CUs, CUSOs, Consultants Reveal Hires, Promotions & Board Appointments

EAST

Susan G. Whitehead, president/CEO for the $239 million, Madawaska, Maine-based NorState Federal Credit Union, announced her retirement after 34 years of service with NorState. Whitehead was first hired at the credit union as a utility clerk in 1988 and has held various positions over the years. In 2013, she was named the first female CEO of NorState following the retirement of David Rossignol.

Ardent Credit Union ($851 million, Philadelphia) hired Jenna Pensa as COO. In her new role, Pensa is responsible for the credit union’s deposit operations, card services, facilities, technology infrastructure, applications and systems. Pensa most recently served as COO of Equity National Title Company in Providence, R.I. Before that, she was EVP and chief innovation officer for Chelsea Groton Bank, in Groton, Conn. She has also held leadership roles at WSFS Bank and Guilford Savings Bank, where she managed operations, technology, contact center operations and customer experience.

MIDWEST

Connexus Credit Union ($5.1 billion, Wausau, Wis.) hired Cheryl Halverson as chief human resources officer. In her new role, Halverson will oversee recruitment, organizational culture, employee operations and experience, learning and development, and the Connexus Total Rewards program. Halverson brings over 25 years of experience, having most recently served as chief people officer at Gongos, Inc. She holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification and specializes in devising business-aligned HR strategies and policies, creating high-performing cultures, and leading robust organization development initiatives.

The $6.7 billion, Waterloo, Iowa-based Veridian Credit Union promoted Melissa Driscoll to the position of branch manager at the Veridian location at 2181 Logan Ave. in Waterloo. Driscoll has worked at Veridian for 15 years and most recently served as a loan advisor.

CUSOS

Xtend, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based CUSO providing managerial, operational, marketing, technical planning and consulting services, appointed Chuck Papenfus as board chair. Papenfus, president/CEO for the $56.9 million, Fontana, Calif.-based Inland Valley Federal Credit Union, succeeds outgoing Board Chair Carma Peters, president/CEO for the $261 million, Wyandotte, Mich.-based Michigan Legacy Federal Credit Union.

In addition, Michael Abraham, CEO of First Financial Credit Union ($150 million, Skokie, Ill.) was appointed vice chair and Jim Miles, CEO of MyUSA Credit Union ($344 million, Middletown, Ohio) was appointed treasury/secretary. All board officers will serve a three-year term.

VENDORS

Strategic Resource Management, a Memphis, Tenn.-based advisory firm serving banks and credit unions, appointed payments veteran and banking advisor Doug Leighton to a non-executive board position on its international advisory board. Leighton spent 23 years at Visa, where he supported community banks and credit unions and most notably served in the role of SVP, head of US community accounts. He now leads Tahoma Advisors, a consulting firm for fintechs, credit unions and community banks focused on innovation and digital transformation.

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