My Journey to Credit Union Leadership: Melissa Moffa of Chartway Credit Union

Name: Melissa Moffa

Credit Union: Chartway Credit Union ($2.8 billion, Virginia Beach, Va.)

Title: Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel

Number of years at current credit union: Joined in September 2023

Educational background: Juris Doctor from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York, N.Y.; Bachelor of Arts from Ursinus College in Business and Economics and Politics in Philadelphia

CU Times: What are your key responsibilities in your current role?

Moffa: I am responsible for legal, compliance, BSA, enterprise risk management, and legislative and regulatory affairs. I also have the privilege of managing a team comprised of legal, compliance and BSA experts.

CU Times: What drew you to the credit union industry?

Moffa: When I went to law school, my goal was to work in-house, and I become a general counsel at a company where I believed in the mission. My first role at Gallup taught me the importance of culture, and how positive culture engenders employee engagement and personal satisfaction in the workplace. After Gallup, I transitioned to financial services; my passion and my educational background in business and economics are a perfect complement to my legal practice in this area. I joined the credit union industry in 2018 as assistant general counsel at PenFed Credit Union ($35.4 billion, McLean, Va.). My exposure to the credit union industry during that time helped me define my near-term career aspirations, and develop expertise in credit unions and the applicable legal and regulatory frameworks in which they operate.

Chartway’s dedication to its members and communities is something that resonates with me. When I saw the posting for the role at Chartway, I knew the position was a good fit and had to apply. Not only does the position align with my personal goals, but I believe in the credit union’s dedication to its members, communities and team members.

CU Times: What unique skills, experience and attributes do you bring to your role?

Moffa: Having been in-house my whole legal career, I bring a unique perspective in understanding how companies operate and what it means to be a lawyer working side by side with business partners. I have had extensive experience advising corporate clients on a variety of in-house issues, to include contracts and negotiations, legal and regulatory compliance, privacy and data security.

CU Times: Which person (or people) do you credit the most for helping and supporting you along your career journey?

Moffa: My husband, Len, and Alicia Nealon [former director of regulatory affairs for NAFCU, former compliance manager at Navy Federal Credit Union and current SVP, chief compliance officer for PenFed]. Len has been my rock since we met in college. He has always supported my career goals even if it meant hardship in the short term, including living apart. As an attorney in the United States Marine Corps, he understands aligning with a mission and purpose, as well as the sacrifices you may have to make to be successful.

Alicia truly embodies the ethos of women helping women. Not only is she a strong advocate for the credit union industry, but her support encouraged me to push myself and apply for the role at Chartway.

CU Times: What are some of the biggest differences between working in your current executive level role and your previous, non-executive roles?

Moffa: One of the biggest differences in my current executive level role is transitioning my viewpoint to think from a corporate level and cross functionally. Another significant difference is the focus on being a thought and corporate leader as opposed to an individual contributor.

CU Times: How would you describe your current leadership style?

Moffa: I believe in leading with empathy. I want my team to have a trusted working environment. Listening is the most important thing you can do as a manager.

CU Times: What big-picture impact do you hope to make within your credit union, as well as for your members and community?

Moffa: I hope to further encourage a culture of compliance and support the credit union’s objectives by leading the maturation of the legal, compliance and ERM [enterprise risk management] programs. My primary goal is to protect the credit union in its dedication to its membership and community. As the lawyer in the room, I can provide insight and perspective not to create a roadblock to success, but rather to help the credit union evaluate and identify any applicable legal and regulatory risks.

CU Times: What career advice would you give your younger self?

Moffa: Do not worry so much about the future. Planning is important, but enjoying what you are doing with the people you are working with is just as important.

Would you or someone you know like to share your journey to credit union leadership? Please reach out to Natasha Chilingerian at nchilingerian@cutimes.com. To qualify, you must have been placed or promoted into a new senior-level leadership role within the last three years at a credit union.