7 Credit Unions Appoint New Executives & Managers

WEST

Brett Christensen joined the leadership team of the $13.8 billion, Riverdale, Utah-based America First Credit Union as chief lending officer. In his new role, he will oversee indirect lending, mortgages, consumer lending, business lending, home equity and sales. Christensen has more than 28 years of credit union experience in both the U.S. and Canada. Prior to joining America First, he served as president of Loan Link Lending Center, was a senior consultant with Lending Solutions Consulting and most recently owned CU Lending Advice.

Christensen is taking over this role from previous Chief Lending Officer Randy Halley, who is retiring after more than 43 years of service at America First. Halley has been instrumental in developing key performance indicators for branch measurement, bringing machine learning to the credit union and driving the adoption of two critical operating systems for lending and transactions. He was also the visionary behind opening an innovation hub in downtown Salt Lake City.

The $163 million, Eureka, Calif.-based Compass Community Credit Union hired Kelsey Dunn as branch manager for the credit union’s Henderson Center branch in Eureka. Kelsey brings over 26 years of banking experience, which she gained locally in Humboldt County. She has served as chamber ambassador for Eureka and McKinleyville, Calif., and is a former member of Kiwanis of Henderson Center. She is a Western CUNA Management School graduate, and will be responsible for day-to-day operations, managing staff, handling member lending needs and cultivating local relationships.

EAST

The $600 million, Gardner, Mass.-based GFA Federal Credit Union promoted Jeffrey Scott to SVP. Scott joined the credit union in May 2020 as vice president, chief technology officer and has over 20 years of experience in the banking technology industry. As SVP, Scott will continue to direct the credit union’s technology investments and assets, while ensuring they meet the changing demands of members in a digitally-focused financial environment. He will also work to propel GFA forward by evaluating new technology and applications, establishing and implementing information systems security policies and procedures, managing technology resources and leading the information technology team.

MIDWEST

The $836.8 billion, Lansing, Mich.-based LAFCU hired James McHale as CFO. McHale has more than 20 years of executive experience with small- to large-sized credit unions, and has held the positions of CFO, COO, CEO and chief risk officer. In his new role, McHale will lead LAFCU’s finance and accounting functions, and serve as a financial and strategic business advisor to the CEO and broader leadership team. For much of McHale’s career, he worked for credit unions in California and recently Indiana. For two years, he headed up the analytics team at a technology company that develops lending, risk management and analytics software for financial institutions. McHale holds the designation of CUNA Credit Union Enterprise Risk Management Expert.

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

Angela Gargo was promoted to vice president of talent management. Gargo, who joined Community First in 2011 as a human resources generalist/benefits specialist, became an HR manager in 2019 and was promoted to assistant vice president in early 2020. Her new role will focus on employee onboarding experiences, performance management, rewards and recognition, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion.

Rochelle Blindauer was hired as vice president of human resources. Blindauer will lead the team’s daily operations, including talent acquisition and retention, payroll, benefits, compensation and employee relations. A 15-year human resources industry executive, she most recently served as SVP of employee experience with AIA Corp., an Appleton, Wis.-based marketing franchise distributor. She also served as human resources director at Lawrence University in Appleton and the City of Manitowoc, Wis., and as human resources/compensation manager for Festival Foods.

The $169 million, Independence, Mo.-based United Consumers Credit Union promoted EVP Jay Neathery to president. Neathery has been part of the credit union industry for more than 30 years, starting his career during college as a part-time teller for Federal Employees Credit Union (now the $811 million, Overland Park, Kan.-based Mazuma Credit Union) and working his way up to controller. In 1995, he joined UCCU as vice president of finance/CFO. In 1997, he moved to the $3.6 billion CommunityAmerica in Lenexa, Kan., helping it grow from $600 million to $1.3 billion in assets, before returning to UCCU as EVP in 2010.

The $125 million, Des Moines, Iowa-based Affinity Credit Union hired Andrea Dose as COO. Dose has spent the last seven years with the Iowa Credit Union League, most recently as vice president of member services, where she served as an advocate for ensuring ICUL member satisfaction and engagement, and identified relevant, responsive ways to support credit unions. Her work was instrumental in the development of the ICUL emerging leaders program and Iowa Innovation Group, as well as elevating overall member engagement and professional development efforts.

AGENCIES

The NCUA announced three new appointments.

Melissa M. Lowden was named deputy CFO effective Jan. 17. Lowden will help lead a team of more than 50 employees who perform essential functions, including accounting and financial reporting, enterprise risk management, strategic and performance planning, budgeting, procurement, facilities and logistical support, the administration of credit union operating fees, and the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund’s capitalization deposits and investments. She previously served as the NCUA’s acting deputy CFO, and division director for the CFO’s Financial Reporting and Analysis Division, and helped manage the NCUA’s strategic plan and enterprise risk management program. Prior to joining the NCUA in 2015, she held various financial management positions in the CFO’s office at the Department of Homeland Security, including serving as the deputy director of financial management. Lowden is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Government Financial Manager.

Frank Kressman was selected as general counsel. Kressman currently serves as the agency’s acting general counsel and leads the NCUA’s Office of General Counsel. Before his selection as acting general counsel, Kressman served as a deputy general counsel to the NCUA. He joined the agency in 1998 as a staff attorney. His previous experience includes work as an attorney at the FDIC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Kressman holds a J.D. from the Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Wash., and a master of laws degree from The American University Washington School of Law in Washington, D.C.

Melane Conyers-Ausbrooks was named board secretary. She previously served as acting secretary of the board and worked in the NCUA Office of General Counsel managing the NCUA’s Ethics Program and serving as the agency ethics point of contact. In that role, she provided ethics advice, training and counseling to agency staff and leadership, and monitored compliance with all ethics laws, regulations and policies. Previously, she served as legal counsel at Brown Foss, and vice president and chief counsel-retail channel at CitiMortgage Inc. She holds a J.D. from Howard University School of Law.

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