7 Credit Unions Unveil New Roles, Board Elections & Honors

WEST

The $2.3 billion Hawaii State Federal Credit Union in Honolulu announced three promotions.

Duke Gipaya was promoted to assistant vice president, corporate facilities management. In this new role, Gipaya will be responsible for planning, organizing and directing facilities management activities. He began his career at Hawaii State FCU in 2006 as a call center representative. After transferring to the facilities department, he worked his way up to the roles of specialist, security specialist, section manager and senior section manager.

Genesis Nicklaw was promoted to operations division manager. Nicklaw joined Hawaii State FCU in 2004 as a card center representative and has held several positions within the electronic service department, including specialist, supervisor and most recently department manager. In her new role, she will be responsible for directing, controlling and overseeing a wide range of operation functions, including back-office operations, card operations, digital services, fraud management and branch support.

Trisha Aguirre was promoted to manager of the Salt Lake Branch in Honolulu. Aguirre joined Hawaii State FCU in 2017 and most recently served at the assistant branch manager at the credit union’s Salt Lake Branch. Prior to joining Hawaii State FCU, she held positions at HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union ($2.3 billion, Honolulu) and Mann Mortgage. In her new role, Aguirre will oversee branch operations, sales, staff training and development.

EAST

The $1.8 billion, Chadds Ford, Pa.-based Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union announced Kevin Wiggins was elected to its board of directors. Wiggins, a Certified Public Accountant, recently began a new position as CFO for Power Home Remodeling in Chester, Pa. Prior to that, he was CFO of Wawa, Inc., where he was responsible for financial reporting, taxation, treasury operations, planning and analysis, enterprise analytics, shareholder services and corporate strategy. Before joining Wawa, Wiggins was vice president and controller of Ricoh Americas Corporation and IKON Office Solutions, Inc.

Two professionals from Merrimack Valley Credit Union ($2.3 billion, Lawrence, Mass.) were recognized with awards at the Cooperative Credit Union Association’s annual APEX conference on Oct. 12.

President/CEO John J. Howard was named CEO of the Year. The CEO of the Year award recognizes a CEO who is a successful leader, especially in their “efforts to achieve growth in the many ways it serves its members,” and is “an inspiration to the team by constantly motivating them to excellence.” Howard has served as president/CEO of MVCU since 2018 and has since led three mergers.

Assistant Vice President of Member Support Zobeida Duarte was named Young Professional of the Year. The Young Professional of the Year award recognizes a credit union professional under the age of 40 who is committed to the values and principles of the credit union movement and demonstrates exemplary leadership skills. Duarte began working for MVCU in 2013 as a part-time call center representative.

The $3.2 billion, Chelsea, Mass.-based Metro Credit Union hired Lawrence Stanford as SVP CFO. In his new role, Stanford oversees accounting and finance for the credit union. Prior to joining Metro, Stanford served as controller at Colonial Federal Savings Bank in Quincy, Mass., where he oversaw day-to-day accounting operations, provided strategic financial direction, and improved critical systems and processes. He has also held controller positions at Envision Bank in Quincy and The Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank in Tewksbury, Mass. Earlier in his career, Stanford held accounting and financial analyst positions at a variety of organizations, including Blue Hills Bank, Piper Jaffray and Ernst & Young. He holds a master of science in accounting from Boston College and is a Certified Public Accountant.

MIDWEST

The $2.1 billion, Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Consumers Credit Union hired Ken Fussman as a mortgage loan officer. Fussman has spent his entire working career in mortgages, and in his new role, he will assist members in the credit union’s Grand Rapids, Mich., market.

SOUTH

Greater Texas|Aggieland Credit Union ($965 million, Austin) hired Scott Willmott into the newly-created role of chief of staff. In his new role, Willmott will be responsible for the overall direction of all Greater Texas|Aggieland operations. He most recently served as CFO for the $1.5 billion Verve Credit Union in Oshkosh, Wis. Before that, he was president/CEO for the $133 million Shoreline Credit Union in Manitowoc, Wis. He also served as CFO at TBA Credit Union ($353 million, Traverse City, Mich.) and began his banking career at Citizens First Savings Bank in Michigan.

The $2 billion, Arlington, Texas-based Texas Trust Credit Union promoted Rebecca White to SVP of human resources. White joined Texas Trust’s HR team in 2022, bringing more than 20 years of HR experience. She has a master’s degree in management and a graduate-level HR management certificate from the University of Phoenix.

CUSOS

InterLutions, an employee benefit solutions CUSO in Milwaukee, Wis., hired Emily Turnbull as an employee benefits consultant. In her new role, Turnbull will drive new business growth by delivering competitive, mutually-beneficial health plans to credit unions and their business accounts, and collaborate with credit unions to identify their gaps and needs to provide tailored solutions that help employees while driving down insurance costs. Turnbull previously served in several consultancy roles including in the areas of recruiting and staffing, employee benefits, technology and insurance. She also brings several years of credit union experience and recently returned to the insurance industry as a group health insurance broker. She holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

LEAGUES

The Dakota Credit Union Association (DakCU) hired John Alexander as director of legislative and regulatory affairs. Alexander brings previous experience in intelligence analysis, advancing key legislation, and enhancing advocacy efforts through strategic planning and effective team management, having most recently served as acting regional coordinator for The Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, he was a senior intern for the U.S. Senate, a contract field organizer for a grassroots political group, and a legislative director for the Texas House of Representatives in Austin, Texas. Alexander is also a Navy veteran who served as an intelligence analyst and operations specialist on board the USS Kearsarge. In his new role, he will assist the association in meeting legislative and regulatory objectives, specifically by guiding legislative affairs and coordinating the political action committee in North Dakota, and leading regulatory advocacy efforts.

TRADES

The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, the partner organization to the World Council of Credit Unions, announced J. Kevin Ryan was elected to its board of directors. Ryan brings 13 years of governing body experience and 36 years of financial services industry experience, and is currently retired from his most recent role as president/CEO of Financial Center First Credit Union ($827 million, Indianapolis). During Ryan’s tenure at Financial Center First, the credit union was involved in several WOCCU projects, including the Education Summit in Colombia, where Ryan shared insights and experience on providing exceptional services to Indiana’s immigrant communities. Financial Center First also participated in one of WOCCU’s first Global Bridges Journey Initiatives with Dundalk Credit Union in Ireland. Following his retirement, Ryan has participated in Financial Center First’s International Advisory Council as international ambassador.

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