SAFE CU, REV FCU & AFFCU Hire New Execs

WEST

The $4.4 billion SAFE Credit Union in Folsom, Calif., hired Jerrod Keller into the newly-created role of chief experience officer. Keller brings 17 years of credit union experience, having most recently served as COO for TwinStar Credit Union ($2.3 billion, Lacey, Wash.). His first credit union role was as a branch manager for the $5 billion, Olympia, Wash.-based Washington State Employees Credit Union. Upon joining TwinStar in 2011, he served as assistant vice president, retail sales; chief sales officer and chief experience officer prior to his promotion to COO in 2022. Prior to his work with credit unions, Keller began his career in restaurant management. He has served on the boards of several organizations in the Olympia region, including the Thurston County Economic Development Council, North Thurston Public Schools Advisory Board and TwinStar Community Foundation Board.

MIDWEST

The $4.5 billion, Auburn Hills, Mich.-based Genisys Credit Union promoted Lance Smith to vice president of real estate lending. In his new role, Smith is responsible for overseeing and leading all mortgage lending activities, which includes strategically expanding mortgage offerings to members while ensuring exceptional service. He will focus on operational and member service excellence, driving market growth for the credit union, and continuous improvement efforts. Smith has more than two decades of financial experience.

Patrick McGuiness, board member for the $1.7 billion, St. Paul, Minn.-based Hiway Credit Union, was honored by Twin Cities Business Magazine as one of the Twin Cities’ Outstanding Directors. An attorney and founding partner at Zlimen & McGuiness, where his practice focuses on Minnesota’s green industry, McGuiness has served on Hiway’s board since 2011, including as chair from 2018 to 2021. He also serves on the board of directors for Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company and the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association. McGuiness is also a member of the U.S. Army Reserves and serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Law at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

SOUTH

The $1.1 billion REV Federal Credit Union in Summerville, S.C., announced a promotion and a new hire.

Dean Wood was promoted to the newly-created role of vice president of enterprise risk management (ERM). Wood joined REV as director of retail operations in 2022, and before that, he served as director of retail operations at the $1.8 billion DuPont Community Credit Union in Waynesboro, Va. In his new role, he will oversee ERM duties, including identifying, evaluating and reporting on all external and internal risks for the financial institution, in addition to BSA and regulatory compliance, legal administration, fraud, quality assurance and control, and vendor management. He holds an MBA from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., is certified as both a Compliance Officer and Bank Secrecy Officer, and completed an executive leadership program offered by DDJ Meyers.

Nicole Foote was hired as vice president of lending. In her new role, Foote will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of consumer, indirect and real estate lending. She succeeds Bruce Wolfe, who is retiring. Before joining REV, Foote served as vice president of consumer lending at the $1.6 billion Credit Union 1 in Rantoul, Ill. Before that, she held the position of senior consumer lending operations at the $1.2 billion Orion Federal Credit Union in Memphis, Tenn. Foote is a graduate of the NAFCU Management and Leadership Institute.

The $643 million, Air Force Federal Credit Union in San Antonio, Texas hired Gabrielle Winchester as vice president of marketing. In her new role, which she began in early July, she leads the organization’s marketing, communication, branding and community engagement efforts. Winchester brings 12 years of experience in diverse industries, from hospitality to consumer goods. She previously managed the revenue growth, product launches and branding efforts of regional and nationwide brands including Romeo Y Julieta premium cigars, Rip It Energy Fuel and LaCroix. Additionally, she spent time in marketing roles at the Miami New Times and Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort.

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