12 Professionals On the Move at 8 Credit Unions

WEST

The $3.4 billion, Chatsworth, Calif.-based Premier America Credit Union appointed Bill Hampel to its board of directors effective April 28. Hampel will serve as a member of the finance committee and credit oversight committee of the board. He is CUNA’s former chief economist and chief policy officer, one of the trade association’s longest tenured executives and also served as CUNA’s interim president/CEO from June to September 2014. Hampel has testified before Congress about a number of key credit union issues and holds a doctorate in economics from Iowa State University.

Hawaii State Federal Credit Union ($2.2 billion, Honolulu) hired Patrick Twohy as in-store banking program and senior regional manager. In his new role, Twohy will be responsible for overseeing daily operations and hiring for the credit union’s four new branches located in Safeway store locations on Oahu and Maui. Twohy brings more than a decade of banking experience, most recently serving as vice president and retail lending operations manager at First Hawaiian Bank. He also held several positions throughout his six years at Bank of Hawaii, including vice president and manager of its Ala Moana Banking Center in Honolulu.

EAST

The $209 million, Freehold, N.J.-based First Financial Federal Credit Union promoted Nancy Culp to chief lending officer. In her new role, Culp will be responsible for the activities and overall direction of First Financial’s lending services, membership initiatives and branch operations. She joined First Financial in 1991 as a collector, and over the years progressed to a variety of roles including collections manager, lending manager, assistant vice president of lending and finally vice president of lending, sales and member services in 2014. Culp has also presented various First Financial consumer seminars on topics such as credit management, debt consolidation, financing a vehicle and buying a home.

Hudson Valley Credit Union ($6.4 billion, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) hired Christopher Galayda as a commercial loan officer. Galayda brings nearly 25 years of experience in financial services, and in his new role, he will assist business members in New York’s Westchester and Rockland Counties. When it’s completed this summer, the credit union’s new Cortlandt Manor Branch in Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., will be his main location. After honorably completing his service in the United States Navy in 1994, Galayda began his career in 1997 as a competing sales manager. He has since held several managerial positions in financial services, including in branch management since 2008.

MIDWEST

The $960 million LAFCU in Lansing, Mich., announced three promotions.

Justin Tuck was promoted to business development officer. In his new role, Tuck is responsible for increasing and strengthening LAFCU’s relationships with businesses throughout Michigan, helping provide LAFCU services through organizations such as auto dealerships, mortgage brokers and realty companies. He joined LAFCU in 2014 and most recently served as assistant vice president of operations; before that, he worked as assistant branch manager and in the Contact Center. Prior to joining LAFCU, he gained six years of experience in consumer loans and customer service at a Lansing-area bank. Tuck was previously a member of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce board of directors in Charlotte, Mich.

Beth Gill was promoted to director of operational risk. In her new role, Gill is responsible for oversight of policies and procedures to ensure efficient, consistent and quality member service. A 30-year veteran of LAFCU, she most recently served as assistant vice president of branch operations, and previously held managerial positions at the Contact Center and several branches. Gill holds a Certified Credit Union Executive certification from CUNA Management School, has represented LAFCU as a member of the St. Johns, Mich., and DeWitt, Mich., area chambers of commerce, and was a board member for the DeWitt chamber for four years.

Brian Tribell was promoted to audit coordinator. In his new role, Tribell is responsible for the annual review of LAFCU policies and procedures to ensure they remain in compliance with appropriate laws and regulations. He has more than 13 years of experience in the financial sector, most recently serving LAFCU as risk analyst. He’s previously provided member service via ITMs (interactive teller machines), located at LAFCU branch drive-thru lanes, and at the Contact Center, by phone and online messages, live chat and loan queue. Tribell has also worked at another credit union, a bank and a mortgage company.

The $5.1 billion, Neenah, Wis.-based Community First Credit Union announced one promotion and two new hires.

Renee Petersen was promoted to the senior executive leadership team as SVP of operations. Petersen, who joined Community First in January, brings 29 years of financial industry experience and will be responsible for operations, optical and plastics. She began her career in 1993 with 1st Security Credit Union in Green Bay, Wis., where she was manager of marketing and internet solutions and later a business analyst. When 1st Security merged with the $2.4 billion, Appleton, Wis.-based Fox Communities Credit Union in 2004, she served as a project manager for seven years. In 2011, she joined Unison Credit Union ($287 million, Kaukauna, Wis.) as vice president of internal operations and in 2018 became vice president of electronic banking at Investors Community Bank in Manitowoc, Wis.

Steve Dill was hired as vice president – business lending. Dill brings over 30 years of business banking experience in the Green Bay, Wis., market working for regional and community banks. He will work out of the Howard Branch in Howard, Wis.

Betty Kittell was hired to the business lending team as a portfolio manager. Kittell brings 23 years of community banking experience in the Green Bay market and will work out of the De Pere Branch in De Pere, Wis.

SOUTH

Air Force Federal Credit Union ($580 million, San Antonio, Texas) hired Greg Barnes as EVP and COO. He succeeded Bob Sherwood, who retired in August 2021 after 17 years of service to the credit union. Barnes brings 20 years of credit union and banking experience, most recently serving as SVP of retail product and digital experience at Broadway Bank in San Antonio. Prior to that role, he held chief marketing officer roles at the $1.3 billion One Nevada Credit Union in Las Vegas and $315 million Unity One Credit Union in Fort Worth, Texas, where he led multiple charter conversions, rebranding initiatives, new market introductions, digital strategies and new product growth efforts.

The $3.9 billion, Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Truliant Federal Credit Union promoted Precious Quire-McCloud to SVP, diversity, equity and inclusion. In her new role, McCloud will be responsible for ensuring the successful implementation of initiatives that advance Truliant’s diversity management capacity and presence as a financial institution of choice, as well as support the evolution and growth of Truliant’s DEI plan. McCloud joined Truliant in 2013 as operations manager for the member contact center. She was promoted in 2017 to vice president of member experience for the contact center and named vice president, human resources in 2021. She is an executive committee member and board member for Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem and the North Carolina Black Repertory Company. In 2017, McCloud was recognized as an Outstanding Woman in Business by Triad Business Journal, and in 2018 received a Rhythm of Triumph award for community-service excellence from 97.1/WQMG and the McDonald’s Corporation. She holds an MBA from High Point University in High Point, N.C., and completed the Executive Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

CUSOS

Business lending CUSO Member Business Financial Services elected Brian Hahn as chairman of its board of directors. He succeeds Bruce K. Foulke, president/CEO of American Heritage Credit Union ($4 billion, Philadelphia), who intends to shift his focus on new CUSO development opportunities and American Heritage’s continued growth. Hahn is EVP and COO for American Heritage and oversees commercial and consumer lending, information systems, branch operations and facilities functions for the credit union. A graduate of the CUNA School of Management, he also serves as board chair for Pennsylvania Credit Union Service Centers, a CUSO that provides shared branching services for more than 50 institutions statewide. He also previously served on the board of directors for uGenius CUSO prior to its sale to NCR Corporation.

LEAGUES

The Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA) hired Aimee Morin as business services project manager. In her new role, Morin will be responsible for initiating and executing process improvement, workflow and technology projects with all departments within the CCUA, as well as work with credit unions, vendors, and other state associations and leagues. She began her professional career at the $1.4 billion St. Mary’s Bank in Manchester, N.H., where she spent over 10 years working in multiple areas including business analysis, training and education, and retail. Prior to joining the CCUA, Morin served as a project manager for Meridian Link. She holds a master’s degree in adult education and training as well as a Project Management Certification from the University of New Hampshire, and has achieved Lean Six Sigma Yellow and Green Belt Certifications from Six Sigma Global Institute.

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