Credit Unions Recognize New Roles, Honors & a Retirement

WEST

The $2.1 billion, Hollywood, Calif.-based First Entertainment Credit Union hired Larry Grager as vice president of finance. In his new role, Grager will oversee all accounting and finance functions as well as provide analytical and planning support to senior management. Before joining First Entertainment, Grager worked as a CFO at both credit unions and commercial banks, including lending firm Golden State Farm Credit.

The $1.7 billion, Portland, Ore.-based Unitus Community Credit Union announced a promotion and an executive recognition.

Corlinda Wooden was promoted to SVP/chief retail officer. Wooden has been with Unitus Community for a collective nine years through a series of different roles, taking on new responsibilities in each position. In her new role, she will continue to lead efforts within the credit union’s Hispanic Community Initiative, which has included the development of new products such as an immigration loan, ITIN mortgages, a remittance partnership and the formation of an external Hispanic Advisory Committee. In addition, she will work closely with the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee at Unitus.

The Portland Business Journal recognized SVP/Chief Human Resources Officer Gayle Evans as a 2022 Women of Influence Award winner. Evans joined Unitus in 2007. She serves as a trustee on the board of directors for Western Oregon University, chair of the Oregon Business & Industry’s health care steering committee and a mentor for the Portland Rose Festival Court. She has also been appointed to two committees by Oregon Governor Kate Brown: The Task Force on Resolution of Adverse Healthcare Incidents and as vice chair of the Oregon Patient Safety Commission’s board of directors. Evans holds a master’s of science in management and organizational leadership and a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification. The Portland Business Journal honored the 2022 Women of Influence at a ceremony on March 2 and will profile each award winner in an upcoming special edition of the Journal.

Helen Grays-Jones, community relations manager for the $2 billion, San Jose, Calif.-based Meriwest Credit Union, was inducted into the Black Legends Silicon Valley Hall of Fame during the virtual Black Legend Awards Silicon Valley Induction Ceremony on Feb. 19. Grays-Jones was one of 22 nominees to be inducted, and was named a Class of 2022 inductee for the Joyner-Stroughter Community Service Award.

EAST

The $2.2 billion, Suitland, Md.-based Andrews Federal Credit Union announced two new hires and two promotions.

Quinn Konieczka was hired as vice president of real estate lending. He brings over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, including significant expertise in identifying, measuring, and analyzing credit risk and lending opportunities.

Jonathan Hernandez was hired as assistant vice president of mortgage servicing and mortgage administration. He brings over 15 years of experience including in loan servicing, secondary, product and pricing, and default management. Hernandez was rehired by the credit union, as he previously worked at Andrews for four years.

Rosalind Bishop was promoted to stateside retail operations manager. In her new role, she will be responsible for improving the operational soundness of all stateside retail branches. Some of her main duties will include performing routine branch audits to ensure compliance with policies and procedures, scheduling and staffing stateside branches, producing a number of operational reports and logs, and testing and validating new technology and branch-related equipment.

Sasha Harding was promoted to branch manager of the Allentown Road branch in Suitland. She brings several years of experience and has mentored a number of Andrews associates. In her new role, she will be responsible for building upon the current success at Allentown, and bringing her own skillset to further improve the service levels, production and overall efficiencies at the credit union’s headquarters location.

MIDWEST

The $1.3 billion, Warren, Ohio-based 7 17 Credit Union hired Daniel Harp to its executive management team as SVP of lending. Harp earned a master’s degree from Central Michigan University and comes to 7 17 with 17 years of credit union experience in consumer, commercial, real estate, indirect lending, e-lending and collections.

The $5.8 billion, Waterloo, Iowa-based Veridian Credit Union promoted Molly Reding to the position of Bank Secrecy Act analyst. Reding has worked at Veridian for four years and was previously a Bank Secrecy Act representative.

The $1.9 billion, Rapid City, S.D.-based Black Hills Federal Credit Union hired EJ Donaghey as chief experience officer effective Feb. 28. Donaghey’s extensive credit union industry experience has included working with the Illinois Credit Union League and Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union ($6.7 billion, Naperville, Ill.), serving as vice president of member contact and lending center for CommunityAmerica Credit Union ($4.4 billion, Lenexa, Kan.), serving as vice president of retail and marketing at Baxter Credit Union ($5 billion, Vernon Hills, Ill.), and serving as EVP/COO at Great Lakes Credit Union ($1 billion, Bannockburn, Ill.). In addition, he served as president/CEO for two credit unions: University of Illinois Community Credit Union ($475 million, Champaign, Ill.) and Citizens Community Credit Union ($243 million, Fort Dodge, Iowa).

Long-time board member for BlueOx Credit Union ($224 million, Battle Creek, Mich.), Dale Dittmer, will retire at the end of his term in April. Dittmer has been a member of BlueOx since 1959 and was elected to the board of directors in 1988, when the credit union was known as School Employees Credit Union. He is a retired school superintendent, and during his time on the BlueOx board, he served on a variety of committees such as the executive, budget, ALM and building and equipment committee. Dittner also served as board treasurer.

SOUTH

The $952 million, Austin-based Greater Texas Credit Union promoted Ken Gardner to assistant vice president of human resources. In his new role, he oversees the HR operations for Greater Texas and its Aggieland subsidiary. Gardner began his career with Greater Texas in 2012 as an HR assistant, moving up to HR manager and then to Total Rewards and HRIS manager, the position he held before being named assistant vice president.

SAFE Federal Credit Union ($1.5 billion, Sumter, S.C.) promoted Wayne Keels to assistant vice president of continuous improvement and project management. Keels joined SAFE in 2018 as director of continuous improvement, and has more than 20 years of continuous improvement and project management experience with expertise in strategy execution, systems integration and lean six sigma. He holds a master’s of science in computer science from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., and an MBA in marketing and project management from DeVry University in Naperville, Ill.

CUSOS

Terrence McHugh, president/CEO of the Troy, Mich.-based commercial lending CUSO Commercial Alliance, LLC, announced his retirement effective March 31. McHugh began his commercial lending career in 1979 at Michigan National Bank (MNB), where he spent 19 years and held management positions in commercial loan officer training, underwriting and middle market lending. Terry then moved onto TCF Bank, where he spent seven years. As EVP for TCF Bank, he oversaw the commercial real estate, commercial and industrial, small business, private banking and cash management groups. In 2004, a small group of credit union CEOs created Commercial Alliance and named McHugh the organization’s first and only president/CEO.

TRADES

The American Credit Union Mortgage Association (ACUMA) named Peter J. Benjamin president. He succeeds Tracy Ashfield and assumed his responsibilities March 7. Benjamin has 20 years of mortgage lending experience, including the last five years as SVP of mortgage lending for the $1.2 billion Lafayette Federal Credit Union in Rockville, Md. As president, Benjamin plans to grow membership in ACUMA, engage with the organization’s affiliate members and sponsors to strengthen partnerships, and seek to continue delivering the highest quality education and networking events. He holds a Certified Mortgage Banker designation.

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