Career Moves Revealed at 10 CUs, Emergifi & the Iowa League

WEST

John Zmolek, CEO of the $689.9 million, Seattle-based Verity Credit Union, will retire on April 14 after seven years as Verity’s CEO. Zmolek spent 31 years with Verity, first as a board member and then in several different executive roles before being named CEO in 2014. As CEO, Zmolek targeted lending programs that have a positive impact on the environment, affordable housing and serving the underserved. He also led Verity as it became one of only 11 financial institutions in the U.S. and 65 in the world to join the Global Alliance for Banking on Values. Zmolek currently serves on the GSBA Advisory Board, is the vice chair of Business Impact Northwest, is on the board of YouthCare, and is a trustee and chair of the Staff Parish Relationship Committee with Wallingford United Methodist Church.

EAST

The $2.7 billion, Smithfield, R.I.-based Navigant Credit Union hired Timothy J. Flanagan as assistant vice president/business relationship manager. Most recently serving as general manager at Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln, R.I., Flanagan joins Navigant with more than 15 years of diverse leadership experience in building productive, meaningful relationships within the hospitality industry. In his new role, he will be tasked with providing business owners and individuals with a convenient and seamless banking experience with Navigant.

The $359.5 million, Rochester, N.H.-based Holy Rosary Credit Union hired Charlie Raynes as director of marketing. Raynes most recently served as a vice president for Mersen in Newburyport, Ma., where he led the company’s global digital transformation, directed annual marketing strategy and execution, and was responsible for developing brand identity. Before that, he held lead marketing roles at Timberland and Direct Capital, and has also worked at several Boston advertising agencies.

The $601 million GFA Federal Credit Union in Gardner, Mass., promoted Tracy Sasseville to assistant vice president/regional branch manager for its Rutland and Hubbardston, Mass., locations. Sasseville started as branch manager of GFA’s Parker Street location in Gardner, quickly being promoted to assistant vice president/branch manager of the Rutland location and taking on the role of Bank @ Work liaison shortly after.

New Dimensions Federal Credit Union ($178 million, Waterville, Maine) hired Teresa Gagne as digital branch manager. She began her credit union career as a teller over 30 years ago, and has since worked her way up and landed in lending, gaining ample indirect lending experience. She will begin her new role by executing new processes and procedures that will create efficiencies department-wide.

MIDWEST

Tim McNeil was named vice president of mortgage lending for the $1.5 billion, St. Paul, Minn.-based Hiway Credit Union. He is taking over Hiway’s mortgage division following the retirement of long-time Hiway executive Mary Koonce. McNeil joined Hiway in October 2019, bringing over 20 years of mortgage, underwriting and loan processing experience, and over 15 years of management experience. Prior to joining Hiway, he served as a branch manager for Mann Mortgage, where he oversaw all aspects of branch operations including sales, origination, processing, underwriting and closing. McNeil spent over three years at Lake Area Mortgage as operations manager and five years with US Bank Home Mortgage.

The $415.8 million, Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Adventure Credit Union hired Lisa Posthumus as chief lending officer. Posthumus brings more than 20 years of experience, having overseen lending and retail operations for multiple organizations. At Adventure, she will lead a team of 32 employees, overseeing consumer, commercial and indirect lending, along with the credit union’s mortgage, loss prevention and card services departments.

The $5.1 billion, Waterloo, Iowa-based Veridian Credit Union promoted Justin Mullen to the position of accounting systems administrator. Mullen has worked at Veridian for 14 years and was previously a senior accountant.

The $1 billion, Papillion, Neb.-based Cobalt Credit Union promoted one employee and hired another.

Assan Manneh was named vice president of retail banking operations. Manneh will lead the credit union’s south region operations, including branches in Papillion, South Omaha, Bellevue and Gretna, Neb. He has been with Cobalt for seven years, serving first as a financial service officer, then as a senior financial service specialist and in various branch manager positions.

Steve Ryder was hired as vice president of project management. Ryder has over 15 years of experience in the banking industry, having served as a personal/universal banker, recruiter, trainer and vice president of retail banking operations. In his new role, he will be responsible for developing, tracking and leading enterprise initiatives from initiation through completion.

SOUTH

The $1.2 billion, Jacksonville, Fla.-based First Florida Credit Union promoted Ashleigh Robinson from community relations specialist to community relations and member development manager. In her new role, she will manage the credit union’s community relations statewide, which includes surveying members, providing financial education, increasing community involvement and sharing the benefits of membership with potential new members. Before joining First Florida in 2016, Robinson worked as a special events and volunteer coordinator at Daniel, a Jacksonville-based non-profit, and held roles at several other non-profits.

CUSOS

Emergifi, a wholly-owned technology CUSO of the $3.1 billion, Muskego, Wis.-based Corporate Central Credit Union, hired Jeff Blair and Kevin Kelly as business development executives. Blair and Kelly will work to assess the needs of credit unions, and market Emergifi’s products and services. They will also assist leadership with marketing strategies, business plans and sales objectives.

Blair has over 25 years of experience working with credit unions. He started in the industry leading the $4.3 billion, Cottage Grove, Wis.-based Summit Credit Union’s marketing team, and has worked for CUNA Mutual Group as an account executive selling ALM software. He also spent nearly 18 years at TransUnion using data and analytics to help credit unions implement risk, fraud and marketing solutions. Most recently, Blair was director of sales for Intelemedia, where he used predictive analytics to improve digital marketing programs.

Kelly has over 10 years of sales experience with managed service providers, cloud services, Software-as-a-Service and health care technology, ranging from SMB to enterprise-level sales in the Northeast U.S.

LEAGUES

The Iowa Credit Union League named Jaimie Miller vice president. Miller has served as the executive director for the Iowa Credit Union Foundation, the philanthropic arm of ICUL, since 2013. As vice president, Miller will oversee the ICUL member services and events team, and provide vision and strategy to support the ongoing success of the Iowa credit union movement. She will work to cultivate relationships and connect Iowa credit unions with resources regarding operational challenges and strategic planning, as well as provide oversight of member programming. In addition to serving in her new role at ICUL, Miller will continue, for a period of time, to oversee the ICUF as executive director. She will support ICUF with oversight of staff, strategic planning, financial reporting and governance.

TRADES

NAFCU named Marisol Garibay vice president of communications and media relations. Garibay will oversee NAFCU’s communications and media relations division, and help drive the organization’s political communications and messaging strategy. Prior to joining NAFCU, she served as chief communications officer for the CFPB. Before her work at the bureau, Garibay served as communications director at the Office of Management and Budget, deputy assistant secretary for public affairs at the U.S. Treasury Department and communications director for the House Financial Services Committee.

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