New Roles & Honors Pour In for CU Professionals

EAST

Timothy L. Anderson, president/CEO for the $1.2 billion, Alexandria, Va.-based United States Senate Federal Credit Union, was among seven credit union leaders honored at the African American Credit Union Coalition’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Feb. 28, 2023 at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Anderson joins USSFCU Emeritus Board Member Herbert “Bertie” Bowman in the Hall of Fame. Bowman, inducted in 2020, is Capitol Hill’s longest serving African American staffer and a long-time mentor of Anderson’s. Anderson has over 30 years of senior executive and management experience at large banks and credit unions. He began his career with USSFCU as the branch manager of its flagship Hart Senate location and later served as EVP and chief retail officer prior to becoming president/CEO in 2019. He also served on the USSFCU board of directors for over 15 years in various capacities, including as chairman of the board.

Tower Federal Credit Union ($4 billion, Laurel, Md.) hired James McHale as SVP and CFO. In his new role, McHale will oversee Tower’s finance, accounting, investments, risk management and facilities/administrative services department teams. Before joining Tower, McHale was CFO for a large Michigan credit union. For much of his career, he worked for credit unions in California and Indiana in roles including CFO, COO, CEO and chief risk officer. He also led the analytics team of a technology company that develops lending, risk management and analytics software for financial institutions. McHale is a certified Credit Union Enterprise Risk Management Expert.

MIDWEST

The $839 million, Indianapolis-based Financial Center First Credit Union hired Kyle Endres as vice president of communications. Endres brings nearly 15 years of experience, having started his financial services career on the teller line before growing into roles in loan operations, commercial lending and training. In his new role, he will manage several teams focused on digital access and direct member communication, as well as centralized lending, the contact center and the eServices support team, partnering closely with IT and risk management to ensure the safety and security of member data. He currently serves on the Purdue Extension Board in Indiana’s Boone County and the partner advisory board for fintech SavvyMoney.

The $196 million Allegius Credit Union in Burns Harbor, Ind., hired Toni Downing as vice president/CFO. Downing brings over 25 years of accounting experience, having worked in the government sector, banking and commercial real estate. She most recently spent eight years in public service as chief deputy auditor for Indiana’s Porter County. She currently serves on the board of the Porter County Parks and Recreation Department.

CUSOS

Cyndie Martini, founder and CEO of Member Access Processing (MAP), a Kent, Wash.-based card processing aggregator for credit unions, will retire on Aug. 31, 2023. According to MAP, she will work with the board to identify her replacement and ensure a smooth transition. Martini founded MAP in 1998. During that time, she has grown the MAP business throughout the United States and secured a strong, lasting relationship with Visa, Inc. Under her leadership, MAP remains the only CUSO to offer Visa Debit Processing Services to credit unions.

LEAGUES

Paul Mercer, president of the Ohio Credit Union League, was recognized with a 2023 Eugene H. Farley League Leadership Award by the American Association of Credit Union Leagues at a reception held in conjunction with the 2023 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference. Mercer joined the Ohio Credit Union League in 1992. Since 1997, he has been president of the League and its affiliated organizations: OCUL Services Corporation, its state and federal political action committees OCULAC and OCULPAC, its grant-making organization the Ohio Credit Union Foundation and its advocacy reserve entity the Ohio Credit Union Defense Coalition. Mercer also serves on various joint venture and collaboration boards, including Cooperative Business Services, ViClarity and Plexcity. He served as AACUL board chair as well as on the boards of CUNA, the Filene Research Institute, the National Credit Union Foundation and League Infosight.

Lauren Whaley, president of the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation, was also recognized with a 2023 Eugene H. Farley League Leadership Award by the American Association of Credit Union Leagues. Whaley joined the Foundation as president in 2015. Since then, the Foundation has distributed nearly $10 million in funding for disaster relief, hardship assistance, educational programs and grants, academic and needs-based scholarships, non-profit grant support and more. By revamping the Foundation’s fund management services, Whaley has more than tripled the assets of the Foundation. Among several initiatives Whaley introduced to benefit the Carolinas credit union system were professional development grants for small credit unions and a Technology and Capital Improvement Grant Program that helps small credit unions invest in technology, security or infrastructure upgrades. In April 2020, the Foundation activated its Disaster Relief Fund to support a COVID-19 Relief Program designed by Whaley, making relief funds available to employees of Carolinas-based credit unions who experienced significant financial hardship as a result of the pandemic. She currently serves as chair of the State Credit Union Foundation Network of AACUL and is on the steering committee for the Credit Union Foundation Network Group.

Credit Union House, a special events venue on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., that is owned by every statewide credit union association/league and the AACUL, elected five board members at its 22nd Annual Meeting of Members on Feb. 26 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Patrick LaPine, CEO of the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates, was elected to a two-year term and will serve as chair.

Troy Stang, president/CEO of GoWest Credit Union Association, was re-elected to a two-year term and will serve as vice chair.

Patrick Conway, president/CEO of CrossState Credit Union Association, was re-elected to a two-year term and will serve as treasurer.

Diana Dykstra, president/CEO of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, was elected to a two-year term and will serve as secretary.

Patty Corkery, president/CEO of the Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates, was elected to a two-year term and will serve as a director.

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