7 CUs Celebrate New Hires, Promotions & a Retirement

WEST

Golden 1 Credit Union ($15.5 billion, Sacramento) hired Jason Levingston to its senior leadership team as SVP – chief technology officer, a position focused on enterprise technology and infrastructure resources. Levingston brings more than 25 years of information technology experience to Golden 1. He most recently served as chief information officer at Mutual of Omaha Bank in Phoenix, where he led an IT organization of 150 engineers, project managers, developers and leaders. Before that, he spent 10 years in Glendale, Ariz., at CSAA Insurance Group in multiple technology leadership roles.

The $2 billion, Santa Ana, Calif.-based Orange County’s Credit Union hired Adam Ennett as vice president of consumer lending. Ennett brings more than 12 years of leadership experience in the financial services industry, including eight years specifically in lending services with credit unions. In his new role, he will oversee the planning, directing and organizing of the strategic and operational activities of the consumer lending program, as well as assist in the spearheading of Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) strategies that support the expansion of lending to underserved communities within the credit union’s field of membership. Since 2015, Ennett has served as a lending council member for CUNA.

MIDWEST

The $836.8 million LAFCU in Lansing, Mich., promoted Brian Tribell to the newly-created position of risk analyst. He will analyze data using fraud detection software to reduce LAFCU’s financial risk, support the annual independent audit in compliance with the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, and provide risk assessment overviews to management and the LAFCU board. Tribell has been with LAFCU for two years as a senior member service representative in the Interactive Teller Machine department. His 12 total years of financial sector experience also includes advancing to branch lead with a credit union, and serving as head teller for a bank and loan officer for a mortgage company.

The $3.3 billion, Eau Claire, Wis.-based Royal Credit Union promoted Zach Mara to Menomonie Hub branch manager. Mara’s new responsibilities include ensuring both Menomonie offices meet organizational, financial, operational, service and growth goals while guiding team members to provide exceptional member service. Since starting at Royal in 2012, he has served as a member account representative, branch team lead and branch supervisor, all in the Menomonie, Wis., offices. He’s currently a board member of the Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce.

Dan Baines, president/CEO for Bloom Credit Union ($160 million, Wyoming, Mich.), will retire in summer 2021 following a more than four-decade career with the credit union. Originally named Multi-Products Credit Union and later My Personal Credit Union, Baines led Bloom from its auto industry-based beginnings to becoming a community-chartered credit union, as well as its expansion to five branches and a wide range of services. He has served as a board member of the Michigan Credit Union League for over 14 years and the Grand River Chapter of Credit Unions for nearly three decades, including as its director.

SOUTH

Texas Trust Credit Union ($1.5 billion, Arlington, Texas), appointed Ron Smith to chief growth officer. Smith, a 13-year employee of the credit union, now oversees the credit union’s growth strategy in a role that brings a centralized focus on growing membership through data intelligence. During his tenure, he has played an instrumental role in growing the credit union’s branch operations, business development and membership, and spearheaded the integration of retail operations from three separate mergers.

The $5 billion Tinker Federal Credit Union in Oklahoma City named Colisha Lewis as its first vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion. Her responsibilities include accelerating DE&I as a priority within the credit union, while providing counsel on maintaining consistency and regulatory DE&I compliance in operations and practices. Additionally, Lewis will work to redefine and advance the DE&I efforts of the credit union through training and development opportunities for colleagues, along with analyzing recruitment, retention and compensation procedures. Before joining TFCU in 2017, Lewis held human resources positions with companies including Sonic, St. Anthony Hospital and Tulsa Community College. She most recently served as assistant vice president and manager of human resources at TFCU for two years.

VENDORS

Filene Research Institute hired Joshua Sledge as senior director of incubation, a role dedicated to developing Filene’s incubation initiatives and arming industry leaders with innovative ideas, early stage concepts and promising technologies that solve the real-world problems credit unions and their members face. He spent four years as a senior investment analyst at Prudential Financial before moving to Financial Health Network, where he first became connected with Filene. From 2013 to 2014, Financial Health Network helped fund the testing of LIFT (Lower Interest for Timeliness), a concept idea from Filene’s i3 program, within five credit unions.

LEAGUES

The Dakota Credit Union Association (DakCU) hired Kayla Pulvermacher to its advocacy team as state legislative director. She most recently served as policy advisory and account executive for Clearwater Communications, and prior to that as director of government relations for the North Dakota Farmers Union. She was also a director of government relations for the North Dakota Education Association. In her new role at DakCU, Pulvermacher will represent member credit unions in legislative matters, provide updates to the ND Governmental Affairs Committee and assist with political fundraising objectives. In addition, she will serve as executive director of the Dakota Credit Union Foundation, overseeing fundraising and marketing strategies in coordination with the Foundation Board of Directors.

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