4 Credit Unions, LenderClose Bring New Talent On Board

This week’s People news also includes a promotion at Redwood Credit Union.

CU professionals start new positions.

WEST

The $2.8 billion Premier America Credit Union in Chatsworth, Calif., selected three new senior team leaders.

Ernesto Norona

Ernesto Norona was named SVP/chief lending officer. Norona has more than 25 years of leadership experience within lending, retail banking, remote service delivery and business development. He most recently served as SVP of lending at the $6 billion Logix Federal Credit Union in Burbank, Calif.

Marci Francisco

Marci Francisco was named SVP of member experience. Francisco previously served as vice president of sales for the largest business unit of CU Direct. She has worked with credit unions for more than 19 years and developed effective auto loan, membership and marketing growth strategies.

Janaki Rao

Janaki Rao was named SVP/chief technology officer. Rao is a technology leader with more than 23 years of experience managing software development, digital delivery and IT infrastructure teams for the banking and health services sectors. He most recently served as first vice president of technology at Axos Bank, formerly known as the Bank of the Internet.

Kimberly Odeh

The $4.5 billion Redwood Credit Union in Santa Rosa, Calif., promoted Kimberly Odeh to lending operations manager. In her new role, she will lead the lending operations department in supporting RCU’s lending partners and branches. Odeh’s previous positions at RCU have included senior loan processor, mortgage loan officer, assistant manager of mortgage operations and assistant manager of lending operations.

Shannon Maciel

The $139 million Compass Community Credit Union in Eureka, Calif., promoted Shannon Maciel to vice president of member experience. She previously served as the Henderson Center branch manager. Shannon brings more than 25 years banking experience and will be responsible for the retail and back-office operations, as well as nurturing the service culture.

Rene Campbell

To fill the branch manager position, Compass Community hired Rene Campbell. Campbell brings more than 25 years of banking experience, both in retail operations and lending. Her background has helped create a smooth, seamless transition. She will be responsible for day to day operations, lending needs, staff management and the cultivation of local relationships, along with business development.

SOUTH

Babar Khawaja

The $518 million Cedar Point Federal Credit Union in Lexington Park, Md., hired Babar Khawaja as chief lending officer. Khawaja has extensive experience in lending and comes to Cedar Point from ESL Federal Credit Union in Albuquerque, N.M., where he served as consumer lending manager and led all aspects of the indirect, home equity and direct loan programs.

The $592 million ABNB Federal Credit Union in Chesapeake, Va., hired three employees.

Yuriko Leverich

Yuriko Leverich was hired as relationship manager at the Chesapeake Square branch. She brings nearly 10 years of financial services experience to the credit union holding multiple branch managerial roles at a variety of banks in the Hampton Roads area. Leverich will be responsible for creating and maintaining a branch environment that strengthens connections with existing members and builds new relationships with prospective members and the community.

Lauren Cossel

Lauren Cossel was hired as community development officer. Cossel is well-versed in community organization and outreach, with five years of experience at organizations including The Salvation Army and Mercy Medical Angels in coordination and development efforts. In her new role, Cossel will be acting as the official ABNB corporate liaison to regional and national companies to encourage collaboration and community outreach.

Donald Scott Chapman

Donald Scott Chapman was hired as insurance operations manager for ABNB Insurance. He brings more than 20 years of combined business development and insurance experience to the position. Chapman manages a team of insurance professionals at ABNB Insurance, which offers a full line of insurance products through Members Assurance Property and Casualty, LLC. He is also responsible for overseeing the day to day operations of the agency.

VENDORS

LenderClose hired three employees this month.

Troy Allen

Troy Allen was hired as a sales representative. Allen previous served as a regional manager of a credit union where he managed four branches and 25 employees. During his more than 17 years in banking, Allen achieved consistent loan and deposit growth, and was recognized as a top sales professional.

Kathy Bell

Kathy Bell was hired as a sales representative. Bell brings extensive experience in sales and business development to the LenderClose team, having most recently worked as a client executive with ACS and a senior sales executive with Dice Holdings, both in Urbandale, Iowa. She has expertise developing sales strategies in highly competitive markets, and as a LenderClose sales executive, will help to further its footprint in key markets.

Caleb Salt

Caleb Salt was hired as a software developer. Salt has experience designing, coding and deploying software systems for more than 400 companies. At LenderClose, he will be focused on developing further solutions, including API integrations into loan origination software and the solutions of national data providers.

Please send your People news items to Tahira Hayes at thayes@cutimes.com.