Credit Union Professionals Begin 2021 in New Roles

WEST

The $302.5 million, Saint Helens, Ore.-based InRoads Credit Union hired Stephanie Rollins as vice president of commercial services. Rollins began her banking career as a teller at a small community bank in Texas, gained experience in consumer and mortgage lending, and ultimately shifted her focus to commercial lending. In her new role, she will leverage her leadership skills and experience to help the InRoads commercial department meet the needs and exceed the expectations of local businesses. She has a bachelor’s of business administration from LeTourneau University in Texas and just over two decades of financial services experience.

MIDWEST

The $4 billion, Neenah, Wis.-based Community First Credit Union promoted six employees and hired another.

Mary Lornson was promoted to SVP – lending. Lornson has more than 35 years of experience in the credit union industry and joined Community First in 2013 as vice president of consumer lending. In her expanded role, she will have leadership responsibilities in all facets of lending, overseeing teams in consumer lending, mortgages and underwriting.

Lynn Miller, who joined Community First in 2001 and is located at the Darboy branch, was promoted to senior mortgage lender.

Cindy Nadke, who joined Community First in 2009 and is located at the De Pere branch, was promoted to senior mortgage lender.

Mike Ryan, who joined Community First in 2011 and is located at the Westowne (Oshkosh) branch, was promoted to senior mortgage lender.

Kevin Schmidt, who joined Community First in 2019 and is located at the Nicolet branch, was promoted to senior mortgage lender.

Doug Kroll, who joined Community First in 1994 and is located at Dresang Way/home office, was promoted to universal mortgage underwriter.

Cyrene Wilke was hired to the senior leadership team as chief strategy and innovation officer. She has nearly 26 years of experience in the financial industry leading growth, development and technology innovation. In this newly-created role, Cyrene will work closely with the leadership team to guide and implement strategic initiatives, manage process improvement, and deliver product and service innovations.

She most recently served as SVP of operations and technology at Investors Community Bank for a decade, where she led the planning and execution of its strategic initiatives and systems/technology. Wilke’s background also includes roles with Citizens Bank, Irwin Union Bank, Associated Bank and North Country Bank & Trust. She has volunteered her time as a Risk Management Association Wisconsin board member and for NEW Digital Alliance, and has served as an active member of a national software advisory council for Fiserv.

The $4.8 billion, Waterloo, Iowa-based Veridian Credit Union promoted three employees and hired another.

Mallory Paeper was promoted to the position of project manager. Paeper has worked at Veridian for 10 years and was previously the electronic relations team leader.

Kimberly Eastland was promoted to the position of consumer loan underwriter. Eastland has worked at Veridian for 20 years and was previously a loan officer. She serves as board president for the Waterloo-based North Star Community Services and volunteers for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Emily L. Highland-Kuntz was promoted to the position of vice president, controller. Highland-Kuntz has worked at Veridian for 18 years and was previously the controller. While working for Veridian, she has volunteered for various organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement and United Way.

Jaime Garbes was hired as a business intelligence analyst. Garbes was previously a seed service advisor at Kruger Seed, a regional brand of Bayer CropScience.

In an effort to prioritize growth areas and better streamline opportunities for success, the $158.7 million, Hilliard, Ohio-based Credit Union of Ohio promoted five staff members.

Tonya Keaton, who currently serves as vice president of lending and operations, was promoted to EVP.

Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Planning Jill Gerschutz will move into the role of SVP.

Amber Stillings was promoted from lending manager to director of lending.

Jenn Hatfield was promoted from branch manager to director of member services.

Justin Shreyer will move from his current role as business development coordinator into the role of marketing manager. Credit Union of Ohio said the restructuring of roles and responsibilities will also help it focus on key growth opportunities, including building its lending portfolio, enhancing payment methods for the future, and offering timely and targeted individual services to each member through strong analytical analysis and upgraded member communications.

SOUTH

The $1.3 billion, Sumter, S.C.-based SAFE Federal Credit Union hired T.H. Pierce as its new vice president of risk management. Pierce has over 15 years’ experience in the financial services and compliance industry, and most recently served as compliance/risk management manager and associate counsel at the Carolinas Credit Union League for nearly six years. In that role, Pierce worked with state and federal leaders and regulators to oversee a wide range of compliance and risk management needs, deliver compliance training, and manage departmental projects for member credit unions in North and South Carolina. Pierce has a Juris Doctor degree from the Lansing, Mich.-based Thomas M. Cooley Law School, a Master of Laws from the Gulfport, Fla.-based Stetson University Law School and a master’s degree from the Minneapolis-based Capella University. She is also a member of the South Carolina Bar Association.

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