Ed Muscara was promoted to vice president, indirect consumer lending manager. With 29 years of dealership and automotive financing experience, Muscara joined St. Mary's Bank in 2014 as senior indirect business development officer. He developed the credit union's indirect lending automotive dealer base, increasing the number of dealer partners to 575, and ensured lending goals were achieved.

Michael Beck was hired as vice president, wealth management to the St. Mary's Financial Services program located at the credit union. Beck, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, will guide the credit union's members toward their financial goals through estate, investment, education and retirement planning. He mentors other financial planners through CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc. and previously served on CBSI's Senior Advisor Leadership Team.

The $148 million Homefield Credit Union in North Grafton, Mass., named Julie DeLong EVP and COO. She will also continue in her role as CFO. DeLong has more than 20 years of financial management experience in areas very beneficial to the credit union. Prior to joining Homefield, she was CFO at the $248 million Mass Bay Credit Union in South Boston.

The $1.6 billion Metro Credit Union in Chelsea, Mass., appointed Marie O'Neill to SVP of member engagement and experience. In her role, O'Neill will be responsible for impacting activities at all levels of the credit union that affect member experience, with the goal of actively building, nurturing and engaging members and their relationship with Metro. O'Neill brings more than 20 years of experience to Metro.

MIDWEST

Tara Jones

The $2.6 billion United Federal Credit Union based in St. Joseph, Mich., appointed Tara Jones to mortgage advisor at its Hendersonville, N.C., branch. Jones is going to use her expertise to provide helpful and complete real estate lending expertise to members through financial counseling and product awareness. She will also be responsible for generating quality mortgage loans.

SOUTH

Pat Willbern

The $245 million Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union in Houston announced Pat Willbern, the first president of the credit union, passed away on Feb. 15 following a long battle with Alzheimer's. She was 87. As the first president, Willbern is credited with building the credit union from a tiny organization operating out of a back office into a mature financial partner supporting the Cypress-Fairbanks community. Willbern became the president of Cy-Fair FCU in 1973 when the organization had just over 900 members and less than $1 million in assets. From 1973 to 1994, Willbern shaped the direction of the credit union, moving from a borrowed space in the Annex building of Cy-Fair High School to the first Cy-Fair FCU-owned building in Jersey Village.

Mandy Baibak

The $1 billion SAFE Federal Credit Union in Sumter, S.C., named Mandy Baibak assistant vice president of electronic services. Baibak, who has worked at SAFE for nearly 14 years, now oversees all the electronic services. For the past two and a half years, Baibak has managed the SAFE Member Service Center. Before that, she managed membership development functions for the credit union and was the membership development officer in the Columbia, S.C., area.

The $776 million Truity Credit Union in Bartlesville, Okla., selected Dennis Halpin to become president/CEO effective upon current CEO Kelly Diven's retirement at the end of 2018. Halpin currently serves as EVP/CFO. Halpin has more than 40 years of experience in credit union management and leadership.

VENDORS

LenderClose, a fintech startup, hired Ben Rempe as COO. Rempe has more than 15 years of experience in financial services, Rempe joins LenderClose from TMG Financial Services where he most recently served as vice president of business development. While at TMGFS, Rempe oversaw the execution of a business development program – a collaboration between marketing, underwriting and finance departments – which resulted in doubling the company's total assets.

LEAGUES

The Illinois Credit Union League Service Corporation appointed David Griffiths, formerly SVP of business and sales for LSC, to COO and EVP. As COO and EVP, Griffiths is responsible for the growth and retention of LSC's business, as well as overseeing its future business strategy. Griffiths has more than 30 years of experience working in the credit union movement in various sales and leadership positions. LSC's former COO, Karen Duffy, is transitioning to the role of vice president of card solutions and leader of LSC's partner management team. Duffy has been with the Illinois Credit Union System since 1983. In her 35 years of service, she has worn many hats, including director of card services, vice president of lending and collections, SVP of sales and business development, and EVP and COO.

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