CUs From Coast to Coast Hire, Promote, Elect & Honor

WEST

The $674 million UNCLE Credit Union in Livermore, Calif., announced several board appointments.

Chung Bothwell was re-elected board chairman for the 2022-2023 term. Bothwell has overseen the financial institution at the helm of the board since 2009, and in a principal board role for more than two decades. Employed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, she has deep experience in financial resource management, strategic planning and business administration. A recipient of the J. Alvin George Outstanding Volunteer Award, she has spearheaded local initiatives to promote financial education, and worked with Congress and state legislators to advocate on behalf of financial cooperatives. Bothwell is a director at-large for the Institute of Management Accountants, East Bay-Northern California Chapter, and was formerly national vice president of the organization. In addition, she served as vice chair for the Human Relations Commission for California’s Alameda County and treasurer for Lawrence Livermore Laboratory Women’s Association.

Neda Gray was elected vice chair for the 2022-2023 term. Gray joined the board of directors when she became chair of UNCLE’s first audit committee, established in 2019 in lieu of the organization’s supervisory committee. She brings a wealth of experience in audit and assessment, policy and procedural development, and information systems security. She served on UNCLE’s supervisory committee from 2012-2019, including a term as chair from 2017-2019. Recently retired from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Gray holds an MBA with a concentration in information systems.

Results of the board election for the 2022-2023 term also included the re-election of Board Treasurer Mila Shapovalov, Board Secretary Clay Smith, Audit Committee Chair Robin Morris and Board Directors Bob Corey, Hugh Bussell and John Freeman.

EAST

Jason Lindstrom, president/CEO of the $474 million, Portland, Maine-based Evergreen Credit Union, received the James M. Gratto Award from the Maine Credit Union League. Lindstrom became Evergreen’s president/CEO in 2016, and his accomplishments during his tenure have included leading a regulatory initiative that allowed Evergreen to extend its reach into Maine’s York County, and growing the credit union’s asset size from $270 million. He is president of the Alex Ferguson Chapter of Maine Credit Unions; serves on the board of the Maine Credit Union League, which includes chairing the League’s technology services committee; and serves as board treasurer for the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland.

Leominster Credit Union ($819 million, Worcester, Mass.) promoted Andrew Leblanc to vice president of information technology. Leblanc joined Leominster in 2018 and most recently held the title of assistant vice president, information security officer. In his new role, he will oversee the day-to-day performance, operation and compliance of the IT department. He will also provide vision, leadership and management for the development, implementation and support of LCU’s IT and communication systems, and will participate in the development of strategic plans and solutions to help achieve current and future credit union goals and technological needs. Leblanc holds an MBA in management and operations from Fitchburg State University in Fitchburg, Mass.

MIDWEST

The $4.1 billion Royal Credit Union in Eau Claire, Wis., announced one new hire and one promotion.

Lynn Mitchell was hired as branch manager II of the Inver Grove Heights, Minn., office. In her new role, Mitchell is responsible for the management of overall operations of the office as well as the coaching and development of team members. She worked as a regional branch manager in Arizona for five years before moving to Minnesota, where she worked at a credit union for 38 years. Mitchell started as a part-time teller, then transitioned to working in member services and frontline sales. She also managed a call center and most recently worked as an IRA/HSA specialist. Mitchell has been involved with the Cottage Grove Soccer association in Cottage Grove, Wis., for the past 20 years, where she started coaching in the early 2000s and is currently the registrar for over 1,000 kids. Royal’s Inver Grove Heights office opened on May 9.

Kari Campbell-VanVleet was promoted to director of member service. In her new position, Campbell-VanVleet is responsible for Member Service Center operational strategies, technology enhancements and ensuring members receive the highest quality interaction possible. She has over 12 years of experience in leading customer service centers and operations. Campbell-VanVleet came to Royal in May 2020 as member service supervisor II and was promoted to member service manager in December 2020. She is Six Sigma Green Belt certified.

SOUTH

The $4.7 billion Coastal Credit Union in Raleigh, N.C., promoted Arlene Babwah to chief risk officer. In her new role, Babwah will oversee the credit union’s enterprise risk management, compliance, fraud, legal, business continuity and vendor management functions. In addition, she will play a key role in protecting the organization by mitigating a variety of risks, as well as positioning Coastal as a trusted advisor by helping members feel that their financial relationships, personal information, privacy and transactions are all secure. She joined Coastal in 2005 and most recently served as vice president, risk management. Prior to that, she served as Coastal’s risk operations manager, retail operations manager and business operations manager for the credit union’s wealth management division. Babwah also chairs Coastal’s diversity, inclusion and belonging; Bank Secrecy Act; business continuity and risk operations committees. She holds 29 years of experience in financial services, which has also included roles at large national financial services companies. Babwah also served a member of the CFPB Credit Union Advisory Council for two years and is currently serving a second term on CUNA’s CFPB Sub-Committee.

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