8 Credit Unions Kick Off May With New Hires & Promotions

WEST

The $797 million, San Jose, Calif.-based Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union promoted Margaret Czyz to vice president/controller. A veteran in the credit union industry and a longtime member of the credit union’s team, Czyz has spent more than three decades in the field and nearly four years with the organization as its controller.

The $920 million, Oceanside, Calif.-based Frontwave Credit Union appointed Paul Leonhardt as SVP/chief lending officer. Prior to joining Frontwave, he most recently served as vice president of consumer and student lending for USC Credit Union ($607 million, Los Angeles). Leonhardt also served as SVP/chief lending officer for Financial Partners Credit Union ($1.5 billion, Downey, Calif.), SVP/chief lending officer for Credit Union ONE ($1.5 billion, Ferndale, Mich.) and director of consumer lending for SchoolsFirst Credit Union ($20 billion, Santa Ana, Calif.). Prior to joining the credit union industry, he spent 10 years with Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

EAST

The $526 million Bellwether Community Credit Union in Manchester, N.H., made two appointments to its leadership team.

William Zafirson was named SVP/chief lending officer. He has more than 35 years of experience in the financial services industry, having served as EVP and chief lending officer for Bank of New Hampshire and in leadership roles in lending at Northway Bank, TD Bank and Bank of Maine. He is active in the community and is the past chair of Sweetser, a behavioral and mental health service provider, and has worked with providing shelter to the homeless at Fair Tide.

Lori Holmes was named vice president of marketing.

She previously spent 12 years at Service Credit Union ($4 billion, Portsmouth, N.H.), recently holding the position of assistant vice president of marketing and communications, and is a former editor and reporter with 20 years in journalism. She is also the president of the Seacoast Tennis Club, running tournaments to benefit colon cancer research.

The $7.8 billion Teachers Credit Union in Hauppauge, N.Y., expanded its leadership team with three hires and one promotion.

Inna Sprague joined the organization as chief experience officer. Most recently, Sprague was the vice president of sales and service for the $13.9 billion, San Jose, Calif.-based First Tech Federal Credit Union. In her new role, she will be charged with elevating the credit union’s overall member experience with a specific focus on improving member touchpoints, service, sales, operations and marketing. She will also spearhead efficiency and growth strategies, as well as the transformation of the Teachers branch network.

Irene Sierra was hired as SVP of human resources and organizational development. Prior to joining Teachers, Sierra was the SVP of human resources for the Merchant Solutions segment at TSYS, a payments technology provider. She will oversee the human resources and training departments for Teachers, and be responsible for implementing strategies that enhance corporate culture, develop talent, improve recruitment practices and drive employee engagement.

Michael Rose joined the credit union as vice president of IT digital interactive and open banking. Prior to joining Teachers, Rose was the SVP of technical and digital solutions at Affinity Federal Credit Union ($3.5 billion, Basking Ridge, N.J.). He will be responsible for the development and deployment of next-generation digital solutions that optimize the member online banking experience.

Phil Datz was promoted to vice president of IT core capabilities and data from assistant vice president of information systems.

In his new role, Datz will oversee the technological structuring of Teachers’ core platform, identifying key emerging technologies that not only enhance product offerings for members but also address the organization’s overall strategic needs.

Heather Mansour was named SVP of human resources and training for the $1 billion U.S. Senate Federal Credit Union in Alexandria, Va. She brings 10-plus years as a strategic leader in all areas of human resources, with experience working in the credit union, financial industry and call center world.

She will lead efforts at USSFCU through corporate culture, engagement, talent development and employee retention, and will also work with its SEGs and partners in projects and programs that give back to the local community.

The $700 million Leominster Credit Union in Leominster, Mass., hired Joseph J. Normant as SVP, CFO. Prior to joining LCU, Normant was CFO at Main Street Bank in Marlborough, Mass.

Normant will oversee LCU’s finance department, including accounting and treasury as well as audit and compliance.

The $132 million Arrha Credit Union in Springfield, Mass., welcomed Tony Franco as vice president of commercial lending. Franco has over 25 years of banking experience and recently served as vice president of special assets at United Bank.

MIDWEST

The $2.9 billion, Eau Claire, Wis.-based Royal Credit Union promoted John Ross Hammond to application development manager. He joined Royal in 2019 as an application developer, and previously gained over 10 years of software development experience at Marten Transport, where he served as software developer and software development manager. In his new role, he will manage the team that builds software to create better experiences for Royal’s members and team members.

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