15 CU Professionals Hired, Promoted, Awarded & Appointed

EAST

The $1.9 billion, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.-based Hanscom Federal Credit Union announced two new hires.

Mike Duffany was hired as chief commercial officer. In his new role, Duffany will be responsible for leading commercial real estate lending production, management and performance in support of Hanscom’s revenue and asset quality objectives. He brings a wealth of experience in commercial and small business lending at credit unions and other financial institutions, having most recently served as SVP, commercial and small business lending at Workers Credit Union ($2.6 billion, Littleton, Mass.). Before that, he served in roles of increasing responsibility at Berkshire Bank.

Sam Saad was hired as chief credit officer. In his new role, Saad will lead his team in creating and upholding an effective credit strategy, develop and implement strategies to reduce earnings volatility through the establishment and enforcement of all credit policies, and improve asset quality by proactively directing the organization’s credit culture and practices. Saad brings over two decades of experience in credit and portfolio management, having held various roles at Workers and Berkshire Bank. Most recently, he served as SVP, commercial banking portfolio management at Workers.

Workers Credit Union promoted Bob DaSilva to the newly-created role of SVP, chief lending officer. In his new role, DaSilva will oversee all lending operations of the credit union, including mortgage, consumer and commercial loans. DaSilva has more than 25 years of experience in credit union lending and executive leadership in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and before joining Workers two years ago, he served as vice president of retail lending for Greenwood Credit Union ($792 million, Warwick, R.I.). DaSilva is a U.S. Army veteran and serves as chair for a local private school advisory board in New Bedford, Mass.

MIDWEST

Rachel Mouser, director of marketing for the $1.2 billion, Flint, Mich.-based Financial Plus Credit Union, was named the 2023 CUNA Marketing Professional of the Year. Mouser received the honor during the CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council Conference on March 28 in Orlando, Fla. The award honors an individual who exemplifies excellence in credit union marketing, recognizing individuals who, in all aspects of their chosen profession, consistently excel for the benefit of their credit union and the advancement of the cooperative movement.

The $2 billion, Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Consumers Credit Union hired José Santamaria as a commercial loan officer. In his new role, he will support local businesses in the Kalamazoo market. Santamaria has been working in the banking, real estate finance and management industries for more than 30 years. He holds an MBA in finance from Western Michigan University and serves as treasurer on the board of Housing Resources, Inc. in Kalamazoo.

Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union ($4 billion, St. Paul, Minn.) announced two board elections.

Vichita Choi was elected to the board of directors. Choi works as the director of finance and operations with First Quadrant Advisory, where she oversees finance, HR and IT. Her experience includes financial planning and analysis, strategy, capital investment, operational management and process improvement.

Robyn Cousin was re-elected as board chair. Cousin, who was first elected to the Affinity Plus board in 2015, retired in December 2019 as a business representative with Middle Management Association (MMA), an independent, unaffiliated public employee union that represents over 3,200 supervisors employed by the State of Minnesota.

The $433 million West Community Credit Union in O’Fallon, Mo., promoted Robyn Dietrich to director of organizational development. In her new role, Dietrich is responsible for the development and implementation of all learning activities, and will direct diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, engage with leaders regarding employee development and manage the credit union’s knowledge management program. She most recently served as training manager for West Community and has 14 years of credit union experience.

SOUTH

Rachel Bond, assistant vice president of community engagement and public relations for the $971 million, Austin, Texas-based Greater Texas|Aggieland Credit Union, was named the CUNA Marketing and Business Development Council 2023 Community Outreach Professional of the Year. The award recognizes an individual who exemplifies excellence and has advanced their credit union and the cooperative movement through community development initiatives, programs and relationships. Bond, who has been with Greater Texas|Aggieland for 16 years, earned the honor for her efforts in strengthening the credit union’s brand by developing mutually beneficial and meaningful relationships with members, business partners, and community and non-profit organizations. She has been in her current role since 2022.

Tinker Federal Credit Union ($6 billion, Oklahoma City, Okla.) elected two new board member incumbents by acclamation at the credit union’s annual shareholders’ meeting on April 1.

The two candidates re-elected to the TFCU board of directors were Eldon Overstreet and James Pearl. Overstreet will serve as board secretary and Pearl will serve as assistant treasurer.

Additional board officers were elected as follows:

• Gary Wall, chair
• Tiffany Broiles, vice chair
• Rodney Walker, treasurer
• Sheila Jones, assistant secretary I
• Al Rich, assistant secretary II

CUSOS

Co-op Solutions in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., announced Dennis Devine, president/CEO of the $18.7 billion Alliant Credit Union in Chicago, was appointed to the Co-op Solutions board of directors. He will stand for election to a full three-year term at the Annual Co-op Shareholders meeting on May 3 during the Co-op THINK 23 conference. Devine has held senior leadership roles at KeyBank, Citizens Financial Group and PNC Bank. Earlier in his career, he was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company. Devine also serves as a board trustee for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and as board chair for the Alliant Credit Union Foundation, and is a graduate of Harvard Law School.

TRADES

The CUNA CEO Council announced that the following three credit union CEOs have joined its 2023-24 executive committee:

• Kent Lugrand, president/CEO for the $1 billion InTouch Credit Union in Plano, Texas

• David Tuyo, president/CEO for the $1.2 billion University Credit Union in Los Angeles

• Mike Valentine, president/CEO for the $5.7 billion BCU in Vernon Hills, Ill.

Lugrand and Valentine were elected to vacancies created by the departure of Rudy Pereira, CEO of PremierAmerica Credit Union ($3.7 billion, Chatsworth, Calif.), and Stephanie Sievers, CEO of AltaOne Federal Credit Union ($791 million, Ridgecrest, Calif.), who completed their terms on the executive committee. Tuyo was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Maurice Smith, who retired in January.

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