7 Executives Advance Their Careers at 4 Credit Unions

WEST

The $4.3 billion SAFE Credit Union in Folsom, Calif., announced three promotions.

Chris Harris was promoted from CFO to chief strategy officer. In his new role, Harris leads the planning and development of SAFE’s strategies and growth initiatives, as well as oversees enterprise risk management, business intelligence, data management and facilities. Initially hired as a controller, he has worked for SAFE for 18 years, including the last 12 years as CFO. He is a CPA with 28 years of corporate finance and audit experience, with 23 of those years in the financial services industry. He is a Sacramento Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award recipient and the vice chair for the Credit Union Self Insurance Group of California. He also serves as an advisory board member for ALM First Financial Advisors, LLC.

Mike McCarthy was promoted from chief information officer to chief technology officer. In his new role, McCarthy leads SAFE’s focus on technology. He continues to oversee IT operations, information security, core applications, digital banking, business transformation and the project management office. In addition, he is now responsible for the technical design and services of online, mobile and ATM banking. McCarthy, who has served in the U.S. Army and National Guard, is experienced in network engineering, information security and intelligence analysis. He is a member of CUNA’s Payments Subcommittee, the Greater Sacramento Economic Council and the FinTech Consortium.

Alexis Fitzpatrick was promoted from SVP of finance to CFO. In her new role, Fitzpatrick leads all facets of SAFE’s finance department, including accounting, treasury, secondary market, and financial planning and analysis. Prior to joining SAFE, Fitzpatrick was in public accounting for 13 years. She serves as a board director for the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Folsom Chamber of Commerce.

Redwood Credit Union ($7.6 billion, Santa Rosa, Calif.) hired Jessica Smith as vice president of business account services. In her new role, Smith oversees RCU’s business service deposits and products to assist business owners throughout the communities the credit union serves. Responsible for leading the department’s growth and success, she will coach the business relationship team in account servicing functions and train branch team members in areas related to business services. Formerly the merchant services/cash management officer at Exchange Bank, Smith also previously worked for Wells Fargo, Stewart Title and Alliance Title. She brings experience in promoting and supporting companies by managing their deposit accounts and investments, and offering account analysis and management, merchant services, payroll and other business products. Smith serves on the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber board and the Santa Rosa Wednesday Night Market board. In 2018, she was a Forty Under 40 award winner.

EAST

The $1.8 billion, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.-based Hanscom Federal Credit Union announced two new hires.

Jasmine Wallace was hired to the newly-created role of SVP, member engagement. Wallace brings over 15 years of experience in the banking industry, having most recently served at Salem Five Bank since 2011 in roles of increasing responsibility, including vice president, fraud risk officer; assistant vice president, fraud risk management analyst and assistant vice president, customer experience, tier II support, online account opening. Before that, she worked at Sovereign Bank for seven years in the retail banking sector, focusing on sales and service. From 2011 to 2016, she served as the executive board director of River House, Inc., a shelter in Beverly, Mass.

Stacey Browne was hired as vice president, organizational effectiveness. In her new role, Browne will be responsible for the oversight of enterprise-level strategic and operational planning for the CEO and executive team, board relations and strategic internal communications. She most recently served as manager of business development at Draper & Kramer Mortgage Corp. Before that, she worked at Berkshire Bank, where she was promoted from the role of vice president of sales and service to vice president of corporate strategy. In addition, she is a project leader, rider and fundraiser for the Pan-Mass Challenge; senior case manager and advisor for Home Restart; fundraising chair and coordinator for St. Catherine’s Youth Mission Trip and a member of the finance council committee for Blessed Trinity Parish.

MIDWEST

The $2.4 billion Together Credit Union in St. Louis, Mo., hired Emily Belshe as general counsel. In this newly-created in-house role, Belshe will provide partnership and legal advice on all aspects of the credit union’s operations and governance. In addition, she will be responsible for managing and overseeing the credit union’s legal, compliance and risk teams/efforts, which include vendor management, business continuity, document management and enterprise risk management. She most recently served as vice president and general counsel for Gershman Investment Corp, a St. Louis-based mortgage services company, and assistant general counsel for North American operations and technology at Citibank. She holds a Juris Doctorate from St. Louis University School of Law and has admission to practice law in Missouri and Illinois.

CUSOS

The Irvine, Calif.-based lending software technology CUSO Origence appointed the following five new associate directors to its board of directors:

Don Clark, president/CEO, Sound Credit Union ($2.6 billion, Tacoma, Wash.).

Ron Neumann, president/CEO, Oregon Community Credit Union ($3.4 billion, Eugene, Ore.).

Karen Roch, president/CEO, Credit Union West ($1.1 billion, Glendale, Ariz.).

Sandra Sagehorn-Elliott, president/CEO, Vantage West Credit Union ($2.6 billion, Tucson, Ariz.).

Steph Sherrodd, president/CEO, Sandia Laboratory Federal Credit Union ($3.4 billion, Albuquerque, N.M.).

LEAGUES

Eight North and South Dakota credit union professionals were appointed to various committees and subcommittees by CUNA and the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL).

Lacey Fetsch, CEO for University Federal Credit Union ($48 million, Grand Forks, N.D.) was appointed to the CUNA Small Credit Union Committee for a first term. This committee tracks issues affecting small credit unions, promotes unity between credit unions of all sizes, and strives to defend against any threats to the cooperative, not-for-profit, democratic structure.

Jon Griffin, chief lending officer for Capital Credit Union ($721 million, Bismarck, N.D.) was appointed to the CUNA Payments Subcommittee for a first term. The purpose of this committee is to monitor, review and advise CUNA staff and make recommendations to the Advocacy Committee on operational and public policy issues related to payments systems, data security, cybersecurity, and credit unions’ access and utilization of the latest developments in payments.

Amy Kleinschmit, chief compliance officer for the Dakota Credit Union Association, was appointed to the AACUL’s Regulatory Advocacy/Compliance Advisory Committee. The purpose of this committee is to provide advice and feedback to CUNA and AACUL regarding federal and state regulatory advocacy and compliance issues affecting credit unions, and to develop and promote successful efforts for favorably impacting the regulatory/compliance process. This includes identification of best practices in regulatory advocacy to provide more consistent and effective messaging to regulators.

Jay Kruse, chief advocacy officer for the Dakota Credit Union Association, was re-appointed to the CUNA Volunteer Leadership Committee for a second year. This committee assists in the development of strategy for the increased involvement and support of credit union volunteers, serves as a strategic leadership resource for CUNA, and provides their staff with advice and guidance for enhanced volunteer-centered initiatives. Key responsibilities include volunteer education, volunteer succession and political involvement. He is also appointed to the AACUL State Issues Committee, which provides direction and feedback regarding state legislative and regulatory issues affecting credit unions.

George McDonald, chief officer of strategic services for the Dakota Credit Union Association, will continue to serve on the AACUL League Service Corp (LSC) Committee. The purpose of this committee is to provide a forum for LSC executives to collaborate and share due diligence on products and services that benefit member credit unions. The committee works together to utilize solutions created and owned by other leagues and business partners, and regularly shares information to help meet the challenges member credit unions face to promote the long-term viability of leagues, LSC and the credit union movement.

Jeff Olson, president/CEO of the Dakota Credit Union Association (Bismarck, ND) will serve on the following boards and committees: The Awareness LLC Board, CUNA board, CUNA executive board, AACUL executive board (as chair), CSS board, CULAC trustee board and CULAC executive committee.

Melanie Stillwell, CEO of Western Cooperative Credit Union ($436 million, Williston, N.D.) was reappointed to the CUNA Examination & Supervision Subcommittee for a third and final year. This committee makes recommendations to the Advocacy Committee regarding safe, fair and efficient examinations for federal and state credit unions, and makes recommendations regarding the Share Insurance Fund, CDFI fund and Community Development Revolving Loan Program.

Jerry Schmidt, CEO of Black Hills Federal Credit Union ($2 billion, Rapid City, S.D.) was reappointed to the CUNA Credit Union Powers Subcommittee for a second year. This committee provides feedback on pending legislative and regulatory proposals affecting credit union powers at the federal and state level, and develops recommendations to the Advocacy Committee to address those concerns.

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