Joel Swanson (pictured) was selected as SVP, branch administration. Swanson brings more than 17 years of professional experience, including 10 years with Alaska USA. Most recently he served as vice president, electronic services.

Sonya Watkins was promoted to vice president, branch administration, Alaska region. Watkins has worked for Alaska USA for more than 23 years, primarily serving in positions of branch and area management. Most recently, she served as area vice president, South Anchorage.

Elizabeth Rense Pavlas (pictured) was selected as vice president, electronic services. Pavlas has worked for Alaska USA for nine years in positions of increasing responsibility. Most recently she served as card products manager.

The $5.1 billion Ent Credit Union in Colorado Springs, Colo., promoted two employees.

Liz Finn was promoted to vice president of center operations. Finn has been with Ent operations for 26 years in various positions of increasing responsibility. For the past nine years, she served as director of center operations. Finn has held various roles within Ent in numerous community outreach and fundraising efforts to benefit organizations including Pikes Peak United Way, ACS Relay for Life, the American Heart Association Heart Walk and Go Red for Women. 

Travis Dodge was promoted to vice president of investment services for Ent Credit Union. Dodge has been with Ent for 15 years. Since 2008, he served as director of investment services. His Financial Industry Regulatory Authority licenses through CUSO Financial Services, L.P. include the FINRA Series 7, 63, 24, Life and Variable Contracts Insurance License.

EAST

The $1.2 billion Hanscom Federal Credit Union in Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., announced Frederick C. Ryan, director emeritus, passed away at the age of 83. Ryan served the credit union nearly 40 years as a credit union volunteer. He represented members of the former GSA Federal Credit Union after merging with Hanscom FCU in 1979. In 1984 he was appointed to the board until his retirement in September 2017.

MIDWEST

The $18 million City and County Credit Union in Alberta Lea, Minn., hired T.J. Trembley as mortgage sales manager. In his new role, he will focus on growing and building City and County's real estate department to enhance the mortgage experience for members. Trembley brings more than 15 years of mortgage lending experience to the real estate team. Before coming to City and County Credit Union, he spent eight years as a senior mortgage consultant at Marketplace Home Mortgage.

The $3.4 billion Veridian Credit Union in Des Moines, Iowa, hired two employees.

Jake Arends (pictured) was hired as a mortgage loan originator. Arends, a resident of Urbandale, was previously a mortgage loan officer at Wells Fargo. He has a degree from Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo.

Alan Simmer was hired as a copy editor. Simmer, a resident of Cedar Falls, was a campaign communications associate at Wartburg College. He also has a degree from Wartburg College.

SOUTH

The $238 million Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union in Houston hired Kevin Johns as the new vice president of sales and service. In his new position, Johns will help Cy-Fair continue its mission to be committed to each member's financial well-being while providing stable leadership their members can trust. Johns previously served as the vice president – retail sales at the $1 billion Coasthills Credit Union in Lompoc, Calif., where he was responsible for inter-department communications, project management, noninterest income revenue and strategic sales initiatives.

VENDORS

CU HomeLand, a division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation, hired Bonni Bergstrom as director of business development. Bergstrom will help to further develop the company's growing portfolio of credit union and small community bank partners. Bergstrom comes with a wealth of experience within the industry and is a former credit union CEO.

The LenderSelect Mortgage Group, a full-service mortgage provider, hired Greg Heiser as an account executive for Florida and Georgia. In his new role as an account executive, Greg's primary focus will be developing new relationships in the Florida and Georgia markets, as well as maintaining existing community lender relationships.

Heiser brings 20 years of experience to the position.

Please send your People news items to Tahira Hayes at [email protected].