New Roles Begin at Connexus CU, Royal CU, GTE Financial & Engage fi

WEST

The $357 million, Saint Helens, Ore.-based InRoads Federal Credit Union announced two upcoming retirements.

President/CEO Brooke Van Vleet-Pearson will retire in 2023. Van Vleet-Pearson began her credit union career at First Tech Federal Credit Union ($15.8 billion, San Jose, Calif.), where she quickly worked her way into leadership roles including interim president/CEO. She was named president/CEO of InRoads in 2012, and during her tenure, the credit union more than doubled in asset size. In addition, she helped oversee the expansion of the credit union’s charter and name change. The InRoads board of directors has worked over the last year on a comprehensive succession planning process and will conduct a search to find its new president/CEO.

Chief Lending Officer Robin Balza will also retire in 2023. Balza has served InRoads for 43 years, during which time she has served in nearly all facets of the organization. Under her guidance in 2020, commercial loans, home loans and consumer loans all saw record growth. Van Vleet-Pearson will work with Balza to recruit and identify a new chief lending officer.

MIDWEST

The $4.8 billion, Wausau, Wis.-based Connexus Credit Union promoted Heather Ristow to SVP of marketing. In her new role, Ristow will collaborate with the senior leadership team and board of directors to develop and implement strategies to support the Connexus Vision, and organizational projects and initiatives. Additionally, Ristow will oversee the crafting and execution of enterprise-wide marketing strategies to promote the Connexus brand, deliver exceptional member experiences, and achieve financial and market-based objectives. Ristow has over 19 years of experience in the financial services industry with progressive experience in leadership, management and executive roles, and formerly served as COO of Heritage Credit Union in Madison, Wis. Ristow initially joined Connexus as market president in February to lead and implement the final stages of the organization’s merger with Heritage, which finalized in August.

The $4.2 billion Royal Credit Union in Eau Claire, Wis., announced one promotion and one new hire.

Kristen Norgaard was promoted to financial education manager. In her new role, Norgaard is responsible for leading the strategic direction and operations of Royal’s community financial education initiatives and School $ense program, while managing and growing strong financial education partnerships. Norgaard joined Royal in 2010 and since then has held the roles of financial service representative, branch supervisor, consumer loan officer and most recently financial education supervisor. She is a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor, serves as secretary on the board of directors for the Family Resource Center in Eau Claire and has spent several years as a big sister for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Jerry Kwapick was hired as vice president – commercial lending regional manager. In his new role, Kwapick is responsible for leading the team of commercial loan officers in the credit union’s North Metro area to achieve Royal’s objectives, strategic goals and initiatives. Kwapick will also assist in the development of new relationships and overall relationship management of the assigned business loan portfolio. He brings 40 years of experience in the finance industry and has held a variety of roles, the most recent being chief sales officer at Lake Area Bank. Kwapick has also held the title of board chair for several organizations including the White Bear Lake YMCA and White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce, and currently holds that title with the White Bear Lake Economic Development Corporation. In addition, he was an original founder and board member of the White Bear Lake Education Foundation as well as head coach of the White Bear Lake High School Girls Hockey team for 10 years.

SOUTH

The $2.8 billion, Tampa, Fla.-based GTE Financial promoted Gerhard Toth to vice president of business banking. Toth joined GTE Financial in mid-2021 as business banking manager and has been responsible for the member business banking experience with best-in-class service, products and efficiencies. He brings over 25 years of experience and expertise in commercial lending, relationship management, business development, strategic leadership, fraud mitigation, team building and international business. Toth previously held a variety of commercial banking and team leader executive roles, and has eight years of international business experience working for a telecommunications manufacturer. He is a graduate of the Gulf Coast Leadership Institute and Leadership Manatee, and serves as a board member for United Way Sarasota/Desoto and the Braden River Soccer Club in Bradenton, Fla.

LEAGUES

Matt Dodds, COO for the $2.8 billion Dupaco Community Credit Union in Dubuque, Iowa, was elected chair of the Iowa Credit Union League (ICUL) board of directors for 2022-2023. By serving on the ICUL board, Dodds represents the collective interests and future of Iowa’s 80 credit unions and their more than 1.5 million members. Dodds has been with Dupaco for nearly 20 years. He was elected to the ICUL board in 2015 and first elected as chair of the board in 2021.

VENDORS

The Tampa, Fla.-based credit union consulting firm Engage fi announced two new hires.

Trisa Wetzel was hired as SVP, operations and conversion services. Wetzel brings more than two decades of executive leadership experience in financial technology services to Engage fi. In her new role, Wetzel will focus on building new conversion services that take a customer-centric approach and help her team drive innovation through Engage fi’s existing solutions. Wetzel previously led collaborative teams overseeing financial institution system evaluations – inclusive of technology strategies, vendor assessments, contract negotiations and full lifecycle conversion project management – for Cornerstone Advisors and Next Step Inc.

Amy Martel was hired as vice president, project management office, conversion services. Martel brings over 25 years of financial services experience with an emphasis on retail banking, technology and operations, enterprise risk management and process improvement. In her previous role as managing director at Cornerstone Advisors and Next Step Inc., she led initiatives to help financial institutions transform their businesses through vendor evaluations, system selections and conversion management. Martel has an extensive banking background, having served in a variety of executive and operational roles at various community banks and credit unions.

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