Credit unions throughout the nation announced nearly 20 promotions and hired 10 new employees. Trades also elected new board members.

EAST

The $1.3 billion Empower Federal Credit Union in Syracuse, N.Y. hired Robert “Kip” Allen as its vice president of member business services. He holds more than 30 years commercial real estate experience.

John F. Kilduff was hired as corporate affairs officer for the $517 million Patriot Federal Credit Union in Chambersburg, Pa. He brings to Patriot FCU more than 20 years of credit union industry experience in legislative and regulatory affairs, consumer and financial institution regulatory compliance, as well as public relations. 

The $437 million Connex Credit Union named Kerry Perotta as a branch manager. Prior to joining the New Haven, Conn.-based cooperative, Perotta served as a licensed banker for Citizens Bank, an executive mortgage officer at William Raveis, a loan officer at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and a private banker position at JP Morgan Chase Bank.

MIDWEST

Greg Marvin was appointed director of information technology application support and development at the $1.8 billion United Federal Credit Union in St. Joseph, Mich. Previously, he served as a business intelligence analyst. His work experience includes 25 years in business intelligence and IT management. 

Carrie Susemihl joined the $152 million KALSEE Credit Union in Kalamazoo, Mich. as its marketing manager. She previously served as education coordinator and assistant to the director at the non-profit Tillers International in Scotts, Mich. She also worked at the $600 million Consumers Credit Union in Kalamazoo as a design and project management coordinator in the marketing department. 

The $2.7 billion Veridian Credit Union promoted Ivana Mijatovic to the position of member contact center team lead. She joined the Waterloo, Iowa-based cooperative 10 years ago and most recently served as a senior loan officer. Veridian CU also hired Nick Murch as an operations analyst. Previously, he worked as an emissions systems analyst at Kelly Services Inc.  

SOUTH

The $1.1 billon MAX Credit Union in Montgomery, Ala. named Tony Graydon as vice president of business services and commercial lending.  He holds more than 20 years of banking experience.

The $1.3 billion America's First Federal Credit Union in Birmingham, Ala., announced that it promoted 15 employees. Christy Richardson, Courtney Moten, Elma Tolbert and Libby Moore were promoted to branch manager positions. Jimese Harkley was promoted to philanthropy and community relations manager and Barbara Self was promoted to records manager. Craig Hipp was promoted to an indirect specialist position, while Tammy Harry, Rod Winston and Sharon Richardson were promoted to senior collections counselors. Kakiyia Green and Christy Radney were promoted to branch specialists positions, Rejunda Lucas was promoted to a call center representative position, Tameka Parrish was promoted to a teller position and Sandy Reese was promoted to an accounting specialist.

Blair Edwards was promoted to a branch manager position at the $2 billion Robins Federal Credit Union. She joined the Warner Robins, Ga.-based credit union more than 15 years ago when she began working as a teller and served in several branch positions.

WEST

Michael Warrell, president/CEO of the $129 million Solano First Federal Credit Union in Fairfield, Calif., was chosen as CEO of the Year by NAFCU. He was named the winner among credit unions with $250 million or less in assets. Warrell and other winners in NAFCU's 2015 Annual Awards Competition will be honored in conjunction with NAFCU's 48th Annual Conference and Solutions Expo in Montréal, Québec, Canada June 23-26.

The $839 million CoastHills Credit Union in Lompoc, Calif. recently welcomed three new employees. Cathy Cachu was hired as an assistant vice president, commercial lending. She previously served as a vice president, commercial banking officer for Rabobank.  Scott Doi joined the California cooperative as an assistant vice president of retail sales. He holds nearly two decades of experience in the financial services industry. After working nearly a decade as a journalist, Joshua D. Scroggin joined CoastHills as the credit union's first social media officer.  He previously worked as a sports reporter and as an interactivity expert at The Tribune in San Luis Obispo.

The $310 million UNCLE Credit Union promoted Dree Johnson to vice president of member services. The Livermore, Calif.-based cooperative also named Sarah Samuel as vice president of sales and marketing. Previously, Johnson served as UNCLE's director of retail banking for more than four years. Samuel will continue to lead UNCLE's business development and mortgage origination sales, and she also will oversee the marketing division. She joined UNCLE as vice president of sales and services in 2013.

TRADES

NAFCU announced that Robert Fisher, president/CEO of the $2 billion Grow Financial Federal Credit Union in Tampa, Fla., was elected to an at-large seat on the association's board of directors. His three-year term will begin after the NAFCU's annual business meeting on June 23.

Louise Lingenfelser, president/CEO of the $16.5 million ClearChoice Federal Credit Union in Wyomissing, Pa., was elected chair of the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association board of directors. Jeff DeBree, president/CEO of the $144 million Penn East Federal Credit Union in Scranton, Pa. was elected as the board's vice chair. Lingenfelser represents credit unions of up to $30 million in assets and DeBree represents credit unions with total assets of greater than $100 million.