8 Credit Unions, Open Lending, Prodigy Announce Career Moves

WEST

The $137 million Providence Federal Credit Union in Milwaukie, Ore., announced that president/CEO Shirley Cate was named the 2019 recipient of the James D. Likens Alumni Recognition Award from the Western CUNA Management School. Each year, the WCMS honors one graduate for their significant achievements in the credit union industry. Since 1991, the James D. Likens Alumni Recognition Award has been awarded to Western CUNA Management School alumni who demonstrate significant professional growth in the individual’s credit union career and significant service to the credit union community.

The $12.5 billion First Technology Federal Credit Union in San Jose, Calif., hired Steve Owen as chief retail and marketing officer. In this role, Owen oversees First Tech’s marketing, deposits, membership and member experience divisions, including the retail experience centers and contact experience center. Owen will spearhead First Tech’s long-term frontline growth strategies, optimize and expand the branch network, enable innovative contact center technology, advance marketing and product development strategies, and ensure a consistently superior member experience.

MIDWEST

The $1.2 billion Interra Credit Union in Goshen, Ind., promoted Blair Juarez to assistant vice president of project management. In her new role, she will be responsible for developing and managing credit union initiatives as a key member of the credit union’s growing project management team. Juarez started working at Interra 12 years ago and has excelled in a number of key roles throughout the credit union.

The $1.3 billion Firefly Credit Union in Burnsville, Minn., hired David Benz as asset protection manager.

Benz comes to Firefly with 33 years of experience in the financial lending and collection industry. In his new role, Benz will protect the credit union’s assets and control loan delinquency and losses. He is excited to work together with the Firefly team to help members achieve their goals and provide guidance during difficult times.

The $970 million Credit Union of America in Wichita, Kan., hired Brandy Warren as a real estate loan officer for the CUA Hutchinson office.

Warren brings more than eight years of financial experience to CUA, including six years in mortgage lending and more than five years in the Hutchinson market. Warren will guide and assist members with their home lending needs and provide local underwriting of home loans.

The $978 million Honor Credit Union in Berrien Springs, Mich., promoted Eddy Cole from infrastructure manager to assistant vice president of information technology.

As the assistant vice president of IT, Cole will work to build teams of innovators that deliver competitive emerging technologies and help equip Honor’s teams in maximizing the member experience, both virtually and in member center locations. Along with leading his team, Cole will assist in partnering with third-party technology vendors to develop relationships that build strong, stable and rewarding alliances.

The $344 million Jolt Credit Union Saginaw, Mich., hired Coty Kuschinsky as community affairs specialist.

In her role, Kuschinsky will implement, coordinate and actively participate in local events and activities that embrace the community people live and work in. She will champion Jolt’s school branches to provide financial literacy and a financial roadmap for students. Prior to joining the Jolt team, Coty was a news reporter and anchor for WNEM TV5.

SOUTH

The $2.2 billion ORNL Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge, Tenn., hired Kristin Robertucci as SVP and CFO. Most recently, she held the role of vice president of finance at First Commonwealth Financial, a $7.8 billion financial institution in Indiana, Penn. As part of the executive leadership team, Robertucci will play a key role in ensuring continued financial success while investing in delivery channels and returning value to the membership. Robertucci’s primary responsibilities at ORNL will include managing the investment portfolio, all accounting and financial reporting functions, financial analysis and asset/liability management.

VENDORS

Open Lending hired Kenn Wardle as chief risk officer. Wardle has more than 20 years of extensive experience in the financial services industry, most recently as COO at Horizon Digital Finance Holdings, Inc. His leadership experience spans key functions within the lending industry including portfolio and risk management, financial operations, research analytics, credit analysis, information technology, compliance and corporate reporting.

CUSOS

Prodigy promoted Derrick Pope to vice president of software development. Pope joined the Prodigy team in 2013 after 20 years at FIS Global and has a strong background in the design, development and maintenance of credit union core processing systems. Pope has served as a product manager and assistant vice president of software development at Prodigy. In his new role, Pope will lead Prodigy’s engineers and project managers in the development of Prodigy’s state-of-the-art core processing platform and other ancillary software solutions.

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