Careers Shine & Conclude at CUs Nationwide

WEST

Jim Harris, president/CEO for the $1.3 billion University & State Employees Credit Union in San Diego, announced his retirement following a 15-year career at the helm of the credit union. Harris has worked in the credit union industry for more than 45 years and first joined USECU in 2004. He was promoted from his position as EVP and chief lending officer to president/CEO in 2006. Todd Tharp, SVP and CFO, will serve as the interim president/CEO. Tharp holds more than two decades of experience across various financial and business practices,

EAST

Buffalo Metropolitan Federal Credit Union ($143 million, Buffalo, N.Y.) announced that two board members have retired after more than 50 years of service.

Frank J. Mazur Jr. dedicated 59 years to Buffalo Metropolitan’s board of directors. He served as president for the last 21 years, and also held the positions of treasurer and vice president.

Patricia H. McManus started her career at Buffalo Metropolitan right out of high school as a teller. After 34 years of working at the credit union, she was named manager of Buffalo Metropolitan. Upon her retirement, McManus was elected to the board of directors as secretary. Between her time as an employee and member of the board of directors, she has committed 65 years to Buffalo Metropolitan and the credit union movement. In 2009, she was inducted into the Credit Union Hall of Fame.

United States Senate Federal Credit Union ($1.1 billion, Alexandria, Va.) awarded Board Member Herbert “Bertie” Bowman the status of emeritus board member. Bowman is USSFCU’s longest-serving board member, having served a total of 46 consecutive years, including two terms as chairman. His service to the credit union began in 1966 as a member of the credit committee. Joining the board of directors in 1975, Bowman’s longevity of service to the institution far surpasses any other person within the organization to date. He is also the longest-serving staffer in U.S. Senate history with over 65 years of service on Capitol Hill. While he will be setting aside the traditional responsibilities of a USSFCU board member, this new emeritus status guarantees Bowman has a permanent position with USSFCU.

The Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) inducted General Frank Cardile, board director emeritus for Andrews Federal Credit Union ($2.2 billion, Suitland, Md.), into the 2020 DCUC Hall of Honor during its 58th annual conference in Naples, Fla., in August. He joined Andrews Federal’s board of directors in 1993 and has served multiple terms as chairman and vice chairman. He spent 30 years in the United States Air Force, and upon retiring from the Air Force, Gen. Cardile worked at the Lockheed Martin Corporation as vice president of information technology. He also served as president of Betac Corporation and president of ACS Defense. Gen. Cardile currently serves on the board of directors for the Andrews Shares Foundation, and has also served on the Air Force Retired Officers Community board of directors in Sterling, Va.

University Credit Union ($409 million, Orono, Maine) hired Jenn Deschene and Lesley Ridge as community engagement managers. Ridge and Deschene will represent UCU in communities throughout the state, engaging with members, businesses, nonprofits, local leaders and others to support financial literacy, volunteerism and public service. They will also volunteer and participate in local activities; serve on organizational boards and committees; host financial education workshops and events to improve financial literacy; engage with local municipalities, schools and institutions as a community partner; and identify opportunities for financial sponsorship.

Deschene joined UCU as campus branch manager in the University of Maine at the Presque Isle Campus Center location. She is a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (FiCep) and has previously held positions in member services, lending, business development and branch management at three other Maine-based financial institutions.

Ridge previously served as campus branch manager of the University of Southern Maine’s Brooks Student Center location. She joined UCU in 2011 following a long career in human resources with a large regional supermarket. A FiCep, Ridge has also served as a committee member with United Way’s Thrive 2027 Initiative.

The $297 million Alltrust Credit Union in Fairhaven, Mass., hired Nina Despres as a mortgage loan originator. Despres has over 24 years of mortgage lending experience. Her most recent role was as a mortgage loan officer at St. Anne’s Credit Union ($1.2 billion, Fall River, Mass.). She is involved with Junior Achievement as a business mentor for the Titan Challenge, a member of One Southcoast Chamber of Commerce and an active participant in the Credit for Life initiative program at many local high schools.

MIDWEST

The $5.5 billion, Waterloo, Iowa-based Veridian Credit Union announced two promotions.

The Veridian Group, a wholly-owned CUSO of Veridian CU, promoted Jason Koch to the position of vice president and agency manager for Veridian Insurance, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Veridian Group. Koch has been employed at The Veridian Group for three years, most recently as an insurance agent.

Maid Mizic was promoted to the position of digital quality assurance analyst. Mizic has worked at Veridian for two years, previously as a personal computer specialist.

Royal Credit Union ($3.7 billion, Eau Claire, Wis.) named Kaitlin Lutsey as the new Royal Credit Union Young Professional Credit Union Activist (YP CU Activist). Royal launched the YP CU Activist program in 2019 as a way to strengthen the credit union movement and amplify the voice of young professionals. Lutsey, a member account representative II, will serve as Royal’s YP CU Activist from August 2021 through July 2022 and work to share the credit union difference with policymakers at key advocacy events.

She will spend approximately two hours a month expanding her credit union advocacy knowledge and preparing to attend events, including the Wisconsin Credit Union League’s Annual Convention, WCUL’s Hike the Hill event and Government Affairs Conference, and CUNA’s GAC. She will also participate in lawmaker visits to Royal and will attend key political events in the community.

SOUTH

The $2.7 billion GTE Financial in Tampa, Fla., announced a promotion and a new hire.

Manny Aguilar, who was hired in 2020 as vice president of member business services, was promoted to SVP and chief commercial and advisory services officer.

Gerhard Toth was hired as assistant vice president of member business services. He most recently served at Regions Bank after 11 years. In his new role, he will be responsible for enhancing the business services department’s products, processes and performance.

Anthony Taylor, longtime board member for Ascend Federal Credit Union ($3.4 billion, Tullahoma, Tenn.) was named Volunteer of the Year by NAFCU. Taylor was the only recipient of the national award among credit unions with more than $250 million in assets.

He was recognized for 18 years of contribution to Ascend’s board of directors and leadership team, and his service to the credit union’s members and communities in which it operates. The Volunteer of the Year award honors an individual who demonstrates exemplary leadership qualities, dedication to serving the credit union’s members, commitment to the development of professionalism, expertise and service, and participation in credit union and community activities. In his 18 years with Ascend’s board, Taylor has served as chairman (2017-2019), vice chairman (2014-2017), treasurer (2013-2014) and as a member of the supervisory committee (2004-2012 and 2020-present).

Tinker Federal Credit Union ($5.6 billion, Oklahoma City, Okla.) announced two promotions.

Krista Basinger was promoted to SVP of lending. As part of her new position, she will be directing the lending functions of TFCU to ensure lending products meet membership needs, and providing financial solutions for members applying for home, auto and other loans. Basinger began her career with TFCU in 1984, holding various frontline and branch operations positions. In 1999, she became the first lending training specialist and served in that role until she was promoted in 2004 to assistant manager of central lending. In 2009, Basinger began serving as vice president and manager of mortgage lending, and held the position for nine years before being named vice president and director of lending.

Stephanie Lafreniere was hired as vice president and manager of card center services. Lafreniere has 31 years of financial industry experience, with 25 years at TFCU. She previously held the positions of card center assistant manager, card center supervisor, card systems analyst, credit card dispute analyst and card servicer during her years at TFCU.

CUSOS

QuantyPhi, a wholly-owned CUSO of the $3.5 billion, Muskego, Wis.-based Corporate Central Credit Union, hired Grant Peyron as a financial strategist. Peyron’s primary role will be to proactively advise credit unions on methods to productively manage their financial services and product portfolios. He will also develop new business, build rapport and provide fiduciary expertise to credit union decision makers. Peyron has 32 years of experience in the futures/commodity industry. He began his career with Kemper Clearing in 1989 facilitating interest rate futures order execution at the CME. He then spent 28 years with Rosenthal Collins Group as its CME Trading Operations Manager. Most recently, he ran the 24-hour Electronic Execution Service desk with Marex Spectron.

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