CUs, CUSOs, Vendors Reveal New Employee Moves

WEST

The $239 million, Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Aventa Credit Union promoted Jennifer Waller to assistant vice president of lending. She previously held the position of consumer lending manager. In her new role, Waller will manage the daily functions and operations of Aventa’s lending departments. She will also support the COO in the development of credit union lending policies, procedures and lending goals for Aventa. Waller has worked in the financial services industry since 1997, advancing from a teller to assistant vice president of lending, and joined Aventa in 2014. She is a Colorado State Notary and NMLS Certified.

The $963 million SESLOC Federal Credit Union in San Luis Obispo, Calif., hired Theresa Binney as the new manager of its San Luis Obispo branch. Binney brings to SESLOC more than 18 years of financial institution expertise, including a commitment to delivering outstanding service and increasing efficiencies, plus vast experience in business lending, particularly with construction loans. She holds a certificate from the CUNA Business Lending Institute.

MIDWEST

The $838 million LAFCU in Lansing, Mich., promoted Jeremy Sampson to vice president of facilities. Sampson’s new responsibilities include development and support of strategic initiatives involving the credit union’s 10 branches. He succeeds Todd Thelen, who is retiring after 27 years with LAFCU. Sampson joined LAFCU in 2019 as enterprise liaison. Sampson is also owner/CEO of Lansing United, an amateur woman’s soccer team. Prior to joining LAFCU, he was vice president/general manager of Lansing Ignite FC, a professional men’s soccer team. He has also been in management at the Michigan High School Athletic Association, and his previous financial sector experience includes working in lending for a Michigan credit union.

The $3.2 billion Royal Credit Union in Eau Claire, Wis., announced two employee moves.

Joe Fischer was promoted to the newly-created role of regional vice president of business lending. Fischer will provide leadership to a team of business loan officers in Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley area and Twin Cities metro markets. He joined Royal in 2016 as vice president – business lending officer. Fischer has also taken part as a decision team member of Royal’s SBA Paycheck Protection Program, lead for Royal’s SBA Loan Programs Evaluation and Development Team, and is now enrolled in Royal’s Exploring Leadership Program.

Elizabeth Villa moved to a branch manager position in Minnesota’s St. Paul/Stillwater area. Villa has been with Royal since February 2019, most recently as the branch manager of both its Menomonie North and Menomonie East offices. In her role, Villa is responsible for ensuring her branches meet the organizational, financial, operational, service, and growth plans and goals. Prior to her time at Royal, she accumulated several years of experience in management, human resources and lending.

The $4.7 billion Corporate Central Credit Union in Muskego, Wis., hired Carolyn Vraney as a member services representative. In this position, Vraney will respond to members’ needs for issue identification, problem resolution, and delivery of products and services. She will serve as a liaison between members and other departments to facilitate proactive relationship development, and perform specified member services team functions. She has five years of experience working in the banking industry.

CUSOS

Sherpa Technologies, a wholly-owned CUSO of the $5.9 billion, Columbus, Ohio-based Corporate One Federal Credit Union, appointed a new member to its board of directors and re-appointed two current board members to new, two-year terms.

Andre Carter, vice president of technology infrastructure for the $840 million Gulf Winds Credit Union in Pensacola, Fla., will replace Chris Rutledge, president/CEO of Gulf Winds.

With more than 20 years of experience in IT project management, network planning and design, and logistics, Carter previously held the positions of IT operations manager for Baptist Health Care in Pensacola and manager, IT and managed services for C Spire in Mobile, Ala., before joining Gulf Winds in 2019. He will serve a two-year term.

Current Sherpa board members Jim Horlacher, EVP, chief information officer for Corporate One and John Graham, president/CEO of the $88 million Expree Credit Union in Frankfort, Ky., were re-elected to new, two-year terms.

VENDORS

Filene Research Institute in Madison, Wis., promoted Holly Fearing to senior director of marketing and communications. In this role, Fearing oversees Filene’s marketing, media, communications and design functions and is responsible for creating strategies to engage and deliver impactful, actionable and valuable outcomes from Filene’s body of work to members and the credit union system at large. She joined Filene in 2015 and has worked in the credit union industry, previously with CUNA Mutual Group, for more than 13 years.

Open Lending, an Austin, Texas-based provider of lending enablement and risk analytics solutions to financial institutions, promoted three executives.

Ross M. Jessup, who is a co-founder and has served as CFO and COO since April 2000, was appointed president and will remain COO. Prior to Open Lending, Jessup worked at the Jessup Group from 1998-2000, Montgomery Jessup & Co. from 1991-1998 and in public accounting at Arthur Anderson LLP from 1985-1991. He is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the state of Texas and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Charles D. “Chuck” Jehl was appointed EVP, CFO and treasurer. Jehl has served as a consultant since April 2020 and was instrumental in helping the company complete its business combination with Nebula Acquisition Corporation. Prior to Open Lending, he spent 14 years at Forestar Group Inc. in a variety of executive leadership roles including CFO and treasurer from 2015-2019 and chief accounting officer from 2005-2013. Prior to Forestar Group, he held various leadership roles at Guaranty Insurance Services Inc. from 2000-2005, including COO and CFO. From 1989-1999, Jehl held various financial management roles at Temple-Inland Mortgage Corporation, including vice president and controller. He is also a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the state of Texas and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Sarah Lackey was promoted to chief technology officer. She has served as Open Lending’s SVP of IT operations since 2019 and in various other roles in the company’s technology department since 2016. Prior to Open Lending, she served as vice president and co-owner of SJB Industries DBA Bates Painting. Previously, she spent over 10 years at Hewlett-Packard in software engineering.

Please send your People news items to Natasha Chilingerian at nchilingerian@cutimes.com.