CUs Kick Off 2023 With 5 New Hires & Promotions

MIDWEST

The $5.1 billion, Neenah, Wis.-based Community First Credit Union promoted Rose Kilsdonk to vice president of communications. Kilsdonk joined Community First in a special projects role in early 2020, and since then her accomplishments have included helping to launch Community First’s new website in 2020 and digital banking platform in 2021. She also played a leading role in the research, development and startup of a new intranet. Before joining Community First, Kilsdonk held roles in graphic art, customer service, regional and national sales, new business development, agency work and marketing. These included spending five years at FVTC designing and launching its new website, and working in a digital marketing role for a credit union in Washington State. She earned an organizational communication/digital marketing master’s degree from the University of Denver.

The $846 million Financial Center First Credit Union in Indianapolis hired Chris Sibila as SVP, chief information officer. Sibila brings more than 30 years of experience in the financial services space, where he gained expertise in digital solutions, technology, product management, payments, data analytics, information security, fraud prevention and operations. He most recently served as chief information officer at CNG Holdings. Before that, he held roles at Harland Clarke as SVP of product management and payment services, Elements Financial Federal Credit Union ($2.2 billion, Indianapolis) as EVP and CIO, Citibank as director of product management for global consumer technology, and Fifth Third Bank, where he held several leadership roles over 19 years. He holds an MBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati.

SOUTH

The $3.8 billion, Tullahoma, Tenn.-based Ascend Federal Credit Union hired Melanie Cook as corporate communications lead. In her new role, Cook is responsible for member communications, public relations, content creation, and messaging for marketing and internal communications. Cook brings more than seven years of experience in marketing and communications. Prior to joining Ascend, she served as marketing and public relations manager for Tennessee State Veterans’ Homes.

The $625 million, Tampa, Fla.-based Floridacentral Credit Union hired Pamela Wendland as chief lending officer, effective Dec. 5, 2022. She brings over 25 years of experience in the financial industry, encompassing both credit union and banking experience in loan originations including commercial and industrial, SBA, mortgage and consumer. She began her career at a credit union in 1994 and recently served as vice president of commercial lending at WNB Financial (Winona National Bank) in Eau Claire, Wis. She has also served as a board member for Boy Scouts of America – Chippewa Valley Council, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin, United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley and a local Chamber of Commerce.

EAST

George W. Rudolph, president/CEO for the $8.3 billion, Harrisburg, Pa.-based PSECU, was named to the 2022 Central Penn Business Journal’s Banking & Finance Power List. The Power List is a compilation of individuals in the banking and finance industries who hold positions that give them the ability to shape communities and influence the region’s quality of life. Rudolph was appointed president/CEO of PSECU in April 2019, bringing nearly 30 years of leadership experience in the credit union and airline industries. Rudolph has also served as an advisor and participant in some of the industry’s top committees, including the CUNA Technology Council’s Executive Committee and the Federal Reserve’s Faster Payments Task Force. He holds an MBA from LaSalle University in Philadelphia.

The $2.9 billion TruMark Financial Credit Union in Fort Washington, Pa., hired Connor Land as vice president, internal audit director. In his new role, Land will be responsible for leading the credit union’s internal audit department while reporting to the supervisory committee. In addition, he will provide guidance to team members, work with departments prior to audits as well as share the results with them, prepare the credit union’s internal risk assessment and develop the annual audit plan. Land brings an extensive background as an audit manager for the risk group at RKL, which included SOX testing for publicly traded clients, testing internal controls and processes, and compliance testing. In his previous role, he conducted internal audits for banks and credit unions along the east coast.

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