6 CUs Hire, Promote & Honor Nationwide

WEST

The $176 million, Eureka, Calif.-based Compass Community Credit Union hired Chris Olson into the newly-created role of SVP – retail banking. In this position, he will provide executive leadership for the organization’s branch network, lending, marketing and digital banking. Olson brings over 20 years of banking experience, both in operations and lending. He most recently served at a New York-based credit union, where he provided executive leadership for marketing, lending (both direct and indirect), as well as retail, including the branches and call center.

EAST

Merrimack Valley Credit Union ($2.2 billion, Lawrence, Mass.) hired James C. Potter as vice president of retail banking. In his new role, Potter will oversee the credit union’s branch network throughout New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island and its member support team. His career in banking began more than 35 years ago as a teller at Shawmut Bank. In 2002, Potter transitioned from banks to the credit union industry when he became vice president of operations at Hanscom Federal Credit Union ($1.8 billion, Hanscom AFB, Mass.). He was later promoted to SVP and COO at Hanscom and temporarily oversaw its lending and human resources departments. Potter holds an MBA in management from Babson College in Massachusetts.

The $1.5 billion, Pittsfield, Mass.-based Greylock Federal Credit Union appointed Brett Random to its volunteer Board of Directors. Random is the executive director for Berkshire County Head Start and a certified parent educator. She earned a master’s degree in social work from Westfield State University in Westfield, Mass., and is certified in organizational leadership from Harvard Business School. Random was also a 2018 recipient of the 40 Under Forty Award from Berkshire Community College. In addition, she previously served as a mentor for the Rites of Passage and the Empowerment Program (R.O.P.E.), and as a committee member for the Berkshire Compact for Education Committee.

MIDWEST

The $7.1 billion, Waterloo, Iowa-based Veridian Credit Union promoted Amela Saric to regional manager of the credit union’s East Central Iowa region, including the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids Corridor. Saric has more than 15 years of experience at the credit union, serving most recently as a team leader in the outbound and electronic relations department.

SOUTH

Jim Minge, CEO of the $2 billion, Arlington, Texas-based Texas Trust Credit Union, was reappointed to another term on the Texas Credit Union Commission by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. He will serve as chairman of the Commission through February 2029. The Commission supervises the Texas Credit Union Department, which regulates all credit unions organized and chartered in the state. The governor-appointed board works closely with the Commissioner of the Texas Credit Union Department, who oversees daily operations of the agency. Minge has been serving the credit union industry for more than 30 years, and is a member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Fort Worth Chapter of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants.

The $973 million, Jackson, Tenn.-based Leaders Credit Union announced one promotion and two new hires.

Chris Gray was promoted to chief mortgage officer. Gray has been with Leaders as vice president of mortgage services since 2017 and has two decades of experience in mortgage industry leadership. Before joining Leaders, he led mortgage operations for independent mortgage bankers and an FDIC bank. In his new role, Gray will lead the mortgage team in providing top-notch service to members while spearheading initiatives to enhance mortgage offerings.

Hinna Jamal was hired as sales strategy officer. Jamal most recently served as COO for another credit union in the greater Memphis area. In her new role, she will be instrumental in driving the growth, member acquisition and revenue generation goals of Leaders, as well as spearhead the development and implementation of innovative sales strategies. She holds an MBA from Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., and previously held the positions of sales manager at Equifax, branch manager at PNC Bank, operations manager with Flagstar Bank and mortgage consultant with Capital Lending Group.

Chad Tillman was hired as vice president of business services. Tillman brings over a decade of financial service and business development experience. In his new role, he will manage Leaders’ growing lineup of business banking solutions, as well as serve the financing needs of business members. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Southern Illinois University School of Law and practiced in West Tennessee before beginning his career in finance.

CUSOS

Mahalo Banking, a Troy, Mich.-based CUSO providing online and mobile banking solutions for credit unions, hired Jason Thomas as a sales executive. Thomas brings more than 18 years of fintech experience, including years focused solely on the digital banking space. In his new role, he will manage existing customer relationships and help new credit unions bring Mahalo digital banking to their members.

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