VPs & Managers Appointed at 4 Credit Unions

WEST

Nathan Schmidt, EVP, chief experience officer and digital channels for the $12.9 billion, San Diego-based San Diego County Credit Union, was named among San Diego Business Journal's 2023 Leaders of Influence in Advertising, PR & Marketing. The award recognizes San Diego's top leaders who are positively impacting their organization and the community. With over 20 years of financial services management and marketing experience, Schmidt is responsible for strategic planning, brand management, marketing, digital channels, product development, business development, community and media relations, and the overall customer experience at SDCCU. Schmidt's work has been acknowledged throughout his career with many awards. He holds an MBA from Saint Mary's College of Moraga, Calif., and from 2012-2023, has served as a member of the board of directors of the San Diego Bowl Game Association, a nonprofit that produces the Holiday Bowl.

Redwood Credit Union ($8.2 billion, Santa Rosa, Calif.) hired Wellman Ho as vice president of financial assistance. In his new role, Ho is responsible for assisting members experiencing difficulties making payments on their loans, while still ensuring an excellent member experience, as well as recruiting, developing and retaining team members. Prior to joining RCU, Ho worked for Chevron Federal Credit Union ($4.7 billion, Concord, Calif.) for 15 years, where he was responsible for the leadership and management of the asset recovery department prior to becoming vice president of loss mitigation and recovery.

MIDWEST

The $4.8 billion, Eau Claire, Wis.-based Royal Credit Union hired Jessy Cassellius as audit services manager. In her new role, Cassellius is responsible for leading the financial, operational and compliance auditors' group within the audit services team, which includes leading, performing and completing both internal and external audits while ensuring the department's plan, strategy and vision are properly executed. Cassellius, a Certified Public Accountant, previously worked as a senior accountant at both the Eau Claire Area School District and CliftonLarsonAllen. She is a member of the Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

SOUTH

The $4.1 billion, Tullahoma, Tenn.-based Ascend Federal Credit Union promoted Quentrece Smith to vice president of branch delivery. Smith joined Ascend in 2000 and has held roles as a part-time receptionist, member service representative, branch management trainee, branch manager, assistant vice president of branch delivery and senior assistant vice president of branch delivery. In her new role, she will be responsible for overseeing the management of financial centers and ensuring that branch operation management follows required policies and procedures.

Smith succeeds Debra Boyd, who announced her retirement from Ascend after 37 years of service. Boyd joined the credit union, formerly known as AEDC Federal Credit Union, in 1986 as a teller. During her more than three decades of service, she earned numerous promotions, to senior loan officer then branch manager. In 1995, Boyd accepted the role of director of branch operations, which transitioned to vice president of branch delivery in 2013.

The $169 million, Kingsport, Tenn.-based Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union promoted Olivia Rumley to vice president of lending. Rumley joined ACFCU in 2022 as manager of mortgage lending and has more than 30 years of lending experience in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, including in mortgage lending, consumer lending and branch management. She has served as a Hands and Feet Project Child Ambassador.

The $669 million, Memphis, Tenn.-based FedEx Employees Credit Association promoted LaToya Carpenter to CFO. Carpenter has over 18 years of combined credit union, regulatory and leadership experience and most recently served as controller for FECA. She succeeds Ron Walker, who retired on June 30 after more than 12 years as FECA's CFO.

Please send your People news items to Natasha Chilingerian at [email protected].

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Natasha Chilingerian has been immersed in the credit union industry for over a decade. She first joined CU Times in 2011 as a freelance writer, and following a two-year hiatus from 2013-2015, during which time she served as a communications specialist for Xceed Financial Credit Union (now Kinecta Federal Credit Union), she re-joined the CU Times team full-time as managing editor. She was promoted to executive editor in 2019. In the earlier days of her career, Chilingerian focused on news and lifestyle journalism, serving as a writer and editor for numerous regional publications in Oregon, Louisiana, South Carolina and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, she holds experience in marketing copywriting for companies in the finance and technology space. At CU Times, she covers People and Community news, cybersecurity, fintech partnerships, marketing, workplace culture, leadership, DEI, branch strategies, digital banking and more. She currently works remotely and splits her time between Southern California and Portland, Ore.