3 Credit Union Leaders Land Prestigious Awards, Board Seats

WEST

Stephanie Sherrodd, president/CEO of Sandia Laboratory Federal Credit Union ($3.4 billion, Albuquerque, N.M.), was elected for a second term to the board of directors for NAFCU. Sherrodd joined SLFCU in 2021 and formally became CEO in January 2022. With more than 25 years of experience in the credit union industry, Sherrodd previously served as president/CEO of Texas Dow Employees Credit Union ($4.7 billion, Lake Jackson, Texas). She has served as a member of the Community Depository Institution Advisory Council with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, and is a past board member for CUES and NACUSO. She is also an associate board member at Origence.

Winona Nava, president/CEO for the $260 million, Santa Fe, N.M.-based Guadalupe Credit Union, received the 2023 James D. Likens Western CUNA Management (WCMS) Alumni Recognition Award. Each year, this honor is awarded to a WCMS alumnus who has made significant professional growth and strides in his or her credit union career – as well as leading through significant service to the credit union community – after graduation from WCMS. Nava won a full scholarship to WCMS in 1983, and soon after received a promotion to branch manager of State Employees Credit Union in Santa Fe, N.M., and established the credit union’s first branch. She was promoted to operations manager in 1985 and EVP in 1986, a position she served in until 1991. She also served on her state credit union league’s chapter board, including as president, and achieved the designation of Certified Credit Union Executive from CUNA in 1989. She was named CEO of Guadalupe CU in 1991.

EAST

John Stevenson, board director for the $2.7 billion, Rome, N.Y.-based AmeriCU Credit Union, received the 2023 New York Credit Union Outstanding Volunteer Award during the New York Credit Union Association’s Annual Meeting and Convention in Lake George, N.Y., on June 16. This award recognizes volunteers who exemplify commitment to their credit unions, consistently embody the “people helping people” philosophy, and have made significant impact on credit unions at the local, state and national levels. Stevenson has served on AmeriCU’s board for 23 years, including as chairman from 2014 to 2023.

The $477 million, Falls Church, Va.-based Arlington Community Federal Credit Union hired Benjamin Sande-Otieno as its new controller. Sande previously served as accounting controller for Agriculture Federal Credit Union ($357 million, Washington, D.C.) and as accounting manager for Interior Federal Credit Union ($312 million, Washington, D.C.). He brings more than a decade of finance, accounting and analytics experience to his new position. Sande completed both his MBA and master’s degree in diplomacy and international relations at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J.

The $1.4 billion, Ithaca, N.Y.-based CFCU Community Credit Union promoted Margo Korowajczyk to assistant vice president, business lending. In her new role, she will annually obtain and analyze financial statements and current tax returns in order to evaluate cash flow and viability of the business. Korowajczyk will also work toward limiting CFCU’s risk of losses by monitoring the quality of the loan portfolio while keeping management informed of potential losses, trends and compliance problems. She will also train, support and oversee the activities of the credit analyst(s), documentation specialist and administrative assistant positions. Korowajczyk serves as the chairperson of the Town of Harford Zoning Board in Harford, N.Y, and as a member of the State Theater of Ithaca’s finance committee.

MIDWEST

The $2.5 billion Corporate Central Credit Union in Muskego, Wis., hired Justin Burns as a software engineer. In his new role, Burns will create, code, test, debug, maintain and troubleshoot complex applications to meet business requirements. He will also design and develop business intelligence systems and database systems, and design and maintain front-end user interfaces. In addition, he will provide support to systems’ end users to identify complex problems and recommend appropriate resolutions. Burns brings two years of experience as a front-end development intern and two years of full-time stack development experience.

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