Honors, Hires & Promotions Abound at Credit Unions

WEST

Michael P. Duffy, chief advocacy officer for the $2.7 billion, Bakersfield, Calif.-based Valley Strong Credit Union, was named the California PAC Advocate of the year on Nov. 2 at the California Credit Union League’s Annual Meeting and Convention in Palm Desert, Calif. Duffy has been serving the credit union movement for 40 years and was recently named chief advocacy officer for Valley Strong following the credit union’s merger with Financial Center Credit Union of Stockton, where Duffy served as president/CEO.

The $211 million Western Vista Federal Credit Union in Cheyenne, Wyo., hired Dan Moss as SVP of information technology. Prior to joining the Western Vista team, he was the chief technology officer at Billings Clinic in Billings, Mont. Moss served 24 years in the U.S. Army and has more than 25 years of experience in the information technology field.

Michael Levy, general counsel for the $4.6 billion, Vacaville, Calif.-based Travis Credit Union, was appointed to the CFPB’s Credit Union Advisory Council (CUAC) last month. During his 30 years as an attorney, Levy amassed a diverse portfolio of litigation experience in the public and private sectors within some of the most complex fields of law, as well as matters affecting public policy. He has served in general and deputy-general legal counsel roles at a number of California state agencies responsible for regulating essential natural resources, public resources and consumer services (including energy, water and insurance). This includes acting as director of litigation for the California Department of Insurance. Levy will serve on the CUAC until October 2023.

EAST

The $781 million ABNB Federal Credit Union in Chesapeake, Va., hired William E. Bane as vice president of internal audit. Bane will report to President/CEO Charles A. Mallon Jr. and the ABNB Supervisory Committee. He has been working in the financial services industry for over 27 years, beginning as a staff auditor in 1989 and quickly rising to managerial and senior leadership roles. His previous roles included vice president of internal audit at Tyndall Federal Credit Union ($2 billion, Panama City, Fla.) and senior manager – enterprise risk management and internal audit at Strategic Risk Associates in Richmond, Va. He holds an MBA from West Virginia University in Morgantown, and is a CPA and Certified Risk Professional.

The Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce in Lowell, Mass., honored Kim Fontaine, assistant treasurer, financial wellness manager and Robert Boley, assistant vice president of business services for the $1.7 billion Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union in Lowell with Distinguished Young Professionals Awards at its annual meeting on Oct. 14.

Fontaine has been with Jeanne D’Arc for 15 years, is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and was recently certified as a Credit Union Financial Counselor. She currently serves on the Project LEARN, Inc. associate board and the Greater Lowell Youth Council.

Boley is a Certified Project Manager and serves on several boards and committees including with Mill City Grows, Troubled Waters and the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, Mass.

GFA Federal Credit Union ($675 million, Gardner, Mass.) hired Todd Mandella as EVP/COO. In his new role, Mandella will have the responsibility of leading retail branch operations, overseeing member-facing back office support and cash management services, facilities management, and contributing to the credit union’s strategic objectives and execution. Prior to joining GFA, he spent the last 20 years working at national, regional and community bank institutions overseeing a variety of commercial lending and cash management functions.

MIDWEST

The $5.6 billion Veridian Credit Union in Waterloo, Iowa promoted Angeline Kelly to the position of manager of the project management office. Kelly has worked at Veridian for four years and has more than 16 years of project management experience. She previously served as senior project manager for the credit union, and holds a Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute.

The $3.7 billion, Chesterfield, Mo.-based First Community Credit Union hired two professionals to serve First Community Realty, a full-service real estate firm it plans to launch in early 2022, according to the credit union’s website.

Dennis Hayden was hired as the broker of record. Hayden brings 26 years of experience, is a licensed broker in the State of Missouri and was named Manager of the Year by St. Louis Realtors in 2013. In his new role, he will provide agents with guidance, training and development to help them realize their potential and reach their goals.

Sandy Seaton was hired as vice president of real estate operations. Seaton most recently served as manager of training for First Community CU and has over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry. In her new role, she will be responsible for the overall direction, growth and performance of First Community Realty.

Paula Anderson, vice president of strategic initiatives and impact for Together Credit Union ($2.3 billion, St. Louis, Mo.) was appointed to the board of directors of LifewiseSTL, a St. Louis organization focused on helping locals achieve financial well-being. Anderson will serve as a member of the board’s marketing committee and innovation committee. She has been with Together for 30 years, is a charter member of the credit union’s DEI Council and a long-standing Together Foundation scholarship program judge. Anderson has also served in various volunteer leadership roles and is currently a volunteer financial coach for United Way. She holds a master’s in communications from St. Louis University.

Corporate Central Credit Union ($3.2 billion, Muskego, Wis.) promoted Julie Woloszyn to marketing manager. In her new role, she will formulate marketing programs that exemplify the organization’s culture and philosophies and drive member engagement; direct and manage all marketing, campaigns and reporting processes; collaborate with leadership to formulate effective strategies to meet company objectives; and direct efforts to plan, create and promote professional development opportunities for members. She will also mentor, develop and manage the performance of the marketing team. Woloszyn joined Corporate Central in 2008 as director, brand awareness and her title adapted to director, professional development and communications in March 2021.

The South Dakota Home Builders Association inducted Candice Menke, mortgage loan originator for the $1.8 billion, Rapid City, S.D.-based Black Hills Federal Credit Union, into its Hall of Fame on Nov. 5. Earlier this year, Menke was inducted into the Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire’s Hall of Fame. She has also received an associate of the year award on local and state levels. Menke began her career in financial services in 1997, spending nearly 20 years at local banks and in corporate banking. She joined the BHFCU team nearly four years ago.

Jennifer McHugh, vice president of community engagement for Royal Credit Union ($3.9 billion, Eau Claire, Wis.), was honored with the 2021 CUES Exceptional Leader Award. McHugh has established Royal as a financial education leader in the credit union industry, and oversees the credit union’s political advocacy efforts, having led the creation of the Royal Young Professional Credit Union Activist program. She also has served on the Wisconsin Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy and Capability since her appointment in 2011, and is the chair of the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs committee.

SOUTH

TDECU ($4.5 billion, Lake Jackson, Texas) hired Qiara Suggs as SVP, chief human resource officer. In her new position, Suggs will lead all aspects of human resources and work closely with TDECU President/CEO Isaac Johnson in driving strategy that supports the development of growth-oriented, member-focused human capital initiatives. She brings nearly 20 years of experience and most recently served as director of HR business partners for Memorial Herman Health System. She holds an MBA from Texas Women’s University in Denton, is a graduate of the Fort Bend Chamber Leadership Program and holds multiple professional certifications including Senior Professional in Human Resources, SHRM-Senior Certified Professional and PROSCI Change Management.

Ascend Federal Credit Union ($3.5 billion, Tullahoma, Tenn.) hired Lisa Hayes as vice president of marketing. In her new role, she is responsible for developing, implementing and executing Ascend’s marketing and communication strategic goals. Hayes brings more than 20 years of marketing leadership experience. Prior to joining the credit union, she was a digital marketing consultant for several clients in the health care and education sectors. Before that, she was director of marketing strategy for Brookdale Senior Living. She also spent 10 years with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she rose to director of strategic marketing, and spent another decade with Nortel Networks in Nashville, Tenn., and Maidenhead, U.K.

The $1.7 billion, Arlington, Texas-based Texas Trust Credit Union promoted Peggy Esparza to CFO. Esparza joined the credit union in 1995 with a high school diploma as a part-time teller. During her 26-year career at Texas Trust, she earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA from the University of Texas at Arlington, and has held senior leadership roles managing all aspects of Texas Trust’s financial operations. She succeeds David Pickney, who recently retired.

CUSOS

The St. Petersburg, Fla.-based payments CUSO PSCU appointed Nathanael Tarwasokono, president/CEO of Firstmark Credit Union ($1.2 billion, San Antonio, Texas) as a member of the PSCU board of directors following two years of service as an associate director.

Tarwasokono is replacing Kit Snyder, president/CEO of Consumers Credit Union ($1.6 billion, Kalamazoo, Mich.), who is retiring from his role as a board member after 11 years of service.

TRADES

CUES hired Jaime Bochantin as vice president of consulting services. Bochantin most recently served as lead trainer, consultant and curriculum designer at Charlotte Consulting Solutions in Charlotte, N.C. Prior to that, she was a faculty trainer and content developer for the Executive Education program at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, where she was also an associate professor teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology, organizational science, management, research methods and communication. She holds a Ph.D. in organizational communication from Texas A&M University and a master of corporate communication from DePaul University in Chicago. In her new role, Bochantin will focus her efforts on CUES Consulting, which helps credit unions identify key candidates, build stronger teams and create a more cohesive culture.

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