10 Credit Union Professionals Make Career Moves
Plus, the former board chair of a Colorado credit union retires after over 50 years of service.
WEST
Nick Serrano, vice president of mortgage sales at Greater Nevada Mortgage, was selected as the national co-chair of the Mortgage Bankers Association’s education networking group. Serrano will help run and facilitate the group, serving alongside other mortgage bankers from across the U.S. Serrano joined GNM in 2004 and currently leads all mortgage consultant training at the organization, which is a subsidiary of the $1.26 billion, Carson City, Nev.-based Greater Nevada Credit Union.
The $1.6 billion LBS Financial Credit Union in Westminster, Calif., hired Michael Tan as a financial advisor for LBS Financial Investment Services. Tan brings a rich background in investment guidance and has been in the investment services industry for nine years. He recently worked with JP Morgan Chase, Chase Private Client and has worked for Scottrade/TD Ameritrade and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. LBS Financial Investment Services offers investment products through LPL Financial.
After serving as an active member of the board of directors for the $239 million, Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Aventa Credit Union for over 50 years, Michael Fansler has retired. His relationship with Aventa, formerly Colorado Springs Credit Union, started in 1961 when his dad opened an account for him when he was 15. Fansler joined the supervisory committee at the age of 20 in 1966 and was elected to the board in 1968. In 2000, he was named chairman of the board and served in that position for 19 years.
MIDWEST
The $333 million West Community Credit Union in O’Fallon, Mo., appointed Romana Gracanin as senior business relations manager. Gracanin has been in the banking industry for over 11 years, including five years in business development and business services. In her new role, she will be responsible for obtaining and building member business relationships while working closely with retail branches to cultivate business development opportunities. Gracanin will manage business relationships for West Community as well as the credit union’s Columbia, Mo., division, Tigers Community Credit Union.
EAST
Phil Mellinger, vice president of information security for the $3.6 billion, Laurel, Md.-based Tower Federal Credit Union, joined the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc. (CAMI) Advisory Council. CAMI is a statewide nonprofit organization that provides education, resources and connections to promote cybersecurity and awareness in Maryland. Mellinger brings over 40 years of information technology and cybersecurity experience to the advisory council. Prior to joining Tower in 2017 as vice president of information security, he worked for Trusted Knight Corp. Before that, he spent 12 years at credit card payment processor First Data as chief information security officer. Mellinger has also served as a chief engineer at the General Services Administration.
SOUTH
The $228 million University Credit Union in Miami promoted Riccardo Francois to vice president of lending/senior loan officer. Francois has led the lending team over the past year as assistant vice president of lending, and in his new position, he will have responsibility and accountability for the lending and collections areas. Francois brings nine years of prior credit union lending experience to the credit union.
VyStar Credit Union ($9.5 billion, Jacksonville, Fla.) hired two new executives.
Dana Karzan was named chief marketing officer. She has more than 20 years of experience across banking and fintechs. Most recently, she led Payment Marketing at Facebook, where she developed and launched Facebook Pay to more than 120 countries. Karzan previously held positions at Wells Fargo, Citi, Lloyds Bank and US Bank.
Matthew Burgess, a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor and Certified Information Systems Auditor, was named chief internal auditor.
His 38 years of experience includes management positions at financial institutions such as Synchrony Bank, Ally Financial, VW Credit, Inc. and Comerica Incorporated. Most recently, he was chief internal auditor at First Financial Bancorp.
The $1.3 billion, Oak Ridge, Tenn.-based Y-12 Federal Credit Union welcomed three new managers.
Jim Wood joined Y-12 as chief lending officer. He brings over 30 years of credit union leadership to the team, having worked in the Tampa, Fla., Pittsburgh, Pa., Kansas City, Mo., and Chicago markets.
Brooke Willard was hired as branch manager for Y-12’s Maryville, Tenn., branch. Willard brings a financial services background that includes managing a branch for seven years.
Alicia Strange was hired as senior manager of community and public relations. Strange joins the team with over 16 years of marketing and public relations experience across several industries.
Please send your People news items to Natasha Chilingerian at nchilingerian@cutimes.com.