Source: Adobe Stock
EAST
The $2.7 billion, Syracuse, N.Y.-based Empower Federal Credit Union announced one promotion and one new hire.
Nicholas LaFlair Nicholas LaFlair was promoted to vice president, commercial loan officer. In his new role, he provides businesses in New York State with commercial loans for their working capital needs and funds for growth. He also provides funding to commercial real estate investors for the development, purchase or refinance of properties across a broad range of real estate property types. His experience in the banking industry includes a diverse background from serving as a branch manager to his most recent position of senior commercial loan officer for Empower. LaFlair is an Eagle Scout and 2020 graduate of Leadership Greater Syracuse.
Scott Harris Scott L. Harris was hired as vice president of wealth management services and CUSO Financial Services program manager. In his new role, he will oversee the investment, insurance and tax preparation platforms to meet the growing needs of Empower members throughout New York State. Harris has over 34 years' experience in the financial industry, having spent time as a registered representative with MetLife and John Hancock. He served as wealth advisor and planner at Sagemark Consulting Private Wealth Services, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors. Harris most recently served as SVP and senior relationship manager at Key Private Bank. He is also a Certified Wealth Strategist through the Canon Financial Institute. He currently serves as president of the board of directors of Joseph's House for Women in Syracuse, and is an ordained Deacon for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse at Holy Family Church in Fairmount, N.Y.
Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to CUTimes.com, part of your ALM digital membership.
Your access to unlimited CUTimes.com content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:
- Breaking credit union news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
- Weekly Shared Accounts podcast featuring exclusive interviews with industry leaders
- Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
- Critical coverage of the commercial real estate and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, GlobeSt.com and ThinkAdvisor.com
Already have an account? Sign In Now
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
Natasha Chilingerian
Natasha Chilingerian has been immersed in the credit union industry for over a decade. She first joined CU Times in 2011 as a freelance writer, and following a two-year hiatus from 2013-2015, during which time she served as a communications specialist for Xceed Financial Credit Union (now Kinecta Federal Credit Union), she re-joined the CU Times team full-time as managing editor. She was promoted to executive editor in 2019. In the earlier days of her career, Chilingerian focused on news and lifestyle journalism, serving as a writer and editor for numerous regional publications in Oregon, Louisiana, South Carolina and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, she holds experience in marketing copywriting for companies in the finance and technology space. At CU Times, she covers People and Community news, cybersecurity, fintech partnerships, marketing, workplace culture, leadership, DEI, branch strategies, digital banking and more. She currently works remotely and splits her time between Southern California and Portland, Ore.
