New Hires, Board Appointments Revealed Across the CU Industry

WEST

The $182 million Santa Cruz Community Credit Union in Santa Cruz, Calif., announced two new hires.

Joey Coffman was hired as vice president of technology and innovation. In his new role, Coffman will oversee technology projects, automation and innovation at the credit union, developing best practices for digital technology and innovation. He brings over eight years of credit union experience to SCCCU, having begun his career as a member relationship specialist. He is a graduate of Leadership Santa Cruz and is in the process of completing CUNA Management School.

Laura Monique Brown Owen was hired as director of community development and learning. In her new role, she will lead SCCCU’s financial literacy and community outreach programs. Owen brings over 20 years of credit union experience and an extensive operations background to SCCCU. She is a graduate of Leadership Santa Cruz and serves on its board of directors.

EAST

John L. Bissell, president/CEO for the $1.5 billion, Pittsfield, Mass.-based Greylock Federal Credit Union, was elected to a three-year term on the national board of directors of the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC). He was one of three elected from a pool of nominees from across the credit union industry.

Barb Bowker, chief member experience officer for the $8.3 billion, Harrisburg, Pa.-based PSECU, was named to the 2022 City & State PA Impact 50 list. According to City & State PA, the Impact 50 list identifies the “most powerful forces for environmental, social and governance improvement in Pennsylvania.” Bowker has been with PSECU for more than 30 years, and currently serves on the board of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and the Shippensburg University Alumni Association. Previously, she was chair of the board for the Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation and the Capital Region American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, as well as a board member for the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County. Bowker was a 2014 recipient of the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg’s Woman of Excellence Award as well as the Central Penn Business Journal’s Women of Influence Award in 2015.

MIDWEST

The $4.4 billion, Eau Claire, Wis.-based Royal Credit Union announced five new hires.

Amy Burma was hired as regional director of branch operations. She joined Royal in August 2022 during the credit union’s Lake Area Bank conversion and is based in Royal’s Stillwater, Minn., office. In her new role, Burma is responsible for leading and supporting branch managers and their teams to achieve strategic goals by providing excellent products and services to meet the needs of members, and creating consistency and efficiencies through all channels. Burma has nearly 20 years of experience in the financial industry, and in 2017, she was awarded the Finance & Commerce Top Women in Finance award.

Laura Sorensen was hired as branch manager II. She joined Royal in August 2022 during the credit union’s Lake Area Bank conversion and is based at Royal’s Hugo, Minn., and White Bear Lake, Minn., offices. Sorensen brings over 30 years of experience in the financial industry. In her new role, she oversees all functions of the branches’ operations and is responsible for providing a superior level of member service through ongoing coaching, guiding and development of team members in both Hugo and White Bear Lake.

Paul Wilcox was hired as director of Lake Area Mortgage – A Division of Royal Credit Union. He joined Royal in August during the credit union’s Lake Area Mortgage conversion. In his new role, Wilcox is responsible for building, developing and leading the Lake Area Mortgage – A Division of Royal Credit Union team in terms of mortgage loan operations, production, underwriting and credit risk. He brings over 22 years of experience in the mortgage industry.

Dionne Yochim was hired as mortgage operations manager of Lake Area Mortgage – A Division of Royal Credit Union. She joined Royal in August during the credit union’s Lake Area Mortgage conversion. In her new role, Yochim is responsible for planning, organizing and directing the activities of the processing, closing and underwriting departments to support Lake Area Mortgage – A Division of Royal Credit Union’s objectives and goals. She brings over 25 years of experience in the financial industry, having most recently served as a vice president – mortgage lending manager.

Ryan Colbert was hired as mortgage sales manager of Lake Area Mortgage – A Division of Royal Credit Union. He joined Royal in August during the credit union’s Lake Area Mortgage conversion. In his new role, Colbert provides coaching and leadership to the team of loan originators to ensure overall success. He also creates strategies and programs to help members achieve their dream of homeownership. Colbert participated in St. Thomas’ Mini MBA Program in Real Estate, and during his 20 years in mortgage loan originating, was awarded the Scotsman Guide Top Mortgage Originator and Twin Cities Super Mortgage Professional for 2020-2022. Colbert is also on the board of directors at Twin Cities Rush Soccer Club and the secretary/treasurer for Forest Lake Business Networking International.

LEAGUES

Affiliates Management Company (AMC), a wholly-owned holding company of the Iowa Credit Union League, appointed Lucy Ito as a board member. Ito has more than 30 years of executive experience as a leader in various segments of the credit union industry across the globe. Currently the interim CEO of the $2.3 billion Orange County’s Credit Union in Santa Ana, Calif., she previously led NASCUS as president/CEO for more than seven years. Prior to her tenure at NASCUS, she was EVP and COO at the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, and served as vice president of the World Council of Credit Unions for five years. Ito was awarded the prestigious National Credit Union Foundation’s Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in 2021.

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