11 Professionals, Including Former Bank Executive, Start New CU Roles

WEST

The $927 million, Los Angeles-based Water and Power Community Credit Union promoted Bruce West to vice president and chief people officer. West joined Water and Power Community in October 2022 as vice president of people operations. In his new role, he will oversee the entire human resources, facilities and training division. West has more than 40 years of business and HR related work experience working in a variety of industries, along with extensive experience with credit unions, and holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

The $8.7 billion, Portland, Ore.-based OnPoint Community Credit Union hired Bob Harding to the executive team as SVP and chief commercial officer. In his new role, Harding will lead OnPoint’s commercial lending team, advancing growth in the commercial market while deepening banking relationships with businesses across the region. In addition, he will guide OnPoint’s strategy, driving sales, marketing and product development through relationship-based leadership.

Harding previously served as regional managing director for First Republic Bank and has held senior leadership positions at Pacific West Bank, Columbia Bank and Pacific Continental Bank. He brings 20-plus years of experience in private and nonprofit banking, residential and multi-family lending, investment management and financial planning. Harding serves as board chair for the Children’s Institute and is a board member for Educational Opportunities for Children and Families. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from George Fox University in Newberg, Ore.

EAST

The $879 million, Chesapeake, Va.-based ABNB Federal Credit Union announced four new hires and one promotion.

Deon McGill was hired as a regional branch manager. In his new role, he will oversee the operations of branches in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Va. McGill brings 20 years of management experience and over 10 years of experience in the banking and financial industry. His previous roles have included branch manager, operations manager, senior brand service consultant and district trainer. Most recently, he worked for Dollar Bank as a branch manager.

Bryan Sherman was hired as the branch manager of the new Wards Corner branch in Norfolk, Va. He brings 15 years of management experience and has held several different positions including as an operations specialist in the military.

Jennifer Pingel was hired as the branch manager of the Elizabeth City branch in Elizabeth City, N.C. She brings over 20 years of experience in the financial industry including in dispute resolution, operations management, merchant services and branch management. Prior to joining ABNB, she worked for the Elizabeth City Chamber of Commerce as the events and marketing director. Pingel was also a dual employee at a previous employer as a licensed platform associate with her life, health and series 6, 63 licenses.

Alexandra “Alex” Crafton was hired as assistant branch manager of the Ghent branch in Norfolk. She brings eight years of experience in management positions and six years in various roles in the financial services industry, with time spent at Navy Federal Credit Union ($165.2 billion, Vienna, Va.) and Truist. She also brings a strong background and focus on auditing, compliance and operations.

Susan Thomas was promoted to assistant branch manager of the South Independence branch in Virginia Beach, Va. She has been with ABNB for three years, has seven years of financial services management experience and has led a wide variety of teams throughout her career.

MIDWEST

The $1.3 billion Cobalt Credit Union in Papillion, Neb., hired Craig Wehrbein to its leadership team as vice president of commercial lending. Wehrbein brings over 30 years of experience in lending, financial analysis and bank management. In his new role, Wehrbein will develop and maintain the commercial loan portfolio by ensuring quality service for existing members and actively soliciting new business relationships. Additionally, he will promote Cobalt business loans and services through business development efforts to achieve strategic objectives and goals for the department.

Royal Credit Union ($4.8 billion, Eau Claire, Wis.) promoted Nick Kullman to comprehensive lending manager. In his new role, Kullman is responsible for the overall operation and performance of the comprehensive lending department, which includes actively managing a team to achieve loan growth and quality objectives aligned with Royal’s goals and strategies.

Kullman will also assist leadership in the overall operation of the consumer lending department. Kullman joined Royal in 2000 as a teller and has held a variety of roles including financial sales representative, member lending specialist, member lending supervisor and, most recently, comprehensive lending supervisor. He is a CUNA-certified Credit Union Financial Counselor.

The $592 million, Sheboygan, Wis.-based Kohler Credit Union promoted Raeann Freund to director – retail branches. In her new role, Freund will manage branch operations across the credit union by driving consistent implementation of retail strategies, enhancing collaboration between branch networks and focusing on service excellence. She has over 12 years of experience in the financial industry, having begun her career as a teller and progressed through a variety of retail-specific management roles over her career. Most recently, she was the district manager for the northern market at Kohler.

SOUTH

The $4.8 billion, Raleigh, N.C.-based Coastal Credit Union hired Mia Vista Perez as chief administrative officer. Perez brings more than 30 years of credit union experience, having most recently served as associate EVP, engagement and SVP, culture and employee experience at State Employees Credit Union ($49.6 billion, Raleigh, N.C.). She also spent 11 years as chief administrative officer and chief strategy and people officer at Louisiana Federal Credit Union ($415 million, La Place, La.) and previously worked at GNO Federal Credit Union ($157 million, Metairie, La.) and Jefferson Financial Federal Credit Union ($812 million, Metairie). In her new role, she will oversee Coastal’s employee experience, employee development, marketing, communication and member experience teams. Perez holds a master’s of science in leadership and human resource development from Louisiana State University. She also holds HR, project management and credit union executive certifications. Her industry recognitions have included being named among CU Times’ Women to Watch in 2016, and a Credit Union Rock Star by Credit Union Magazine. She is an instructor for CUNA’s Marketing and Business Development School and the former chair of the CUNA Marketing and Business Development Council’s executive committee.

VENDORS

Strategic Resource Management (SRM), a Memphis, Tenn.-based advisory firm serving banks and credit unions, appointed Teresa Freeborn to its international advisory board. Freeborn brings numerous executive credentials from the credit union industry. She previously served as president of Kinecta Federal Credit Union ($6.7 million, Manhattan Beach, Calif.); CEO of Xceed Financial Credit Union, which merged into Kinecta in 2021; and SVP of Central One Credit Union in Canada. She has also served on several credit union industry boards and committees, including CUES, the California Credit Union League, CUNA and the World Council of Credit Unions. Freeborn is also a frequent public speaker and the author of the best-selling business book “Suits and Skirts: Game On! The Battle for Corporate Power.”

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