Credit Unions in Florida, Virginia, Michigan & Georgia Name New CEOs

The $784 million BrightStar Credit Union in Sunrise, Fla., has appointed Biana Murnane as president/CEO.

She will succeed Michael Tomko, who is retiring after serving eight years as CEO.

Murnane joined BrightStar in 1997 as its controller. She was later named EVP and CFO.

“She’s more than an exemplary professional; she’s a key member of the BrightStar family whose initiative and success in driving this organization’s growth through the years has earned her this position,” Tomko said in a prepared statement. “I couldn’t think of a more deserving person who embodies BrightStar’s values and mission and will continue to pour her heart and soul into serving our community.”

BrightStar’s 172 employees operate eight locations and serve 60,000 members.

Afua Essandoh has been named president/CEO of the $393 million Dominion Energy Credit Union in North Chesterfield, Va.

She will succeed Michael Swalley who, after 33 years of service as CEO, plans to retire on Nov. 1.

Essandoh is joining DECU from the $3.3 billion Blue Ridge Bank in Richmond, where she served as its director of financial planning and analysis. She also worked in leadership positions at Virginia Commonwealth Bank, Atlantic Union Bank and Xenith Bank, according to Essandoh’s LinkedIn profile page.

DECU’s 32 employees operate three locations and serve more than 21,000 members.

Starting her credit union career as a teller in 1988, Paula J. Megowen is now the president/CEO of the $123 million Breakwater Federal Credit Union (BFCU) in Houghton, Mich.

She succeeds David Rautiola, who left the credit union to become a partner at a CPA firm in Houghton, Mich., in December, when Megowen was named interim CEO.

After working as a teller at BFCU (formerly Michigan Tech Employees Federal Credit Union), Megowen earned promotions and most recently served as vice president of lending for nearly 15 years.

BFCU’s 25 employees operate one location and serve more than 10,000 members.

Debra Collins has been appointed president/CEO of the $82.5 million Credit Union of Atlanta, the board of directors said.

She succeeded Allen M. Upchurch Jr., who retired in June after a 33-year credit union career.

Collins joined Georgia’s Credit Union of Atlanta in 2019 as vice president of retail operations and BSA compliance officer. She previously held leadership positions at the $170 million Pinellas Federal Credit Union in Largo, Fla., and at the $3.5 billion Grow Financial Credit Union in Tampa, according her LinkedIn profile page.

Credit Union of Atlanta’s 33 employees operate one branch and serve a membership of 14,330.