sharon, Mass.