New Roles Announced at 9 CUs & CU Organizations

WEST

The $1.2 billion USE Credit Union in San Diego announced four promotions.

Matt Lyons was promoted to EVP, COO. Lyons joined USE Credit Union as chief lending officer in 2017 and has two decades of experience at a broad range of financial services firms. He’s also overseen several other areas of USECU operations, including central operations, payments and ATMs. In addition to overall operations, including branches and the contact center, Lyons will oversee the credit union’s technology group to better incorporate technology into USECU’s business operations in his new role.

Margarita Guerra was promoted to SVP, CFO. Guerra has more than two decades of experience working with financial institutions and brings a diversified background in accounting and banking operations. Prior to joining USECU as assistant vice president of accounting in 2016, she was controller for Welk Resorts and worked in accounting for AmericanWest Bank and the $14.6 billion Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union in Live Oak, Texas. In her new role, Guerra will be directly responsible for accounting and financial reporting, as well as overseeing financial, budgetary, treasury, business intelligence and investment management functions.

Amber Fielder was promoted to SVP, chief marketing officer. Fielder has been with USECU as vice president of marketing for more than two years and has deep experience in credit union, agency and corporate marketing. She holds CUNA’s Credit Union Certified Marketing Executive designation and will be responsible for marketing; member growth and retention; corporate communications, including public relations and community involvement; digital services; investment services and general/facility services.

Charlie Williams was promoted to SVP, chief risk officer. Williams has been with USECU as vice president of enterprise risk management and compliance for nearly three years. He has been working in banking and bank consulting for more than 38 years and has branch operations, internal audit and risk management experience. In his new role, Williams will be responsible for enterprise-wide governance, risk and compliance.

EAST

SECU Financial Partners, the investment services arm of the $4.7 billion, Linthicum, Md.-based SECU, hired Stephen Rafter as an LPL Financial Advisor. Rafter brings more than 10 years of wealth management experience and will focus on providing a holistic approach to financial planning in his new role. He joins SECU Financial Partners with prior consulting experience at Charles Schwab, where he managed a book of business of 200 clients with a minimum of $250,000 worth of assets with the firm. Before that, Rafter was an advisor at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Baltimore.

David S. Sprague, president/CEO for the $1.7 billion, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.-based Hanscom Federal Credit Union, will retire effective Jan. 3 after 25 years of service. Effective Feb. 1, he will fill an open seat on the credit union’s board of directors. Sprague began his financial services career while earning his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., when he was hired as a collector for the division of a regional bank. He later moved up to an auditing job and other positions of increasing responsibility, and subsequently served at Rockland Federal Credit Union ($2.5 billion, Rockland, Mass.) as SVP. While serving at the helm of Hanscom, a few of his biggest accomplishments included overseeing six mergers, launching Hanscom Insurance Agency and Hanscom Investment Services, and forming the Hanscom FCU Charitable Foundation. COO Jim Potter will serve as the credit union’s interim chief executive as D. Hilton Associates conducts a nationwide search for Hanscom’s next president/CEO.

Northwest Federal Credit Union ($4.3 billion, Herndon, Va.) promoted Erin Krause to chief member experience officer. Krause has been the SVP of lending for Northwest since 2017 and employed with the credit union for over 40 years. In her new role, she will oversee Northwest’s branches, call center, marketing and communications. During her tenure at Northwest, Krause has gained experience managing the mortgage lending, consumer lending, member solutions and indirect lending departments, and was instrumental in creating and implementing the first mortgage program at the credit union in 2000.

MIDWEST

The $438 million Jolt Credit Union in Saginaw, Mich., promoted Kayla Arnold to e-Services supervisor. In her new role, Arnold will be responsible for overseeing the e-Services department by assisting with electronic inquiries and issues for members, along with monitoring account openings and membership’s access to 24/7 online and mobile banking. In Arnold’s two years with Jolt, she has served in roles in the teller area, member contact center and online lending department. She also brings an extensive management background from previously held positions over the last eight years.

The $2.6 billion, Parchment, Mich.-based Advia Credit Union elected attorney Matthew High to its board of directors for a three-year term. In this role, High will be responsible for overseeing Advia’s general business affairs and leadership, strategic planning, and guiding the reporting of financial records to Advia members and financial regulators. He is an associate at Wilson Elser in Detroit, specializing in employment, commercial litigation, automobile liability and general liability cases. He also brings legal expertise related to the financial industry; local and educational ties to both southwest and eastern Michigan, where Advia has branch locations; and previous credit union employment history. High holds a J.D. from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law; is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Wolverine Bar Association and D. Augustus Straker Bar Association; and received his labor relations certificate from Wayne State University in Detroit in 2021.

The $5.6 billion, Waterloo, Iowa-based Veridian Credit Union promoted Lisa Parsons to the position of manager of third-party lending. Parsons has worked at Veridian for 10 years and previously served as the indirect lending team leader.

SOUTH

Steve Franke, chief financial planning officer/program manager for Allegacy Investment Group, was awarded the Kehrer Bielan Top Directors Award for outstanding service. With services available through CUSO Financial Services, L.P., Allegacy Investment Group is the investment arm of the $1.6 billion, Winston Salem, N.C.-based Allegacy Credit Union. The award is given to top performing providers of investment services at banks and credit unions in the U.S. Franke was one of 71 investment services leaders recognized at a ceremony earlier this month, where he placed fourth in the mid-size firms’ category.

LEAGUES

The Iowa Credit Union Foundation (ICUF), the philanthropic arm of the Iowa Credit Union League, promoted Jelena Babic Barnes to executive director. Babic Barnes has served as the program manager for ICUF since 2020. Prior to joining ICUF, she worked in the non-profit sector in Europe for more than 13 years, helping non-profits, business support organizations and institutions focus on community development. In her new role, Babic Barnes will oversee the daily operations of ICUF, support ICUF’s strategic directives, lead capacity building through strategic fundraising, administer programs and strengthen relationships with Iowa credit unions, community partners and other key audiences.

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