CU Industry Executives Celebrate New Positions & Appointments

WEST

UNCLE Credit Union ($541 million, Livermore, Calif.) hired Charles Crohare as assistant vice president, business banking manager. Crohare will focus on expanding the role of the credit union as a vital resource and trusted financial partner for local small businesses. Before joining UNCLE, Crohare was vice president, relationship manager for the San Jose, Calif.-based Heritage Bank of Commerce, a post he assumed following its 2018 merger with Tri-Valley Bank. Prior to the merger, he served as vice president, commercial loan officer for Tri-Valley Bank, where he worked for over 13 years. Crohare also held varied leadership roles at the San Francisco-based Bank of the West from 1983 to 2005, including vice president, branch manager of its Livermore office. Throughout his banking career, Crohare has also maintained an active involvement in nearly all aspects of his family’s ranch and olive oil operation, Olivina LLC.

The Elevations Foundation, an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization supported by individual donors and the $2.47 billion, Boulder, Colo.-based Elevations Credit Union, elected the following three local leaders to its board of directors.

Reverend Ken Brown is the senior pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Denver and previously served Broomfield United Methodist Church in Broomfield, Colo., for 15 years. Rev. Brown is a second career pastor, previously serving as a marketing director for a real estate development company. He currently serves on the board of directors for Take Note Colorado and the board of trustees for the Iliff School of Theology.

Sarah Schupp is the vice president of business banking at Elevations, drawing on more than 16 years of experience helping small businesses grow and unlock their potential. She started her career immediately after college as an entrepreneur, launching a platform that connected parents of high school students with more than 200 colleges across the country. She serves on the University of Colorado Foundation Board of Trustees and the Chancellor’s Advisory Board.

Gytis Tuminas manages business processes and regulatory responsibility with a focus on engagement, empowerment and financial performance as the vice president of finance and accounting for Elevations. With over 13 years of credit union experience, he is responsible for purchase and sale decisions, and due diligence on the corporate investment portfolio. He also plays a critical role during the execution and communication of the annual budget and quarterly reforecasts, and helps ensure the organization meets expectations on net interest margin and interest rate risk.

EAST

NAFCU recognized Mark Lawton, SVP of regulatory compliance and public policy for the $128.5 billion Navy Federal Credit Union in Vienna, Va., as its credit union grassroots advocate of the year with its 2020 Paul Revere Award. The award is only given to an individual of a NAFCU-member credit union and recognizes a credit union supporter who goes to great lengths in their grassroots and political efforts. Lawton led his team during outreach to 36 Senate offices and 32 House offices while Congress was debating coronavirus relief legislation. During this outreach, he wanted to ensure lawmakers were well informed and educated on the benefits credit unions provide their members and local communities. Additionally, Lawton continues to lead his team’s efforts to defeat a bank-sought nominal lease provision that was attached to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.

Mary Ann Melchers, member of the board of directors and the former (and first female) chairperson for the $725 million ABNB Federal Credit Union in Chesapeake, Va., was inducted into the Defense Credit Union Council’s Hall of Honor. Melchers has been working in the credit union community for over 55 years and has been a pioneer for women in the industry. In 1965, a time when women were unable to obtain credit in their own name, she became a member of the Credit Committee at Naval Base Norfolk Federal Credit Union. The Hall of Honor was established in 2000 to recognize individuals whose exceptional contributions have made a significant difference to the defense credit union community.

The $2.4 billion, Fort Washington, Pa.-based Trumark Financial Credit Union hired Stefanie Y. Thompson as vice president, regional manager. In her new position, Thompson will be responsible for operational oversight of 12 of the credit union’s branches. Thompson brings more than 12 years’ experience in the financial industry, most recently serving as vice president, business banking center manager at PNC Bank. There, she was responsible for leading a team of sales professionals while driving business development results. Thompson’s financial career also includes leadership roles at MBNA America Bank, Citigroup/Smith Barney and Santander Bank.

Roderic Flowers, SVP of human resources development and chief people officer for SECU of Maryland ($4.2 billion, Linthicum, Md.), was elected to the CU Foundation MD|DC Board of Directors. Flowers has over 30 years of experience in human resource management in both profit and not-for-profit organizations. Prior to joining SECU, he was the HR director for the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore. The CU Foundation MD|DC is a 501 (c) (3) public charity dedicated to supporting credit unions and the communities they serve with an emphasis on financial literacy, small credit union support, leadership development, professional development and education.

Jose Iregui, vice president of loan servicing and collections for Langley Federal Credit Union ($3.4 billion, Newport News, Va.), was appointed to the Credit Union Advisory Council for the CFPB for a two-year term. The Credit Union Advisory Council advises and consults with the CFPB on consumer financial issues related to credit. Members are recruited from CUNA-affiliated credit unions. These experts advise bureau leadership on a broad range of consumer financial issues and emerging market trends. Iregui has been with Langley since 2016 and is responsible for all loan servicing and collections operations, including mortgage and consumer loan servicing, loan collections, repossessions and foreclosures, and legal matters relating to loan servicing and collections.

MIDWEST

The $4.8 billion, Waterloo, Iowa-based Veridian Credit Union announced two promotions.

Seila Odobasic was promoted to the position of home equity underwriter. Odobasic has worked at Veridian for 10 years and was previously a loan officer. She has a business administration degree and will graduate from Upper Iowa University in October with a degree in accounting.

Kodie Olson was promoted to the position of branch manager at the credit union’s Waverly, Iowa location. Olson has worked at Veridian for 12 years and was previously a loan officer. She is currently pursuing a degree in financial management from Upper Iowa University.

VENDORS

Mahalo Technologies, a Troy, Mich.-based digital banking provider for credit unions, hired Gina Kovacs to fill the new position of vice president of sales. Kovacs spent most of her career at the $4.5 billion Wescom Credit Union in Pasadena, Calif., including 17 years as an account executive at Wescom’s tech CUSO, WRG Solutions. In her new role at Mahalo, Kovacs will develop new sales and engagement teams to support the growing firm.

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