Careers Grow for Professionals at Credit Unions, Leagues

WEST

Three senior mortgage officers at the $4.4 billion, Folsom, Calif.-based SAFE Credit Union – Damian Azimi, Brandi Schaefer and Ryan Smith – were named as three out of the four finalists for the Mortgage Professional of the Year award at this year’s North State Building Industry Association’s awards recognizing industry partners and professionals on Sept. 9. The mortgage officers are part of a team at SAFE that works with several new-home builders in the Sacramento area to provide preferred lender services for homebuyers in new housing communities.

Schaefer, who previously won the award in 2019, has been with SAFE for 11 years and in the industry for 25.

Azimi has been with SAFE for five years and has 23 years of experience in the mortgage and real estate industry.

Smith has been with SAFE for eight years and has 32 years of experience in the mortgage industry. He is a member of the Placer County Association of Realtors.

EAST

The $826 million ABNB Federal Credit Union in Chesapeake, Va., appointed James A. Young to its board of directors. Young replaces Earl Waddell, who stepped down from the ABNB board after serving since 2003. Young holds the degrees and certifications of CPA, CFA, CMA, MBA, MSA, CIPM and CSCA. He is currently CLP Financial Group’s vice president of the accounting and tax division, and has worked in the field of finance and accounting for over 20 years, which includes experience as a CPA in both large and small public accounting firms in New York City and the Chesapeake area, as well as 17 years working for a major asset management company. In addition, Young served in the United States Navy, both on active duty and in the reserves, for eight years. As a member of the National Association of Black Accountants, he spends part of his time mentoring college students and younger accountants. He has also served as an adjunct associate professor of business at Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, Va.

The $328 million, Concord, N.H.-based NH Federal Credit Union announced one new hire and one promotion.

Thomas (Tom) Weaver was hired as SVP/chief lending officer. Weaver has spent 36 years in the financial services industry, working in both banks and credit unions, and brings experience in consumer, mortgage and commercial lending, along with retail banking. Most recently, he served as SVP/commercial lending for Salem Co-Operative Bank. Before that, he spent many years leading and expanding the loan portfolio as SVP/chief lending officer for Northeast Credit Union ($2 billion, Portsmouth, N.H.).

Rodney (Rod) Dauteuil was promoted to vice president, compliance. Dauteuil, NHFCU’s compliance officer from 2019 to 2020, rejoined the credit union in January 2022. In his new role, he will lead and oversee all compliance management and related areas for NHFCU. Dauteuil is a 35-year banking veteran, holding positions in both credit unions and banks. His experience includes risk management, regulatory compliance, internal audits, and residential and consumer lending. Dauteuil holds the following industry certifications: Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Financial Services Auditor, NAFCU Certified Risk Manager and Credit Union Compliance Expert.

SOUTH

The $4.7 billion Coastal Credit Union in Raleigh, N.C., hired Emily Nail as vice president of cooperative strategies and executive director of the Coastal Credit Union Foundation. In her new role, Nail will be primarily responsible for leading all aspects of the Foundation’s operations, including working closely with the non-profit community to shape grant requests that are consistent with the Foundation’s mission and areas of focus for community impact. In addition, she will work to build the Foundation’s image and serve as its ambassador to the community, as well as lead Coastal’s strategies and activities around working with other local, regional and national cooperatives and the industry’s Credit Union Development Educators. She most recently served as executive director for the Cooperative Council of North Carolina since 2015, and before that, she gained 11 years of banking experience, including four years at the now-inactive High Plains Federal Credit Union in Clovis, N.M. Nail holds an MBA from Eastern New Mexico University.

Jill Thomas-Aviles, vice president of operations and digital strategy for the $591 million, Jacksonville, Fla.-based Jax Federal Credit Union, was selected as a 2022 Technology Leader of the Year honoree by the Jacksonville Business Journal. The award recognizes corporate leaders in Northeast Florida for advancing technology within their organizations and impacting their industry. Thomas-Aviles has managed the launch of every home-banking system at Jax since 2000, when the organization began offering online banking options, including the fully remote launch of a new digital banking platform with partner Lumin Digital in April 2021.

LEAGUES

The Dakota Credit Union Association hired Paige Langhoff as office and membership coordinator. She succeeds Deb Kruckenberg, who recently retired after more than 46 years. In her new role, Langhoff will serve as the first point of contact for DakCU member credit unions seeking assistance. Most recently, she worked with the Best Friends Mentoring Program/Americorps State as communications and program specialist. Prior to that, she worked in customer service for a hotel chain and as a librarian. She brings experience in research and information technology, outreach and organizing volunteers, managing a database and fundraising, as well as marketing, graphic design and social media management.

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