8 Credit Unions From Coast to Coast Hire & Promote

WEST

The $1.28 billion Greater Nevada Credit Union in Carson City hired Michael Thomas as vice president of marketing. Thomas is responsible for leading marketing strategy for Greater Nevada’s products and services. Thomas has served in executive-level marketing, communications and sales leadership roles in the Reno-Tahoe area for more than 20 years. He most recently acted as the chief revenue officer for Rehearsal, an international software company delivering video solutions for online training and sales enablement. Before that, he was a partner and chief marketing officer for Noble Studios. Thomas also held positions at the Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, and worked in broadcast journalism at KTVN 2 News.

The $9.4 billion San Diego County Credit Union in San Diego hired 25-year real estate lending management veteran Michael Bradshaw as EVP of real estate lending. Bradshaw served most recently as SVP, mortgage and consumer division at Triumph Bancorp. Prior to that, he spent seven years at the Bank of Texas restructuring and building its mortgage group as SVP of the mortgage division. In addition, Bradshaw held senior leadership roles at Washington Mutual and Bank of America, where he earned notable recognition for his accomplishments and leadership.

MIDWEST

The $99.9 million, Indianapolis-based Family Horizons Credit Union hired a new executive and promoted another.

Dawn Brinkman joined Family Horizons’ executive management team. She holds the title of assistant vice president of financial and data reporting, according to her LinkedIn page. She has over 18 years of credit union and banking experience, including an extensive background in executive management, branch operations, financial reporting, compliance, human resources and project management.

Jamie Reed was promoted to COO. She has been with Family Horizons for six years and brings over 16 years of experience to her new role. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management, is an MBA graduate specializing in HR, and holds the executive certifications of Professional in Human Resources and Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Specialist.

The $4.8 billion, Waterloo, Iowa-based Veridian Credit Union promoted two employees.

Adam Thilges was promoted to the position of branch manager of the Veridian location inside the College Square Hy-Vee store in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Thilges has worked at Veridian for 15 years and was previously a member relations officer.

Katherin Pogyo was promoted to the position of branch manager of the Veridian location inside the Logan Hy-Vee store in Waterloo.

Pogyo has worked at Veridian for 10 years and was previously a loan officer.

Fran Godfrey, president/CEO of the $211.3 million, Battle Creek, Mich.-based BlueOx Credit Union, will retire on Jan. 31, 2021. Godfrey has spent more than 45 years in the financial services industry, dedicating her entire career to BlueOx. She joined BlueOx – formally named School Employees Credit Union – in 1974 as a part-time teller.

She quickly moved from teller to loan clerk to accounting, and eventually became vice president and was promoted to president/CEO in 2008. Under Godfrey’s leadership, the credit union has grown to more than $200 million in assets and over 21,000 members, with six branch locations in lower Michigan.

EAST

The Summit Federal Credit Union ($1 billion, Rochester, N.Y.) promoted Laurie Wiest to SVP of human resources and member relations. In her new role, she will provide strategic direction and oversee all aspects of human resources, organizational development, culture, sales leadership and member relations. She has worked at The Summit for 13 years; her last position was vice president of human resources. Prior to working at The Summit, she was a regional HR manager for M&T Bank’s Upstate New York operations.

The $1.37 billion, Medford, N.Y.-based Suffolk Federal Credit Union hired Gregory Kryjak as vice president of lending. In his new role, Kryjak will oversee consumer and residential mortgage lending. He has extensive experience in the banking industry and was previously employed by Bank of America in Melville, N.Y., as vice president of group operations. There, he created a national two location post-funding department. He also served as vice president of national operations for the Texas-based firm Caliber Home Loans. Most recently, Kryjak was a loan consultant at Loan Depot in Patchogue, N.Y.

SOUTH

The $2.48 billion, Nashville, Tenn.-based Volunteer Corporate Credit Union promoted Justin Holt to CFO effective Jan. 1, 2021. Holt replaces current CFO Susan Stack, who will retire at the end of 2020. Holt joined VolCorp in 2006, beginning in operations as a member service representative. Over the past 14 years, he has worked as an IT support engineer, investments representative, financial reporting manager and controller.

The $1.3 billion, Sumter, S.C.-based SAFE Federal Credit Union hired a new executive and promoted another.

Keith Troup was hired as EVP/COO. Troup brings more than 20 years of senior level credit union leadership and lending experience to SAFE. He most recently served as chief lending officer for the $873.5 million Tropical Financial Credit Union in Miramar, Fla., and is currently an executive committee member of the CUNA Lending Council.

Jenny Michaels was promoted to the role of SVP/chief administrative officer.

A graduate of the Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kan., Michaels was an attorney at law firms in Kansas and Missouri before serving as general counsel to the $1 billion Park Community Credit Union in Louisville, Ky. In 2017, she joined SAFE as chief risk officer and has overseen the information security, fraud, compliance, legal, risk management and collections functions at the credit union. In her new role, she will also lead the information systems, finance and accounting, and project management teams.

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