12 CUs in the West, East & Midwest Hire, Promote

WEST

The $137 million South Bay Credit Union in Redondo Beach, Calif., announced two new hires.

Vanessa Alonso-Gonzalez was hired as COO. Alonso-Gonzalez brings 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, beginning her career at one of the nation’s largest banks and spending the past decade in the credit union movement. In her new role, she is responsible for the overall administration of the credit union, including central operations, payments, ATMs, technology and compliance.

Bernice White was hired as chief lending officer. White brings more than 20 years of credit union and financial services experience, having served as an executive for many California-based credit unions. In her new role, she is responsible for developing, managing and providing oversight for all consumer, mortgage and business lending. White is a member of the California Credit Union Collectors Council’s board of directors and a graduate of the Pomona College CUNA Management School.

The $9 billion Patelco Credit Union in Dublin, Calif., announced one hire and one promotion.

David Fong was hired as SVP of internal audit. In his new role, Fong will lead the credit union’s risk-based audit planning efforts to assess and recommend improvements to key operational and finance activities, as well as the testing of internal controls. He brings more than 25 years of experience in financial services and professional auditing firms.

Ameet Seth was promoted to SVP of delivery. Previously, Seth served as Patelco’s vice president, head of retail, investments and membership development. In his new role, Seth will lead the growth of integrating Patelco’s virtual delivery across all channels and ensure members receive the same quality of service virtually as they are in person. In addition to fostering consistent messaging across channels, Seth will champion initiatives that allow Patelco team members to move quickly from the phone, in-person and virtual channels to deliver world-class service to its members.

EAST

The $821 million Leominster Credit Union in Leominster, Mass., announced nine promotions.

Nicole Legere was promoted to vice president compliance officer. Legere joined LCU in October 2015 as compliance officer and was promoted to assistant vice president, compliance officer in December 2016. She holds a Juris Doctor from Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, R.I., and has been admitted to both the Massachusetts and New York Bar.

Andrew Leblanc was promoted to assistant vice president, information security officer. Leblanc joined LCU in 2018 as IT risk manager. He holds an MBA in management and operations from Fitchburg State University in Fitchburg, Mass.

Holly Ogden was promoted to assistant vice president, mortgages. Ogden joined LCU in 2020 as mortgage pipeline manager and has 25 years’ experience in the industry.

Danielle Duval was promoted to assistant vice president, collections. Duval has been with LCU since 2019 as collections manager, and brings over 15 years of experience in commercial lending and collections.

Justin Silva was promoted to assistant vice president, retail administrator. Silva has been with LCU for 22 years and holds an ASBA in management from New England College of Business in Boston. He originally joined LCU as an intern from Worcester Vocational High School and was then hired to work at the West Boylston Street Branch in Worcester as a teller. During his tenure, he progressed through a variety of roles in the branch network up to assistant branch manager, and was promoted retail administrator in 2008.

Maila Berry was promoted to assistant vice president, operations. Berry has been with LCU for 25 years, having spent the first half of her career in retail and progressing through a variety of branch roles up to branch manager. She is a Certified IRA Specialist.

Nichole Howarth was promoted to assistant vice president, digital and member service center. Howarth joined LCU in 2017 as a teller supervisor and was promoted to digital and member service center manager in 2019. She brings a strong management background from another industry.

Arden Twining was promoted to assistant vice president, learning and development. Twining joined LCU in 2015 as training specialist and was promoted to training manager in 2016. She brings over 20 years of experience in the training and learning and development arena from a variety of industries.

Josh Laprade was promoted to IT manager. Laprade joined LCU in 2017 as an IT analyst, and was promoted to IT systems admin II in 2019 and then to IT team lead in 2021.

The $672 million, Gardner, Mass.-based GFA Federal Credit Union hired Dawn Marino as manager of the Hubbardston branch in Hubbardston, Mass. In her new role, Marino plays a key role in the day-to-day operations of the Hubbardston branch and GFA’s involvement in the community. She has over 35 years of financial experience and previous leadership experience.

First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union ($1 billion, Allentown, Pa.) hired Terry Grier as chief lending officer. In his new role, he joins the executive leadership team and provides the strategic direction and leadership of consumer lending, business solutions, loan operations and debt resolution. Grier brings more than 25 years of leadership experience and 18 years of experience within the financial services industry. Additionally, he has extensive experience working collaboratively across all business units to foster organization growth, collaboration, efficiencies and innovation. Grier holds an MBA with a concentration in executive management from Baldwin-Wallace University in Berea, Ohio.

The $326 million NH Federal Credit Union in Concord, N.H., hired Rod Dauteuil as assistant vice president and compliance officer. Dauteuil is a 35-year banking veteran and has held positions in both credit unions and banks. His experience includes regulatory compliance, internal audit, risk management, residential lending and consumer lending. In his new role, Dauteuil will lead and oversee all credit union compliance management and related areas. He holds industry certifications including: Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Financial Services Auditor, NAFCU Certified Risk Manager and Credit Union Compliance Expert.

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

Ben McBride was promoted to SVP of IT, joining the executive team. McBride began his career at ValleyStar in 1999 (then known as the Martinsville DuPont Credit Union) as an IT specialist. In his new role, he and his team will be a driving force of AI, cybersecurity and ensuring ValleyStar is on the leading edge of breakthrough technologies. He has more than 22 years of experience in the credit union industry.

Tony Turner was promoted to vice president of facilities and security. In his new role, Turner will collaborate with all teams to ensure that employees and members feel safe and enjoy their experience while visiting and working in ValleyStar facilities. He joined the ValleyStar team in 2017 as the facilities and security coordinator. Before that, he spent 31 years with the City of Martinsville Police Department, serving as a patrol officer, community policing bicycle officer and investigator before retiring in 2017 as the lieutenant of the criminal investigation unit.

Rob Brown was promoted to vice president of organizational development. In his new role, Brown will be responsible for learning and development, and strategic workforce planning activities. He joined ValleyStar in 2021 as director of training. Prior to joining ValleyStar, he worked with other financial institutions in employee development and management. He is certified as a Six Sigma Green Belt, a certification for designing process improvement.

Naveo Credit Union ($178 million, Somerville, Mass.) hired Adam Carpenter as senior director, technology. Carpenter brings experience in several areas of technology, including software and hardware installation, help desk support and technical support. Prior to joining Naveo, he was the information systems and technology officer at Bristol County Savings Bank. In his new role, Carpenter will be responsible for integrating and enhancing technology for both members and employees, improving overall efficiencies and experience at the credit union.

MIDWEST

The $364 million West Community Credit Union in O’Fallon, Mo., promoted Denny McGrane to vice president of consumer and mortgage lending. In his new role, McGrane will oversee all mortgage and consumer business lending channels for West Community, West Community Mortgage and Tigers Community Credit Union (West Community’s Columbia, Mo., division). He will also lead change in how to utilize technology in lending operations, and pursue improved efficiencies and effectiveness in lending processes. He holds an MBA in finance from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo.

The $5.8 billion Veridian Credit Union in Waterloo, Iowa promoted Redzo Hodzic to the position of indirect lending team leader. Hodzic has worked at Veridian for nine years and previously served as a member contact center team leader.

The $2.9 billion Indiana Members Credit Union in Indianapolis promoted Chantelle Sparks to vice president, human resources. Sparks has been with IMCU for 29 years and began her career in 1993 as a teller. She served in member services and employee development, and was promoted to employee training and development manager in 2007. Sparks then transitioned to HR and was promoted to assistant vice president of HR in 2014.

Advia Credit Union ($2.6 billion, Kalamazoo, Mich.) promoted Ashley Miner to director of finance and accounting. In her new role, Miner will oversee the areas of asset/liability management, investment management, financial and regulatory reporting, accounts payable and more. Miner joined Advia in 2014 and most recently served as manager of accounting. She has worked in the credit union industry since 2007. She holds a Certified Professional in Management certification from the American Management Association, and serves as chairperson for Advia’s Asset Liability (ALCO) committee and program champion for Advia’s Financial Advisors program.

LEAGUES

Carolinas Credit Union League President Dan Schline was appointed to a vacant seat on the executive board of the American Association of Credit Union Leagues. All board members are serving annual terms through the AACUL’s 2022 Annual Meeting, which will be held Dec. 6-9. Schline joins seven other executive board members: Jeff Olson (chair), president/CEO of the Dakota Credit Union Association; Patrick Conway (vice chair), president/CEO of the CrossState Credit Union Association; Debbie Painter (secretary/treasurer) president/CEO of the Kentucky Credit Union League; John Bratsakis, president/CEO of the MD & DC Credit Union Association; Diana Dykstra (ex officio – immediate past chair), president/CEO of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues; Jim Nussle (ex officio), president/CEO of CUNA and Brad Miller (ex officio), president of the AACUL.

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