BECU, Palmetto Citizens FCU Welcome New C-Suite Executives

WEST

Irlanda Cuevas, membership and community engagement manager for the $1.9 billion, Tucson, Ariz.-based Hughes Federal Credit Union, received a 2023 40 Under 40 award from the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. This award celebrates young leaders who have demonstrated exceptional service to their community and professional achievements. Cuevas serves on the board of Junior Achievement of the Arizona Southern District, is a leader in the Global Women’s Leadership Network Sister Society and actively participates in Tucson Young Professionals. In addition, she volunteers for the Children’s Miracle Network, Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona, Habitat for Humanity and Ronald McDonald House.

The $29.1 billion, Tukwila, Wash.-based BECU hired Drew Wolff as EVP and CFO. In his new role, Wolff is responsible for ensuring all aspects of BECU’s financial strategy, management and performance support the credit union’s near- and long-term strategic objectives. Prior to joining the executive team, Wolff served as BECU’s audit committee chairperson and was CFO at Seattle pet insurance provider Trupanion. He was also previously CFO of Starbucks’ International and Channel Development divisions and held senior roles at Barclays and Washington Mutual. Wolff also served as an officer on board several nuclear submarines with the U.S. Navy before embarking on his finance career. He has also participated on the boards of the Center for Sustainable Energy, Bainbridge Community Foundation and L.A.C.E.S. Wolff holds an MBA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

MIDWEST

Kelli Ellsworth Etchison, chief marketing officer and chief diversity officer for the $1 billion, Lansing, Mich.-based LAFCU, was recognized for a second time this year by Crain’s Detroit Business, which named her one of its 2023 Notable Leaders in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) based on her success and accomplishments over the past 18 months. In April, Crain’s Detroit Business recognized her as a Notable Leader in Marketing. The Notable Leaders in DEI distinction honors individuals in Michigan who have taken on the responsibility of providing diverse, equitable and inclusive experiences for their organization and clients/members. Ellsworth Etchison leads the credit union’s strategic marketing, community and public relations efforts and oversees LAFCU’s marketing department. She added the title and responsibilities of chief diversity officer in 2020, a position she proposed and the first in the credit union’s 87-year history. She also oversees LAFCU’s college scholarship program.

The $2.4 billion, Muskego, Wis.-based Corporate Central Credit Union hired Danielle Carter as risk and compliance coordinator. In her new role, Carter will coordinate third-party risk management and compliance activities across the credit union’s employees and lines of business. She will serve as a resource for employee and member inquiries regarding third-party risk management and compliance. In addition, she will provide primary support for the compliance department and backup support for internal auditing functions, and assist with training and development support for employees and members. Carter started her career in financial services as a proof operator and then teller before moving up to a treasury management department as implementation coordinator. She then served as a team lead for technical project managers. Carter holds a Project Management Certificate from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., and an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University in Fox Point, Wis.

SOUTH

Brandon Oliver, vice president of branch operations for the $1.7 billion, Sumter, S.C.-based SAFE Federal Credit Union, was named 2023 Professional of the Year by the CUNA Operations and Member Experience Council during the Council’s annual conference. The Professional of the Year Award is the Council’s highest honor, and represents credit union professionals who demonstrate excellence in innovation and enhancement to member service. Oliver began his career with SAFE in 2009 and has served as branch manager, regional branch director and assistant vice president of branch operations. He was promoted to his current role in 2019.

The $350 million, Oklahoma City, Okla.-based Allegiance Federal Credit Union promoted JC Reavis to EVP. Reavis has been with Allegiance for over 11 years and has been a member of the executive management team since 2018, serving as COO. In his new role, he will continue to provide management oversight to collections, host systems, project management, training and retail operations, and will assume oversight of the lending, marketing and IT functions at the credit union. Reavis has 16 years of experience in the financial services industry. In 2018, he earned the Certified Credit Union Executive designation after graduating with honors from Southwest CUNA Management School.

The $2.8 billion, Tampa, Fla.-based GTE Financial promoted Nydia Hall to assistant vice president of member resolution. Hall joined GTE in 2006 as a member resolution representative, working her way up to the positions of collections supervisor, manager and senior manager. Most recently, she served as senior manager of the member resolution department.

Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union ($1.3 billion, Columbia, S.C.) hired Carol Addy as chief revenue officer. In her new role, she will oversee the mortgage, commercial lending and wealth management divisions. As a member of Palmetto Citizens’ senior leadership team, she will also help set strategic focuses and initiatives for the credit union. Addy brings over 30 years of experience working as an executive in financial services, having most recently served as vice president and mortgage production manager at a $17 billion financial institution.

TRADES

Clifford “Cliff” N. Rosenthal, retired CEO of Inclusiv, will be inducted into the Cooperative Development Foundation’s (CDF) Cooperative Hall of Fame for 2024. Rosenthal led Inclusiv (then the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions) as CEO from 1983 to 2012, is a co-founder of the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) movement and authored “Democratizing Finance: Origins of the Community Development Financial Institutions Movement.” Established in 1974, the Cooperative Hall of Fame honors extraordinary individuals who have made heroic contributions to the cooperative movement.

VENDORS

Allied Payment Network, Inc., a provider of online and mobile money movement solutions to banks and credit unions, hired Jessica Ludvigsen as vice president of strategic solutions. Ludvigsen brings over 20 years of leadership in the financial services industry. Her background includes responsibility for customer experience, regulatory compliance, enterprise risk management, operational excellence and sales. In her new role, she will support the direct sales team in facilitating the sales lifecycle and by collaborating with third-party reseller and integration partners. Ludvigsen will also be responsible for working with the chief revenue officer in developing and executing comprehensive strategies to enhance the performance of the direct sales team and identifying key growth areas.

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