CUs Reveal New Hires, Promotions & Retirements

The $544 million GFA Federal Credit Union in Gardner, N.H., promoted Normand Mercier to branch manager of the Rindge, N.H., location, where he previously served as branch operations manager. He has more than eight years of combined community banking experience with GFA and other financial institutions in New Hampshire. Mercier’s community understanding and New Hampshire roots will be essential to his new role in leading the Rindge team to provide better banking solutions to members, while working to grow new relationships.

MIDWEST

The $871 million Great Lakes Credit Union in Bannockburn, Ill., hired Nicholas Mathews as vice president of marketing. Mathews has eight years of experience in the credit union industry, most recently with the $227 million Sunbelt Federal Credit Union in Hattiesburg, Miss., where he served as marketing director. During his tenure with Sunbelt, Mathews was awarded the 2018 Diamond Marketing Award for Best Campaign.

The $1 billion, Rantoul, Ill.-based Credit Union 1 announced Paul Simons, president/CEO, is retiring.

Simons spent the last 48 years serving in the credit union industry, the last 32 as president/CEO of Credit Union 1. During his tenure, Credit Union 1 grew from $200 million in assets to its current $1 billion asset size. Simons has also served on the board of directors of Credit Union 1 since 1987 and will remain an active member of the board after his retirement. Prior to being named president/CEO, he served the credit union industry in a variety of roles.

The $3.3 billion Corporate One Federal Credit Union in Columbus, Ohio appointed Hilary A. Eisbrenner, SVP and CFO at the $4.8 billion Space Coast Credit Union in Melbourne, Fla., to its board of directors.

With her new appointment to the board, she will also serve as the board liaison on Corporate One’s enterprise risk management committee. Eisbrenner joined Space Coast in 2016 and has almost 30 years of professional experience serving the credit union industry. She previously served as SVP/CFO at the $2.9 billion Keesler Federal Credit Union in Biloxi, Miss., from 2012 to 2015.

SOUTH

The $1 billion SAFE Federal Credit Union in Sumter, S.C., selected Kelly Carter, CPA as CFO. Carter succeeds Debbie Jordan, who will retire in early 2020 after more than 41 years of service to the credit union. Carter is a Valley View, Penn., native who served in various positions at Gratz Bank in Pennsylvania for seven years. She most recently served as comptroller before joining SAFE.

The $10.4 billion Suncoast Credit Union in Tampa, Fla., hired John Saunders as a business relationship officer for the commercial lending department. Saunders is responsible for expanding commercial financing needs and managing existing commercial loan relationships throughout Hillsborough County. He works with a variety of businesses and industries to help them find the right commercial loan for their desired needs. With more than 22 years of experience in financial services, Saunders has worked for several prestigious financial institutions, including Bank of America, SunTrust Bank, Wachovia Bank and John Hancock Financial Services.

VENDORS

LenderClose expanded its sales team with the addition of two employees.

Dylan Sawyer was hired as a sales development representative. Joining LenderClose from Wells Fargo, where he served as a home mortgage consultant, Sawyer brings to LenderClose knowledge of current mortgage and market trends, as well as a thorough understanding of financial governing and compliance guidelines. In his new role, Sawyer will apply his sales experience, and operations and business development background to seamlessly integrate new LenderClose clients.

Dustin Halma was hired as a sales development representative. In his most recent position as a sales specialist for Van Wall Equipment, as well as prior direct sales roles, Halma has demonstrated an ability to consistently increase company revenue. His has a reputation for cultivating strong client and vendor relationships. A skilled communicator with a penchant for problem solving, Halma will be an asset in his new role as sales development representative.

AGENCIES

The NCUA announced Frank Kressman will serve as the agency’s acting general counsel. Mike McKenna, current general counsel, is retiring after more than 30 years of service to the NCUA. During this initial transition, Kressman will serve as the acting general counsel. Kressman previously served as a deputy general counsel to the NCUA. He joined the agency in 1998 as a staff attorney.

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