SchoolsFirst Hires a Mortgage Operations VP; Longtime Texas CEO Retires

WEST

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union ($28.7 billion, Tustin, Calif.), hired Jennifer Davis into the newly-created position of vice president, mortgage operations. In her new role, Davis will create scalability within the mortgage operations area to ensure that SchoolsFirst is prepared to manage anticipated growth during the next several years. She brings more than 20 years of real estate lending and leadership experience to her position, focusing on mortgage operations and risk management with an extensive background in FHA and VA lending. Most recently, she was vice president, production risk management for Mr. Cooper, a mortgage lending company based in Irving, Texas. Before that, Davis held additional leadership and financial operations positions with various financial institutions including National Fidelity Mortgage and New Day Financial.

EAST

The $252 million, Madawaska, Maine-based NorState Federal Credit Union announced two promotions.

Kim Embelton was promoted from branch manager of the Presque Isle, Maine branch to director of branch administration. Embelton joined NorState in October 2020, bringing over a decade of financial experience. In her new position, she will be responsible for maximizing member acquisition along with leading and managing the relationships between branch locations.

Nicolas Beaudoin was promoted to branch manager of the Presque Isle, Maine branch, taking Embelton’s place. He most recently served as assistant branch manager at the Presque Isle location. Beaudoin began his NorState career as a member service advisor in August 2020 and was promoted to assistant branch manager in June 2023.

MIDWEST

The $104 million, Springfield, Ill.-based Illinois Educators Credit Union promoted Gaspare Gallina to EVP. He has been with the credit union for nine years, starting as a loan officer and most recently serving as director of lending. As a member of the Executive Team, he will now direct and coordinate IECU’s strategic plan and goals, while continuing to provide leadership and oversight to lending and collections, and assuming oversight of operations. He holds an MBA from the University of Illinois at Springfield.

SOUTH

The $4.7 billion, Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Truliant Federal Credit Union promoted Linell Johnson to CFO. Previously, he was SVP, controller. In his new role, Johnson guides strategy with Truliant’s chief planning team, leading all financial administration, accounting and budgeting initiatives, stewardship of company assets and cash management operations. His role also includes oversight of the electronic funds and payment processing, risk management and treasury areas. Johnson succeeds Cosby Davis, who retired as Truliant’s CFO at the end of 2023. Johnson joined Truliant in 1994 and worked in accounting before becoming the credit union’s first financial analyst in 1997, a role in which he developed organizational and profitability systems, and refined budgeting processes. He became vice president, controller in 2017. Johnson serves as treasurer for Truliant’s Political Action Committee, is a Certified Public Accountant and is co-founder and former coach of the Winston-Salem Roadrunners Track Club.

Gary Parker retired as president/CEO of 1st University Credit Union ($16.7 million, Waco, Texas) at the end of 2023 after 27 years of service. His successor will soon be named. Parker’s credit union career began in 1975 when at 20 years old, he became the youngest leader of a credit union in Oklahoma, taking the helm at Bison Federal Credit Union in Shawnee. The small credit union was affiliated with Oklahoma Baptist University, and Parker had been a working volunteer for a while there when he was asked to step into the top position after his mentor’s death. He spent nearly 14 years at Bison followed by several years at First Family Federal Credit Union in Henrietta, Okla. In 1996, he was asked to fill in temporarily as head of Baylor University Employees Credit Union, which later became 1st University. That temporary role turned into a permanent, 27-year position. Parker’s achievements included founding the Cornerstone Credit Union League’s Lending and Collections Conference and serving for many years on the league’s Lending and Collections Council Executive Committee. In 2021, the Lending and Collections Council established an annual scholarship for the conference in Parker’s name. He also served on the board of directors of the Texas Credit Union League, was named Alumnus of the Year in 2018 for the CUNA Management School, served as chairman of a CUNA Council for small credit unions and won the Cornerstone League’s Achiever’s Award in 2005.

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