Credit Unions in Florida, Maine & South Dakota Appoint New CEOs
Albert Rose takes the leader’s helm at University Credit Union in Miami, succeeding Michael Welch, who retired.
The board of directors for the $254 million University Credit Union in Miami, appointed Albert E. Rose as chief executive officer.
He succeeds former CEO Michael J. Welch Sr., who retired at the end of April after 26 years of service.
Rose joined University Credit Union (UCU) in 2019 as the executive vice president/COO and was named president since 2022. Before joining UCU, he served as vice president of lending operations at the $1.1 billion Dade County Federal Credit Union in Sweetwater, Fla.
UCU’s 48 employees operate six locations and serve more than 14,000 members, NCUA Call Reports showed.
Maria Wooten was appointed president/CEO of the $181 million Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union in Dexter, Maine.
She succeeds Rhonda Taylor who retired on June 2 after 36 years of service. She joined the credit union in 1986 as a drive-up teller and quickly rose up through the ranks becoming CEO in 1989.
Wooten joined Maine Highlands in 2010, and like her predecessor, she started out as a teller. Two years later, she worked as a consumer and mortgage loan officer. In 2018, Wooten was named senior vice president of lending and was promoted to executive vice president in 2021 and then as president in January, according to Wooten’s LinkedIn profile page.
Maine Highlands’ 52 employees operate six locations and serve more than 14,000 members, according to NCUA Call Reports.
Jay Kruse has been named president/CEO of the $69.4 million Norstar Federal Credit Union in Britton, S.D.
He succeeded Jane Duerre who retired on May 31 after nearly 13 years of service.
Before joining Norstar FCU, Kruse served as chief advocacy officer at the Dakota Credit Union Association’s Sioux Falls office for eight years. Prior to his work at the association, Kruse worked as an internal auditor and controller at the $212 million Service First Federal Credit Union in Sioux Falls.
Norstar FCU’s nine employees operate one location and serve more than 2,700 members, NCUA Call Reports showed.