CUs Nationwide Reveal New Board Members, Hires & Promotions

WEST

The $5 billion, San Diego-based Mission Fed Credit Union promoted Danielle Gonzalez to assistant vice president and branch manager for its 33rd branch site located in Oceanside, Calif. Gonzalez has been with Mission Fed for over 20 years, serving in many different roles including branch management for the credit union’s San Marcos branch and original Oceanside branch located at Mission Avenue and Douglas Drive.

The $4.6 billion Gesa Credit Union in Richland, Wash., announced two promotions.

Andrew Chung was promoted to vice president of information technology. Chung brings more than 20 years of experience to his new role, including 12 at Gesa. In his new role, he will oversee the team members, performance and production of all IT groups, which include security, data center and infrastructure, products and development, core operations and end user support. He holds a master’s of science in management information systems from Florida State University, and spent five years at Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union ($961 million, San Jose, Calif.) before joining Gesa.

Kim Pierret was promoted to vice president of accounting and finance. Pierret brings more than 20 years of experience in the accounting, finance and audit field to her new role, including five years at Gesa. In her new role, she will oversee Gesa’s accounting, finance, enterprise risk management, vendor management, insurance and business continuity planning. Prior to joining Gesa in 2015, she served at PwC in Spokane, Wash., as a business assurance associate, as well as at CliftonLarsonAllen and Battelle.

Valley First Credit Union ($851 million, Modesto, Calif.) hired Todd McCoy as CFO. He joins Valley First from University of Kentucky Federal Credit Union ($1.2 billion, Lexington, Ky.), where he served as vice president of finance and risk management. In his new role, McCoy will oversee the areas of accounting and finance, payments, collections, fraud and loss prevention, compliance and internal audit. He is a licensed CPA and has completed post-baccalaureate work for his MBA from Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky.

The $1 billion USE Credit Union in San Diego hired Brad Trusso as chief information officer. In his new role, Trusso is responsible for the implementation of technical solutions within the credit union to improve cost effectiveness and service quality for members. Prior to joining USECU, he was the national director of information technology for the Armed Services real estate development and management company Lincoln Military Housing. Trusso also held senior information technology roles at Eagle Community Credit Union ($319 million, Foothill Ranch, Calif.), and helped provide core data processing and ancillary technology solutions to Symitar.

EAST

The $650 million GFA Federal Credit Union in Gardner, Mass., promoted Brian Rumanowski to commercial lender. Rumanowski joined GFA in 2018 as a commercial credit administrator and was promoted to credit analyst in early 2019. He led the 2020 GFA COVID Business Support Team, assisting hundreds of businesses through relief programs including the Small Business Association’s, and has worked closely with GFA’s cannabis banking and lending subsidiary, Lighthouse Biz Solutions. He holds certifications in commercial lending from the American Bankers Association, and in BSA and compliance from CUNA.

MIDWEST

Veridian Credit Union ($5.5 billion, Waterloo, Iowa) announced four promotions and one board appointment.

Staci McConville was promoted to the position of learning and development specialist. McConville has worked at Veridian for eight years and was previously a member contact center team leader.

Mackenzie Neverman was promoted to the position of branch manager of the Blairs Ferry branch in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Neverman has worked at Veridian for 10 years and was previously a loan advisor.

Jenifer Ward was promoted to the position of member contact center team leader. Ward has worked at Veridian for six years and was previously a learning and development specialist.

Kara Law was promoted to the position of core systems specialist. Law has worked at Veridian for 18 years and was previously an internal auditor II.

Cindy Sprole was elected to fill a seat on the board of directors vacated by the retirement of Paul Gengler earlier this year. Sprole will serve the remainder of Gengler’s term through April 2022 and have the opportunity to campaign as a candidate in the credit union’s board election at that time. She has 15 years of human resources and operational experience in the insurance industry, and currently serves as board president for YWCA of Black Hawk County and as a classroom volunteer for Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa.

The $1.6 billion Consumers Credit Union in Kalamazoo, Mich., hired Benjamin Belloli as a mortgage loan officer in the Kalamazoo market, specifically at the West Main office in Kalamazoo. Belloli has originated hundreds of mortgages for families all over the country, and according to his LinkedIn page, has over seven years of banking experience, most recently serving as a senior home lending advisor for Chase in Portage, Mich.

SOUTH

The $13.8 million, Waco, Texas-based 1st University Credit Union promoted Ethel Jennings to EVP of accounting and operations. Jennings has been with 1st UCU for 25 years, having started in the accounting department in 1996. Prior to joining 1st UCU, she worked in the bookkeeping and accounting departments at a local community bank for nine years.

The $11 billion VyStar Credit Union in Jacksonville, Fla., hired Kawanza Humphrey as chief human resources officer. In her new role, she will oversee VyStar’s more than 2,000 employees and be responsible for the credit union’s human resources efforts, including diversity, equity and inclusion; talent acquisition; employee relations; benefits and compensation. Humphrey has more than 20 years of experience in the banking industry and was most recently the SVP of corporate responsibility for the Eastern region of KeyBank.

LEAGUES

The Mississippi Credit Union Association elected five board members and inducted four leaders into its Mississippi Credit Union Hall of Fame.

Rebecca Cooper, CEO for the $73 million, Meridian-based 1st Mississippi Federal Credit Union, was re-elected to a three-year term.

John Harmond, president/CEO for the $58 million, Hattiesburg-based CenturyFirst Federal Credit Union, was re-elected to a three-year term.

Alyson Lynd, CEO for the $11 million, Biloxi-based Southern Coastal Federal Credit Union, was re-elected to a three-year term.

Katie Nelson, CEO for the $65 million, Jackson-based Eagle Express Federal Credit Union, was re-elected to a three-year term.

Tommy Leonard, board chair for the $436 million, Moss Point-based Navigator Credit Union, was elected to fill an unexpired two-year term.

Gary Fairley, CEO for the $100 million, Jackson-based Jackson Area Federal Credit Union, was inducted into the 2021 Mississippi Credit Union Hall of Fame.

Abraham Green, director for the $12 million, Vicksburg-based Vickswood Credit Union, was inducted into the 2021 Mississippi Credit Union Hall of Fame.

Robert Harry, board emeritus for Navigator Credit Union, was inducted into the 2021 Mississippi Credit Union Hall of Fame.

Patricia McDaniel with the $5 million, Columbus-based MUW Employees’ Federal Credit Union, was inducted into the 2021 Mississippi Credit Union Hall of Fame.

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