13 Credit Unions, CO-OP Unveil New Talent & Employee Accolades

WEST

Kitsap Credit Union ($2 billion, Bremerton, Wash.) hired Trevor Stuart as CFO effective Jan. 1. As CFO, Stuart will be responsible for overseeing the finance, accounting, risk management and compliance departments at Kitsap. His key roles will be providing strategic financial input to senior management as well as developing and implementing procedures to improve and maintain the financial health of the organization. Stuart most recently served as CFO of the invention science and related funds at Intellectual Ventures for 11 years. He is a CPA, a member of the finance committee for the YMCA of Greater Seattle and a board of trustees member of the University of Washington Accounting Development Fund.

OnPoint Community Credit Union ($9 billion, Portland, Ore.) hired Tim Clevenger to the newly-created role of SVP/chief marketing officer. In his new role, Clevenger will oversee OnPoint’s marketing, brand and integrated communications teams, and lead strategies that drive its brand awareness and loyalty across Oregon and Southwest Washington. He brings more than 20 years of experience leading brand and marketing teams across industries, having most recently served as vice president of marketing for Cambia Health Solutions. Clevenger also served as a marketing leader at his alma mater, the University of Oregon, as well as the Papé Group and two Northwest advertising agencies, and is a board member for LifeWorks NW.

Redwood Credit Union ($7.4 billion, Santa Rosa, Calif.) named Johnathan Logan as a new associate board member on its board of directors. In this role, Logan will attend all board meetings and participate in key discussions but will not currently take part in votes. He is currently the vice president for community engagement at the Marin Community Foundation in Novato, Calif. Prior to that, he served as general manager for the Marin City Community Services District in Sausalito, Calif. Logan has more than 17 years of community leadership experience, spanning the philanthropic and local government sectors, is a National Urban Fellow and holds a master of public administration degree from City University of New York, Baruch College in New York, N.Y.

Nathan Schmidt, EVP, chief experience officer and digital channels for the $10.8 billion, San Diego, Calif.-based San Diego County Credit Union, was selected as one of SD Metro Magazine’s 2021 Best Marketing Executives. The award recognizes San Diego’s top marketing leaders whose standout work makes an impact in the community. With over 20 years of financial services management and marketing experience, Schmidt is responsible for strategic planning, brand management, marketing, digital channels, product development, business development, community and media relations, and the overall customer experience at SDCCU. His previous accolades include being named the 2017 Marketing Professional of the Year by the CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council and among SD Metro Magazine’s Men of Influence in 2019. He holds an MBA from Saint Mary’s College of Moraga, Calif., and serves on the board of directors of the San Diego Bowl Game Association. In addition, he serves as a board of governor for the California Credit Union League, San Diego and Imperial Chapter, and is a Biz Kid$ advisory board member.

EAST

The $4 billion, Laurel, Md.-based Tower Federal Credit Union hired Rochelle Hazzard as assistant vice president of business development. In her new role, Hazzard will lead and manage the credit union’s business development team, and develop and implement Tower’s business development strategy and community relations efforts. She will also oversee and manage the TowerCares Foundation, the credit union’s non-profit entity that supports local veterans and children in need. Before joining Tower, Hazzard was director of business development at Northrop Grumman Federal Credit Union ($1.6 billion, Gardena, Calif.), where she held various positions in business development and branch/retail sales during her 22-year tenure.

New Dimensions Federal Credit Union ($202 million, Waterville, Maine) hired Kyle O’Rourke as a commercial loan officer. O’Rourke brings past experience as a commercial loan underwriter and mortgage loan officer, as well as a goal of helping as many New Dimensions small business members as he can.

MIDWEST

Consumers Credit Union ($1.8 billion, Kalamazoo, Mich.) announced a new hire and four promotions.

Scott Schwartzfisher was hired as office manager of the Centre Street Office in Portage, Mich. Schwartzfisher brings more than 15 years of experience in management, including five years as an office manager with another financial institution. In his new role, he will lead and develop a team to provide world-class service for Consumers’ membership.

Scott Adams was promoted to chief risk officer. In his new role, Adams is responsible for various risk functions at Consumers, including compliance, risk advisory services and internal audit. Prior to joining Consumers as an internal auditor in 2011, he spent several years in public accounting, providing audit, tax and valuation services.

Stephanie Stacey was promoted to regional manager of the Grand Rapids market. She has been with Consumers for 11 years.

Nathan Stinson was promoted to vice president of member services. He has been with Consumers for 10 years.

Josh Pompey was promoted to regional manager of the new Lansing, Mich., market. He has been with Consumers for five years.

The $2.6 billion Advia Credit Union in Kalamazoo, Mich., announced a new hire and a promotion.

Ragna Bygde Lewis was hired as branch service manager for the Richland, Mich., branch. In her new role, Lewis will coach and develop the Richland branch’s team of professionals, focusing on delivering exceptional, member-focused service. She comes to Advia from PNC Bank in Battle Creek, Mich., where she served as assistant vice president and branch manager. Originally from Sweden, Lewis moved to the U.S. in 2013 as a professional disc golf athlete and joined the financial industry in 2017.

Arlene Klinkhammer was promoted to branch service manager of the Cranston Road branch in Beloit, Wis. Klinkhammer has been with Advia since 2008, joining as a member service specialist and later serving as a senior teller. In her new role, she will oversee the Cranston Road branch’s team, focusing on continuous enhancements to continue building and strengthening member relationships. She holds a financial counseling certification from CUNA, is a notary public and is authorized to offer the medallion signature guarantee.

Christine Cordell, SVP of organizational effectiveness for the $1.6 billion, St. Paul, Minn.-based Hiway Credit Union, was appointed by St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter to the city’s Financial Empowerment Community Council (FECC). Cordell was confirmed on Dec. 22, 2021 and her two-year term began on Jan. 1. The FECC is made up of community members and partners who work closely with St. Paul’s Office of Financial Empowerment, and serves as a monitor for citywide financial empowerment metrics and indicators, along with providing feedback and advice on Office of Financial Empowerment partnerships, community engagement, policy platform, research agenda and grant opportunities. Cordell has been a part of credit unions for over 25 years. She is currently chair of The Minnesota Credit Union Women’s Leadership Network, on the advisory board of the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s Mentorship Program and was named a Top Woman in Finance honoree by Finance & Commerce in 2018.

Kelly McDonough, president/CEO for the $343 million Earthmover Credit Union in Oswego, Ill., was appointed to serve on the Fox Valley United Way board in Aurora, Ill. McDonough’s term began in January and will last three years. She holds a master’s degree in business continuity management from Norwich University in Northfield, Vt., is a CPA from the State of Vermont, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin’s School for Bank Administration and the University of Missouri Columbia’s Senior Management Institute. McDonough has over 30 years of experience in the credit union industry, joining ECU as its president/CEO in 2019.

The $5.8 billion, Waterloo, Iowa-based Veridian Credit Union announced one new hire and three promotions.

The Veridian Group, a wholly-owned CUSO of Veridian CU, hired JoAnn Robbins to the position of insurance agent for Veridian Insurance, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Veridian Group. Robbins brings 35 years of experience in the insurance industry and holds the Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist designation.

Colin Eagan was promoted to the position of real-time payment administrator. Eagan has worked at Veridian for six years and was previously a loan advisor.

Brandon Kane was promoted to the position of personal computer specialist. Kane has worked at Veridian for two years and was previously a credit consultant.

Aldijana Omanovic was promoted to the position of learning and development specialist. Omanovic has worked at Veridian for 13 years and was previously a loan advisor.

The $904 million Notre Dame Federal Credit Union in Notre Dame, Ind., announced two promotions.

Crystal Waggoner was promoted to COO. Waggoner joined the credit union in 1999 and was most recently the director of operations. Throughout her Notre Dame FCU career, she has also worked in the departments of mortgage, accounting and electronic services. Waggoner holds a graduate certificate in forensic accounting from Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Mich., and is an accredited ACH Professional and NAFCU Certified Compliance Officer.

Robert Shane was promoted to chief innovation officer. Previously the director of CUSO services, Shane is focused on identifying and implementing new products and services that will bring additional value to Notre Dame FCU members in his new role. He has worked in credit unions for the last 19 years and brings extensive experience in strategic planning, growth and credit union management. Prior to joining Notre Dame FCU, he served as the CEO of ATL Federal Credit Union ($15 million, Wyoming, Mich.).

SOUTH

Greater Texas Credit Union ($952 million, Austin) promoted Ben Teske to EVP/chief lending officer. Teske began his credit union career 18 years ago as a part-time teller for America’s First Credit Union ($2.2 billion, Birmingham, Ala.) and joined Greater Texas in July 2019, where he has led several major projects resulting in improved operational efficiency, increased loan production, better risk management and enhanced member experiences. He holds an MBA in finance, and has been named one of the Top 100 People in Finance and a Credit Union Magazine “Rock Star.” He also earned a spot on the CUES Top 15 Next CU Executive list. He also serves on the community advisory council for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas and NAFCU’s Share Insurance, Liquidity and Development Fund Oversight Committee.

CUSOS

CO-OP Financial Services in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., announced two promotions.

Kelly Mendenhall was promoted to SVP, innovation, product office. Mendenhall joined CO-OP in April 2017 with the merger of CO-OP and TMG, having joined that organization exactly one year earlier. In his new role, Mendenhall is responsible for the PDLC (Product Development Life Cycle) process and the process for defining the CO-OP roadmap. He is also responsible for innovation activities like “Innovation Day” and providing a clear direction so that innovation processes result in products that better serve the company’s credit union clients and their members.

Joy Porter was promoted to SVP, total rewards and people operations. Porter joined CO-OP in April 2019, and during her tenure has led the effort to improve the company’s compensation and benefits offerings. Additionally, she has implemented new work/life programs such as updated maternal, parental, family care and adoption leave programs. Porter is also responsible for HR operations and the HRIS system, moving to one functional and self-service platform for all HR functions across the business.

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