15 Professionals Advance Their Careers With 7 Credit Unions

WEST

The $7.4 billion Redwood Credit Union in Santa Rosa, Calif., announced one new hire and one promotion.

Kate Harkin was hired as community programs manager. In her new role, Harkin will be responsible for ensuring successful financial wellness and community programs to support the California counties RCU serves, including Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Lake, Mendocino and San Francisco. She will also lead RCU’s team in developing strong relationships with local nonprofits and community leaders. Harkin joins RCU from Vantage Aging, where she worked for three years as the point person in implementing the U.S. Department of Labor’s Senior Community Service Employment Program. She also worked as a Peace Corps volunteer, providing two and a half years of service in rural Thailand. Harkin holds a master’s degree in organizational development and analysis from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Johanna Szostak was promoted to branch experience manager for RCU’s Petaluma branch in Petaluma, Calif. In her new role, Szostak is responsible for overseeing member service, staff development and daily branch operations, as well as partnering with local businesses and community organizations. She joined RCU in 2002 and has since been promoted six times, moving from teller to member services, assistant branch service manager and most recently branch experience manager of the Mendocino Avenue location in Santa Rosa. Szostak is a former ambassador for the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce and a graduate of Leadership Petaluma.

EAST

The $2.5 billion, Rome, N.Y.-based AmeriCU announced seven promotions.

Stephanie McGuire was promoted to SVP of lending. In her new role, she will lead AmeriCU’s mortgage and consumer lending divisions. McGuire joined AmeriCU in 2021 as vice president of mortgage lending operations and has more than 15 years of experience in the credit union industry, having previously served as assistant vice president of mortgage fulfillment at a credit union in New York’s Capital region.

Jeff Canarelli was promoted to vice president of real estate and facilities management. Canarelli joined AmeriCU in 2004 as facilities manager for the credit union’s then seven locations and was promoted to assistant vice president of facilities and construction in 2013. In his new role, Canarelli will oversee all real estate planning, design, construction and facility operations of AmeriCU’s now 20 locations across Central and Northern New York. He has more than 25 years of experience and recently earned his Real Estate Appraisal Assistant License through New York State.

Jason Lewin was promoted to vice president of member technology delivery. Lewin joined AmeriCU in 2015 as a systems administrator for the credit union’s member technology division, later serving as manager and assistant vice president. In his new role, he will provide day-to-day operational leadership while implementing technology strategies and initiatives that promote a seamless business process and improve the member experience. He was a member of the Leadership Mohawk Valley Class of 2019 and holds an Executive Leadership Certificate through eCornell.

Tiffany Abele was promoted to assistant vice president of human resources. Abele has been with AmeriCU since 2012 and most recently served as payroll and benefits manager. In her new role, Abele will oversee all HR operations, including payroll, benefits, employee relations, training and development. She holds a master’s certificate in HR from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and serves as treasurer on the board of the Mohawk Valley Society for Human Resources Management, where she is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources.

Kristy Nole was promoted to assistant vice president of marketing. Nole joined AmeriCU in 2021 as manager of brand marketing and brings more than 20 years of marketing experience in the financial services and credit union industries. In her new role, Nole will focus on the strategic initiatives and business objectives of all key stakeholders to ensure the credit union’s in-house marketing department is designing promotions, campaigns and communications that support business needs and help the credit union achieve its mission, vision and overall strategic goals.

Stephanie Fisher was promoted to assistant vice president of card services and ATM. Fisher has been with AmeriCU for more than 25 years, serving as the manager of the same business area. In her new role, Fisher will focus on the sales and promotion of AmeriCU debit and credit cards, enhancing the member benefits and experience for all cardholders, and overseeing the credit union’s ATM servicing operations.

Cara White was promoted to assistant vice president of insurance and wealth services. White joined AmeriCU in 2007 and previously served as the manager of the credit union’s insurance services division. In her new role, she will oversee AmeriCU’s insurance and investment services, working to build profitable and sustainable relationships for credit union members by serving their financial planning, investment and insurance needs. White serves on the National Association of Credit Union Service Organizations Property and Casualty Advisory Board and is an Accredited Advisor in Insurance-Management.

MIDWEST

The $2.3 billion, St. Louis, Mo.-based Together Credit Union hired Dylan Wyatt as chief information officer. Wyatt most recently served as executive director of corporate and investment banking technology at Santander US. In his new role, he will oversee Together’s data, systems, infrastructure and information security. In addition, he will lead the credit union’s Center of Excellence and Digital Strategy.

Patrick Spyke, CEO of the $939 million, Lansing, Mich.-based LAFCU, was elected chair of the board of directors for Member Driven Technologies, a Farmington Hills, Mich.-based IT and core processing CUSO. Spyke has been with LAFCU for 30 years and was promoted to CEO in 2016. LAFCU is one of MDT’s four credit union owners.

Royal Credit Union ($4 billion, Eau Claire, Wis.) promoted Grant Beardsley to EVP – chief legal officer. In his new role, Beardsley is responsible for developing and leading Royal’s corporate legal strategy. He joined Royal in 2019 as the credit union’s first corporate counsel, and held extensive prior experience in the private practice of law representing businesses, individuals and municipalities in all aspects of general corporate and transactional matters. Beardsley also previously worked at Royal as a co-op teller from 2002 to 2006, and was part of a team that opened the first student-run credit union branch in Memorial High School in Eau Claire. He holds a law degree from the Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Fla., and is licensed to practice law in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Florida.

The $5.8 billion, Waterloo, Iowa-based Veridian Credit Union hired Scott Mueller as a mortgage loan originator. Mueller previously served as a business development officer and mortgage loan originator at Farmers State Bank. He currently serves on the board for the Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity in Waterloo.

SOUTH

The $61 million Alcoa Community Federal Credit Union in Benton, Ark., announced two new hires.

Josh Patterson was hired as a mortgage loan originator. Patterson brings an extensive sales background to his position with stints at both Lamar, Inc. and Datamax.

Rachel Minner was hired as vice president – compliance and operations. Minner has worked in the banking industry for over 12 years.

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