Streak of New Hires & Promotions Continues at CUs Nationwide

WEST

The $1.8 billion, Denver-based Westerra Credit Union hired Jared Dryer as vice president of consumer lending. Dryer will lead Westerra’s consumer business line, specifically overseeing strategy for the credit union’s tech-forward, multi-channel growth in products and services. Dryer has served in many leadership positions, most recently as senior director of consumer services at the $5.5 billion, Greenwood Village, Colo.-based Bellco Credit Union, where he managed all consumer lending, real estate, and consumer deposit portfolios and strategies.

EAST

The $2.4 billion, Syracuse, N.Y.-based Empower Federal Credit Union announced two promotions.

Pete Thomson was promoted to vice president, commercial credit officer in Empower’s business lending department. Thomson has over 30 years of banking experience including 13 years in commercial lending to businesses in New York State.

Mike Dunne was promoted to vice president, commercial loan officer in Empower’s business lending department. Dunne has over 30 years of commercial lending experience and is a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army, having served five tours of duty in Desert Storm, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

The $359.5 million, Rochester, N.H.-based Holy Rosary Credit Union hired Ginger Gagne as vice president of lending. Gagne will be managing all real estate and consumer lending operations for HRCU. Gagne brings over 28 years of lending experience to HRCU from the New Hampshire-based Northway Bank, with her most recent role being vice president of retail loan operations. She holds certifications from Freddie Mac, Granite State College, the Mortgage Bankers Association and Jack Henry Systems.

The $740.8 million, Chesapeake, Va.-based ABNB Federal Credit Union hired Anthony “Tony” Caccese as EVP. Caccese has been working in finance for over 35 years, beginning as a staff accountant in 1986 and quickly rising to managerial and senior leadership roles. He previously served as vice president and CFO at the $4.37 billion State Employees Credit Union in Linthicum, Md., as well as at the $1.19 billion Congressional Federal Credit Union in Washington, D.C. Caccese holds an active CPA License in Maryland, and an MBA of finance and MIS from Mount Saint Mary’s College. He is also a member of The American Institute of CPAs, Maryland Association of CPAs and CUNA Finance Council.

The $389.3 million, Falls Church, Va.-based Arlington Community Federal Credit Union promoted five employees.

Estella LeMone was promoted to vice president of operations. She has been with ACFCU since 2011 and has held positions including director of collections and consumer lending.

Katherine Magruder was promoted to vice president of lending. She has been with ACFCU since 2018 and was previously the director of real estate.

Ron Getts was promoted to consumer lending manager. He has been with ACFCU since 2017 and previously was the business banking analyst. Getts is a previous winner of ACFCU’s Volunteer of the Year Award.

Salma Haddad was promoted to branch manager – Glebe. She has been with ACFCU since 2019 and previously served as a loan advisor. Haddad is a FiCEP-certified Credit Union Financial Counselor.

Jennifer McCollum was promoted to marketing manager. McCollum has been with ACFCU since 2017 and was previously the marketing specialist. She has been recognized with ACFCU’s “All Values” award.

Northwest Financial Advisors (NWFA), a wealth management firm owned by NW Capital Management, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the $4.2 billion, Herndon, Va.-based Northwest Federal Credit Union, promoted Nikki Young from client service associate to associate financial advisor. Young joined NWFA in April 2017, holding both operational and sales support positions with the firm. Her previous employment includes customer and sales support positions in the bank and credit union industries. She holds FINRA Series 6, 63 and 7 licenses and a Certified Financial Planner certification.

MIDWEST

The $3.46 billion, Eau Claire, Wis.-based Royal Credit Union promoted Melissa Janssen to program director of community engagement. Janssen will be responsible for leading Royal’s sponsorship and event participation strategy in Minnesota and Wisconsin while creating, implementing and managing community partnerships. She will also work on maintaining positive government relationships with elected officials, policy makers and civic leaders to advocate on behalf of credit union members. Janssen has been with Royal since 2016, starting as a community financial education coordinator and becoming a financial education supervisor in 2019. Prior to her time at Royal, she taught language arts and composition in Guayaquil, Ecuador, worked as a protective behaviors educator, and was a youth program director for Boys and Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley.

The $517.5 million, Baxter, Minn.-based Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union announced new roles for 12 employees.

Angela Pulak was promoted to accounting services representative II. Pulak joined MMFCU five years ago as a teller, and is part of a team that ensures transaction data each day reconciles with members’ accounts and the credit union’s financials.

Ashley Gabrick was promoted to teller services supervisor position at the Baxter location. Gabrick began serving MMFCU members in February 2013 as a teller.

Danielle Addison was promoted to regional manager, serving MMFCU’s Ada, Alexandria, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Pequot Lakes and Staples teams, members and communities. Addison began serving members at MMFCU in 2005 in both over-the-phone and in-person roles, most recently as the Brainerd Branch manager.

Lura Hanson was named branch support supervisor and systems training specialist. Hanson brings 19 years of experience as a teller and supervisor to the training team, where she will be responsible for training new team members as well as provide on-the-job training for new processes or areas needing review.

Michelle Boser was promoted to systems testing and development specialist. Her new role will reflect a stronger focus on staff support and testing systems from the perspective of members and those who directly serve them. She has been at the credit union for more than 22 years.

Michelle Kuklok was named director of mortgage services and will lead the continued growth of the credit union’s mortgage services and teams. Kuklok brings more than 20 years of knowledge and expertise in the mortgage industry to MMFCU.

Theresa Barnett was promoted to electronic funds transfer/card services supervisor, and will direct the day-to-day responsibilities of the team that reviews transactions for fraud, protects members’ money and identity, as well as responds to member concerns. She has been supporting these critical functions at MMFCU for 20 years.

Tiffany Hirschey-Tuma moved into the newly-created role of director of operations, where she will focus on providing superior support to staff directly serving members across MMFCU. Tiffany has been a part of MMFCU for 21 years.

Angie Ziegler transitioned from serving members as a teller in the credit union’s Staples location for the past four years to a computer support specialist.

Chris Sundeen was promoted to systems analyst. He will focus on making the systems and programs work together behind the scenes from a programming and reporting standpoint. Sundeen has been a part of MMFCU for seven years.

Dusti Borg, who has been at MMFCU for more than 21 years, transitioned to director of online services. She will oversee online banking, the mobile app, Savvy Money credit score monitoring and bill pay to ensure a consistent member experience across these online services.

Lori Berg was named business analyst. She brings 13 years of expertise and will be responsible for managing multiple projects related to testing and implementing new features, services, systems and upgrades, improving their functionality from a staff and member perspective.

The $1 billion, Papillion, Neb.-based Cobalt Credit Union promoted two employees.

Aaron Carnine was promoted to vice president of retail banking operations. Carnine, who has been with Cobalt for four years, will lead central region operations, including branches in North Omaha, Midtown and the Old Market. Previously, she was a financial services specialist, as well as assistant branch manager and branch manager.

Mandi Timm was also promoted to the position of vice president of retail banking operations. Timm has been with Cobalt for 12 years, working first as a teller followed by roles as a personal banker, universal banker, assistant branch manager and branch manager. She will lead east region operations, including branches in Bellevue, Offutt Air Force Base, Western Iowa and Plattsmouth.

The $549.1 million Superior Choice Credit Union in Superior, Wis., hired Shane Asbel as COO. Asbel will oversee operations for the credit union’s eight branches across Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as its call center and corporate real estate services. Asbel served at the $2.5 billion, Tampa, Fla.-based GTE Financial for 13 years, starting as a part-time teller and working his way up to his most recent position of vice president of member sales.

SOUTH

The $2.5 billion, Tampa, Fla.-based GTE Financial hired Carol Meyer as vice president of talent and organizational development. Meyer will focus on overseeing human resources and setting a strategic plan to continue to elevate the credit union’s talent acquisition. By providing the necessary leadership and direction to human resources, talent development and their legal team, she will ensure GTE is focused on pairing the right individuals with the right role. Meyer’s past experience includes roles with Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World – Vista Federal Credit Union (now the $2.25 billion, Burbank, Calif.-based Partners Federal Credit Union), BankFIRST, UC Synergetic and the $283 million Orlando Credit Union in Orlando, Fla.

The $348.9 million, La Place, La.-based Louisiana Federal Credit Union promoted Ashley Chadwick to vice president of marketing and member engagement. In her new role, Chadwick will be responsible for developing the credit union’s member engagement strategy and will serve as steward of the organization’s culture, brand and “Why Statement.” She began her career with Louisiana FCU in March 2006, is a Credit Union Certified Marketing Executive through CUNA and holds an MBA from the University of New Orleans.

The $414.3 million, Harahan, La.-based OnPath Federal Credit Union announced three promotions and two new hires.

Candace Washington, former director of marketing and communications for OnPath, was promoted to vice president of member engagement.

Shasta Leininger, former director of efficiency sales for OnPath, was promoted to assistant vice president of digital experience.

Nellie Lovergne, former director of consumer lending and account resolutions for OnPath, was promoted to assistant vice president of retail.

Brian Menard was hired as vice president of strategy and support.

Mitchell Olinsky was hired as vice president of enterprise services.

CUSOS

The Lakewood, Colo.-based back-office outsourcing CUSO Aux hired Alan Bergstrom as vice president, marketing and business development. Bergstrom served as chief marketing officer for two different $1 billion-plus credit unions and as director, brand and creative services for CUNA Mutual Group’s TruStage brand. Most recently, he was CEO of the CUSO Exclamation Services. Bergstrom has been trained through Filene’s i3 innovation program, was named one of CUNA’s annual Rock Stars and was presented with CU Times’ Marketing Executive of the Year Trailblazer award in 2017. In his new role, Bergstrom will help identify credit unions that will benefit from Aux and shared branching sister CUSO InNetwork’s products and services to improve efficiencies and save money.

LEAGUES

Louisiana’s Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC) appointed Lawoka Bolden as its new chair. Bolden succeeds Sidney Parfait, who has served for over 35 years in the credit union movement. In 1996, he became the CEO of the $46 million Post Office Employees Credit Union in Metairie, La., and has been a long-time member of the Louisiana Credit Union League (LCUL) Board of Directors, currently serving as chair. Bolden, a CULAC committee member since 2006, started with the $52.9 million, Lafayette, La.-based First Pioneers Federal Credit Union in 1999 and was later named CEO in 2003. She currently serves on the LCUL Board of Directors as well as the CU Cooperative Branching Board of Directors.

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