CUs From Coast to Coast Recognize New Roles & Achievements

WEST

The $3.8 billion, Spokane Valley, Wash.-based Numerica Credit Union hired Travis Simpson as chief retail and digital officer. In his new role, he will oversee the credit union’s branch and member service teams, financial products and services, and community development. Simpson brings more than 25 years of financial, retail and executive experience. Most recently, he served as SVP of retail, wealth, indirect and contact centers for BECU ($29.1 billion, Tukwila, Wash.). In his previous financial industry leadership roles, he has overseen improving member experience, increasing net incomes and surpassing key performance metrics. Simpson has also held senior leadership posts at Bank of America and Target.

BECU hired Raquel Karls as EVP and chief people officer. In her new role, Karls is responsible for leading teams focused on talent, human resources, and equity and inclusion. She will also develop and implement people and diversity, equity and inclusion strategies that ensure employees continue to be the company’s most strategic asset. Karls brings nearly 30 years of global HR experience, including senior roles at Outerwall, Expedia, Pepsi Bottling Company and Starbucks. Most recently, she served as chief people officer for REI. She currently serves as co-founder and board member for Summit Community Center for neurodiverse adults and as a program committee member for the International Women’s Forum of Washington. Karls earned a master’s degree from the University of Oregon.

Brett Martinez, president/CEO for the $8.4 billion, Santa Rosa, Calif.-based Redwood Credit Union, was named 2023 California Advocate of the Year by the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues (CCUL) at CCUL’s REACH 2023 event, held Oct. 22-26 in Las Vegas. The designation recognizes the contributions Martinez and RCU have made to their members, communities and the credit union movement, as well as his leadership in advocacy and political action on behalf of the entire credit union industry. Martinez serves on the boards of TruStage and the North Bay Leadership Council. He’s the former board chair for CUNA, the California Credit Union League and the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber, and has served on the boards for CU Direct, Western CUNA Management School, and several local nonprofit and community groups including United Way and the American Red Cross. He has been recognized with the Distinguished Service Award by CCUL, the North Bay’s Best Community Business Leader honor, the Latino Leadership Award and the prestigious Anchor Award from the National Credit Union Foundation for his leadership during the 2017 California Wildfires.

The $5.8 billion, Liberty Lake, Wash.-based STCU announced two promotions.

Brian Scott was promoted to chief risk officer. He most recently spent four years as STCU’s vice president of accounting and finance. Scott joined STCU in 2003, working primarily in consumer loan origination and underwriting. His responsibilities in his new role will include the oversight of consumer and commercial underwriting, lending operations, loss mitigation and risk management. He earned an MBA from Western Governor’s University, based in Millcreek, Utah.

Angela Swenseid was promoted to SVP of finance and accounting. Swenseid joined STCU in 2010 and has held various roles in the finance and accounting department. She was promoted to director of finance in 2019. Swenseid received her MBA from Washington State University.

EAST

The $879 million, Chesapeake, Va.-based ABNB Federal Credit Union announced two hires and five promotions.

Elizabeth Bailey was promoted to fraud manager. Bailey has been with ABNB since 2009 as a member service representative/teller, fraud processor and fraud supervisor. She is a Certified Fraud Examiner and NAFCU Bank Secrecy Officer. Bailey has over 20 years of credit union experience, having served in various roles, and will continue to oversee the fraud processor role.

Tommy Callan was promoted to loan center manager. Callan has been with ABNB since 2012 when he started as a teller at the Fairfield branch in Virginia Beach, Va. He has worked in multiple roles at ABNB in member service and the corporate office. In his new role, he will oversee the digital loan team, underwriting, dealer processing and central files departments.

Matthew Harris was promoted to card services manager. Harris has been with ABNB for five years, beginning his career with the credit union at the Towne Place branch in Chesapeake. Harris also served as an underwriter for ABNB. In his new role, he will oversee all card services operations and projects.

Robert “Alex” Pickrell was hired as consumer loan underwriter. Pickrell brings financial institution experience in both branch services and back-office roles.

Elaine Bell was hired as residential mortgage underwriter. Bell brings 20 years’ experience in various mortgage roles including sales and operations.

Andrew Hunter was promoted to operations manager. In his new role, Hunter will oversee the operations department to ensure the successful processing of ACH, check, wire, IRA, ATM management and deposit account maintenance. He has been with ABNB for three years, where his roles have focused on compliance.

Lauren Falvey was promoted to deposit operations supervisor. Falvey brings over 16 years of member service experience at ABNB, where she has overseen critical processes including IRAs, deceased accounts, certificates, premium overdraft, dormancy and ATM management.

The $303 million, York, Pa.-based First Capital Federal Credit Union announced one honor and one promotion.

Lisa Barshinger, community and business development manager, was honored as one of Central Penn Business Journal’s Forty Under 40. She was chosen for her commitment to business growth, professional excellence and the community. Barshinger joined First Capital in 2011 as business development representative. In her current role as community and business development manager, she is responsible for financial education in businesses and schools; running the FirstCap Gives Back program, which includes all sponsorships and community involvement; and event planning. Barshinger is president of the Foundation for the West York Area School District, an ambassador for the York County Economic Alliance and vice president of the Red Lion Aquatic Club.

Jeremy Ackerley was promoted to assistant vice president of digital experience. Ackerley became a First Capital member in 2005 and was hired as a member service officer at the East York branch in York in 2013. Within three years, he was promoted to e-services specialist, and in 2017, he became e-services/contact center manager. In his new role, he will work on future enhancements to the credit union’s digital member experience within its online channels and contact center offerings.

The $212 million New Dimensions Federal Credit Union in Waterville, Maine promoted Michael Grenier to EVP. In his new role, Grenier will oversee operations, develop growth strategies, and enact the vision set forth by the board of directors and CEO. Grenier has nearly 20 years of credit union experience, including 10 years as an examiner for the State of Maine and the NCUA. He joined Taconnet Federal Credit Union in 2014 as CFO, and following Taconnet’s merger with New Dimensions in 2018, transitioned into the role of COO.

MIDWEST

The $2.7 billion, Appleton, Wis.-based Fox Communities Credit Union promoted Amanda Brown to director of marketing. In her new role, she is responsible for representing the Fox brand through the development and creation of marketing campaigns, including traditional and digital marketing, signage and conveying the Fox image to the community to fulfill Fox’s strategies. Brown joined Fox in 2002 as a marketing assistant, and played an integral role in launching Fox’s annual Bike to the Beat event, for which she has served as lead volunteer organizer for the past five years. She has also served as secretary of the Fox Cares Foundation since its inception in 2016.

SOUTH

The $1 billion, Summerville, S.C.-based REV Federal Credit Union hired Thomas Hast into the newly-created position of chief strategy officer. Hast brings over 25 years of credit union experience, having most recently served as chief lending and marketing officer for the $827 million, Baytown, Texas-based Community Resource Credit Union. Before that, he served as chief lending officer for JSC Federal Credit Union ($2.6 billion, Houston) where he oversaw 23 solution centers. In his new role, Hast will oversee the development and implementation of corporate strategies, as well as REV’s marketing division.

LEAGUES

The Michigan Credit Union League announced that two Michigan credit union leaders were elected to the board of directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBI).

Jackie Buchanan, president/CEO for the $1.6 billion, Auburn Hills, Mich.-based Genisys Credit Union, won her bid for the FHLBI board. The FHLBank System was created to support mortgage lending and community investment. FHLBI has been serving the liquidity needs of Michigan and Indiana, which includes credit unions, since 1932.

Peg Lamb, SVP and chief risk officer for the $454 million, Southfield, Mich.-based People Driven Credit Union, won her bid for the FHLBI board. Buchanan and Lamb unseated two incumbent board members who represented banks and were seeking re-election.

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