Professionals Step Into New Roles & Honors at 11 CUs

WEST

The $3.6 billion, Lone Tree, Colo.-based Canvas Credit Union promoted Tansley Stearns to COO. Stearns joined Canvas in March 2018 and most recently served as chief people and strategy officer. In her new role, she oversees all strategy, people, marketing, retail engagement and operations matters for Canvas, fostering a people-first culture among Canvas employees by identifying top-tier talent and prioritizing employee engagement.

EAST

The $615 million ValleyStar Credit Union in Martinsville, Va., announced three promotions.

Mendy Shaffer was promoted to interim CFO. Shaffer joined ValleyStar in 2018 as vice president of accounting. In her new role, she leads the oversight of accounting and financial functions such as investments, securities and asset liabilities to ensure the strength and security of ValleyStar’s financial assets. Shaffer holds an MBA from Radford University in Radford, Va.; obtained her American Bankers Association, Stonier Graduate School of Banking, Banking Leadership credentials through The Wharton School; and attended the CUNA Financial Management School and Southeast Region Credit Union School of Management.

Robert Sparrow was promoted to chief risk officer. Sparrow joined ValleyStar in 2013 (then known as Martinsville DuPont Credit Union) to lead compliance for the credit union and manage human resources. In his new role, he will focus on operating from an enterprise-wide perspective to serve the membership while minimizing risk. Sparrow’s career has brought him to locations throughout Virginia and North Carolina, working for such corporations as Norfolk Southern, Capital One and Wells Fargo. He holds several licenses and certifications, including Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Specialist and Credit Union Enterprise Risk Management Expert.

Justin Barnes was promoted to chief lending officer. Barnes began his career in financial services in 1999 and has spent 23 years in lending. He joined ValleyStar in 2018 and most recently served as vice president of commercial lending. In his new role, he joins the executive team and works alongside colleagues to diversify the ValleyStar lending portfolio. Barnes is a graduate of the Virginia Bankers Association School of Bank Management at the University of Virginia.

The $2.5 billion AmeriCU in Rome, N.Y., announced one new hire and three promotions.

Bryan Delehanty was hired as CFO. Delehanty joined the team in February 2022 with an extensive 30-year background of financial industry experience in credit unions, with his most recent position being in the Albany region as EVP/COO. In his new role, he will provide strategic direction for AmeriCU’s finance division, and be an important asset in shaping the credit union’s future through the strategic planning process.

Alissa Sykes Tulloch was promoted to EVP/COO. Tulloch joined AmeriCU in 2020 as chief experience officer and brings more than 17 years of experience in the credit union industry, having previously served as a chief lending officer and chief growth officer at a credit union in New York’s Capital region. She was appointed to the CUNA housing sub-committee in 2022 and currently serves on the board of directors of the American Credit Union Mortgage Association and the Troy Rehabilitation Improvement Program/Rensselaer County Housing Resources.

Jin Gwak was named chief digital and information officer. Gwak joined the credit union in 2013 and previously served as chief information officer. In her new role, Gwak will put a renewed emphasis on infrastructure, making internal technological advancements that will propel AmeriCU toward a digitally inclusive business model, and foundational improvements that will pave the way for future progress and innovations. She currently serves on the board of directors of Leadership Greater Syracuse.

Dyana Herrig-O’Neill was promoted to chief experience officer. O’Neill has been with AmeriCU for more than 35 years and most recently served as SVP of member relations. In her new role, she will focus on enhancing AmeriCU’s retail and operational processes, as well as making continuous improvements to the credit union’s member delivery channels.

Empower Federal Credit Union ($2.9 billion, Syracuse, N.Y.) promoted Christopher Pisarz to commercial underwriting manager. In his new role, he will manage a team of commercial underwriters to provide commercial real estate owners funds for the development, purchase or refinance of properties, and meet the working capital and funds for growth needs of businesses in New York State. Pisarz received his MBA from Southern Connecticut State University, and prior to joining Empower, worked as a business advisor to small businesses through the Small Business Development Center at the University of Connecticut.

Donna LoStocco, president/CEO for the $1 billion, Allentown, Pa.-based First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union, was named one of the Lehigh Valley’s 100 most influential and powerful people by Lehigh Valley Business for the second year in a row. Lehigh Valley encompasses four counties in eastern Pennsylvania and northwestern New Jersey, and the Power 100 list is comprised of business and community leaders whose positions give them the ability to shape communities and influence quality of life. LoStocco has led First Commonwealth for the last six years, striving to bring accessible, affordable and inclusive financial services and financial education to all individuals, families and businesses in the Lehigh Valley community, and has worked tirelessly to empower positive and lasting change and strengthen the local economy, according to the credit union.

MIDWEST

The $15.1 billion, Chicago-based Alliant Credit Union promoted Charles Krawitz to SVP, chief capital markets officer and head of commercial lending. Alliant’s commercial mortgage portfolio has been under Krawitz’s leadership since 2017, and in addition to overseeing the expansion of the credit union’s commercial lending business, Krawitz has pursued partnerships with fintech lenders across a variety of asset classes, most notably in the solar and HELOC spaces. He has also expanded Alliant’s loan trading capabilities by strengthening relationships with both credit unions and intermediaries. Krawitz has more than 30 years’ experience in financial services with institutions including ABN AMRO, KeyBank and Fifth Third Bank. In addition, he was named to the Midwest Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame in 2020 and selected as a Manager of the Year finalist by Gallup in 2021. Krawitz holds a master’s in regional and urban planning from The London School of Economics and was awarded an executive scholar designation in general management from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, Ill.

LAFCU ($939.1 million, Lansing, Mich.) announced three new hires.

Britney Weber was hired as digital and graphic designer. In her new role, Weber supports the LAFCU marketing department by providing visual concepts and images that help communicate the credit union’s products, services and initiatives. She joins LAFCU with more than five years’ experience in digital marketing, graphic design and social media, having worked for several retail companies. She is a published photographer and designer in several magazines.

Ahmed Issawi was hired as IT manager. In his new role, Issawi leads the IT department with responsibilities that include administration, policy, staff supervision, local area network (LAN) functions and compliance with regulatory security guidelines. He brings 16 years of experience in IT and most recently served as IT manager for product services at Michigan State University. He has also worked for a telecommunications company and been a guest speaker at several international IT conferences. Issawi holds a master’s degree in strategic communication with a specialty in digital media and data analytics, and a certification in business systems focused on business information systems from MSU; he also holds certifications in diversity, equity and inclusion; support center; desktop support; and ITL 2.0 and 3.0.

Kyle Anderson was hired as security engineer. In his new role, Anderson works to guard the credit union’s systems and software against all types of cybercrime, including hacking, malware, ransomware and insider threats. He has more than 10 years of experience in IT, including three years at an insurance company, where he served first as network systems administrator then as GRC (governance, risk and compliance) analyst. For more than seven years, he was in the U.S. Navy, last serving as information systems technician lead petty officer. He holds a Cisco certification in networking essentials.

SOUTH

The $3.7 billion, Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Truliant Federal Credit Union announced a new hire and a promotion.

Zach Nichols was hired as vice president, commercial market executive, Triad. In his new role, Nichols will be responsible for growth and management of the credit union’s business loan portfolio in North Carolina’s Triad region, and oversee Truliant’s Triad Commercial Lending Office in Greensboro, N.C. In addition, he will represent Truliant’s commercial lending program, working to increase awareness and providing strategic direction to the regional commercial lending team. Nichols has served in various commercial leadership positions with BB&T, CommunityOne and PNC Bank, and most recently was SVP, commercial banking at First Citizens Bank. He is a graduate of the Leadership Development Program at the BB&T School of Banking at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, and serves on the board of directors of the Davison County Education Foundation and Davidson County Sports.

Paul Southern was promoted to vice president of IT infrastructure and operations. Southern joined Truliant in 2018 and most recently served as director of IT infrastructure services. In his new role, he will lead Truliant’s IT infrastructure teams to ensure the effective build, rollout and operations of its technology infrastructure, and be responsible for Infrastructure Services and IT Support Services. Southern joins Truliant from Essent Guaranty, a private mortgage insurance company, where he was the senior network engineer. He served in the military for six years, including two tours in Iraq where he managed soldiers, systems and communication platforms.

Texas Trust Credit Union ($1.7 billion, Arlington, Texas) hired Heidi Hardy as vice president of public relations. In this newly-created position, Hardy oversees the credit union’s community relations and public relations strategies, which are centered on helping members build brighter financial futures and enhancing Texas Trust’s reputation in the community. Prior to joining Texas Trust, Hardy led her own marketing consulting firm specializing in creating audio/video content for non-profits and small businesses. She also led the Arlington-Mansfield Area YMCA for four years as vice president of community engagement. She is a 2020 graduate of Leadership Arlington and has held many volunteer roles, including serving in various board capacities with Cancer Care Services and the Trinity Community Foundation. In addition, she is an accomplished speaker who is frequently tapped to emcee local events. Her work in media includes a live stream radio show, podcasting and video production, and she was named Female Radio Host of the year by Fishbowl Radio Network in 2015.

The $4.5 billion TDECU in Lake Jackson, Texas promoted Anthony (Tony) Warden to chief member experience officer. In his new role, Warden will improve how the credit union connects with its members, and help employees to have a voice and leverage their expertise in that process as well. He joined TDECU in 2016 and has since served in several roles including vice president of loan resolutions, vice president of contact centers and most recently head of operations. Before coming to TDECU, Warden held executive leadership roles with USAA, Washington Mutual Bank, Bank One, GE Capital and Discover Card. Warden is a decorated combat veteran who served as staff sergeant in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. In addition, he is a graduate of the American Bankers Association Bankcard School and the Consumer Bankers Association Executive Banking School, where he received the Tem Wooldridge award. He now serves on the Consumer Bankers Association Executive Banking School’s faculty and represents TDECU as an active member of the school’s Payments and Deposits Committee.

The $51.6 billion SECU in Raleigh, N.C., hired Emma Hayes as the organization’s first chief culture officer. Hayes brings over 25 years of experience partnering with individuals and organizations seeking to advance their staff both personally and professionally. In her new role, she will lead the oversight, direction and administration of the credit union’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, as well as leadership training and programs to ensure the ongoing culture within the organization. Prior to joining SECU, Hayes served as the director of learning and development for Local Government Federal Credit Union ($3.2 billion, Raleigh). Her experience also includes serving as chief diversity officer for the African American Credit Union Coalition. She holds a masters of education in training and development from North Carolina State University.

CUSOS

The Troy, Mich.-based commercial lending CUSO Commercial Alliance, LLC appointed Scott Wolffis president/CEO effective March 21. He will succeed Terrence McHugh, who is set to retire. With 30 years of business banking experience, Wolffis comes to Commercial Alliance from Fifth Third Bank, where he was SVP – business banking national sales manager. Prior to that, he spent 13 years with Huntington Bank in various roles of business banking, where he managed a $2.6 billion loan portfolio and was responsible for overseeing sales, credit and operational functions of the bank’s SBA division.

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