7 Credit Unions, the NCUA Reveal New Hires & Promotions

WEST

The $1.3 billion, Capitola, Calif.-based Bay Federal Credit Union hired Scott Nguyen as assistant vice president of collections. In this role, he will develop relationships with members who may be experiencing significant financial hardship or loss, and provide options and programs to assist in their time of need. Nguyen will lead Bay Federal’s payment assistance and foreclosure prevention programs, and assist with the credit union’s responsible overall management of assets. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the financial services and collections industry.

UNCLE Credit Union ($552.4 million, Livermore, Calif.) announced three promotions.

Dree Johnson, who has been with UNCLE for over 20 years, was promoted to SVP, member services. In 2015, she was appointed vice president, member services, heading the financial center network, contact center and wealth management division. Her sphere of leadership has since expanded to include mortgage originations, indirect lending, business development and business banking. A former president and board chairman for the California Credit Union League, East Bay Chapter, Johnson is the co-chair of UNCLE’s Sales and Marketing Committee and serves on its Managing and Asset-Liability Committees.

Dean Lam was promoted to vice president, digital banking. Since joining the credit union as assistant vice president, financial center manager in 2012, he has been elevated to three senior managerial roles. In his new role, Lam is responsible for strengthening the credit union’s online presence and directing its digital strategy. In addition, he will continue to manage the contact center and indirect lending program, and will join the credit union’s Managing Committee.

Ariana Balch, who joined UNCLE as senior executive assistant in 2014, was promoted to assistant vice president, administration.

In her new role, Balch will continue to provide executive level support to the president/CEO and serve as the primary liaison for the board of directors. She is also spearheading a data management strategy, and is responsible for managing all corporate events and special projects as necessary. Balch joined UNCLE’s Managing Committee in 2019 and serves as board secretary for the California Credit Union League, East Bay Chapter.

Todd Sheffield, CEO for the $640.8 million, Santa Rosa, Calif.-based Community First Credit Union, announced his plans to retire in mid-year 2021.

Sheffield has worked in the credit union industry since 1985. He joined Community First in 2001 as CFO and was promoted to CEO in 2003, when the credit union had $53 million in assets and 8,900 members. Prior to joining Community First, Sheffield was CEO for Sonoma Federal Credit Union ($40 million, Santa Rosa) for seven years. Before that, he served as CFO for Redwood Credit Union ($5.95 billion, Santa Rosa) and controller for Cooperative Center Federal Credit Union ($130.1 million, Berkeley, Calif.).

EAST

The $156 million Naveo Credit Union in Somerville, Mass., promoted Albert Pinho to SVP and senior lender. Pinho has been part of Naveo’s executive management team for nine years, leading the lending team as vice president and senior lending officer. For the past seven months, Pinho lent his leadership expertise to serve as interim CEO while the board conducted a search. He has nearly 35 years of experience in the financial services industry, and is credited with significantly growing Naveo’s loan portfolio in size and breadth.

MIDWEST

Jill Robiller joined the $828.6 million, Woodbury, Minn.-based Ideal Credit Union as assistant vice president of payment systems. Robiller has 20 years of experience managing card programs, including credit, debit, merchant and gift cards, and overseeing payment systems. She most recently served as assistant vice president, bankcard and payments manager/officer for United Bankers Bank. In her new role, Robiller will research, develop and implement strategies and initiatives to further enhance the credit union’s position within the payments space.

Lake Michigan Credit Union ($8.7 billion, Grand Rapids), hired Rob Arnoys as vice president of treasury management. Arnoys brings over 31 years of banking experience to LMCU, having held management roles in several key areas including retail, sales and operations as well as other strategic leadership assignments.

The $387.8 million, Saginaw, Mich.-based Jolt Credit Union hired Haley Kowalski as supervisor of the member contact center.

Kowalski brings three years of financial experience to the credit union. Her responsibilities will include managing the contact center’s daily operations, ensuring the department provides quality member service by telephone, and developing each member support employee to their highest potential through coaching and leadership.

The $1 billion Cobalt Credit Union in Papillion, Neb., promoted Ryan McDonald to vice president of information technology. He will manage all IT functions for the credit union, and is responsible for the design, development and implementation of organizational information systems, software applications, and IT support and infrastructure systems.

McDonald has been with Cobalt for six years, serving in roles including technical services manager, senior infrastructure analyst, infrastructure analyst, helpdesk representative and IT intern. He previously worked at First National Bank of Omaha.

AGENCIES

The NCUA selected Myra Toeppe as the agency’s next director of the office of examination and insurance. In this role, Toeppe oversees the NCUA’s supervision and examination program that ensures the safety and soundness of federally-insured credit unions and manages risk to the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund. She has served as acting director of the Office of Examination and Insurance since March 2020, and has nine years of executive experience with the NCUA and 25 years of financial services regulatory experience with the Office of Thrift Supervision and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. While at the NCUA, she has served as an associate regional director, regional director and strategic advisor.

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