Industry Professionals Make Moves at CUs & CU Service Providers

WEST

Frontwave Credit Union ($1.1 billion, Oceanside, Calif.) promoted Shilpa Edlabadkar to SVP/CFO. Shilpa Edlabadkar joined the Frontwave team in 2018 as director of finance and accounting and brings over 20 years of experience. Prior to joining Frontwave, Edlabadkar served as the assistant controller of revenue accounting for LPL Financial, and held a series of accounting and finance positions of increasing responsibility at Capital One over her 15-year tenure with the organization. She holds an MBA in finance from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, as well as a CPA Certification, and is a Chartered Accountant.

EAST

HRCU ($400 million, Rochester, N.H.) hired Eric Palmer to the newly-created position of mortgage originations manager. In his new role, Palmer will be responsible for overseeing a team of experienced mortgage originators and assisting them with new mortgage loan offerings such as first-time homebuyers and government loans. His focus will also be on strengthening the already strong relationship HRCU has with its members and real estate professionals. Palmer has worked in the mortgage industry for the past nine years, beginning his career as a loan officer in Bangor, Maine until his move to Dover, N.H., four years ago. Most recently, he served as a senior mortgage loan officer for Citizens Bank.

The $615 million, Martinsville, Va.-based ValleyStar Credit Union announced three promotions to its executive team.

Kevin B. Laine, who most recently served as vice president of facilities, was promoted to EVP. In his new role, Laine will work closely with the president/CEO to optimize member experience through the growth of ValleyStar employee culture and assets, as well as ensure all efforts align with the ValleyStar mission, “Employees First. Members Benefit.” He brings more than 35 years of experience in the financial services industry, with past roles that include work in collections, and consumer, indirect and mortgage lending. He also serves as secretary of the ValleyStar RISE Foundation, holds an MBA from Averett University in Danville, Va., and is a 2001 graduate of the Southeast Regional CUNA Management School.

Angela Davis was promoted to COO. In her new role, Davis will lead teams at branch locations throughout Virginia, driving strategy, cultivating trust and building financial stability for the credit union’s employees, communities and members. Angela started her career with ValleyStar in 2000 and has since held many roles focused on member service.

Becky Freemal was promoted to chief marketing and communication officer. In her new role, she will work alongside colleagues to build bold innovation and inspire communication and culture. Freemal joined the ValleyStar team in 2020 as vice president of brand and brings experience as a broadcast journalist, in research science and in higher education. Her previous journalism work brought her a National Edward R. Murrow and regional Edward R. Murrow awards, a Regional Emmy, and recognition from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association and as a U.S. Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute Angels in Adoption Honoree. She is the current board chairwoman for The Advancement Foundation, sits on Coastal Connections, Inc.’s board and earned an MBA from Virginia Tech.

Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union ($1.7 billion, Lowell, Mass.) announced three new hires and one promotion.

John Scott was hired as vice president – indirect lending. He joins the credit union with 20 years of indirect lending experience and over 30 years of lending experience. In his new role, Scott will assist in the creation of a new indirect lending program.

Madeline Aponte was hired as assistant treasurer – payment operations manager. She brings 16 years of banking experience, and in her new role, she will oversee a staff of five employees on the payments operations team.

Michael Tolson was hired as assistant treasurer – branch manager. He most recently served as branch manager at GFA Federal Credit Union ($672 million, Gardner, Mass.) and assistant branch manager at Santander Bank. Tolson, who holds an MBA, will lead the Westford Branch in Westford, Mass., and its six team members.

Gabriella (Gaby) Molinar was promoted to assistant treasurer – branch manager. She has worked at the credit union in various roles over the past six years, progressing from her initial position as an operations support temp to her current role as branch manager. In her new role, Molinar will lead a staff of seven employees and oversee the operation of the Methuen branch in Methuen, Mass.

MIDWEST

The $5.8 billion, Waterloo, Iowa-based Veridian Credit Union promoted Josh Boyce to the position of commercial loan officer. Boyce has worked at Veridian for five years and was previously a member relations advisor. He holds a master’s degree in corporate financial management from Upper Iowa University in Fayette.

The $923 million Crane Credit Union in Odon, Ind., hired Russ Stanger as a mortgage loan officer. Stanger comes to Crane with over 20 years of experience in banking and mortgage lending. In his new role, he will be focused primarily on helping homebuyers in Indiana’s Bloomington, Cloverdale and Spencer communities.

SOUTH

The $2 billion, Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Allegacy Federal Credit Union announced two new hires.

Brandon Vickers was hired as a financial advisor for Allegacy Investment Group, whose services are available through CUSO Financial Services, L.P. He brings more than 17 years of related experience in the financial services industry and most recently served at Wells Fargo. In his new role, Vickers will be responsible for understanding the financial needs of members and helping them build their personal financial plan to keep them on track to reach their goals. He will help members plan for every stage of life such as facing a major financial decision, planning for educational expenses, preparing to retire and protecting families from the unexpected. Vickers holds an MBA from Winston-Salem State University.

Leslie Speas was hired as assistant vice president of account services for Allegacy Benefit Solutions, a full-service employee benefits company. Speas has extensive experience across the human resources field including leadership training, employee well-being initiatives, compliance and policy development. Her past roles have supported employees in the manufacturing, health care, service and technology industries. In her new role, Speas will support the Allegacy Benefit Solutions portfolio, which includes HR compliance, employee engagement, organizational development and talent acquisition strategies. She will also support Allegacy’s partner organizations in establishing and implementing well-being programs and initiatives to enhance the engagement and health of employees. Speas holds a master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology from Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., and senior HR certifications through HRCI and SHRM, and is a certified professional coach.

AGENCIES

The NCUA appointed Anthony Cappetta president of the Central Liquidity Facility (CLF) effective Jan. 30. Member credit unions own the CLF, which exists within the NCUA. The CLF president manages the facility under the oversight of the NCUA board. Cappetta joined the NCUA in 2014 as the director of the NCUA Guaranteed Notes division in the Office of Examination and Insurance. The NCUA board subsequently appointed him as the vice president of the CLF in February 2019. Prior to joining the NCUA, Cappetta served in leadership roles at several hedge funds and banks. He was a research and development aerospace engineer for 10 years and author of several published papers, as well as a 30-year veteran of the United States Army and Army Reserve. He holds an MBA in finance and corporate accounting from the William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., an MSE in the management of technology from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and School of Engineering and Applied Science, and a master’s in aerospace engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

VENDORS

Mahalo Technologies, Inc., a Troy, Mich.-based provider of online and mobile banking solutions for credit unions, hired Ken Kondo as vice president of software development. In his new role, Kondo will lead the organization’s business analysts and developers, enabling them to advance their strategic initiatives. In addition, his short-term goals are to help lead Mahalo’s software development practice into the future with scale, while continually modernizing the member experience; long-term, he plans to keep the organization’s roadmap full of great ideas in collaboration with clients and continued, relentless research in the marketplace. Kondo is a 20-year credit union and fintech veteran and most recently served as senior product manager for Lumin Digital, according to his LinkedIn page.

Credit union consulting firm CU Strategic Planning hired Dr. Carey Yazeed to the newly-created position of director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. In her new role, she’ll be working in all areas of the company’s DEI offerings, including developing curricula and training, as well as spearheading a new video series that will serve as a self-paced “DEI 101.” Yazeed has spent her career as a business consultant, bestselling author, college professor and clinical social worker, and is also a frequent speaker on organizational justice and the intersection of gender bias in the workplace. When she ran a consulting practice, she provided business development and training for women professionals and business owners. She recently was named one of CORE Magazine’s 100 Influential Blacks of 2022.

ViClarity, a Des Moines, Iowa-based provider of governance, risk and compliance (GRC) technology and services solutions, announced six promotions.

Darron Dunn was promoted to chief service officer. In his new role, Dunn will lead the strategy and operational management of the service business unit, which includes the delivery of compliance consulting, league services, and audit and review services for the credit union industry. He joined ViClarity in June 2019.

Carrie Helmle was promoted to director of audit services. Her skillset includes a deep knowledge financial regulations and industry best practices.

Jovilyn Herrick was promoted to senior director of client solutions. In her new role, Herrick will manage strategic negotiation and relationship nurturing, as well as lead the client solutions team in uncovering client needs and promoting the full range of products and services ViClarity offers. In addition, she will drive execution of plans to deliver an on-brand, exceptional client experience, striving to capture greater market share.

Chuck Uguccini was promoted to manager of compliance advisor services. His background includes negotiation, consumer lending and business planning, and he holds the following designations: Credit Union Compliance Expert, NAFCU Certified Risk Manager and Certified Bank Secrecy Officer. In his new role, Uguccini will help ensure the company upholds its reputation by advising on applicable laws and regulations. Along with other organizational leaders, Uguccini will also support various areas of the business in providing the highest quality service to clients.

Tracy Fitzgerald was promoted to head of product management. Fitzgerald has been with ViClarity for nine years, during which she earned her Project Management Professional certification. Her expertise includes software product management as well as setting vision, priorities and direction for ViClarity’s core technology solutions.

Shane Corcoran was promoted to head of customer success. In his new role, Corcoran will lead the customer success team in ensuring the best possible experience with the ViClarity platform and demonstrating the platform’s range of benefits. He brings more than five years of international sales experience.

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