Eight Credit Unions Appoint New CEOs

The board of directors for the $1.7 billion First Community Credit Union in Houston appointed TJ Tijerina as its new president/CEO.

He succeeds Ron Downing, who will retire later this year after 43 years of service.

Tijerina joined the credit union in 2004, holding several positions including SVP of operations and most recently as COO.

First Community’s 290 employees operate 16 branches that serve more than 135,000 members.

The $556 million IC Federal Credit Union named Chris Hendry as president/CEO, the board of directors for the Fitchburg, Mass.-based credit union said.

He succeeds Philip Richards.

Hendry previously served as senior director of external affairs for UMass Memorial Health Alliance-Clinton Hospital. Since 2014, he also has served as an IC board member and on its supervisory committee.

The credit union’s 93 employees operate nine branches that serve a membership of 33,625.

The $507 million Financial Resources Federal Credit Union in Bridgewater, N.J., has named Frank Almeida as its new president/CEO.

He succeeds Lena Matthews, who retired after 28 years of service.

Almeida joined the credit union in 2014 as COO. He holds more than 20 years of credit union and leadership experience.

Financial Resources’ 89 employees operate 13 branches that serve 22,656 members.

The $368 million CDC Federal Credit Union in Atlanta promoted Australia A. Hoover to president/CEO, the board of directors said.

He succeeds Betsy Mercier, who is retiring. She joined the credit union in 1994 and became its president/CEO in 1998.

Hoover joined the credit union in 1996 as a call center and loan representative. Over the years, he earned several promotions, serving as call center manager and assistant vice president of eServices, and in 2005 was named vice president of member services and later became SVP of member services and EVP.

CDC’s 47 employees operate three branches that serve more than 20,000 members.

The $244 million Atlantic Federal Credit Union in Kenilworth, N.J., appointed Anthony Mero as president/CEO.

He succeeds Michael Fanelli.

Mero most recently served as a COO for Mariner’s Bank and Two Rivers Community Bank.

The Atlantic FCU’s 60 employees operate two branches that serve a membership of 17,738.

The board of directors for the $140 million New Bedford Credit Union in New Bedford, Mass., appointed Berta Varao as president/CEO.

She succeeds David Borges, who is retiring after 40 years of service.

Varao holds more than 34 years of credit union experience. She joined NBCU 11 years ago and has served as EVP and COO for more than eight years.

NBCU’s 30 employees operate two branches that serve more than 10,000 members.

Carolyn Mathis was named president/CEO of the $41 million SUNY Fredonia Federal Credit Union in Fredonia, N.Y.

She holds more than 23 years of credit union experience, beginning her career as a teller for the $13.2 million Local 41 IBEW Federal Credit Union in Orchard Park, N.Y., in 1997 and later became its president/CEO. She also held several leadership positions at other credit unions.

SUNY Fredonia FCU’s six employees operate one branch that serves 3,491 members.

The $38.3 million Blue Chip Federal Credit Union in Harrisburg, Pa., named Robert Miller as president/CEO.

He succeeds Pamala Mohn.

Miller brings more than 25 years of experience in finance to Blue Chip.

The credit union’s 11 employees operate two branches that serve more than 4,000 members.