7 Credit Unions Reveal Promotions, Hires & Award-Winners

WEST

The $2.1 billion, Denver-based Westerra Credit Union promoted Melissa Bowman to mortgage sales manager. Bowman joined the Westerra team in 2020 as a mortgage loan originator and has over 25 years of residential mortgage experience, having worked in various producing and leadership roles. In her new role, she will continue to originate/close residential mortgage loans in addition taking on new responsibilities of building and leading a highly productive mortgage team. While she will continue to work out of Westerra’s Cherry Creek location in Denver, she is able to originate and close mortgage loans anywhere in the state of Colorado.

Sheena Peoples, EVP of operations and chief sales and service officer for the $11.1 billion, San Diego-based San Diego County Credit Union, was named among SD Metro Magazine’s 40 Under 40. The award recognizes outstanding young leaders who are positively impacting their organization and the San Diego community. Peoples was hired at SDCCU in 2005 as a member service supervisor, promoted to assistant manager in 2013, and subsequently promoted to call center manager in 2014, vice president in 2015, SVP in 2020 and finally to her current role in 2022. She was previously selected as one of SD Metro Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2020 and recognized in 2021 as one of San Diego Business Journal’s Next Top Business Leaders Under 40.

EAST

The $2.6 billion Workers Credit Union in Littleton, Mass., promoted Kendra Uusitalo to SVP of commercial and small business lending. In her new role, she will engage new companies to partner with the credit union and grow relationships with existing business owners, assisting them with the right products and services needed to build their businesses. Uusitalo has over 25 years of banking experience and most recently served as vice president of commercial lending for Workers. Before that, she served as portfolio manager for Digital Federal Credit Union ($11.5 billion, Marlborough, Mass.).

MIDWEST

The $2.5 billion, Muskego, Wis.-based Corporate Central Credit Union hired Amy Nowak as a human resources generalist. In her new role, Nowak will oversee day-to-day operations and administration of HR policies, procedures and programs. In addition, she will lead and support various HR functions, including recruiting, new hire onboarding/orientation, performance management, compensation and benefits. She will also collaborate with leadership to develop strategies to stay up to date with the latest HR trends and practices, administer payroll processing, and support HRIS database management and maintenance. Nowak previously taught elementary students for 27 years, with 21 of those years in Wisconsin’s West Allis-West Milwaukee School District. She holds a master’s degree in education from UW-La Crosse.

SOUTH

Charlie Miller, a 36-year member and current first vice chair for the board of directors for Redstone Federal Credit Union ($7.6 billion, Huntsville, Ala.), was named Volunteer of the Year in Alabama by the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates. Miller retired from the U.S. Army with over 30 years of service. In 2000, he was inducted into the U.S. Army Ordnance Hall of Fame and was recognized for making a positive and significant contribution to the Ordnance Corps. In 2020, he received the Drolet Service Veterans award for his hands-on support of veterans in the North Alabama community, which includes hosting activities at the Floyd E. “Tut” Fann State Veterans Home and serving on the Rose of Sharon Soup Kitchen board.

The $228 million ANECA Federal Credit Union in Shreveport, La., hired Erica McCain as a community development liaison. McCain brings over 15 years of experience in community development, having most recently served as executive director of Dress for Success Shreveport-Bossier for five years. In her new role, McCain’s main responsibilities will entail developing relationships throughout the Shreveport and Bossier communities within the scope of financial literacy and outreach. She was the 2014 National Philanthropy Day Chair for North Louisiana, an event that recognizes leading philanthropists in the area, and between 2021 and 2023, she was honored as a Greater Shreveport Chamber Minority Business Opportunity Awards Nonprofit Professional of the Year Nominee, Altered Northwest Louisiana Women of Inspiration honoree, Top 40 Under 40 honoree and Shreveport Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit Torch Award Nominee. McCain currently serves on the Shreveport Greater Chamber Business Connection Committee and as the 2023 Athena Chair, as well as a board member for the Southern Hills Business Association.

Shea Brown, director of community impact for the $924 million, Jackson, Tenn.-based Leaders Credit Union, was recently named 2023 Business Development Professional of the Year by CUNA. The Business Development Professional of the Year Award honors an individual who shows excellence in credit union business development, continually perpetuates the growth of credit union membership and maintains the ideals of the credit union movement.Brown has served in the credit union industry since age 17 and joined Leaders’ business development team in 2017. In 2022, he was promoted to director of community impact, where his role is to lead the community engagement team in taking the credit union outside its four walls, engaging with the community, assisting with non-profits, helping members with their financial wellness, and living out Leaders’ mission to “power your passion and make lives better.” He was honored during the CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council Conference in March, and will be featured in an upcoming issue of Credit Union Magazine.

LEAGUES

The MD|DC Credit Union Association announced new leadership for its board of directors during its annual business meeting on June 13.

Laura Eacho, EVP/COO for Educational Systems Federal Credit Union ($1.2 billion, Greenbelt, Md.), was re-elected to a three-year term as an at-large director and will serve as board chair. Eacho, who has been on the board since 2017 and most recently served as vice chair, replaces outgoing Chair Rick Wieczorek, who is president/CEO at National Institutes of Health Federal Credit Union ($835 million, Rockville, Md.).

Eric Church, president/CEO for First Financial Federal Credit Union of Maryland ($1.3 billion, Sparks, Md.), was re-elected to a three-year term as an at-large director.

Jeff Goff, CEO for WSSC Federal Credit Union ($34.7 million, Laurel, Md.), was re-elected to a three-year term as an at-large director and will serve as treasurer.

Vicki Johnston, president/CEO for Nymeo Federal Credit Union ($359 million, Frederick, Md.), was named to the board as the Suburban Chapter director.

Kristin Shultz, president/CEO for Spectra Credit Union ($602 million, Alexandria, Va.) and an at-large director for the board, was named vice chair.

Becky McKenzie, president/CEO for WEPCO Federal Credit Union ($357 million, Bloomington, Md.) and Western Maryland Chapter director for the board, will serve as secretary.

VENDORS

Allied Payment Network, Inc., a provider of online and mobile money movement solutions to banks and credit unions, hired James Dixon as its chief information security officer. Dixon brings more than 25 years of technology and industry experience, having most recently served as chief information security officer for accounts receivable technology provider Versapay. Prior to that, he held several other executive and senior leadership positions with payment technology companies including 2Checkout (now Verifone), Vesta Corporation, Official Payments (now ACI Payments, Inc.) and InComm Payments. Dixon is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional.

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