Career Moves Revealed at 10 CUs & CU Organizations

WEST

The $2.24 billion, Santa Ana, Calif.-based Orange County’s Credit Union hired Bernice Gonzalez as vice president of human resources. In her new role, Gonzalez will focus on talent acquisition, team performance, workforce planning, employee relations, employee engagement and company culture, and oversee day-to-day associate operational functions as well as serve as a consultative partner for leaders across the credit union. She brings more than 15 years of human resources experience in financial and educational institutions, having held HR leadership roles with First American Financial and Morgan Stanley. She has also taught human resources courses at the University of California, Irvine.

EAST

The $2.6 billion, Fort Washington, Pa.-based TruMark Financial Credit Union appointed Suzette Adams to its board of directors. Since 2018, Adams has served on the credit union’s supervisory committee. She is a manager in the utility industry and brings a strong financial background, having spent the early part of her career in public accounting. Adams holds an MBA from Eastern University.

Retired U.S. Navy Captain Keith Hoskins was promoted to EVP of branch operations at the $135.6 billion Navy Federal Credit Union in Vienna, Va., in February 2021. Hoskins originally joined Navy Federal as SVP of the credit union’s Greater Pensacola Operations in 2019. Prior to joining Navy Federal, Hoskins was the western district manager for Gulf Power Company. His transition from military service came after 27 distinguished years in the U.S. Navy, where he retired as commanding officer for Naval Air Station Pensacola, providing leadership and oversight to over 25,000 military and civilian personnel.

MIDWEST

The $359.5 million, Lansing, Mich.-based Case Credit Union announced two promotions.

Rachael Singleton was promoted to EVP. In her new role, Singleton will oversee branch operations, the contact center, resolutions, compliance and marketing. She began her career at CASE in 2012, rising through the ranks as resolutions specialist, assistant resolutions manager and manager of resolutions, and most recently served as vice president of operations. She has more than 13 years of credit union and financial institution experience.

Robert Whitaker was promoted to vice president of lending. In his new role, Whitaker will manage consumer, mortgage and business lending. Previously, he served as CASE’s business services manager, overseeing business lending, monitoring business loan portfolios, identifying and cultivating potential and existing members who require business lending services, and providing business deposit services guidance. He has more than 25 years of financial services experience.

The $248.2 million, Saint Cloud, Minn.-based St. Cloud Financial Credit Union hired Sheloa Fieldseth as CFO. She brings more than 20 years of executive banking experience with finance and leadership expertise. In her new role, Fieldseth will be accountable for the overall financial strategy and performance of the credit union. Her career in banking includes core competencies in financial forecasting/modeling, strategic and operational planning, asset liability management and leadership.

SOUTH

The $1.4 billion, Oak Ridge, Tenn.-based Y-12 Federal Credit Union announced four promotions.

Laura Stewart was promoted to director of finance. In her new role, Stewart will be responsible for performing complex Asset Liability Management functions including measuring, monitoring, analyzing, and reporting financial and liquidity risks. As manager of finance for Y-12, Stewart restructured the credit union’s budgeting process to improve efficiencies and buy-in throughout the entire organization, oversaw its investment portfolio and led its enterprise risk management committee. She is a CPA, Certified Credit Union Investment Professional and certified Credit Union Enterprise Risk Management Expert.

Charlie McAdams was promoted to director, member services center. In his new role, McAdams will be responsible for facilitating operations and optimizing the performance of the member service center, which includes the call center as well as the interactive and remote delivery support teams. As Y-12’s manager of the member services center, McAdams implemented a call routing system for Spanish speaking members, and developed and integrated a chat bot into the organization’s website. He holds over five years of experience and is an acting board member on the Y-12 FCU Gives Foundation.

Gregory Shultz was promoted to director of applications and systems programming. In his new role, Shultz will be responsible for management of the programming, analysis and design functions. As Y-12’s manager of applications and systems programming, Shultz led the development aspects of technology services such as indirect lending, the loyalty and rewards program, mobile banking and deposit enhancements, and streamlined member identification and robotic process automation. He holds over 10 years of industry experience, having served in credit union roles such as teller, loan officer, assistant branch manager and programmer.

Melissa McMahan was promoted to director of project management. In her new role, McMahan will be responsible for the organization’s project management and administration functions, including planning, developing, implementing and directing various project plans. As Y-12’s senior manager of project management, McMahan played a crucial role in marshalling the project management office infrastructure to a successful completion. With almost 30 years of credit union industry experience, she has served in a broad capacity with extensive knowledge in areas such as operations, lending, process improvement and project management.

TRADES

NACUSO announced the re-election of three board members for a three-year term, one new board member and one departing board member.

Brad Crandall, CEO of The Servion Group, was elected as a new board member. During Crandall’s tenure as CEO, The Servion Group has expanded from its origins as a mortgage support organization for credit unions into a diversified organization providing a variety of solutions for financial institutions.

Becky Reed, CEO of the $147.4 million, Dallas-based Lone Star Credit Union, was re-elected to the board.

Dean Young, EVP/chief experience officer at the St. Petersburg, Fla.-based CUSO PSCU, was re-elected to the board.

Matt Kardell, chief revenue officer for the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-based CUSO CO-OP Financial Services, was re-elected to the board.

Mark Zook, CEO of the $1 billion, Salem, Ore.-based Maps Credit Union and chairman of the board of NACUSO Business Services, LLC, will depart the board after serving for 12 years and reaching his term limit.

VENDORS

The Des Moines, Iowa-based Coopera, a multicultural analytics and consulting firm with specific focus on credit unions nationwide, hired Jennifer Santos Esperanza, Ph.D. as director, diversity, equity and inclusion. Esperanza comes to Coopera from Beloit College in Wisconsin, where she has been a professor of anthropology since 2008. With nearly two decades of research, teaching and facilitation experience, Esperanza brings a wealth of leadership and understanding around building culturally-responsive and inclusive programming. She has lived in many countries and speaks several languages. In her new role, she will work closely with Coopera’s partners to build and implement DEI roadmaps and strengthen outreach to more diverse markets.

CUNA Mutual Group appointed two new members to its board of directors effective April 1: Brett Martinez, president/CEO for the $6.2 billion, Santa Rosa, Calif.-based Redwood Credit Union and John Larsen, chair and president/CEO for the Madison, Wis.-based Alliant Energy Corporation.

Martinez has been with Redwood since 2002 and oversees all aspects of the credit union, including its CUSO, which operates an auto dealership and an insurance agency.

Larsen leads Alliant Energy Corporation, which serves nearly 1.5 million customers in Iowa and Wisconsin, providing electricity and natural gas service.

CUSOS

The Los Angeles area lending technology CUSO CU Direct elected three new industry leaders to its board of directors, re-elected two board officers and said farewell to its outgoing board chair.

Jim Laffoon, president/CEO for the $9.8 billion, San Antonio, Texas-based Security Service Federal Credit Union was elected chairman. In addition, Erin Mendez, president/CEO for the $8.4 billion, Dublin, Calif.-based Patelco Credit Union, was elected vice chairman and Bob McKay, president/CEO for the $2.1 billion, St. Louis, Mo.-based Together Credit Union, was elected secretary and treasurer.

Brett Martinez, president/CEO for the $6.2 billion, Santa Rosa, Calif.-based Redwood Credit Union and Kim Sponem, president/CEO for the $4.5 billion, Cottage Grove, Wis.-based Summit Credit Union were re-elected to new three-year terms. Keith Sultemeier, CEO of the $5.2 billion, Manhattan Beach, Calif.-based Kinecta Federal Credit Union departed the board at the close of his two-year term as chairman.

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