Hires, Promotions Continue at CUs in the West, East & Midwest

WEST

The $7.1 billion, Santa Rosa, Calif.-based Redwood Credit Union promoted Wrynn Valentine to employee engagement manager. In her new role, Valentine will be responsible for developing and facilitating events and communication efforts to enhance the employee experience. As an in-house advocate, she’ll also facilitate and influence change to build initiatives that empower, instill appreciation and remove barriers, allowing employees to perform meaningful work. Valentine joined RCU in 2004 and has held several positions including teller, senior teller, senior member service representative, financial assistance representative, senior trainer and financial wellness advocate.

EAST

The $4.3 billion Northwest Federal Credit Union in Herndon, Va., hired Sara DePauw as SVP of lending. In her new role, DePauw will be responsible for loan operations and oversight of the consumer, commercial and mortgage loan portfolio, as well as the development and implementation of lending products, policies and procedures. She most recently served as SVP/chief lending officer at the $2.4 billion Achieva Credit Union in Dunedin, Fla., and has more than 25 years of lending management experience.

The $1.7 billion Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union promoted five employees.

Anexis Sanchez was promoted to vice president – member contact center. She most recently served as assistant vice president. Sanchez joined Jeanne D’Arc in 2010 as a member service representative. Since then, she has worked her way to her current role where she oversees a team of 25 who assist members over the phone and online.

Kathleen Gendron was promoted to assistant vice president – card services. She joined Jeanne D’Arc in 1994 and most recently served as assistant treasurer – e-payment services manager. In her new role, Gendron will lead the credit union’s ATM, debit and credit card systems and processes.

Joelynn Folger was promoted to assistant vice president – consumer lending from assistant treasurer – consumer loan manager. Folger joined Jeanne D’Arc in 2001 at the Dracut High School branch in Dracut, Mass. In her new role, she will be responsible for the operation of the consumer loan origination group.

Dan Belanger was promoted to assistant treasurer – financial analytics. He most recently served as senior financial analyst and has been with the credit union since 2011. In his new role, Belanger will oversee the reporting and analytic capabilities of the finance division and manage a team of three employees. He holds an MBA from the University of San Diego.

Kelly Jackson was promoted to assistant treasurer – digital banking from digital channel specialist. Jackson joined Jeanne D’Arc in 2010 and is responsible for online banking and mobile applications. She earned a master’s degree in project management and leadership from Northeastern University in Boston.

Susan Libby, assistant vice president of lending for New Hampshire Federal Credit Union ($325 million, Concord, N.H.) announced her plans to retire effective Jan. 21 after nearly 37 years of service. She joined NHFCU as a loan officer in 1985, and was later promoted to collections manager, assistant vice president of lending and assistant vice president, sales and service operations.

MIDWEST

The $194 million, Hilliard, Ohio-based Credit Union of Ohio promoted two employees.

Amber Stillings was promoted from director of lending to assistant vice president of lending.

Jenn Hatfield was promoted from director of member services to assistant vice president of member services.

The $3.7 billion, Chesterfield, Mo.-based First Community Credit Union promoted four employees.

Corey Hollander was promoted to assistant vice president, digital branch coordinator. In his new role, he will oversee the Information Center and online support department. He will also help launch the new video teller department, coming in 2022. In his six years at First Community, Hollander has served as a teller, e-commerce representative, and manager of the Information Center and online support department.

Mike Heeren was promoted to assistant vice president of core systems. In his new role, he will oversee the core systems department, which controls the internal teller transaction programs and runs system reports. In his nine years at First Community, Heeren has served as a branch teller, trainer and most recently manager of core systems.

Breanna Kersting was promoted to assistant vice president of communications and analytics. Kersting has been with First Community for 13 years and has been the lead graphic designer for the marketing department since she started. In her new role, she will directly supervise the marketing department staff and be responsible for data analysis programs.

Kristen Bland was named CEO of First Community Realty (FCR), a CUSO and a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Financial Services of MO, LLC. Both are affiliates of First Community CU. Bland has been with First Community since 2000, most recently serving as SVP of administration. In her new role, Kristen will be responsible for the overall direction, growth and performance of FCR.

VENDORS

ALM First, a Dallas-based financial advisory services firm serving financial institutions, promoted Brittany Rollek to the newly-created role of managing director of client experience. Rollek joined the firm in 2013, as an analyst and later took on dual roles as director, advisory services and product manager for the firm’s Employee Benefits Pre-Funding Plan and Charitable Donation Account solutions. In her new role, she will identify client needs, utilize a first-hand understanding of depository challenges, seek ways to proactively solve problems and create consistency throughout the client experience. She will also continue leading the charge in Employee Benefits Pre-Funding and Charitable Donation Accounts as ALM First’s resident product owner.

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