19 CU Professionals Rise Into New Positions

WEST

The $1.4 billion, Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Employees Federal Credit Union hired Stephanie Straker as CFO. Straker previously served as CFO for the $807 million, Tallahassee, Fla.-based Envision Credit Union since 2018 and held various roles in finance, accounting, risk management and operations during her 17-year tenure there. She holds two CUNA certifications: Certified Credit Union Investment Professional and Credit Union Enterprise Risk Management Expert. Straker also completed her MBA at the University of Florida and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.

The $1.2 billion, Ventura, Calif.-based Ventura County Credit Union announced one promotion and one new hire.

Arturo Zaragoza was promoted to director of financial equity programs. Zaragoza has served as a branch manager at VCCU for nine years and has more than 16 years of experience working in the financial services industry. He has been the recipient of awards for supporting the financial well-being and inclusion of diverse individuals and groups throughout the community from the Pacific Coast Business Times, Oxnard High School District, Consulate of Mexico and Oxnard Chamber of Commerce. He is also a Ventura County Leadership Academy graduate and advisory board member for the UCSB Customer Experience Program.

Jaime Doniaz was hired as financial inclusion and education manager. Doniaz has nearly 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, including 10 years in credit union marketing and business development. Prior to joining VCCU, he led the multicultural efforts for the $4.1 billion, Bakersfield, Calif.-based Valley Strong Credit Union, including overseeing financial literacy, developing Hispanic outreach efforts and establishing enduring relationships with many community organizations. He is a Leadership Bakersfield graduate and was recognized in Bakersfield Life Magazine’s “20 Under 40 People to Watch.” He has also served as a member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for Kern and Tulare-Kings counties, as well as on various Hispanic advisory councils.

EAST

The $324 million, South Boston, Mass.-based Mass Bay Credit Union hired Rich Bonomo to the senior management team as vice president and CFO. In his new role, Bonomo is responsible for the oversight of the strategic financial objectives and day-to-day duties of the finance department. He has spent his entire career working in credit unions.

The $1.9 billion, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.-based Hanscom Federal Credit Union hired Tulio Gasperini as SVP, corporate marketing and communications. In his new role, Gasperini will lead brand and marketing strategy, including product and customer marketing, customer insights and analytics, as well as media relations and internal communications. Gasperini brings more than 25 years’ experience in corporate financial services marketing and communications to Hanscom. He previously was vice president and director of corporate marketing and communications for Envision Bank in Quincy, Mass. Prior to joining Envision Bank, Gasperini was SVP and senior director of corporate communications for Santander U.S. in Boston. Additionally, he has held a variety of senior corporate marketing and communications positions at Citizens Bank, TD Bank and Bank of America.

MIDWEST

The $2.9 billion, Indianapolis-based Indiana Members Credit Union announced nine promotions.

Todd Habig was promoted to CFO. He has been with IMCU for 37 years, during which time he has overseen finance, compliance and several mergers. Habig is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). In his new role, Habig will lead commercial services, accounting and investment services, while continuing to focus on the long-term financial success of the credit union.

Justin Sinders was promoted to chief strategy officer. Sinders has been with IMCU since 2012 and is also a CPA. In his new role, he will focus on strategic initiatives, which include growing new markets, and expanding the information security and business intelligence programs.  Sinders will also oversee the market presidents, finance and mortgage departments, and serve on the commercial loan committee. He served eight years in the Army National Guard. 

Scott Mann was promoted to chief retail officer. Mann has been with IMCU for 34 years. In his new role, Mann will lead retail operations, which include the branch network, consumer lending, deposit operations, member services, cards, digital and facilities departments.

Thorpe Miller was promoted to chief marketing officer. Miller has been with IMCU for 10 years. In his new role, Miller will continue to lead the marketing and business development teams, in addition to overseeing the community relations department and initiatives.

Tom Wellman was promoted to chief risk officer and general counsel. Wellman has been with IMCU for 15 years. In his new, expanded role, Wellman will lead the risk management, legal, compliance and collections areas of business. He holds a doctor of jurisprudence degree from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law and has been a member of the Indiana Bar since 2003.

Jeff Hawkins was promoted to SVP, information systems. Hawkins has been with IMCU for 30 years. In his new role, he will continue to lead the information systems department and focus on positioning the credit union with best-in-class technology solutions for members and employees.

Chantelle Sparks was promoted to SVP, human resources. Sparks has been with IMCU for 30 years. In her new role, she will lead DEI, recruiting, training, employee development and HR including payroll and benefits.

Michael Murphy was promoted to SVP, commercial services. Murphy has been with IMCU for 17 years and has over 30 years of commercial lending experience. In his new role, he will continue to lead the business lending team with a continued focus on providing small business members with the funds and services needed to run their business.

Daralyn Schneider was promoted to SVP, mortgage services. Schneider has been with IMCU since 2014. In her new role, she will continue to lead the mortgage lending team, focusing on process improvement and training opportunities to continue delivering an exceptional mortgage experience to members. Schneider is a graduate of the School of Mortgage Banking through the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The $933 million, Bethalto, Ill.-based MidAmerica Credit Union announced two promotions.

Amber Scott was promoted to chief marketing officer. Scott has led the marketing activities of 1st MidAmerica for over 20 years and serves on several non-profit boards, including the board of directors for Senior Services Plus, the Southwest Illinois District Auxiliary board of the United Way of Greater St. Louis and the Illinois Credit Union Foundation board. Scott also serves as the legislative grassroots coordinator for the credit union and legislative forum representative for the Southern Burnett Chapter of Credit Unions.

Olivia Turner was promoted to marketing manager. In her new role, she will lead the day-to-day marketing and community support activities of the credit union. Turner joined the 1st MidAmerica marketing team in 2013. Over the past decade, she has led creative efforts, including marketing promotions and graphic design, as well as maintained brand standards and planned corporate communications. Turner has also served as vice president of the friends board for the Madison County Child Advocacy Center and a PTO representative for a local elementary school.

Cobalt Credit Union ($1.2 billion, Papillion, Neb.) promoted John Taylor to vice president of information technology technical services. Taylor has been with Cobalt for 15 months and has over 19 years of information technology experience, including the last 16 years in the financial services industry. Most recently, he served as Cobalt’s technical services manager. In his new role, Taylor will serve on Cobalt’s leadership team and be responsible for driving the company’s technology strategy, overseeing technology-related operations and ensuring Cobalt remains at the forefront of technology innovation.

The $4 billion Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union in St. Paul, Minn., promoted Jenny Neubeck to vice president of remote services. In her new role, Neubeck will lead all contact center and remote services initiatives to serve the needs of new, potential and longtime members. She has been with Affinity Plus for more than 11 years, joining as a member relations manager and later leading many key initiatives for the credit union, including a conversion to digital banking, an implementation of pindrop authentication services, and the member contact side of how Affinity Plus works with members digitally via email, texting, chat and video banking. Prior to joining Affinity Plus, Neubeck worked as a systems administrator and data processing coordinator at Bemidji State University and an admissions representative for Northwest Technical College, both in Bemidji, Minn.

CUSOS

Ezra Eckhardt, president/CEO of the $5.6 billion, Liberty Lake, Wash.-based Spokane Teachers Credit Union (STCU), was appointed to the board of directors of Co-op Solutions by a unanimous vote of the directors. Eckhardt became president/CEO of STCU, a long-time partner of the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-based Co-op, in 2018. He previously served six years in the U.S. Army, including supporting operations in Rwanda, Bosnia and Liberia, and as a company commander at Fort Benning, Ga. Following his military service, Eckhardt held management posts for Honeywell and Microsoft. He was president and COO of Sterling Bank when it merged in 2014 with Umpqua Bank, where he became EVP of operations.

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