6 Credit Unions Select Executive Talent

WEST

The $3 billion WSECU in Olympia, Wash., hired Kim Duffy as vice president of people and culture services. In her new position, Duffy will lead WSECU’s corporate culture. She will also be responsible for planning, directing and overseeing employee recruiting, benefits, payroll and performance management, while providing leadership in all aspects of employee services, including helping establish and implement WSECU’s objectives. Overall, Duffy has nearly three decades of human resources experience with more than half of those years coming in credit unions.

The $1.7 billion Sound Credit Union in Tacoma, Wash., hired three employees.

Cyndi Crouch was hired as vice president of payments and operations. She has 29 years of experience working in the credit union industry. Most recently, she held the role of director of call center operations for the $617 million, Redmond, Wash.-based Qualstar Credit Union, overseeing call center operations, onboarding and off boarding. In her new role, Crouch will work with her team to continue enhancing the overall member experience.

Curtis Anderson was hired as vice president of business lending. He has 25 years of business lending experience, spanning across all aspects of the banking and credit union industries. He most recently served as SVP of the Small Business Administration.

Ranee Bray was hired as vice president of project management. Bray joins Sound  from Charles Schwab, where she managed the organization’s cybersecurity program.

In this role, she was responsible for the planning, management and execution of the company’s cyber portfolio, as well as operations for the program.

EAST

The $408 million Signal Financial Federal Credit Union in Kensington, Md., hired Markette Sheppard, author and Emmy Award-winning host of “Great Day Washington” on WUSA 9, as vice president of digital, public relations and marketing. Sheppard brings more than 10 years of television, digital and video experience to her new role. She has written several books for children and has a background in multimedia journalism and nonprofit communications. Sheppard’s new role offers many opportunities for building greater digital and video marketing capacity at the credit union.

The $394 million Securityplus Federal Credit Union in Baltimore, Md., hired William “Bill” Kennedy as CFO, vice president of finance and administration. He will oversee finance and accounting. Kennedy started his career in the credit union industry as CFO with the Department of Justice Federal Credit Union. He has more than 30 years of industry experience, having held leadership positions at credit unions in Virginia, Florida, New Jersey and South Carolina, and most recently as president/CEO of the $44 million HUD Federal Credit Union in Washington, D.C.

SOUTH

The $2.2 Chartway Federal Credit Union in Virginia Beach, Va., hired four employees to its leadership team.

George Pita was hired as chief lending officer. In his current role, Pita is responsible for Chartway’s credit risk management, consumer lending, indirect lending and collections teams. Pita comes to Chartway with more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, particularly in the areas of credit risk management and finance. A proven leader, he joined Chartway after serving as the SVP of consumer and business lending at the $2.7 billion Grow Financial Federal Credit Union in Tampa, Fla.

Will Arce was hired as vice president of Chartway’s Member Solutions Center. Arce is accountable for the planning, coordination and management of Chartway’s Member Solutions Center, the credit union’s inbound and outbound telephone and digital servicing center.

Arce is a senior-level leader with expertise in delivering inventive business strategies and strengthening internal and member experiences. Most recently, he served as Capital One’s contact center operations, quality, training and vendor management director for its Canadian operations.

Elizabeth Short was hired as vice president of marketing. As Chartway’s vice president of marketing, Short leads the credit union’s advertising campaign strategies, brand planning and channel marketing efforts to build market awareness, attract new members and deepen current member engagement across all channels.

Short has more than 25 years of experience in marketing strategy, advertising, digital marketing, new business development and brand management.

Danielle Abbassi was hired as president of Chartway’s We Promise Foundation. Abbassi joins Chartway following more than 10 years of non-profit sector experience. As the president of Chartway’s We Promise Foundation, Abbassi will lead the organization’s philanthropic engagement efforts and be accountable for the overall growth of the foundation.

She will also be responsible for establishing meaningful partnerships with donors, business partners, community leaders and prospective major gift supporters, and for diversifying/expanding revenue streams that fulfill the foundation’s mission and strategic goals.

The $1.6 billion Sharonview Federal Credit Union in Fort Mill, S.C., hired Jim Edwards as CFO. Edwards brings 30 years of leadership experience in the financial services industry to the position.

Prior to coming to Sharonview, he served as CFO for Chartway. He also previously spent 13 years in strategic leadership roles within BB&T’s mortgage unit.

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