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Joseph Pennington The $879 million, Chesapeake, Va.-based ABNB Federal Credit Union hired Joseph D. Pennington as SVP and CFO. In his new role, Pennington will oversee the finance, accounting, enterprise risk management and operations departments. He is a CPA and brings more than more than 23 years of financial industry experience in a variety of leadership roles with community banks, public accounting firms and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Va.
The $468 million, Orono, Maine-based University Credit Union hired Ree Anna Bridges as a community engagement manager representing the Downeast Maine community from UCU's new branch in Powers Hall at the University of Maine's Machias campus. In her new role, Bridges serves as an ambassador working to build relationships with community stakeholders to advance the financial well-being of Maine people. She will participate, host and volunteer in local activities; serve on nonprofit boards and committees; host financial education workshops and events to improve financial literacy; engage with local municipalities, schools and institutions as a community partner; and identify opportunities for financial sponsorship. Bridges most recently worked for Jobs for Maine's Graduates as a specialist helping to break down barriers that hinder students' progress into the workforce, including equipping students with essential life skills, financial literacy, time management and organizational skills. Prior to that, she was a science teacher at School District AOS 96 for nine years in Machias.
Ree Anna Bridges TRADES
Kristi Arrington America's Credit Union Museum in Manchester, N.H., announced six board appointments.
Kristi Arrington, vice president of Growth by Design for the League of Southeastern Credit Unions, was elected chair and will serve as the first female board chair for America's Credit Union Museum.
Marina Miller, vice president of credit union history and culture for the $28.7 billion, Tustin, Calif.-based SchoolsFirst Credit Union, was elected vice chair.
Marina Miller Ron McLean, president/CEO of the Cooperative Credit Union Association, was elected treasurer.
Ron McLean Merry Pateuk, SVP of industry engagement for PSCU, was elected secretary.
Merry Pateuk Bruce Adams, president/CEO of the Credit Union League of Connecticut, joined the board.
Bruce Adams Jeff Olson, president/CEO of the Dakota Credit Union Association, joined the board.
Jeff Olson VENDORS
Joe Brancucci CDFI certification and grant-writing firm CU Strategic Planning hired Joseph (Joe) Brancucci as EVP in the firm's new CU Results division. Brancucci most recently served as SVP of lending at Financial Partners Credit Union ($2.2 billion, Downey, Calif.). He previously served as the first president of the CUSO CU Rate Reset (now Finofr), president/CEO of GTE Financial ($2.9 billion, Tampa, Fla.), EVP at BECU ($28.9 billion, Tukwila, Wash.) and chairman/CEO/founder of Prime Alliance, among other roles. His industry recognition has included being named the CU Times CEO Trailblazer of the Year in 2013. CU Results will work with credit unions to create relevant, mission-driven and sustainable strategies for success, focusing on meeting goals set by boards and in CDFI grants, significantly and safely increasing lending, identifying opportunities within credit unions' communities, and achieving financial sustainability that directly translates into improving members' lives.
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Natasha Chilingerian
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.
